Wait, That’s ADHD Too?

Most people have a picture in their mind of what ADHD looks like: distracted, fidgety, bouncing-off-the-walls energy. But for many adults — especially women and people socialised to mask their struggles — ADHD shows up in quieter, more surprising ways.

Maybe you’ve wondered if something deeper is going on. Maybe you’ve felt like life is harder than it “should” be — but you’ve always managed to push through. Maybe you’ve been told you’re too sensitive, too intense, too inconsistent — or you’ve told yourself these things.

Let’s talk about the ADHD traits that often go unnoticed:

1. Hyperfocus (yes, not lack of focus!)

ADHD isn’t about a broken attention span — it’s about inconsistent attention regulation. You might struggle to focus on things that bore you… but fall into deep, immersive “flow” on topics or tasks you love. Hours pass. Hunger is forgotten. You’re not lazy — your brain just tunes in and out differently.

2. Emotional sensitivity

You feel things deeply. Rejection hits hard, even when it’s imagined. Conflict can feel unbearable. People often call it “overreacting,” but it’s actually a real part of how your nervous system responds to emotional input.

3. Fatigue and burnout

Living with undiagnosed or unsupported ADHD can be exhausting. Managing work, family, social life, and the invisible load of keeping it all together? It takes a toll. Many people with ADHD experience cycles of productivity followed by shutdown or overwhelm.

4. Demand avoidance

Sometimes it’s not that you don’t want to do the thing — it’s that you can’t. The pressure, expectation, or even internal “shoulds” trigger avoidance. This is especially common in people with both ADHD and autism traits.

5. Sensory sensitivities

Bright lights, scratchy fabrics, certain smells or sounds — they don’t just bother you; they feel like too much. This sensory overload can lead to irritability, shutdowns, or feeling the need to escape a situation quickly.

6. Time blindness

Struggling to estimate how long things take, running late even when you really don’t want to, or losing track of time completely — these are common and often misunderstood symptoms.

If you recognise yourself in any of this, you’re not alone — and you’re not broken. ADHD looks different in every person. And when it goes unnoticed, it can affect self-esteem, relationships, and mental health.

Getting curious about your brain isn’t about labelling — it’s about understanding. And that’s where real change begins.