If organizing your day, finishing tasks, or remembering what you need to do feels harder than it should, the reason may not be lack of effort or willpower. It could be executive dysfunction, which is when the brain’s “control center” struggles to plan, focus, and follow through, often because of mental health challenges, such as depression or anxiety.
Roger Behavioral Health’s Jerry Halverson, MD, FACPsych, DFAPA, psychiatrist and chief medical officer, explains how with understanding and the right support, it’s possible to help the brain get back on track.
What is executive dysfunction?
Executive function is a broad term used to describe cognitive skills, or the mental processes that help us succeed in life, such as thinking, doing, remembering, planning, and processing. Executive dysfunction, then, is a disruption in our ability to do those things.
Executive dysfunction can be caused by various factors, including:
- Substances, like alcohol and drugs
- Medications
- Neurological conditions, like ADHD or autism
- Mental health challenges, like depression and anxiety
What does executive dysfunction look like?
When the brain isn’t working as well as it should, we can experience all kinds of problems with activities of daily living. Someone can be talking to us, but we’re not able to pay attention because we’re thinking about something else. We have a goal, but we’re not able to plan how to achieve it or take into consideration different things that could happen. Or, we’re in a new city and want to go to the store, but we can’t figure out how to get there.
Symptoms of executive dysfunction can vary, but may include:
- Challenges with completing tasks
- Struggles with organization
- Inability to plan and strategize
- Tendency toward forgetfulness
- Problems concentrating
How do mental health challenges affect the brain’s ability to function?
While we don’t specifically diagnose executive dysfunction, it’s a symptom of something else that’s going on that can be diagnosed. Mental health challenges and executive dysfunction go hand in hand. They distort a person’s thought processes. Understanding a person’s struggles with executive function skills helps us gain insight into what they’re experiencing. For example, people with depression typically have problems concentrating. They describe their thinking as slowed, as though their brain is in molasses. People with anxiety often have the opposite experience, where they feel like their brain is moving too fast and they experience rapid thoughts. Other disorders, like schizophrenia, cause people to have disturbing thoughts or hear voices that distract them from living their lives.
How can mental health treatment help?
We look at what’s causing the executive dysfunction because it doesn’t happen without a reason. When we know a person’s thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and their struggles with mental tasks, we can determine if they have a mood or anxiety disorder and provide the treatment they need. The goal is with the proper care, they can get the executive functioning back to where it should be.
If someone has anxiety and is experiencing a lot of intrusive thoughts and can’t stop thinking about certain things, we can help a person slow down those thoughts. They’ll be able to make sense of their thinking and will feel less overwhelmed.
With depression, people may feel mentally stuck, experiencing fewer thoughts or even a sense of mental blankness. Their focus tends to narrow on themselves and their negative thinking. Treating depression helps expand their thought patterns, allowing for greater mental clarity, improved concentration, and a broader range of thoughts.
What might be the consequences of not addressing it?
If someone doesn’t address it, they can’t fully understand what’s happening beneath the surface. Your struggles won’t improve on their own —they may worsen or lead to behaviors that make things even more challenging.
When a person has poor concentration and memory, they’re unable to take in and process information effectively, which diminishes their ability to make good decisions. They won’t follow through on things, causing challenges at home, work, and in relationships. They may feel as though their brain is broken, sometimes leading to suicidal thoughts or the urge to use substances to try to get their brain working normally again.
How can I support someone who’s experiencing symptoms and doesn’t recognize it for themselves yet?
I don’t think it’s uncommon for people to not see it for themselves. People don’t sit and think about what’s going on in their heads or why they’re feeling the way they do. In our fast-paced world everybody has demands and is doing the best they can to survive and move forward. People often don’t reflect on how they’re functioning until they face consequences, such as losing their job.
If someone reading this has a friend or family member that they’re concerned about, talk with them in a non-threatening and compassionate way to help them see what’s going on. Focus on the symptoms and behaviors and offer support in seeking help.
Rogers provides compassionate care
You don’t have to feel alone in your struggles. When you’re ready, we’re here to help.
To get started, call 833-308-5887 for a free, confidential screening.
