ADHD burnout
Summary
- Overtime and extra care can sustain performance while exhaustion deepens; completed work may still carry a heavy cost.
- Stress can worsen work difficulties; without organizational support, designing solutions adds another task.
Overtime can compensate for difficulties while exhaustion deepens
Proposed in research
A study interviewed 20 adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Some compensated for difficulties at work by being extra careful and working overtime, while feeling even more drained. Some described years of work stress and repeated exhaustion(Oscarsson et al., 2022).
Completed work can conceal extra hours and exhaustion. Looking only at whether work gets done can miss the cost of maintaining performance(Oscarsson et al., 2022).
Stress can make work harder as well as result from difficulties
Proposed in research
Participants described heavy stress from falling behind on tasks and feeling that their work was not good enough. Some said their performance worsened when overwhelmed by stress, shame, and thoughts of “feeling stupid”(Oscarsson et al., 2022).
These interviews suggest that stress itself may contribute to worsening performance. The difficulties cannot simply be attributed to insufficient effort(Oscarsson et al., 2022).
Having to design all support adds another burden
Proposed in research
Some participants said unclear job responsibilities consumed considerable time and energy. They had to decide both “what to do” and “how to do it” themselves. Even when managers were willing to help, employees often remained responsible for designing and implementing workplace adjustments(Oscarsson et al., 2022).
Some participants found clear responsibilities, established routines, or negotiating a redistribution of tasks with colleagues helpful(Oscarsson et al., 2022).
Evidence
References (1)
- Cohort studyStress and work-related mental illness among working adults with ADHD: a qualitative studyOscarsson, Nelson, Rozental, Ginsberg, Carlbring, Jönsson (2022). BMC Psychiatry