By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – September 2, 2024
Those with ADHD struggle with boredom more than neurotypicals do. This especially applies to bedtime. Boredom has been defined as the physical discomfort where one is motivated to escape it. In other words, if those with ADHD are uncomfortable or bored, they will seek comfort, even if what is comforting is something they shouldn’t do. It takes an enormous amount of cognitive energy to sit in pain when all we want is to seek relief. And when it’s time to go to sleep, those with ADHD have a tough time dealing with that boredom even for a few minutes.
In general, when you lay your head on the pillow, your brain should surrender itself to sleep within 15 minutes. But if you have ADHD, you may find that 15-minute period to be excruciatingly boring and, thus, uncomfortable. It’s an automatic reflex for the ADHD brain to look for ways to entertain itself until, at last, it just gives up and passes out from exhaustion.
If you can relate to this, please read my article, “The ADHD Dream to Dream,” published in the June 2024 edition of CHADD’s Attention Magazine. In the article, I share strategies that may help to calm you and your brain. What works depends on you and how your brain functions. So, check it out and let me know how you deal with bedtime boredom. Post your comments below.