Jan 21
In this episode, Tracy talks about rumination, what it is and why those of us with ADHD are more partial to it. Discover how hyperfocusing is related to rumination. Tracy talks about hyperactivity, not only in our bodies but also in our minds. She also shares how rumination is related to past problems rather than current or future problems. Learn how rumination: Is related to transitions Often increases your levels of cortisol Cuts you off from friends and family Is linked to overeating, alcoholism, depression, anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure etc etc. Can actually make you become more negative Can make you more self-centered Might be something you do and don’t even know that you’re doing it.
Learn how you can stop ruminating and teach yourself how to notice your thoughts. Know the difference between past and future thoughts. Tracy then shares the antidote to rumination, why she believes that there is no such thing as failure, how important it is to listen to your intuition instead of statistics, numbers and figures, the importance of BMW time that whatever you focus on just gets bigger, how to make distractibility your friend, how to manage your emotions by taking action around your passions, how to create internal motivation and increase your own dopamine, and the importance of focusing on others when you’re trying to control rumination.
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"Look, I don't believe in failure. There's no such thing in my mind as failure. You either succeed, or you learn."
- Tracy Otsuka
"For those of us with inattentive ADHD, you know, this failure is also when we should most use our impulsiveness if we have it, because when we jump to something to a reaction, without overthinking it, you're as close to your intuition as you will ever get."
- Tracy Otsuka
"Our ADHD, it makes us so creative and vividly imaginative. It also gives us this incredible ability to hyper focus. But the problem is that bad is always bigger than good, meaning it's stickier than good, right?"
- Tracy Otsuka
- Tracy describes how her mind can quickly jump to negative thoughts and catastrophize when someone is late for a date, leading to a cycle of rumination.
- Tracy discusses rumination as being like a hamster on a wheel, constantly spinning and going nowhere, with no control over the thoughts.
- Tracy explains how ruminating on problems can lead to negative thoughts, stress, and mental health issues.
[07:19 - 18:37] Managing Negative Thoughts and Emotions
- Tracy discusses the negative impact of ruminating on one's life, including a preoccupation with self and a lack of awareness of one's strengths.
- Tracy shares strategies for managing negative thoughts and self-talk, including metacognition, labeling, and action.
- Tracy reflects on a past experience with a boutique order that was cancelled due to non-delivery, and how she disrupted the typical industry response by personally calling the owner to take responsibility and make amends.
[18:37 - 31:02] Managing ADHD Through Action and Mindfulness
- Tracy shares her experience with inattentive ADHD and how she learned to trust her intuition, even when it doesn't make financial sense.
- Tracy suggests using nature, exercise, music, cooking, and goal-setting to distract the brain from rumination.
- Tracy discusses the importance of mindfulness and problem-solving for individuals with ADHD, highlighting the need for a balance between thought and action.
