Built for ADHD brains – structured support for executive function challenges.
Before the feeling has a name, the body already knows something. This reference maps physical sensations by location to the emotions they tend to signal - and includes a blank map for your own patterns.
A director of operations with ADHD who freezes during high-stakes decisions. They describe feeling "stuck" when multiple priorities compete but cannot identify what the physical experience of being stuck actually feels like. Recent promotion increased decision frequency and visibility.
Frame this as a diagnostic tool for decision-making patterns. 'When you hit that wall where you can't choose, your body is sending signals before your brain registers the problem. We need to map those early warning signs.' ADHD brains often miss the physical buildup to overwhelm - this tool catches it earlier in the sequence.
ADHD clients often write vague sensations like 'weird' or 'off' rather than specific physical descriptions. If they complete the reference table quickly but struggle with personal examples, they are working from concepts, not experience. Watch for entries that are emotions disguised as sensations.
Start with the body areas they left blank - those are often where the strongest signals live but haven't been connected to language yet. Ask: 'When you were stuck on the budget decision last week, where in your body did you feel it first?' The goal is connecting past decision points to physical patterns.
If the client cannot identify any physical sensations at all, this may indicate alexithymia or dissociation beyond typical ADHD interoception challenges. Severity: moderate. Response: continue coaching but consider whether additional support for body awareness would be helpful before returning to this tool.
A VP of marketing who can analyze team dynamics and customer psychology but describes their own emotional experience in clinical terms. They seek coaching for 'emotional intelligence development' but resist any approach that requires sitting with feelings rather than thinking about them.
Present this as a performance optimization tool, not emotional work. 'Your body processes information faster than your conscious mind. These signals are data about situations before you have time to analyze them.' Expect resistance to the feelings vocabulary - frame emotions as information categories, not experiences to be felt.
This client will try to fill in the emotion column with analytical language - 'suboptimal stress response' instead of 'anxiety.' They may complete the reference table thoroughly but avoid personal examples. Look for entries that sound like they came from a psychology textbook rather than lived experience.
Start with the most neutral body areas first - head tension or shoulder tightness rather than heart or stomach. Ask: 'What decisions do you make differently when you notice that shoulder pattern?' Focus on the utility of the information rather than the emotional content. Avoid asking how feelings feel.
If the client cannot move from analytical language to any personal physical awareness after multiple attempts, the intellectualization may be protecting against trauma or overwhelming emotional content. Severity: low to moderate. Response: continue with body-as-information framing, but note the pattern for future sessions.
A recently promoted team lead who thought they handled conflict well until direct reports started bringing interpersonal issues to them. They describe feeling 'fine' during difficult conversations but notice they are exhausted afterward and avoid scheduling similar meetings.
Frame this as a leadership calibration tool. 'You are processing more emotional information than you realize during team conflicts. Your body is doing extra work that your mind is not accounting for.' This tool maps the hidden effort so they can factor it into their energy management and meeting preparation.
This client will likely have strong physical responses they have not connected to emotions - stomach tension, jaw clenching, or breath changes during conflict. They may be surprised by how much their body is registering. Watch for entries where the physical sensation is intense but the emotion column stays vague.
Start with the strongest physical sensations they identified. Ask: 'When you feel that stomach tightness, what usually happens next in the conversation?' Then: 'What would change if you caught that signal 30 seconds earlier?' Connect the body awareness to specific leadership choices rather than general emotional insight.
If the client discovers they have been dissociating during conflict - feeling nothing in their body during difficult conversations - this may indicate a trauma response rather than simple conflict avoidance. Severity: moderate. Response: continue coaching but explore whether the numbness is protective and whether additional support is needed.
A sales director who describes being 'amped up' before big presentations and client meetings but cannot distinguish between excitement and nervousness. They prepare the same way for opportunities they want and situations they dread, leading to mismatched energy and preparation strategies.
Present this as a preparation optimization tool. 'Right now you have one response to high-stakes situations, but excitement and anxiety need different preparation strategies. We need to map the physical differences so you can match your prep to what your body is actually telling you.' The goal is differentiation, not elimination of either feeling.
This client may initially write identical sensations for different emotions - 'butterflies' for both excitement and anxiety. Look for subtle differences they dismiss as unimportant: location, intensity, duration, or quality of the sensation. They may rush through the personal map because they think they already know their patterns.
Start with a specific recent example where they felt 'amped up.' Ask: 'Walk me through the physical sensation right before the Johnson presentation versus right before the board meeting. Same butterflies, or different?' Push for specificity: location, movement, temperature, intensity. The differences are often subtle but consistent.
If the client cannot distinguish between any emotions physically - everything feels the same or nothing feels like anything - this may indicate emotional numbing or a trauma response. Severity: low to moderate. Response: continue coaching but note whether the lack of differentiation extends beyond excitement/anxiety to other emotion pairs.
ADHD adult who reacts to situations based on assumptions rather than facts
ADHDADHD adult whose attention defaults to what went wrong rather than what's working
WellnessA client who holds themselves to a standard they'd never apply to anyone else
