26/12/2025
A further follow-on, because this layer is crucial.
For many ADHD adults, there is also a history of trauma, sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle and relational.
When ADHD and trauma collide, the impact isn’t additive, it’s exponential.
ADHD already affects regulation, attention, emotional intensity, and energy. Trauma adds a nervous system that is primed for threat, hypervigilance, and survival. Together, they can render someone temporarily incapable of functioning.
Not lazy.
Not avoidant.
Not disengaged.
Their system is overwhelmed.
In these moments, thinking narrows. Focus collapses. Emotional pain spikes. RSD amplifies everything, perceived criticism feels unbearable, misunderstandings feel dangerous, and even neutral interactions can register as rejection.
When they do manage to function, it often comes at a huge internal cost.
They push through exhaustion.
They override their body.
They use every ounce of capacity they have.
And yet, that effort is rarely visible or appreciated.
Others may only see inconsistency.
Or missed expectations.
Or emotional reactivity.
What they don’t see is the nervous system firefighting in the background.
This is not a lack of resilience.
It’s not a motivation problem.
It’s not a character flaw.
It’s a system shaped by neurodivergence and trauma, doing its best to survive.
This is also where approaches like EMDR can be helpful. Not by “fixing” ADHD, but by processing traumatic material that keeps the nervous system stuck in threat, reducing reactivity, easing RSD, and increasing the window of tolerance so functioning becomes more sustainable.
If this resonates, you are not broken.
💬 If you’re comfortable sharing, what tends to tip things into overload for you, trauma reminders, criticism, pressure, or feeling unseen?
Your experiences matter.
