When the System is Slow, but Life Doesn’t Wait: Thoughts on ADHD, Burnout, and Being Left to Cope
I’ve been thinking lately about how hard it is to ask for help — especially when you’re already overwhelmed.
ADHD is something that’s close to my heart. I see it in people I care about, and I’ve watched how exhausting the waiting, proving, and explaining can be. The system is slow. Life doesn’t wait. And in between the two? There’s a person — burnt out, trying to keep going.
If that’s you… this is for you.
Why ADHD makes diagnosis so difficult
ADHD affects how a person plans, organises, regulates emotions, and completes tasks — yet the system often expects people to do all of those things just to be diagnosed. You’re told to fill out forms, chase appointments, advocate for yourself, and wait… all while already overwhelmed.
It’s a painful irony. The more ADHD interferes with life, the harder it becomes to prove it’s there.
What we don’t talk about enough
Behind the checklists and referrals, there’s usually a quiet emotional toll. ADHD isn’t just about forgetfulness or fidgeting — it can feel like:
Constant mental noise and emotional intensity
Deep frustration and self-doubt
The pressure to “hold it together” even when you’re falling apart
The fear that maybe you’re just not trying hard enough
People often reach breaking point long before any diagnosis or support arrives. And that breaking point? It’s rarely visible to anyone else.
This isn’t about fixing it — just naming it
I don’t have answers here. I’m not trying to offer a fix. But I do know how much it helps to feel seen — even in small ways.
Sometimes, just hearing someone say “yes, this is hard — and no, it’s not your fault” can take the edge off the guilt or pressure. Sometimes, just putting it into words helps.
If you’re in it right now
If you’re stuck in the system, or waiting to be seen, or just carrying too much — I see you.
You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. You’re doing your best in a system that asks too much and offers too little.
You deserve support. You deserved it long before you had to ask.
Until next time, be kind to yourself.