ADHD Collective Scotland

27/08/2025

Masking and Burnout in ADHD: What You Need to Know

What is Masking?

Masking refers to the act of hiding or suppressing one's natural behaviours, thoughts, or feelings in order to fit in with societal expectations.

For people with ADHD masking can mean putting effort into appearing more "neurotypical" for example, staying still when their body wants to fidget, forcing eye contact, rehearsing conversations in advance, or overcompensating in work or social situations.

Masking is often done unconsciously and begins early in life, especially when someone has learned that their natural traits are seen as "too much", "disruptive", or "wrong". Over time, this effort to appear "normal" can be mentally and emotionally exhausting.

Why Do People With ADHD Mask?

People with ADHD may mask for several reasons:

To avoid judgement or criticism from peers, teachers, or colleagues.

To fit in socially and avoid feeling isolated.

To meet expectations in school, the workplace, or family life.

To protect themselves from discrimination or ableism.

Masking can be a coping strategy, especially in environments that do not understand or accommodate neurodivergent needs. However, it often comes at a high personal cost.

What is burnout and how is it different for neurodivergent people?

Burnout, in general, refers to a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress or overwork. While anyone can experience burnout, neurodivergent people (including those with ADHD or autism) experience it differently and often more intensely.

For neurodivergent individuals, burnout can be the result of:

Constant masking and self-monitoring.

Sensory overload, where the environment becomes overwhelming.

Executive dysfunction, leading to struggles with organisation, time management, and daily tasks, all while trying to "keep up".

Lack of appropriate support or accommodations in work, education, or social settings.

Neurodivergent burnout can lead to a sudden or gradual loss of functioning where even basic tasks like getting dressed, speaking, or making decisions can feel impossible. It may last for days, weeks, or even months.

Why This Matters

Understanding masking and burnout is crucial for creating inclusive environments. Many people with ADHD spend years masking without realising it, only to later experience burnout that is misunderstood or misdiagnosed.

By recognising the signs and impacts of masking, we can begin to build a society that values neurodivergent experiences one where people don't feel the need to hide who they are in order to be accepted.

25/08/2025

🕒 TIME BLINDNESS & ADHD: It’s More Than Just Being Late! 🧠💥

If you or someone you love has ADHD, you’ve probably heard the phrase “bad with time.” But this isn’t just about poor punctuality. It’s called Time Blindness, and it’s a real struggle many people with ADHD face every day.

👇 Here's what it REALLY means, and how you can manage it:

🔍 What Is Time Blindness?

Time blindness is the inability to accurately sense the passing of time. This can make it incredibly hard to:

⏳ Estimate how long tasks will take

🕒 Stay aware of time while doing something

🚨 Meet deadlines (even important ones)

📅 Plan ahead or transition between activities

💤 Notice how long you’ve been scrolling, gaming, or hyperfocused

🤯 Handle time-based expectations from work, school, or relationships

✅ 7 Tips to Help Manage Time Blindness:

1. ⏰ Use Timers & Alarms – Set alerts for EVERYTHING, even short tasks.

2. 📆 Visual Schedules – Use planners, wall calendars, or color-coded apps.

3. ⏳ Chunk Your Day – Break the day into clear segments with transition reminders.

4. 🟢 Add Time Buffers – Always give yourself extra time between things.

5. 🔁 Practice Time Estimation – Guess how long a task will take, then compare.

6. 👯 Body Doubling – Work alongside someone else to help stay present.

7. 🧩 Externalize Time – Keep clocks visible in every room you use regularly.

❤️ Remember: Time Blindness is NOT laziness. It’s part of how the ADHD brain processes time and tasks. With the right tools and support, it can be managed.

08/08/2025

Know someone bursting with brilliant stories but hesitant to write them down? BBC's 500 Words competition is back this autumn and guess what? Spelling, punctuation, and grammar don’t matter. It’s all about the storytelling. Find out more at bbc.co.uk/500words

ADHD UK is proud to be a community partner, working to make the competition inclusive and accessible for children of all backgrounds and abilities because every voice deserves to be heard. 💜

05/08/2025

Some great feedback from one of our clients !

