This blog is part two of our series on executive functioning. If you want an explainer on what executive functioning is, or you’re looking for more information about how ADHD is impacted by executive functioning–check out part one here. 

A quick recap: executive functioning is a collection of skills used to handle everyday tasks and challenges. But it’s not that simple, either. Maybe you notice that you struggle to control your emotions in response to stressors or criticism–that’s related to executive functioning too. 

In this blog, we’ll look at how communication, impulses, and emotions are all connected to one’s executive functioning. Many people have a hard time with some form of executive functioning, and exactly how that manifests is a spectrum. People with or without any formal diagnosis, learning difference, or neurodivergence can all use support in any of these areas. For people with ADHD, organization and planning may also present challenges. We take a look at why that is.

Executive functioning: impulsivity & inhibition control

To “inhibit” means to stop or limit something. Inhibition control is one’s ability to stop them from doing the first thing that pops into one’s mind. Put simply, inhibition control keeps one from doing things that might be one’s first impulse when the consequences would be detrimental.

For example, if someone upsets you in a work meeting by criticizing a professional project, inhibition control keeps you from screaming, “You suck!” and allows you to have some control over how you express your emotions or actions in that moment. 

How executive functioning impacts communication, time management, and planning

Executive functioning helps us plan, manage our time, and communicate. For people who have executive functioning challenges, this could mean that they don’t do something until it’s very, very urgent–basically, until the last minute–because then it can’t be ignored or put off in favor of something more interesting or exciting. This might look like procrastination or even feel like self-sabotage, because in the back of their head, they might even wish they could start on a task earlier but “just can’t get themselves to do it” until the night before.

This can mean that someone might make a plan–or want to make one–especially to tackle bigger, or more complex, tasks, like planning to move in six months. But, they might just end up ignoring that checklist and throwing everything in boxes the week beforehand because they had trouble executing the plan or felt overwhelmed. 

The ability to retain focus, remember what’s going on, listen actively, and recall relevant facts can even show up in conversation. People with ADHD might pause to remember their thoughts, unintentionally zone out, interrupt people mid-sentence, or the conversation could meander from one idea to the other instead of continuing on the main idea or topic. 

Executive function and emotional regulation

Executive functioning also plays a role in emotional regulation. Folks with ADHD sometimes have lower “frustration tolerance,” which basically means they get overwhelmed by feelings of frustration or anger. This can also happen to people without an ADHD diagnosis, but in the case of ADHD, it might lead to someone having a harder time managing negative emotions. 

If you struggle with any of these areas, here’s what to consider

Does any of this sound like you or a loved one? That doesn’t automatically mean you have some big, glaring problem or diagnosis. Many things can also impact someone’s executive functioning–grief, loss, long-term stress, and illness are just a few of the things that can have an impact. 

But if you are feeling overwhelmed by any of these issues or they’re starting to cause real problems for you–such as failing or lower grades in school or a bad review at work–Self Made Psychology can help. Self Made Psychology offers ADHD evaluations for diagnosis and psychotherapy, and the clinicians are people with lived experiences of having neurodivergence themselves, so they know what it’s like to go through being diagnosed with ADHD, mental health struggles, or just big life challenges. You can reach out about scheduling an ADHD assessment or read more about it here.