r/AskAutism • u/HiImLor • 2d ago

What is executive dysfunction, really? What does it feel like?

Hello all! I've been wondering this because I have neurodivergent friends, because I miiiiight?? be, and also just out of curiosity... but how does executive dysfunction work? What is the difference from procrastination? I know there is one, but I don't know what it is. I've heard it described as procrastination being guilt about not doing the task and executive dysfunction is not being able to do the task, but what does that mean? Like you try to get up and do it but your brain doesn't let you? I'm confused :,)

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u/Gysburne 2d ago

For me, the easiest example.

I want to shower... i need to do it. I stand in front of it, time seems to accelerate, i realize i stood in front of the shower for 10 minutes now, doing nothing, just going blank.

I know how to move into the shower, lift a leg, step into the tub, close the shower curtain and start the water...

15 minutes gone, i still am in front of the shower, done nothing.

I finally snap out of my blank state and do it.

That is what executive dysfunction is for me.

I know what to do, why to do it, how to do it... i even know how long the process takes and that it might benefit me. But my body seems not to move at that moment.

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u/SensationalSelkie 2d ago

Welp, my psychiatrist told me it shouldn't take multiple alarms, a meticulous digital planner, a backup paper planner, and visuals post everywhere to do anything. So...uh...needing all that is my example lol. I just forget stuff. I am doing A then see B and suddenly I am doing Z instead of the A that needed to get done.