ADHD and fatigue share a connection as they both primarily affect your brain and executive functioning. They both can have their roots in how your brain is wired and ultimately operates. As a result, people with ADHD tend to be more prone towards developing cases of regular and chronic fatigue.
Causes of ADHD and tiredness
This low sense of motivation can feel similar to fatigue, especially if a person feels unable to keep up with their responsibilities. Additionally, the stress that ADHD may cause can feel exhausting, especially if a person's symptoms are not well controlled.
Often the sleep cycle is shifted by several hours which can mean being out of synch with the way today's world is designed to work. Anxiety – ADHD is often accompanied by the comorbidities of depression and anxiety, both of which can leave you feeling exhausted.
People have often developed many strategies to help them manage these difficulties like; keeping a diary, planning, setting reminders and writing lists. Finding out more strategies that help can help people manage day to day. Some people with ADHD may have problems with anxiety/ worry and feeling low at times.
Adult ADHD and Sleep Problems. Everyone needs 7-9 hours of sleep each night to feel productive and well during the day. But people with ADHD often have a hard time falling or staying asleep. Because you feel tired, your ADHD symptoms get worse, and that makes it harder to sleep the next night.
Possible sleep issues
Their internal body clock is out of sync with standard sleeping and waking times. As many as 75% of people with ADHD that began in childhood may have a delayed circadian rhythm phase. They are commonly “night owls” who feel more alert in the evening.
For some people, power naps in the afternoon give them a boost of energy and help them stay alert for the rest of the day. For others, afternoon naps might make them feel sluggish or hinder their sleep at night. Experiment with your nap times, and make a note of what works best for you.
Untreated ADHD in adults can lead to mental health disorders like anxiety and depression. This is because ADHD symptoms can lead to focus, concentration, and impulsivity problems. When these problems are not managed effectively, they can lead to feelings of frustration, irritability, and low self-esteem.
It's a chronic state of stress related to the struggle to live with ADHD, a stress that breaks down emotional tolerance, stamina, and a sense of wellbeing and spiritual health. The chronic, lifelong nature of ADHD-related stress can increase to become a syndrome akin to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
ADHD is a developmental disorder associated with an ongoing pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity. The symptoms of ADHD can interfere significantly with an individual's daily activities and relationships. ADHD begins in childhood and can continue into the teen years and adulthood.
Executive functions have other roles which affect how someone thinks. In people with ADHD, these executive dysfunctions impact thinking in numerous ways. People with ADHD don't really think faster than people without it, but it can sometimes seem like they do. People with ADHD do think differently though, in a sense.
Food and water both help to keep our bodies and minds moving. So when you feel that energy slump come, try treating yourself to a healthy and nutritious snack. Almonds are great, smoothies are beneficial, and even a bit of chocolate can help!
In adults, the main features of ADHD may include difficulty paying attention, impulsiveness and restlessness. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Many adults with ADHD aren't aware they have it — they just know that everyday tasks can be a challenge.
With ADHD, a child or teen may have rapid or impulsive speech, physical restlessness, trouble focusing, irritability, and, sometimes, defiant or oppositional behavior.
Studies suggest that ADHD-driven emotional sensitivity in people makes them struggle to cope with rejection. This rejection may be as simple as having a friend say no to you or as big as not being accepted for a job you applied for.
People living with ADHD may have a variety of skills and abilities beyond those of their neurotypical counterparts. These may include hyperfocus, resilience, creativity, conversational skills, spontaneity, and abundant energy.
Adults diagnosed with ADHD often blame themselves for their problems or view themselves in a negative light. This can lead to self-esteem issues, anxiety, or depression.
Common ADHD-Related Problems
Impulsive spending or overspending. Starting fights or arguing. Trouble maintaining friendships and romantic relationships. Speeding and dangerous driving.
A: ADHD brains need more sleep, but find it doubly difficult to achieve restfulness. It is one of those ADHD double whammies: ADHD makes it harder to get enough sleep, and being sleep deprived makes it harder to manage your ADHD (or anything else).
ADHD and Circadian Rhythm Dysfunction
It's common for people with ADHD to have delayed circadian rhythms– known more commonly as “being a night owl.” With a delayed circadian rhythm, your sleep signals are delayed by two hours or more beyond what is considered a normal bedtime.
Problems with emotional dysregulation, in particular with anger reactivity, are very common in people with ADHD. You are not alone in struggling in this area. Anger may indicate an associated mood problem but often is just part of the ADHD. Either way, changes in traditional ADHD treatment can be very helpful.