What's a common thread between ADHD and the asexuality spectrum? The answer might surprise you.
A while back, an ADHD user said in response to my question, “how did mindfulness exercises go?” a single word, “dissociation.”
It was only long after I had replied, that I had to remind myself that people think of dissociation as a scary thing.
I had to remind myself that a psychotherapist I once knew was pretty unorthodox, and gave me perspective on the matter that defused all the mysteriousness and internalized socialized discomfort surrounding it, which is ultimately rooted in both fear of the unknown or unfamiliar, and maybe a little bit of stigma, too.
Naturally, I do not talk about these sorts of things with general people IRL, so newly having a ‘conversation’ online about it did not jostle my awareness of others’ attitudes like it probably should have.
Things like anxiety and ADHD are, let’s say, more “ordinary” neurodivergences. (remember, the word applies to ALL mental illnesses, also, not just traits. Many don't consider most cases of ADHD an 'illness,' nor a lot of presentations of autism)
Those are more "ordinary." They don’t mash that “this is weird” button, so much as simply “this is very unpleasant.”
But dissociation can be the former, and not the latter.
Let me back up and explain that a bit.
People see dissociation as undesirable.
But why is it, you should ask.
Leave aside questions of physical safety. I’m just talking about sitting down somewhere, and there is no risk to you.
In the typical view, it’s not just another operation the brain can do, or an altered mind state, as we discussed it, rather, it is somehow considered a “bad” outcome.
When, ironically, for many forms of mind training, which we’ll put under the umbrella term “meditation” for simplicity’s sake, the end goal is a type of on-command dissociative state.
Whether you are internalizing your attention, externalizing your attention, or just trying to get that danged mind chatter to shut up for once and give you some peace, whichever way you are sliding along that scale, there is always the route open to you to pursue this ultimate peace.
So this person, who was trying out mindfulness?
Think, if you switched all the aircraft cockpit switches to check if everything was lighting up correctly. But instead of being an experienced pilot, you had no idea what would happen once you started testing everything out.
Accidentally withdrawing your physical senses, and seeming to distance your “self” from your body, which experienced practitioners do without batting an eye, (pun intended) would seem like a dysfunction rather than a built-in feature.
Quieting those areas of the brain dedicated to sense perception is quite a lovely experience, when you are educated on it, do it on purpose, and expect it.
Whereas anxiety is almost never a positive experience, unless it’s not really overwhelming or potent, and you’ve 'reframed' it such that it’s exciting, like any other adrenaline junkie bender.
The milder forms of dissociation, termed depersonalization or derealization, that seem to be quite common among asexual people, are also often considered as a negative thing, instead of just the current, value-neutral state of mind, which is trainable.
A much more common and even milder form happens when we sink into routine. Ever had a stretch of weeks on a job where you look back and you feel like you were sort of “automated”? Like you weren’t really present? You’re somehow a little surprised that that much time has passed?
That “time dilation,” accompanied also sometimes by a distorted sense of chronological sequence happens a lot with ADHD people, regardless of circumstances, but most everyone in the populace has experienced it at some point, barring perhaps the super privileged who have never been forced into a literally “mind numbing” job.
Maybe you’ve also experienced the sensation where you get into a car, perhaps when you’re on a familiar route you’ve driven a thousand times, or especially on long road trips, and you seem to zone out and lose time.
The brain is pretty good at conserving energy.
This is what she tells her patients, to calm their sympathetic nervous system. It circumvents that distress, that health-sapping stress response to this ultimately harmless “weird” experience, vastly improving their quality of life:
Dissociation is a continuum- many forms of it are common. Not some super strange thing corralled in a small corner of the sum total of human experience.
“Reframing” these things is essential to attaining incrementally improved mental health.
Clearing away all the internalized judgement, the feelings of wrongness, etc.
Just one more step out of the norm.
Just another neurodivergence.
It is conceptualized as unnerving when it happens suddenly and sharply, though, because it is so different from “ordinary” everyday experience.
The same way one person who hasn’t been around dogs much might react to a large dog barking with fear, and another person standing next to them having the exact same experience, trained and knowledgeable in recognizing true aggression versus excitement or mild warning, would not feel threatened.
