ADHD Isn’t Just a Kid Thing

The ADHD symptoms we see in kids: hyperactivity, distractibility, impulsiveness, don’t just disappear when we turn 18. They grow up with us. They shape how we work, how we parent, how we manage relationships, money, laundry, and everything in between.

And often, they hide behind labels like “lazy,” “flaky,” “disorganized,” or “overwhelmed.”

Here’s what adult ADHD can look like:

• Starting 12 projects at once and finishing none of them

• Forgetting appointments, then beating yourself up for it

• Getting stuck in “analysis paralysis” and never sending the email

• Feeling guilty about being behind... while doing nothing because of the guilt

• Saying “yes” to too many things because you don’t want to disappoint anyone

• Avoiding tasks that feel impossible but would take 10 minutes if you could just star

The Mental Load is Relentless

• Living with ADHD often means carrying a secret: you're trying harder than anyone realizes, just to manage the basics. You’re constantly self-monitoring, compensating, apologizing, and trying not to drop the ball, again.

  It’s exhausting. And it doesn’t mean you’re not smart, capable, or hard-working.

  It means your brain operates differently. And unfortunately, the world isn't really built for brains like ours.

So What Helps?

You’ll find no magic cures here, but I can share a few things that help me (and others I know) move through the chaos:

• Externalize everything. Write it down. All of it. Your brain is not a whiteboard, it's a snow globe.

• Timers are your friend. Use the “10-minute trick” to get started on hard tasks. It often helps beat the wall of dread.

• Chunk your day. Instead of a long, overwhelming to-do list, break your time into blocks with 1–2 focus goals.

• Build in recovery time. Focus takes energy. So does masking, self-monitoring, and overthinking. Rest matters.

• Find what works for you. The planner that works for your coworker might not work for you. And that’s fine.

• Use body doubling. Work beside someone else (even on Zoom). The accountability helps your brain engage.

You’re Not Failing, You’re Navigating Differently

If you’re living with ADHD, especially if you were diagnosed later in life, you’ve probably spent years trying to “catch up” to what others seem to manage easily. You might feel ashamed, disorganized, or behind.

But here’s the truth: Your effort is not invisible. Your small wins count. Your brain is not broken, it’s just wired for a different rhythm.

You may need supports others don’t. You may need to approach tasks differently. But that doesn’t make you less capable.

And if today all you did was keep showing up? That’s still something.

Celebrate that. Learn your patterns. Be kind to yourself in the process. ADHD is a challenge, but it’s not a flaw.

I am here for you.

Lynny