Living with ADHD means constantly navigating a world of misunderstandings.
The simplest statements carry different weight when your brain operates on its own unique frequency. There are some things people with this form of neurodivergence say that they definitely don’t mean the way people take them. It can be incredibly frustrating to always feel like they’re constantly being misinterpreted, but that’s just part of the daily struggle, it seems.
“Sorry, I completely forgot about our plans.”
This isn’t just about being forgetful. With ADHD, memory and time can feel slippery—what was meant to be a quick reminder might have vanished completely. Forgetting plans isn’t about not caring; in fact, the guilt from letting someone down can linger for ages. It’s a real struggle with working memory, not a sign they don’t value the person they’ve let down.
“I’ll do it right now before I forget.”
This one sounds abrupt, but it’s really just practical. If something isn’t done immediately, there’s a good chance it won’t get done at all. Acting on impulse here isn’t about bad planning—it’s about knowing how fleeting focus can be. What might look disorganised is actually a survival tactic for getting things ticked off the list before they vanish into the mental abyss.
“I know I’m late with this, but let me explain.”
People often hear this as an excuse, but it’s usually said with genuine regret. Managing time with ADHD can feel like playing a game you don’t know the rules for. Deadlines aren’t ignored—they’re a constant source of stress. The explanation is an attempt to bridge the gap between intention and reality, not to brush things off.
“Give me a minute to process that.”
When someone with ADHD says this, they’re not stalling or uninterested. Their brain might be juggling multiple thoughts at once, and they need a moment to focus on the information properly. It’s not about being slow—it’s about trying to give the moment the attention it deserves, even if it takes a little longer to get there.
“I’m listening, I just need to move around.”
To the untrained eye, pacing or fidgeting might look like they’re not paying attention, but the opposite is often true. Moving around actually helps them concentrate and process what’s being said. It’s how they stay engaged, not a sign of disrespect. For them, movement and focus go hand in hand.
“I started cleaning the kitchen but ended up organising my whole closet.”
This isn’t random—it’s how ADHD brains work. One task often leads to another in an unexpected way, and while the original job might not get done, something else does. What seems like chaos to other people is actually hyperfocus at work, just not in the direction anyone expected.
“Sorry for the rambling, I swear this connects.”
They make leaps that other people might not immediately follow. What sounds like a long-winded tangent usually has a point—it’s just taking the scenic route to get there. These connections often reveal unique perspectives, even if it takes a bit of patience to see the bigger picture.
“I can’t start until everything is perfectly set up.”
This isn’t procrastination or perfectionism—it’s about removing distractions. Setting up the “right” environment helps them focus and stay on track. The preparation stage isn’t just fussiness; it’s an essential step to creating the mental space needed to actually get started.
“I was thinking about this at 3am.”
Late-night clarity is a common ADHD experience. When the day’s distractions quiet down, ideas and solutions start flowing. It’s not poor planning—it’s just when their brain is at its most creative. These bursts of inspiration might seem inconvenient, but they’re often where the best ideas are born.
“I got really into this and forgot to eat.”
Hyperfocus can completely override basic needs like hunger or even thirst. It’s not a lack of self-care—it’s the brain locking onto a task so intensely that everything else fades away. While it’s productive in some ways, it’s also a reminder of how ADHD can take over even the simplest routines.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt, my brain just did that thing.”
Blurting out thoughts isn’t about being rude—it’s about an idea or response arriving so suddenly it can’t be held back. Impulse control is tricky with ADHD, especially in conversations. They’re not trying to dominate the discussion—they’re just struggling to manage how quickly their thoughts move.
“I set five alarms, but somehow still missed them all.”
Morning routines can be a battlefield for people with ADHD. Alarms get snoozed, forgotten, or tuned out entirely, no matter how well-intentioned the night before. It’s not laziness—it’s the challenge of managing transitions from sleep to wakefulness, which is harder than it looks when your brain doesn’t cooperate.
“I meant to reply to your message right away.”
It’s not that they didn’t care enough to reply—it’s that they overthought it, got distracted, and then felt guilty for not responding sooner. They can get paralysed by something as simple as drafting the “perfect” response, turning a quick text into an overwhelming task.
“Trust me, this shortcut actually saves time.”
What seems like a convoluted way to get things done is often a carefully crafted workaround. ADHD brains excel at finding unconventional solutions that might look messy but actually work. These shortcuts aren’t random—they’re tailored strategies that play to their strengths while managing their challenges.
“I know it looks chaotic, but I know where everything is.”
What seems like a mess is usually a unique organisational system. People with ADHD often rely on visual cues and spatial memory, creating “organised chaos” that works for them. It might not look tidy, but they can usually find what they’re looking for—most of the time.
“Let me write this down now, or it’s gone forever.”
Source: Unsplash The urgency behind this isn’t dramatic—it’s lived experience. They know how quickly a thought or idea can disappear, so writing it down is a survival tactic. It’s not an exaggeration—it’s the best way to make sure the thought doesn’t vanish into thin air.