Yes, having that particular toggle out of your grasp may be annoying and to those not given this perspective, frightening. (And if other personalities are involved, that gets much more complicated!!) But, consider. One of my mentors said calmly once, that she lost time for, say, 10 or 15 minutes while sitting down quite regularly, and felt very recharged and energized afterwards. It’s not exactly like sleep, because there’s not that head nodding and relaxation of muscles. Almost instantly gone, and instantly aware again, not that feathery transition as happens when drowsing or gradually falling asleep.
I hypothesize to her that this had probably started up because she’s involuntarily dropping into a deep delta or theta brainwave state for a bit, because that’s what she does in ‘brain entrainment’ recordings. (The frequencies are very good for relaxation when you're anxious and have a hard time unwinding yourself, others are good for focus during studying, and are therefore used by ADHD people) Unless she wants to pay some big lab to measure her neuron firing frequency though, there’s no way to tell for sure. The point is, that she directly benefits from this ‘taking a break’ from thinking. She is not bothered in the least by her mind occasionally saying, ‘you know what, I’m overwhelmed right now, gonna switch off for a bit.’ When someone gives their mind this permission to pause from its worries and senses, each the internal and external input, sometimes this is the outcome. It is not a problem to her whatsoever that this toggle occasionally moves of its own accord.
People are afraid of what they don’t understand.
But she understands it.
People are afraid of new experiences.
But to her, it’s old hat.
On an MRI, each of the parts of the brain dedicated to the senses dim. Occipital lobe for sight, temporal lobe for hearing, etc.
If I were brushed up on the neuroanatomy of this process better, I could also name the parts dedicated to internal imput that would grow dimmer as she entered that state. Heck, they study this stuff so much, when interviewing meditation practitioners and testing for stuff like blood flow changes as their attention shifts, those images probably already exist.
Dissociation is not a mysterious thing.
It serves a purpose.
It’s your brain’s ‘energy saver’ mode.
Or in some cases, ‘recharge.’
So, to the person who argued that ADHD people should be cautious about using mindfulness? I must ask again, why?
Why would you forgo the benefits? Why would they tell others to do so??
Usually the main reasons dissociation causes problems, that aforementioned therapist says, is that people are overloaded to the point where it happens not when they’re relaxed, and can daydream or drift, but randomly when there’s too much pressure in their lives.
The fear response to it is just like any other overactive fear response or phobia- with time and therapeutic work, they are all resolvable.
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#this post is NOT about dissociative identity disorder #only mentioned it in passing to separate it from the discussion
What Is Brain Entrainment and How Does It Affect Focus
Brain entrainment refers to a process where external stimuli such as sound frequencies influence the brain’s natural electrical activity. The brain constantly produces electrical patterns known as brain waves, and these waves change depending on mental states such as concentration, relaxation or sleep.
When certain rhythmic sounds or frequencies are introduced, the brain may begin to synchronize with those patterns. This process is often described as brainwave entrainment. Researchers have explored how specific frequencies may encourage states associated with improved focus, creativity and relaxation.
For example, alpha brain waves are commonly linked with calm concentration. When the brain shifts into this state, people may experience clearer thinking and improved ability to absorb information.
Because of these potential effects, audio programs designed around brain entrainment have gained popularity among individuals seeking to improve cognitive performance.
One example is Dr James Rivers Genius Wave, a sound-based program designed to encourage brainwave patterns associated with creativity and mental clarity.
People interested in understanding how the technology works often explore resources such as this Dr James Rivers Genius Wave Review, which explains how the audio frequencies are intended to stimulate certain brain states.
Although research into brain entrainment continues, many individuals are exploring how sound technology may complement traditional methods of improving focus and productivity.
The Brain Song Review – Can Sound Frequencies Really Help Your Brain?
Modern life is noisy, fast, and mentally demanding. If you’re juggling work, screens, and constant distractions, it’s easy to feel mentally foggy or unfocused by the end of the day. That’s why many people are now exploring gentle, non-invasive tools to support brain performance. One that’s been getting a lot of attention is The Brain Song, a short daily audio program created by neuroscientist Dr James Rivers.
Rather than relying on supplements, caffeine, or complicated training apps, The Brain Song claims to support focus, clarity, and memory simply by listening to a specially designed 17-minute audio track. It sounds almost too simple — but that simplicity is exactly what appeals to people who are already overloaded.
