ADHD & “Possibility Popping” (Blog)

Possibility Popping: Endless Scenarios, Zero Decisions

Have you ever tried to make a decision, something as simple as “What should I do next?” and suddenly your brain starts spinning through every possible option?

You start with one idea, then think of five more. Each of those branches into another five. Before you know it, you’re forty tabs deep in your own mental browser, wondering how you ended up trying to choose between starting a new business or learning Italian.

Welcome to what I call Possibility Popping, an ADHD superpower (and curse) where your brain doesn’t just consider the next step… it imagines all the possible steps, outcomes, and side quests.

The Gift Hiding in the Chaos

One of the most amazing things about the ADHD brain is how quickly it can assess a situation, imagine outcomes, and see opportunities other people might completely miss.

That’s why so many do well in fast-paced, high-stakes situations that involve emergencies, brainstorming sessions, and creative problem-solving. When time is short, your brain locks in. You can see multiple routes and land on the right one fast.

But when there’s no time limit or too many open-ended choices?
That same gift turns into a whirlwind.

You can end up exploring options behind options behind options, like walking down a hallway lined with doors, and every time you open one, you find twenty more behind it.

At first, it’s exciting. Then it’s overwhelming. And before long, you’ve forgotten what door you even started with.

So… What Do You Do When Your Brain Won’t Stop Popping Possibilities?

Here’s what helps:

1. Talk It Out

There’s something powerful about saying your thoughts out loud.
Grab a friend, coach, or even your notes app and just start talking through the problem. Often, clarity appears the moment you stop thinking in circles and start hearing yourself.

2. Come Back to the Original Question

When you catch yourself spinning, pause and ask:

“Wait, what was I actually trying to figure out?”
Sometimes, we get lost in exploring interesting but unrelated tangents. Anchoring back to the original question brings you home.

3. Start Shutting Doors

You don’t have to consider every possibility.
Some options just don’t fit your resources, time, or current priorities. Close those doors gently — you’re not saying “never,” you’re saying “not right now.”

4. Focus on the First Row of Doors

Your brain will always generate new ideas. That’s not the problem.
The trick is to focus only on the few doors right in front of you. Ask: What’s the next small step that moves me forward today?

5. Let Go of the Perfect Path

ADHD brains love the hunt for the “perfect” option - the one where nothing goes wrong and everything feels right.
But perfectionism is just another form of paralysis.
Progress beats perfect every time. You can adjust course later. You always do.

Noticing It in Real Life

The hardest part of handling Possibility Popping is realizing when it’s happening.

You might start journaling those moments, or talk about them with a therapist, coach, or supportive friend. Once you begin to recognize the signs (“Oh, I’m popping again!”), you can start choosing differently.

Instead of spinning in your head, try:

• Saying your thoughts out loud.

• Writing down the top three options and circling one.

• Giving yourself a small time box to decide.

Don’t aim to stop your brain from exploring. Aim to guide it.

Turning Possibility Popping into Possibility Power

I like to think of this trait as a wild, creative energy like fireworks.
When it’s scattered, it’s overwhelming. But when you channel it, it’s brilliant.

Your ADHD brain’s ability to see possibilities is part of what makes you inventive, resilient, and full of ideas. The goal isn’t to tame that; it’s to learn when to pause, focus, and take one clear step forward.

So the next time your mind starts opening a hundred mental doors, take a breath and ask yourself:

“Which door will move me forward right now?”

You don’t need to walk through them all. Just one is enough to start.

(For alternate ways to see this concept discussed, check out my PDF/worksheet here or my slides version of this concept here)