There’s a specific kind of dread that comes with facing healthcare and insurance tasks when you’re already overwhelmed. You know the feeling. It’s like standing in the middle of a cluttered room. You know you have to clean it up. You don’t know where to start. Instead of reaching for a broom, you just… stand there. Frozen. Except now, it’s not a cluttered room; it’s your life, your health, your body. And that’s a hell of a thing to feel stuck about.

Let’s be honest: healthcare in this country is a nightmare. It’s convoluted by design. Dealing with it often feels like you’re fighting a system that doesn’t care whether you win or lose. If you’re grappling with executive dysfunction on top of that? You’re in quicksand.

Why Healthcare Tasks Feel Impossible Sometimes

Executive dysfunction can make even the simplest tasks (like booking a doctor’s appointment or sorting through insurance statements) feel insurmountable. Your brain feels like it’s buffering, circling around what needs to get done without ever loading the page. Maybe you tell yourself, “I’ll do it tomorrow.” Then tomorrow comes, and the pile of unopened envelopes looks even more menacing.

And the shame? The shame of knowing you need to take care of something important but just… can’t? It’s unbearable. You start to believe the lies your brain whispers: “You’re lazy. You’re irresponsible. You’ll never get it together.”

But those lies are just that: lies. You’re not lazy. You’re not irresponsible. You’re navigating a system that was never designed to be navigable. Your brain is working overtime just to keep you afloat.

Breaking Free: Small Steps to Get Started

The key to getting unstuck is to start small. I know it sounds cliché, but hear me out: when your brain tells you to give up before you even begin, break the task into tiny, bite-sized pieces. This can make it feel less overwhelming. Here’s how:

1. Pick One Task—Just One. Maybe it’s scheduling an appointment. Maybe it’s logging into your insurance portal to check a claim. Choose one thing and focus only on that. Forget the rest of the mountain for now; just move one pebble.
2. Set a Timer. Give yourself 10 minutes to work on it. Sometimes, knowing there’s a time limit makes starting feel less intimidating. When the timer goes off, you can stop if you want—but chances are, you’ll keep going.
3. Use Tools That Help You Stay Organized. Make friends with your calendar, to-do lists, or even a stack of sticky notes. Write down what needs to be done and when. Seeing it laid out visually can help quiet the chaos in your head.
5. Ask for Help. You don’t have to do this alone. If you have someone you trust, ask them to sit with you. They can be there while you make that call or sort through that stack of papers. Sometimes, just having company makes the task less daunting.

The Importance of Compassion

Let me tell you something you may not want to hear: you’re doing enough. Even when it feels like you’re not. Even when the paperwork is piling up, and you haven’t made that call yet. You are navigating a system that’s cruel and complicated, and the fact that you care enough to feel guilty? That means something.

So, when you do take that first step (no matter how small it feels) celebrate it. Did you write down your health insurance login info? Hell yes. Did you finally open the email from your doctor’s office? Amazing. Progress is progress, no matter how small.

The Liberation of Action

Once you start moving, something magical happens: momentum builds. That one appointment you scheduled turns into a second. The first claim you submitted inspires you to tackle the next. The process isn’t always linear. It’s definitely not easy. However, each step forward moves you further away from that frozen, stuck feeling.

And the best part? You don’t have to be perfect at this. You just have to start. One step. One task. One moment of believing that you are capable of navigating this, even when it feels impossible.

Because you are. You’ve got this.