this post was submitted on 20 Mar 2026
-5 points (33.3% liked)

NoSleep

618 readers
2 users here now

For the dark stories that need sharing. All stories belong to the original authors, and their sharing/use elsewhere needs to be communicated in DM with them. All posts are to be treated as real events. For out of character discussion: https://lemmy.world/c/nosleepooc

Alternative for the /r/NoSleep subreddit. (If you are a current mod there, contact me for moderation permissions! I simply want to get the horror goodness going here :)

Rules

1 No bigotry - including racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, or xenophobia.

2 Be respectful, especially when disagreeing. Everyone should feel welcome here.

3 No porn.

4 No Ads / Spamming.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

My therapist keeps telling me to "just do some breathing exercises" when I'm overwhelmed. But like... that's the problem. When I'm in ADHD paralysis I can't even start the breathing exercise because starting things is literally the issue.

Has anyone found a way around this? I've noticed that having something visual helps me — like a circle that expands and contracts — because it gives my brain something to latch onto instead of trying to count in my head (which I lose track of after 2 seconds).

What techniques actually work for the ADHD brain?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Aquila@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 days ago

Doing grounding helps me into meditation with a particularly turbulent mind. Sit down and think about what you’re able to hear, what do you see, what are you feeling. Go through the body head to toe checking in with everything. Does your skin itch? Are your shoulders tense? Do your legs want to run? Are there pent up emotions hanging out somewhere in the recesses?

Often i get distracted and have to remind myself many times during that process but slowly the mind stills and can focus on breathing afterwards.