Procrastination vs. Perfectionism — Different Beasts, Same Paralysis - 136
from Living Beyond ADHD Hosted by DrB
Can't start the task, or can't stop redoing it? Both get called laziness, but they're driven by opposite fears — and treating them the same way is why so many fixes don't stick. DrB breaks down the real difference between ADHD procrastination and ADHD perfectionism, how the two feed each other into one paralyzing loop, and the specific skills that interrupt each one. Key Points Covered Why ADHD procrastination is a task-initiation and emotional avoidance issue, not a time management issue Why perfectionism in ADHD is often compensatory armor, not high ambition The key distinction: procrastination fears starting, perfectionism fears finishing How the two patterns feed each other into a self-reinforcing loop Four practical skills — shrinking the first step, defining "done" in advance, externalizing the start, and separating drafts from identity Links Mentioned drbarbaracohen.com — All episodes + show resources It Was Never You Masterclass – More Than ADHD Coaching (FREE), September 22, 2026, 10 am – 2 pm pacific time + VIP hour: https://itwasneveryoumasterclass.com/ Get Sh*t Done (GSD) Program Information – 9-month program https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/gsdprogram Grant assistance page for help with funding for GSD program: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/financial-assistance The Transformation Club (TTC) – if time or money commitments have been holding you back - the affordable membership program for Executive Function skills development: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/ttcprogram Free PDF - 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and more Follow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resources To Help The Show: Subscribe at your favorite listening spot, and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others! Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes. The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information. Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together! We can do this!
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What this episode covers
Can't start the task, or can't stop redoing it? Both get called laziness, but they're driven by opposite fears — and treating them the same way is why so many fixes don't stick. DrB breaks down the real difference between ADHD procrastination and ADHD perfectionism, how the two feed each other into one paralyzing loop, and the specific skills that interrupt each one. Key Points Covered Why ADHD procrastination is a task-initiation and emotional avoidance issue, not a time management issueWhy ...
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