ADHD, Body Doubling & Fibromyalgia: The Science of Working Together

Hi Friend

I hope you are having a brilliant weekend so far! This week we will connect the dots between ADHD/ fibromyalgia and ME!

✍️ Body Copy

People with ADHD often describe knowing exactly what they need to do but feeling stuck when it comes to starting. This is not about laziness — it’s rooted in brain changes linked to ADHD.

ADHD brains show differences in executive function circuits, especially in the prefrontal cortex, and in dopamine signalling. These networks help us initiate action, sustain attention, and organise tasks. When dopamine levels don’t rise enough in response to routine or unexciting activities, the brain struggles to shift into “go mode.”

👥 What is Body Doubling?

Body doubling is the practice of working alongside another person — either physically or virtually — while you complete a task. You don’t need to be doing the same thing. Their presence alone acts as a regulating force for your attention. This is why it is being trialled and will be included in my online platform which will really help fibromyalgia and ME sufferers!

Think of it as a “focus companion”: someone who helps anchor your wandering brain so you can finally get started.

🔬 Why Body Doubling Works (The Science)

1. Accountability & Social Pressure

   • Humans are social beings. When someone is present, your brain is more likely to stay on task because of an unconscious desire to be seen as productive. This is related to the “social facilitation effect” — performance improves when others are around.

2. External Structure

   • ADHD brains often struggle with internal self-organisation. Body doubling provides an external scaffold: a defined start time, a partner working in parallel, and a sense of shared structure that reduces decision fatigue.

3. Co-Regulation of Attention

   • Neuroscience shows that people’s brain activity can synchronise when they share tasks or environments. Having another person concentrating nearby helps “pull” your focus back when it drifts.

4. Reward System Activation

   • Social interaction boosts dopamine and oxytocin. These chemicals make tasks feel more rewarding and less effortful, which directly addresses one of ADHD’s biggest challenges — reduced dopamine release in response to non-stimulating tasks.

5. Reduced Overwhelm

   • Big tasks trigger avoidance when tackled alone. The presence of a body double makes the task feel smaller and safer, like you’re not carrying the load by yourself.

🔗 Why This Helps in Fibromyalgia & ME

People with fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, and long COVID often report “fibro fog” or brain fog: difficulty with focus, memory, and task initiation. This shares similarities with ADHD in how executive function and dopamine pathways are affected.

• Chronic pain and fatigue drain mental energy, making it hard to start tasks.

• Nervous system dysregulation makes motivation unreliable.

• Social connection helps stabilise attention and mood.

That’s why a technique developed for ADHD — body doubling — can also support people with chronic illness. It creates external accountability, breaks through inertia, and gently re-engages the brain.

✅ How to Try Body Doubling This Week

• At home: Ask a partner, friend, or family member to sit with you while you complete a task. They can read, work, or just be present.

• Virtually: Join a co-working call, even if it’s silent. Just seeing someone else on screen can provide enough anchor.

• Timed sessions: Try 25–50 minutes of focus together, then take a short break.

• Chronic illness tip: Use body doubling for low-energy tasks (emails, tidying, light admin) on flare days — it helps you get things done without overexerting.

📣 Closing CTA

At Mend Collective my online community for fibro and ME, we’re trialling live online body doubling sessions for members. Whether you’re managing ADHD, fibromyalgia, ME, or long COVID, this simple but powerful tool can make a real difference. I will let you know when the platform goes live!!

If you havnt’t already you can join the waitlist HERE.

Because sometimes, the best way forward is together.

Stay Well

Dr Ahmed