Click here to visit The Brain Song Official Website and see how it works.
What Makes The Brain Song Different?
The Brain Song is built around the idea of brainwave entrainment — using specific sound frequencies to guide the brain into a more optimal state for thinking and recall. According to Dr James Rivers, the audio is tuned to stimulate gamma brainwaves, which are linked with learning, information processing, and mental sharpness.
Your brain naturally moves through different wave patterns throughout the day. When you’re tired, stressed, or distracted, your brain may not be operating in a state that supports clear thinking. The Brain Song aims to gently nudge your brain toward a more focused and alert rhythm using sound alone.
You don’t need to meditate, visualise, or concentrate on anything specific. You simply listen through headphones once per day. Many people use it in the morning to feel more alert, while others listen in the evening as part of a wind-down routine.
What Kind of Results Do Users Report?
People who use The Brain Song consistently often describe subtle but meaningful improvements over time. These may include:
Clearer thinking during work or study
Better concentration for longer periods
Reduced mental fatigue
Improved memory recall
A calmer, more focused mindset
It’s important to be realistic — this isn’t a one-listen miracle solution. Most users who report positive results mention that the benefits become more noticeable after regular daily use. Like many brain-based tools, consistency plays a big role in what you experience.
If you want a deeper breakdown of how the program works, the science behind it, and real-world experiences, you can read this detailed Dr James Rivers Brain Song Review which goes into more depth.
Is There Any Real Science Behind It?
The Brain Song is based on sound-based brain stimulation concepts that have been explored in research related to relaxation, focus, and mental states. Gamma brainwaves, which the audio is designed to encourage, are associated with memory formation and high-level thinking.
While no audio program can replace healthy habits like proper sleep, hydration, and mental engagement, guiding your brain into a more focused state may help support better performance when combined with those habits. Think of The Brain Song as a supportive tool rather than a cure-all.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Easy to use – just listen once per day
No supplements or stimulants involved
Fits into busy schedules
Created by Dr James Rivers using neuroscience principles
Backed by a money-back guarantee
Cons:
Results vary between individuals
Requires daily consistency
Some people may notice gradual rather than instant changes
Try It Without Risk
One of the biggest advantages of The Brain Song is the money-back guarantee. This gives you the chance to test it properly and see whether it supports your focus and mental clarity. If you don’t notice any benefit, you can request a refund.
Click here to visit The Brain Song Official Website and see what’s included.
Final Verdict – Who Is The Brain Song For?
If you’re feeling mentally stretched, distracted, or foggy, The Brain Song offers a simple way to experiment with sound-based brain support without adding more to your to-do list. You just listen for 17 minutes a day and let your brain respond naturally over time.
Because of the refund policy, it’s a low-risk way to try something new. You might notice clearer thinking, better focus, and improved recall — and if not, you’re not locked in.
Click here to go to The Brain Song Official Website and decide if it’s right for you.
The Brain Songs Original is a scientifically developed digital soundwave program designed to enhance memory, focus, and overall brain performance using advanced neuroscience and sound technology. Created by a team of dedicated researchers, it harnesses the power of sound frequencies to stimulate the brain’s natural Gamma waves—the same brainwaves linked to better learning, sharper recall, and elevated mental clarity.
Unlike supplements or complex brain exercises, The Brain Songs Original is simple and effortless. Users only need to listen for 12 minutes a day using headphones to experience the brain-boosting benefits. The soundwave gently guides the mind into a Gamma state through a process called brain entrainment, which helps support healthy brain clearance and improve cognitive function at any age.
This innovative program, often referred to as “The Brain Song,” is based on groundbreaking research, including studies from MIT’s Brain Aging Initiative that explored how sound frequencies can activate the brain’s waste removal system. By activating these natural brain processes, The Brain Songs Original helps users think more clearly, remember more effectively, and feel mentally rejuvenated.
Delivered digitally for instant access, The Brain Songs Original is a convenient at-home solution for anyone seeking a natural, science-backed way to unlock their brain’s potential and experience clearer, stronger, and more confident thinking.
The Brain soungs original, a revolutionary program that uses special sounds to activate your brain, helping you attract money and success ef
Headphones are recommended. Please take the time to properly set your volume to a low and comfortable level. For optimal results, you should listen to this while resting with your eyes closed.
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