Do you feel like you’re always the one running late to family gatherings? You try your best, but somehow getting out the door turns into a marathon — going back inside again and again because something was forgotten. Tasks that seem simple for others, like starting chores, finishing paperwork, or keeping things organized, can feel surprisingly difficult. It’s not laziness. Your brain simply needs more energy to do tasks that don’t naturally hold your interest.

And then there’s the confusing part: sometimes you can focus so intensely that you lose track of time, and other times you can’t stay on task no matter how hard you try. That mix of hyperfocus and distraction is a very real part of living with attention deficit disorder. It’s not your fault, and you’re not alone. There are ways to get support — with or without medication — so you don’t have to navigate it by yourself.