Stop Talking Yourself into Bad Ideas

How ADHD Turns Thoughts into Actions – and What Actually Helps

If you have ADHD, you probably know this pattern well. An idea pops into your head. It feels urgent, convincing, and somehow completely logical in the moment. You talk yourself into it quickly. Later, often very quickly, you’re left thinking: Why did I do that?

This isn’t poor judgement or lack of intelligence. It’s a recognised feature of ADHD. The good news is that once you understand why this happens, you can put practical systems in place to stop it happening so often.

At Ready Health, we help people with ADHD learn how to slow impulsive thinking, reduce regret, and make decisions that actually align with their long-term goals.

Why ADHD Makes Bad Ideas Feel Like Good Ones

ADHD affects the brain’s ability to pause, evaluate consequences, and regulate emotion. When a thought arrives, it often comes with:

• A strong emotional push

• A sense of urgency

• Immediate reward focus

• Reduced access to long-term consequences

In that moment, the brain is not asking, Is this sensible?
It’s asking, Does this relieve discomfort right now?

That’s why people with ADHD may:

• Impulse spend

• Send messages they later regret

• Quit things suddenly

• Agree to commitments they cannot sustain

• Make emotionally driven decisions that backfire

The Internal ADHD Sales Pitch

Many patients describe an internal voice that “sells” the idea convincingly:

• It’ll be fine

• I’ll deal with the consequences later

• This will make me feel better

• I deserve this after today

This is not dishonesty. It’s impaired inhibition combined with emotional reasoning. Once the emotional state settles, the logic often collapses.

How to Stop Talking Yourself into Bad Ideas

The aim is not to remove impulsive thoughts. Everyone has them. The aim is to build a pause between thought and action.

1. Externalise the Pause

The problem
Relying on internal self-control rarely works in ADHD.

What helps

• A written rule for big decisions (sleep on it, check with someone, revisit tomorrow)

• Using notes or voice memos instead of acting immediately

• Creating “if–then” plans for predictable triggers

This turns impulse into information rather than action.

2. Reduce Emotional Decision-Making

The problem
Decisions made in heightened emotional states are rarely good ones.

What helps

• Naming the emotional state before deciding

• Delaying decisions when tired, overwhelmed, or dysregulated

• Learning emotional regulation strategies

👉 ADHD coaching appointments from £70 focus heavily on this skill:
https://readyhealth.co.uk/book/adhd-coaching

Coaching helps you recognise when your brain is negotiating rather than thinking clearly.

3. Use Accountability on Purpose

The problem
ADHD brains often bypass internal warnings.

What helps

• One trusted person for sense-checking decisions

• Clear spending or commitment boundaries

• External accountability systems

This is not dependence. It’s intelligent scaffolding.

4. Medication Can Reduce the “Impulse Volume”

The problem
Impulses feel louder and harder to ignore without support.

What medication can help with

• Slowing thought-to-action speed

• Improving emotional regulation

• Increasing access to reflective thinking

👉 Medication titration appointments from £199 are available here:
https://readyhealth.co.uk/book/adhd-titration

Medication doesn’t remove personality or creativity. It gives you more choice.

When an ADHD Assessment Is the Missing Piece

Many adults spend years blaming themselves for impulsive behaviour without realising ADHD is driving it. A formal assessment provides clarity, validation, and a route to proper support.

👉 Comprehensive ADHD assessments from £499 can be booked here:
https://readyhealth.co.uk/book/adhd-clinic-services

Understanding your brain changes how you manage it.

This Is About Skill-Building, Not Self-Blame

Talking yourself into bad ideas is not a failure of character. It’s a predictable outcome of how ADHD affects impulse control and emotional processing.

With the right combination of:

• Insight

• Coaching

• Adaptive strategies

• Medication where appropriate

Most people see a significant reduction in regret-driven decisions.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to become more disciplined. You need better buffers between thoughts and actions. ADHD brains are fast, creative, and emotionally driven. When supported properly, they can also be thoughtful and intentional.

At Ready Health, we help you build that pause.

🔗 Book ADHD coaching from £70: https://readyhealth.co.uk/book/adhd-coaching
🔗 Book an ADHD assessment from £499: https://readyhealth.co.uk/book/adhd-clinic-services
🔗 Book medication titration from £199: https://readyhealth.co.uk/book/adhd-titration