Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is It?How It WorksBenefitsDrawbacksIs It Effective?Other TreatmentsNext in ADHD GuideADHD Fatigue: Understanding the Connection
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is It?
How It Works
Benefits
Drawbacks
Is It Effective?
Other Treatments
Next in ADHD Guide
Getting motivated, staying focused, and completing tasks are core challenges for people living withattention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Body doubling may help people with ADHD work around these difficulties.
This article covers everything you need to know about ADHD body doubling, including perceived benefits and potential drawbacks to watch for. We’ll also explore other treatments for ADHD symptoms.
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Is ADHD a Disability?
What Is Body Doubling?
Body doubling is a productivity tool for people living with ADHD, a mental health disorder that causes challenges with focus and hyperactivity that interferes with daily life. It involves working alongside another person while completing tasks like homework and household chores. Body doubling is also sometimes referred to as having an accountability partner or (when done remotely) virtual coworking.
What Is Executive Dysfunction?
How Body Doubling for ADHD Works
Body doubling may help curb ADHD symptoms associated withexecutive functioningskills (i.e., skills like time management, focus, and memory), attention and motivation, and emotions. There isn’t enough clinical research on body doubling for ADHD to explain how exactly this productivity method works.
However, neuroimaging studies show coredifferences in brain structure and functioning between people living with ADHD and people living without ADHD(i.e., people with neurotypical brain structure and functioning).
ADHD Body Doubling vs. ADHD MirroringBody doubling is not the same as ADHD mirroring, a type of masking in which you mimic the characteristics and behaviors of other people to fit into neurotypical expectations and norms.
ADHD Body Doubling vs. ADHD Mirroring
Body doubling is not the same as ADHD mirroring, a type of masking in which you mimic the characteristics and behaviors of other people to fit into neurotypical expectations and norms.
Benefits of Body Doubling for ADHD
The following are potential benefits of body doubling for ADHD:
Activation
While everyoneprocrastinatesfrom time to time, people living with ADHD can experience a feeling of analysis paralysis when it comes to picking a project and getting started on the next steps. ADHD paralysis is an intense feeling of overwhelm or overstimulation.
Body doubling may be helpful in part because it adds just enough pressure on someone with ADHD to choose a project.
Motivation
Body doubling may help someone with ADHD maintain motivation in several different ways. The social aspect of body doubling, for example, can have a direct andpositive impact on levels of dopamine(a neurotransmitter and hormone that mediates pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation).
People living with ADHD are characterized as having dulled responses to dopamine and difficulty in responding to dopamine signals responsible for motivation and pleasure.
Body doubling may also help with motivation because it’s a way of actively holding you accountable to someone else, similar to asking a buddy to join you at the gym. Increased accountability may help improve self-management and productivity.
ADHD Symptoms in Women and Common Treatments
Emotional Regulation
Signs of Inattentive ADHD and How to Treat It
Drawbacks of Body Doubling for ADHD
The following are possible drawbacks of using body doubling for ADHD:
Distraction
Body doubling doesn’t ensure a distraction-free zone, so it’s important to determine who would work best as your body double. Choosing a friend, for example, may make it challenging to maintain a productive environment.
Another distraction that can interrupt workflow is having to constantly check in with the body double.
While distractions can occur, you have the power to adjust the level of social interaction during these coworking sessions to suit your unique needs.
Shame
Shame can arise if you try body doubling for productivity and find it distracting or even frustrating. Being held accountable can also increase feelings of shame if, for whatever reason, the task doesn’t get completed on time.
Unfortunately, this type of performance-based shame and failure to meet expectations is not new to someone living with ADHD.
Dealing With ADHD ShameIf you’re experiencing shame associated with ADHD, experts suggest some of the best ways of combating it are:Releasing the idea of perfectionAccepting yourself as you are right nowFinding humor in situations
Dealing With ADHD Shame
If you’re experiencing shame associated with ADHD, experts suggest some of the best ways of combating it are:Releasing the idea of perfectionAccepting yourself as you are right nowFinding humor in situations
If you’re experiencing shame associated with ADHD, experts suggest some of the best ways of combating it are:
How Effective Is Body Doubling for ADHD?
Body doubling has been referred to as a revolutionary strategy for people with and without ADHD. Some people with ADHD find it effective simply to have someone around, even without consulting, organizing, or strategizing.
How effective body doubling is depends on several factors, including what other treatments you may or may not be using to manage ADHD symptoms.
