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Psychiatrist explains why self-care feels so hard with ADHD | Experts Answer

Understood

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Why is self-care so hard with ADHD? Psychiatrist and ADHD specialist Dr. Sasha Hamdani shares practical self-care tips and science-backed strategies to help you build habits that actually work.

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:22 Why do people with ADHD struggle with self-care?
01:18 What are some self-care strategies for ADHD that actually work?
01:53 Why does ADHD make showering such a chore?
02:33 How can I create a self‑care schedule I’ll actually stick to?
03:25 How do you do basic self-care?
04:20 Can ADHD make rest feel uncomfortable and unproductive?
04:58 How do I balance self-care and self-discipline?
05:34 How do I combat negative self-talk?

For more on this topic:
ADHD and self-care https://www.understood.org/en/podcast...
How ADHD can affect your mental health https://www.understood.org/en/article...

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#SelfCare #ADHDTips #ExpertsAnswer #DrSashaHamdani

20 Comments

@UnderstoodOrg Creator 10 months ago Pinned

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@mpathy8 10 months ago

One of my main issues that unfortunately wasn't addressed is that reminders, timers, apps, etc. don't work long term. Once the novelty wears off, they blend into the background and I stop to notice them.

@JoJeromeMP 10 months ago

Me: "Let's do stuff."

My Brain: "ALL OF THE STEPS! ALL OF THE TASKS! ALL AT ONCE! NOW! NOW!! NOW!!!"

Me: "And, that was exhausting."

@ladyfantastic765 10 months ago

i have trouble getting groceries, brushing my teeth, and doing laundry. it's like i don't have the activation energy to start. but once i start, it's not so bad.

i have AuDHD and I HATE showers. HATE HATE HATE them!

@omelette_ala_mode 10 months ago

My self care struggle has been meditation. To start the process a few years ago I agreed with myself to just meditate for 90 seconds. It has turned into occasional 40 minute sessions now and then, but I frequently still use my 90 seconds rule.

@bespoke_heirlooms 10 days ago

I struggle with doing the things that need to be done after a busy day at work.
I love and hate working from home, because I don’t have IRL conversations but I can also do a load of laundry…argh!

@TheUnluckyGenius 10 months ago

With someone with ADHD, C-PTSD, and Autism, how does rumination play into the daily life challenges? One of my main challenges is consistency, a lot now a days requires consistency and one of the things that happens is that i wake up and instantly start thinking and then i ruminate all day. I also journal every day and also have been seeing a therapist and psychiatrist.

@frednez 7 months ago

I paid attention to almost nothing that was said in the video. I might need to rewatch it.

@jcristi321 10 months ago

Just today I texted a sympathtic friend and asked her to tell me to get busy.
She reminded of the set a timer for 15 minutes trick. It helped. It got me started.
Just took a lunch break and now I'm going to finish the dishes. I sent my friend a before picture and she expects an after picture soon. So I have to get back to it.

@feliciaschoenfeld5177 10 months ago

Short video, wow! I support this.

@ziyaurrahman 10 months ago

I couldn't recognize you. You transformed 🎉

@jogalong 4 months ago

My main struggle is that I burn out from my hyperfocus. And when Im hyperfocused, I dont care if a war is happening in my room. That being said, - its very hard to maintain a healthy relationship. But I just cant fucking help it, I get so over-consumed by things even if they seem productive. Its almost impossible to get out of that state.

@PicturingHearts 10 months ago

This explains a lot of things

@cassandrarivell3197 6 months ago

I struggle so much with adhd in a way I’ve never seen anyone else do. At least not around me. A lot of other people around me say they have adhd but I never actually see anyone struggle to the same extent as me. I want to be a functional human again.

@AbbyPaige-i8w 10 months ago

WOW!!! This really helped me!!😊

@zenmasterbd 10 months ago

Thank you!!

@biblicalparentingpsychology 10 months ago

Interesting video. thanks for sharing this. Practical tips are helpful.

@Kirkble-d2c 10 months ago

What does time it out mean?

@BOYCOTTGOLDSGYM 2 months ago

i have combined adhd and medication has made these things worse except for brushing my teeth which is more self motivation because I enjoy having teeth. Another thing medication has destroyed is my motivation to work out and clean the house. To-do lists and pomodoro doesn't help at all because you need pretty good executive functioning to direct yourself into doing and sticking to those things in the first place. Maybe it's also the type of medication but Vyvanse turns me into a lazy sedentary turd. The only thing that has gotten easier is sitting on my butt and completing homework, but everything else such as self-care and hobbies has taken a back seat. And I only take 20mg + 10mg vyvanse booster sometimes which feels like enough. I've tried 10mg, 20mg, 30mg, and 20 feels like the sweet spot but it hasn't really done much to help my executive dysfunction unfortunately. but a tip I'll offer is buying a water proof phone holder for the shower that you can stick to the wall and browse your phone while showering. idk what I'd do without it. I'll probably buy another one to stick next to the bathroom sink.