ADHD Executive Functions Series: Shifting & Inhibiting – “The biggest “Aha!” in my ADHD journey”

When my oldest daughter was diagnosed with ADHD, I had a hard time wrapping my head around the concept that her behavior was due to brain wiring and not her will. I didn’t understand her behavior, AT ALL! She was so different from me. I was certainly not a perfect child but the issues that she struggled with were not the issues that I struggled with. I was a “perfectionist” and worked very hard to comply, fit in, do what is right, etc. She appeared to be willful, naughty, purposely pushing my buttons and it felt like she was trying to tick me off!

When I started to learn about ADHD and Executive Functions as brain functions that develop and mature over time, I had a few major “Aha’s!” that solidified this concept. One of them was learning about the Inhibitory System!


According to Wikipedia – “The Inhibitory System is a foundational Executive Function and is also called Response Inhibition. It permits an individual to inhibit their impulses and natural, habitual or dominant behavioral responses to stimuli in order to select a more appropriate behavior that is consistent with completing their “goal.”

This is the brain function that allows us to PAUSE. The inhibitory system is the brain function that helps an individual stop their first impulse so they can think through options before they proceed. It fuels all areas of self-restraint helping you to pause, breath and walk away so you don’t clock that guy who just made an insanely insensitive comment.

This system is also the system that needs to be in place to not only pay attention but to manage attention. It allows your brain to pick and choose the inputs that it’s going to block out and those that it’s going to focus on. If you’re on a date in a noisy restaurant, this is the area of your brain that helps you ignore all of the many things going on around you and focus on your date.

ADHD has often been thought of as an inability to pay attention but it’s more accurately defined as an inability to manage attention.

This system also helps you stop one thing, transition and start another thing. The Inhibitory System is THE brain function that supports all other Executive Functions and all aspects of self-regulation. If you or your child’s brain wiring is not working at it’s best in this area of your brain, then they may appear distracted, their brain may be unable to tease apart what is important and what isn’t important, what to focus on in any given moment and how to stop and think before acting.

This is why many kids that have ADHD struggle with spontaneous and often reckless behavior. Many feel remorse after they react impulsively but are at a loss as to how to stop themselves from doing those things. This is because their brain neurology isn’t helping them stop and think.

We already talked about  Working Memory as a Foundational Executive Function. The Inhibitory System is another foundational brain function necessary for focus, maintaining effort, stopping and thinking, understanding and preparing for transitions, starting new tasks and so many others. Almost every Executive Function relies on this foundational process.

So instead of punishment and employing purely behavioral tactics to respond to kids with impulsive behaviors, remember, their brain neurology isn’t helping them DO what they KNOW they need to do.

For more information on whether ADHD and Executive Functions are impacting you and what to do about it, reach out to me and we can start the conversation. Click here to make an appointment. I can help identify those Executive Functions impacting your success and help you implement effective tools to manage those deficiencies so you can let all of those other amazing gifts and talents shine through!

Judy Richardson-Mahre, MA, ADHD-CCSP
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
ADHD Expert & Coach
Parent Coach
Educator
612.930.3903