Other Treatments for ADHD
Othertreatments for ADHDmay be necessary to help reduce symptoms to a functional level in order to start body doubling or to help you get the most out of body doubling.Medicationis the first line of treatment for ADHD, and is highly effective in reducing symptoms.
Treatment options for ADHD include:
How Effective Are ADHD Medications?Some 70% to 80% of children with ADHD have fewer symptoms when taking stimulant medications.
How Effective Are ADHD Medications?
Some 70% to 80% of children with ADHD have fewer symptoms when taking stimulant medications.
If you’re experiencing adverse side effects after taking ADHD medication, don’t hesitate to ask for help from your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Summary
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHAAD) National Resource Center.Could a body double help you increase your productivity?Focusmate.How a body double can help you stay focused and productive.da Silva BS, Grevet EH, Silva LCF, Ramos JKN, Rovaris DL, Bau CHD.An overview on neurobiology and therapeutics of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Discov Ment Health. 2023;3(1):2. doi:10.1007/s44192-022-00030-1Attention Deficit Disorder Association.ADHD paralysis.Talk Space.Body doubling for ADHD.Blum K, Chen AL, Braverman ER, Comings DE, Chen TJ, Arcuri V, Blum SH, Downs BW, Waite RL, Notaro A, Lubar J, Williams L, Prihoda TJ, Palomo T, Oscar-Berman M.Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and reward deficiency syndrome.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2008;4(5):893-918. doi:10.2147/ndt.s2627Attention Deficit Disorder Association.The body double: A unique tool for getting things done.ADDitude Magazine.ADHD and the epidemic of shame.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of ADHD.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHAAD) National Resource Center.Could a body double help you increase your productivity?Focusmate.How a body double can help you stay focused and productive.da Silva BS, Grevet EH, Silva LCF, Ramos JKN, Rovaris DL, Bau CHD.An overview on neurobiology and therapeutics of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Discov Ment Health. 2023;3(1):2. doi:10.1007/s44192-022-00030-1Attention Deficit Disorder Association.ADHD paralysis.Talk Space.Body doubling for ADHD.Blum K, Chen AL, Braverman ER, Comings DE, Chen TJ, Arcuri V, Blum SH, Downs BW, Waite RL, Notaro A, Lubar J, Williams L, Prihoda TJ, Palomo T, Oscar-Berman M.Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and reward deficiency syndrome.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2008;4(5):893-918. doi:10.2147/ndt.s2627Attention Deficit Disorder Association.The body double: A unique tool for getting things done.ADDitude Magazine.ADHD and the epidemic of shame.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of ADHD.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHAAD) National Resource Center.Could a body double help you increase your productivity?Focusmate.How a body double can help you stay focused and productive.da Silva BS, Grevet EH, Silva LCF, Ramos JKN, Rovaris DL, Bau CHD.An overview on neurobiology and therapeutics of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Discov Ment Health. 2023;3(1):2. doi:10.1007/s44192-022-00030-1Attention Deficit Disorder Association.ADHD paralysis.Talk Space.Body doubling for ADHD.Blum K, Chen AL, Braverman ER, Comings DE, Chen TJ, Arcuri V, Blum SH, Downs BW, Waite RL, Notaro A, Lubar J, Williams L, Prihoda TJ, Palomo T, Oscar-Berman M.Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and reward deficiency syndrome.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2008;4(5):893-918. doi:10.2147/ndt.s2627Attention Deficit Disorder Association.The body double: A unique tool for getting things done.ADDitude Magazine.ADHD and the epidemic of shame.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of ADHD.
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHAAD) National Resource Center.Could a body double help you increase your productivity?
Focusmate.How a body double can help you stay focused and productive.
da Silva BS, Grevet EH, Silva LCF, Ramos JKN, Rovaris DL, Bau CHD.An overview on neurobiology and therapeutics of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Discov Ment Health. 2023;3(1):2. doi:10.1007/s44192-022-00030-1
Attention Deficit Disorder Association.ADHD paralysis.
Talk Space.Body doubling for ADHD.
Blum K, Chen AL, Braverman ER, Comings DE, Chen TJ, Arcuri V, Blum SH, Downs BW, Waite RL, Notaro A, Lubar J, Williams L, Prihoda TJ, Palomo T, Oscar-Berman M.Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and reward deficiency syndrome.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2008;4(5):893-918. doi:10.2147/ndt.s2627
Attention Deficit Disorder Association.The body double: A unique tool for getting things done.
ADDitude Magazine.ADHD and the epidemic of shame.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of ADHD.
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