Ever since I got curious about ADHD, I can’t stop seeing it everywhere. From emotional overreactions to forgetting my coffee in the microwave for the fifth time, it all feels suspiciously ADHD-coded.
The other day, I was talking to my coworkers about a teammate who’s super nice, almost to the point of people-pleasing. One of them asked:
“How much stuff can you put in the ADHD category? It seems like everything fits in there!”
Honestly? They’re not wrong to wonder. ADHD does feel like this giant umbrella catching everything from procrastination to emotional sensitivity.
Maybe that’s why there were so many times in my life where I felt like something was missing; a sense that I didn’t quite fit in or belong. Because the truth is… ADHD doesn’t just affect one little corner of someone’s life. It’s messy. It’s vague. And it touches so much of how we behave, think, and react to the world.
Why does ADHD seem to explain “everything”?
Once you start seeing life through the ADHD lens, it changes everything. Suddenly, all those random struggles you blamed on laziness or “just being weird” start to connect.
The negative thoughts about yourself.
The constant need to feel accepted.
Cognitive and working memory issues.
Difficulty making decisions.
Mental fatigue and brain fog.
Frustration intolerance, anxiety, depression, impulsivity.
Procrastination. People-pleasing. Masking. Time blindness.
Trouble maintaining relationships. Co-dependency.
Restlessness. Overanalyzing everything.
Difficulty prioritizing. Random intrusive thoughts.
Not being able to relax.
The piles of clothes and “stuff” you swear you’ll clean later.
Forgetting to pay bills on time.
Feeling misunderstood. Oversharing. Feeling lonely.
The random hobby that’s going to last two weeks (after you’ve dropped $200 on supplies).
I could keep going but you get the idea.
But here’s the thing:
✅ Not every quirk is ADHD.
✅ ADHD doesn’t cause every problem—but it often makes them louder.
✅ And realizing how much ADHD touches your life isn’t about creating excuses. It’s about seeing patterns so you can break free from the shame spiral.
The bottom line
So no, ADHD isn’t everything. But when you finally put on the ADHD lens, it’s hard to ignore how much of life it really does touch. It’s like noticing the water you’ve been swimming in all along. Just remember: these waters you’ve been swimming in, even if it feels like you’ve been drowning, you’re still here. Stronger. Smarter. And it’s okay to stop fighting the current sometimes and just float with it.