Your body can give you useful information when you are deciding whether something feels right, too much, unsafe, or unwanted.
You do not need to treat every sensation as a command. The body is one source of information among many.
What might you notice?
You may notice:
- tight jaw
- clenched hands
- chest pressure
- fluttering or nausea in the stomach
- sudden fatigue
- restlessness
- urge to leave
- feeling frozen or stuck
- shallow breathing
- racing heart
- numbness
- feeling heavy
- difficulty finding words
- suddenly wanting to agree just to end the interaction
You may also notice openness, relief, interest, steadiness, or genuine willingness.
Try this
When someone asks something of you, pause and ask:
What is happening in my body right now?
Then ask:
- Is this pressure?
- Is this fear?
- Is this overload?
- Is this uncertainty?
- Is this a boundary?
- Do I need more information?
- Do I need more time?
Why this can be hard
Some ADHD women have spent years overriding discomfort, masking reactions, pushing through overload, or paying close attention to other people’s responses. Over time, your own signals may become harder to notice.
This does not mean you have failed at listening to yourself. It means noticing may need practice.
Start with curiosity rather than trying to interpret every sensation perfectly.