HealthLinks Upstate Jan-April 2023

58 | www.Ups tatePhys i c i ansSC . com | www.Hea l thL i nksUps tate. com “Procrastination is like a credit card: It’s a lot of fun until you get the bill,” English actor Christopher Parker once said. Most procrastinators, and the family and friends who surround them, would probably agree. Deep down, people know that postponing work is a bad plan and often hazardous to good results; yet they do it. That short emotional lift that comes with putting off a project is rewarding and deceives procrastinators into believing they have everything under control – that is, until nagging guilt, increased anxiety or a boss snaps them back to reality. The project still remains. Habitual procrastinating, research confirms, can have serious adverse consequences that may negatively impact a person’s mental and physical health, personal relationships, education trajectory, career path and financial success. So why do people knowingly – and repeatedly – procrastinate? Several local and state therapists weigh in on the answers and offer some of their best suggestions for curbing this self-sabotaging behavior. All agree that chronic procrastination is a much more complex issue than a simple matter of laziness, poor time management, disabilities or character flaws. “I find people who procrastinate are generally self-aware and usually understand at least some of the reasons they do it,” explained Brian Sullivan, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist in Charleston who is in his 28th year of practice. “Research points to several root causes and contributors, two of which are anxiety and depression.” Dr. Sullivan shares a three-fold approach with his clients: • Explore new efforts at self-care. • Look for ways to lessen the risk of negative consequences. • Develop new habits or ways to satisfy the needs that procrastination has been fulfilling. When depression or an anxiety disorder is linked to procrastination, he addresses those issues as well. Greenville’s Lorry G. May, LISW-CP, recognizes a link between an ADHD diagnosis, anxiety and dopamine deficiency. “When people with ADHD postpone tasks that seem overwhelming, their brain releases a pleasant reward of dopamine. Then, during the last-minute rush to complete a delayed activity, another dose of dopamine activates the adrenal glands to provide extra energy for the task at hand,” May explained. “Unless addressed, the immediate chemical rewards for procrastinating tend to win over the long-term goals for achievement and success.” May believes there may be a genetic factor at play, especially in cases where a client has ADHD symptoms. Procrastination could also be an adaptive behavior or learned as the result of living in a home with other procrastinators. May teaches her clients how to implement structure in their lives through calendars, planners, phone applications and any other tools they are willing to try. Creating schedules and to-do lists, using Post-it notes and sharing their efforts for positive feedback are also some of her helpful strategies. CURB PROCRASTINATION: IT’S NEVER TOO LATE! By Janet E. Perrigo

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