You might even feel frustrated with yourself for failing to keep up, despite working twice as hard as everyone else in the room. This experience is common. It is called ADHD burnout. Through my work in psychiatry and personal reflections on mental health, I have learned that this exhaustion is not a character flaw.

When you think of ADHD, what image comes to mind? For many people, it’s a hyperactive young boy disrupting class, unable to sit still, and bouncing off the walls. This stereotype is so deeply ingrained in our culture that it has shaped how we diagnose and treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder for decades.

I often sit with patients who are genuinely confused by their own struggles. They look at me and ask, "Is it really possible that I have ADHD? I got good grades. I hold down a demanding job. I’m definitely not lazy."