Attention Different | Adulting with ADHD Navy Helicopter Pilot to ADHD Coach! — with Tori Throckmorton
Apr 15, 2026
Tori Throckmorton, former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot turned ADHD coach, shares her late ADHD diagnosis and shift from fear-driven survival to interest-based motivation. She explores burnout from chronic stress. She explains the interest-based nervous system, positive versus negative activation, and practical ways to build sustainable motivation.
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Joining The Naval Academy To Avoid Decision Overload
- Tori joined the U.S. Naval Academy because the structure removed decisions she found overwhelming.
- She chose the Academy for predictable rules, provided uniforms, meals, stipend, and built-in community despite not knowing her interests.
Awake Anxious Or Relaxed Asleep Nervous System
- Tori describes living in two modes: awake-anxious or relaxed-asleep, with no awake-and-relaxed middle.
- She maintained high performance by terrifying herself into focus, which felt effective but was physiologically damaging over time.
ADHD As An Interest Based Nervous System
- Tori reframes ADHD as an interest-based nervous system rooted in research by Thomas Brown and Nora Volkow.
- ADHD brains access full capacity for intrinsically interesting tasks but often rely on fear-based activation instead.