Most of us are generally familiar with the basics of ADHD. We’ve been taught that ADHD can cause issues with attention, issues with focus, and potentially issues with hyperactivity. But ADHD is so much more than that, and often times – while we may have a general idea of ADHD is – we struggle to understand the ways that ADHD can affect a person beyond that.
For example, many people with ADHD struggle with a term often called “ADHD Burnout.” You’re likely familiar with this term in a general sense, because it also happens to those without ADHD. When you have too many psychological pressures, you can get “burnt out” and feel like you’re tired, overwhelmed, and unable to do anything else.
Those with ADHD tend to experience this even more – both in intensity and in frequency. The reason is because the symptoms and struggles of a person with ADHD tend to cause feelings of being psychologically overwhelmed and mentally drained, often in a wide variety of ways. For someone with ADHD – or someone with a familiar member that has ADHD – it can be helpful to have a better understanding of this phenomenon to better support their needs.
Who We Are
Skycloud Mental Health is a psychiatric service provider that provides both TeleHealth and in person treatment in Oregon, Washington, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Minnesota, and New Mexico. We see many patients with ADHD, and can provide medication and other forms of psychiatric support – all available without a referral. We are currently accepting new patients and accept many forms of insurance, so please reach out if you or a loved one need help.
Important Things to Know About Burnout
One thing to understand is that, while burnout does happen to everyone, those with ADHD are in a position where they’re both more likely to experience burnout, and also unable to prevent it the same way neurotypical individuals might.
For example, a neurotypical person (someone without ADHD) might manage their tasks better, deprive themselves of various distractions, etc., in order to feel less overwhelmed. But for someone with ADHD:
- Distractions and Running Thoughts Are Constant – When your mind jumps to different issues and pays attention to different distractions often, it can be overwhelming for anyone. But for someone with ADHD who can’t control it, it is a frequent challenge that leads to a tired and overwhelmed mind.
- Most with ADHD Have Executive Function Issues – We talk about ADHD, but we rarely talk about executive dysfunction (executive function disorder), which is probably even more important for understanding someone with ADHD. We’ll go into greater detail about executive function disorder at a later date, but it causes an inability to perceive time, plan, manage tasks, and control emotions. That combination means that there isn’t a way for someone with ADHD to complete their tasks without feeling overwhelmed, nor are they able to control their thoughts and emotions while they’re doing them. The result is frequent mental tension, leading to burnout.
- Peers and Society Causes Additional Stress – Kids and adults with ADHD are more likely to be punished, lectured, yelled at, etc. All of those are psychologically and emotionally draining challenges that can overwhelm anyone, and become even more common with those that have ADHD.
Burnout is a normal experience that anyone – neurotypical or neurodivergent – may have. But for those with ADHD, it is not only more constant, but also something that is not necessarily “preventable” the same way it would be for someone without ADHD. Managing symptoms and learning techniques to cope with and control ADHD is the best tool there is to limit burnout, but untreated ADHD is likely to overwhelm all of our senses, and ultimately lead to more frequent burnout issues.
Addressing and Understanding ADHD Burnout
With that in mind, identifying and addressing burnout requires knowledge. Here are a few things that are important to know and understand about ADHD Burnout:
- Burnout May Be Confused with Anxiety and Depression
Those with ADHD may be more likely to have anxiety and depression, so you do want to be aware of your loved one’s mental health. But burnout can also be so tiring and so difficult that it can be mistaken for anxiety and depression. Teens may be referred for anxiety and depression treatment, when the better approach might be treatment for ADHD, or a combination of both.
- Experiencing Burnout is Exhausting
Burnout itself, because it causes tiredness and a lack of energy, is a form of exhaustion in many ways. But some people can also be *exhausted by burnout* – when you find that you’re frequently tired and frequently overwhelmed, you may not feel like you’re ready to take on another day of feeling that way, leading to a further lack of motivation, energy, and effort. It’s why tackling burnout takes time.
Relatedly, when a person has burnout, they get less done, which may mean that they’re eventually forced to stay up late working on projects. That causes them to be even more tired the next day, leading to additional tiredness with burnout. The combination can lead many people with ADHD to sleep or rest even more often.
- Adults with Untreated ADHD Get Burnout
We talk about ADHD as a childhood disorder, but adults with ADHD may frequently experience burnout, especially if they’re no longer treating it. Adulthood is stressful, sometimes more so than being a child, and yet we may attribute burnout to something else (like being tired from work) when it’s actually caused by being overwhelmed by a person’s ADHD.
- Burnout is Not Intentional
No one wants to experience burnout. But neurodivergent individuals that struggle with ADHD are not only more prone to experiencing it, but may have fewer ways to prevent it. That is why it is very important to understand burnout in a loved one or in yourself, so that you also have a better understanding of why they’re acting the way they are and what they might need to move forward.
ADHD Burnout Treatment and Support
There isn’t necessarily a treatment for burnout itself. But when a person gets help with ADHD, as well as any subsequent anxiety, sleep, depression, or other issues they may be struggling with, then it becomes possible to reduce feelings of burnout and try to give someone the help they need to move forward.
If you or someone you love is struggling with ADHD and would like more information on treatment options, please reach out to Skycloud Mental Health today. Let’s talk about your needs, help you find the right treatment and resources, and start addressing issues like burnout right away.