How ADHD and Cognitive Flexibility Clash: Navigating Task Switching with a Neurodivergent Brain

Authentically ADHD with Carmen

Hey hey, beautiful brains! In this juicy episode of Authentically ADHD, Carmen dives deep into the wild world of cognitive flexibility — that ninja-like mental skill that helps us pivot, adapt, and switch tasks smoothly. Spoiler alert: it’s not something the ADHD brain does easily. And no, you’re not just “being dramatic” — your brain is literally wired to find this hard. Like… juggling flaming torches while switching roller skates midair kind of hard.

✨ We’re breaking down:

* What cognitive flexibility actually is (and why it matters)

* The neuroscience behind why task switching fries our brains (hello, prefrontal cortex and conflict-monitoring ACC!)

* Real-life ADHD chaos scenarios — from boardrooms to spice racks

* Why hyperfocus isn’t a superpower (it’s a dopamine trap!)

* And how emotional flooding, time blindness, and working memory glitches hijack our ability to “just start the next thing already”

💡 You’ll learn:

* Why even small interruptions can send your brain into a spiral

* How “switching tasks” is really more like rebooting your entire operating system

* ADHD-friendly strategies to soften those transitions — like buffer zones, transition rituals, and brain-friendly switch-prep tools

Plus, Carmen brings the research receipts (shoutout to Barkley, Volkow, and the gang) and serves it all with humor, heart, and a whole lot of validation. If you’ve ever felt broken because your brain doesn’t pivot like everyone else’s — this episode is your permission slip to let that shame go.

Because guess what? You’re not broken — you’re brilliantly wired for a different rhythm.

✨ Pause. Breathe. Shift gently. ✨

🎧 Tune in, feel seen, and share with someone who needs to know that “just do it” isn’t a strategy — it’s a misunderstanding of how our brains actually work.

Show Notes: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGk7n_MwWw/EfB1myWhGS7Mdex4SNg7ng/view?utm_content=DAGk7n_MwWw&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h72df453386

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/carmen_irace

Join Focused: https://ihaveadhdllc.ontralink.com/t?orid=29951&opid=1

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carmenauthenticallyadhd.substack.com