Executive Functioning, Mental Health, and Emotional Load | Praise Podcast

The term “executive functioning” is thrown around a lot but what does it really mean and how does it affect life? Tune in!

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00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 The term executive functioning is thrown around a lot,

00:00:04 --> 00:00:08 but what does it really mean and how does it affect daily life?

00:00:09 --> 00:00:10 Tune in.

00:00:10 --> 00:00:17 Hello and welcome to MOMO 634,

00:00:17 --> 00:00:21 the daily podcast chock full of faith-filled inspiration and motivation.

00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 Please like, share, and subscribe.

00:00:25 --> 00:00:30 MOMO 634, motivational moments just for today.

00:00:45 --> 00:00:46 In the recent episode,

00:00:46 --> 00:00:47 Knowledge is Power,

00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 on learning more about your own mental health,

00:00:50 --> 00:00:54 I mentioned some studying I've been doing on executive functioning.

00:00:55 --> 00:01:00 I began reading about it as it related to a condition someone I know has,

00:01:00 --> 00:01:01 but in doing so,

00:01:01 --> 00:01:06 I found some wording that suggested that it has comorbidity,

00:01:06 --> 00:01:07 meaning it coexists,

00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 with other conditions like anxiety.

00:01:12 --> 00:01:16 Naturally, in OCD fashion, it led me down a rabbit hole.

00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 If you tuned in to the recent interview I did with the

00:01:20 --> 00:01:21 Christian Chronicle,

00:01:22 --> 00:01:26 I mentioned the mental toll and exhaustive nature of trying to

00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 mask and squelch all

00:01:29 --> 00:01:33 of the stuff that crops up daily in the life of someone with

00:01:33 --> 00:01:34 mental health challenges.

00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 There were a few concepts that really resonated with me,

00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 and I want to share them with you.

00:01:40 --> 00:01:44 But first, exactly what do I mean by executive functioning?

00:01:46 --> 00:01:49 Executive functioning is a term that incorporates a set of

00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 mental skills managed by

00:01:51 --> 00:01:52 the prefrontal cortex,

00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 a region in your brain behind your forehead.

00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 These functions include working memory,

00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 how we hold onto and recall information,

00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 Cognitive flexibility,

00:02:04 --> 00:02:08 the ability to adapt and shift thinking when situations change.

00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 Inhibitory control,

00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 the capacity to resist impulses,

00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 adhere to societal norms in behavior,

00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 and respond appropriately to social cues.

00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 I always associated executive functioning deficits with

00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 conditions like autism and ADHD,

00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 but my research also mentioned anxiety,

00:02:30 --> 00:02:31 as I mentioned.

00:02:32 --> 00:02:36 OCD is, at its core, an anxiety-based disorder.

00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 So, naturally, I was intrigued.

00:02:40 --> 00:02:41 In the interview with the Christian Chronicle,

00:02:42 --> 00:02:43 and often on this podcast,

00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 I talk about the exhaustion of masking and the

00:02:49 --> 00:02:49 So,

00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 though distressing to read,

00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 I felt vindicated when I found this passage regarding the

00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 feelings experienced by

00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 those with executive functioning deficits.

00:03:00 --> 00:03:01 Frustration.

00:03:01 --> 00:03:05 Feeling angry or upset about struggling with tasks that seem

00:03:05 --> 00:03:06 easy for others.

00:03:07 --> 00:03:08 Shame and guilt,

00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 blaming oneself for forgetfulness or procrastination,

00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 often resulting in negative self-talk.

00:03:17 --> 00:03:18 Overwhelm,

00:03:18 --> 00:03:23 a constant sense of being behind or unable to catch up,

00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 creating emotional fatigue.

00:03:27 --> 00:03:28 Isolation,

00:03:29 --> 00:03:35 avoiding social or work situations out of fear of judgment or failure.

00:03:36 --> 00:03:40 These feelings can create a vicious cycle where emotional

00:03:40 --> 00:03:41 distress worsens

00:03:41 --> 00:03:42 executive dysfunction,

00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 making it even harder to cope."

00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 I may return to this topic as there's so much more,

00:03:51 --> 00:03:55 but I wanted to share some science in light of recent discussions.

00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 And while all of this may sound Debbie Downer-ish,

00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 the blessing in it is in the knowing,

00:04:03 --> 00:04:04 because when you know something,

00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 you can take steps to address it.

00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 This can all be summed up in today's Momoism.

00:04:12 --> 00:04:17 Despite our challenges, God loves us and meets us where we are.

00:04:19 --> 00:04:23 The corollary to that is that I believe he meets us where we

00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 are and guides us to

00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 where he wants us to be.

00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 If this discussion of executive functioning resonated with you,

00:04:33 --> 00:04:33 chime in,

00:04:34 --> 00:04:34 Bilal.

00:04:37 --> 00:04:43 Thanks for listening to Momo 634, motivational moments just for today.

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