After 30 years of struggling with untreated ADHD and being misdiagnosed with anxiety/ depression - I finally received a private diagnosis of combined ADHD from ADHD Collective last year. I had suspected it for years, as it runs in my family—but when I finally got the diagnosis, everything made sense.

ADHD Collective Scotland not only provided my diagnosis but also supported me through the complex and often failing healthcare system to access the treatment I desperately needed.

Their aftercare and support went far beyond my expectations of the private diagnosis I paid for, and I truly believe that without them, I would still be lost in the system, waiting for answers.

Thanks to their guidance and support through the healthcare system towards treatment, I finally received the right stimulant medication, and my life has completely changed. I feel clear-headed, calmer, and able to manage daily life in a way I never thought possible.

I will always be deeply grateful to Simone and Claire @ ADHD Collective for their care, understanding, and dedication—they gave me the support and tools I needed to get to this position and I will be forever grateful!

04/08/2025

Working in the field of ADHD can be incredibly rewarding.

Why? Because you're often the first person to truly listen to individuals who have spent years being misunderstood or misdiagnosed. Many have been repeatedly told, “It’s just anxiety,” or “You’re just depressed,” or worse, “You’re not struggling enough to need help.”

Going through the ADHD assessment process with someone—especially someone who's been brushed off for most of their life—is powerful.

Making that diagnosis often brings a profound sense of clarity. It helps people make sense of lifelong challenges, reframes their experiences, and, for many, lifts a heavy burden of self-blame.

Treatment for ADHD can also be life-changing. When it’s the right diagnosis, stimulant medications often work quickly, with fewer side effects than many antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications.

ADHD is, in many cases, a relatively straightforward condition to treat—yet it remains underdiagnosed and undertreated.

It’s frustrating and disheartening to see how many people have spent years going back and forth with their GP, trialing medications that don’t help, simply because the root cause—ADHD—was never considered. It’s neither cost-effective nor compassionate care.

There’s still a long way to go in improving awareness and access to proper assessment, but every person we help find answers is a step forward.

29/07/2025

28/07/2025

🧠 ADHD, Dopamine & Addictive Behaviours – What’s the Connection?

Did you know that the ADHD brain has a dopamine deficiency ? Dopamine is a key "feel-good" chemical that helps regulate motivation, focus, and the brain’s reward system.

📉 In ADHD, the brain struggles to produce or use dopamine efficiently. This makes everyday tasks feel under-stimulating, which can lead to a craving for activities that offer a quick dopamine hit — even if they’re not always healthy.

🔁 That’s why many people with ADHD are more prone to addictive or compulsive behaviours, like:

* Endless social media scrolling 📱
* Binge eating or sugar cravings 🍫🍟
* Impulsive online shopping 🛍️
* Excessive video gaming 🎮
* Substance use (ni****ne, alcohol, w**d) 🚬🍷
* Overexercising or thrill-seeking 🏍️🎢
* Hyper fixation on hobbies or interests 🎨🧩
* P**n or compulsive sexual behaviour 🔞
* Gambling or risky financial decisions 🎰💸

These behaviours provide a surge of dopamine, which the ADHD brain finds incredibly reinforcing. But the relief is often short-lived — and the cycle can repeat.

💡 This isn’t about blame — it’s about understanding how neurodivergent brains work. Recognising these patterns is the first step toward building healthier coping strategies, like:

✅ Regular physical activity
✅ Structured routines
✅ ADHD-friendly planning tools
✅ Therapy or coaching
✅ Medication support (for some)

✨ When we understand the why behind behaviour, we can lead with compassion — not shame.

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22/07/2025

Running.
The best treatment for ADHD I have found to date.

Exercise, more specifically - but running for me. I process a lot of thoughts and feelings as I run, which I don’t with other forms of exercise.

Jannine 🦉

20/07/2025

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