The realities of
adults with ADHD
Discover how ADHD shapes daily lives
What does it mean to have ADHD?
A day in the life of someone with ADHD
Rita*
37, office manager
Mother of two, recently diagnosed with ADHD
Mornings:
- Gets kids out amid last-minute crises.
- Forgets essentials like lunches, slips, or keys.
- Starts work already feeling behind.
Afternoons:
- Stays focused at work due to coping systems.
- Struggles to switch between tasks.
Evenings:
- Cooking/cleaning routines slip.
- Irritable and overstimulated while helping kids with homework.
- Avoids chores by doom-scrolling social media, then feels guilty.
Rita often feels like she’s holding it together all day, but when she walks through the front door in the evening, everything unravels.
ADHD looks different for everyone and so do treatment choices. Take our quiz and download a doctor discussion guide to spark a productive conversation with your doctor.
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More daily life examples of people living with ADHD
Kevin*
42, roofer
Father of three, two of his sons also have ADHD
Mornings:
- Commutes to various job sites in the city.
- Struggles to follow GPS directions.
- Often gets lost, arrives late.
Afternoons:
- Recently had a few careless accidents at work.
- Often argumentative with co-workers.
- Long commute home. Loses patience in traffic and frequently feels “road rage”.
Evenings:
- Often has a few drinks throughout the evening.
- Seems to ignore the many unfinished projects sitting in his garage.
- Has difficulty helping kids with homework and bedtime routines – loses his patience easily.
Kevin’s wife is hoping he can get help managing his ADHD throughout the day.
Justin
18, university student
Living away from parents for the first time
Mornings:
- Frequently late for classes.
- Rarely makes it through lectures without taking walking breaks.
Afternoons:
- Has trouble staying awake in class.
- Has had to reduce his course load.
Evenings:
- Studies well into the night, has trouble maintaining focus; sometimes takes him hours to read a few pages.
- Struggles with low self-esteem.
- At the end of the day, he feels like he let himself down by not keeping up and is buried in work.
Justin needs help with his ADHD throughout the day and into the evening.
Luci*
8 years old
Wants to be rich when she grows up
Mornings:
- Luci’s mom complains that Luci is easily distracted and spends a lot of time daydreaming.
- Luci has difficulty engaging in play activities quietly and often acting as if “driven by a motor.”
Afternoons:
- Luci’s teachers say that she consistently avoids tasks that require sustained mental effort.
- She often blurts out answers before questions have been fully asked and talks excessively.
Evenings:
- Luci has difficulty getting organized.
- Her friends complain because she is frequently late.
- Takes over conversations and intrudes on others.
Luci’s mom is looking to her doctor for a formal diagnosis and management advice.
*All patients are fictional.
ADHD treatment choices can vary based on your personal needs. See the treatment options available and talk to your doctor about what may work best for you.