How to Get Started When You’re Drowning in Overwhelm - ADHD Friendly episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 10, 2026 · 21 MIN

How to Get Started When You’re Drowning in Overwhelm - ADHD Friendly

from Therapy in a Nutshell · host Therapy in a Nutshell -Emma McAdam

Feeling overwhelmed and stuck? Learn how ADHD affects motivation—and 5 simple ways to get moving again when you feel overwhelmed and can’t get started. Learn the skills to regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership Free Course: Grounding Skills for Stress, Anxiety and PTSD: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/grounding-skills-for-anxiety-stress-and-ptsd Do you ever feel so overwhelmed that you just… shut down? You want to be motivated, but instead you’re stuck, frozen, and frustrated with yourself. If you have ADHD—or you’re just overwhelmed by life—this can feel like a daily battle. In this video, you’ll learn why overwhelm isn’t laziness—it’s your brain going into survival mode—and why trying to “just try harder” often backfires. When your brain is overloaded, it’s not a motivation problem. It’s a state problem. If you’re tired of feeling overwhelmed and wondering why you can’t get motivated, this video will give you practical tools you can use today to start moving forward again. Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell FREE Mental Health Resources: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/free-resources Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction. And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services. Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC  

Feeling overwhelmed and stuck? Learn how ADHD affects motivation—and 5 simple ways to get moving again when you feel overwhelmed and can’t get started. Learn the skills to regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership Free Course: Grounding Skills for Stress, Anxiety and PTSD: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/grounding-skills-for-anxiety-stress-and-ptsd Do you ever feel so overwhelmed that you just… shut down? You want to be motivated, but instead you’re stuck, frozen, and frustrated with yourself. If you have ADHD—or you’re just overwhelmed by life—this can feel like a daily battle. In this video, you’ll learn why overwhelm isn’t laziness—it’s your brain going into survival mode—and why trying to “just try harder” often backfires. When your brain is overloaded, it’s not a motivation problem. It’s a state problem. If you’re tired of feeling overwhelmed and wondering why you can’t get motivated, this video will give you practical tools you can use today to start moving forward again. Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell FREE Mental Health Resources: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/free-resources Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction. And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services. Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC

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How to Get Started When You’re Drowning in Overwhelm - ADHD Friendly

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This episode was published on July 10, 2026.

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Feeling overwhelmed and stuck? Learn how ADHD affects motivation—and 5 simple ways to get moving again when you feel overwhelmed and can’t get started. Learn the skills to regulate your Emotions, join the membership:...

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