How to Get Unstuck When You Can't Start
Using AI to break through ADHD paralysis.
🧱 The Wall of Awful
Brendan Mahan calls the emotional barrier to starting a task the "Wall of Awful." It's not just that the task is hard; it's that you've built up layers of shame, anxiety, and past failures around it.
You stare at the screen. You know what to do. You just... can't.
🧠 Why We Get Stuck: Executive Dysfunction
This isn't laziness. It's a failure of Executive Function—specifically, the "Activation" function. Your brain lacks the dopamine required to initiate the sequence.
To climb the Wall of Awful, you need:
- Novelty (New approach)
- Urgency (Deadlines)
- Interest (Gamification)
- Body Doubling (Support)
🤖 The "Unstuck" AI Agent
We built the Unstuck Tool to act as a compassionate, AI-powered body double.
It doesn't just say "do it." It negotiates with you.
- Identify the Block: Are you tired? Bored? Scared?
- Micro-Steps: It breaks the task down into laughably small steps (e.g., "Open the laptop" instead of "Write the essay").
- Dopamine Hits: It celebrates every tiny win.
⚔️ Other Tools for Paralysis
Task Breaker
If the project is too big, use the Task Breaker. It takes a vague goal like "Clean the house" and turns it into a checklist: "1. Pick up trash in living room. 2. Put dishes in sink..."
Goblin Mode
If you can't write perfectly, write garbage. Use Goblin Mode to dump your raw, messy thoughts ("I want to say that we need to buy more widgets because the old ones suck"). The AI will polish it into professional text for you.