I Have ADHD. Why Do I Always Feel Like People Are Mad at Me?
Do minor delays in text replies or brief messages make you feel like someone is upset with you? Explore how ADHD, emotional intensity, and past criticism contribute to rejection sensitivity—and learn practical, CBT-informed strategies to ground yourself and separate fear from fact.
Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome: History, Assessment, and Diagnostic Implications
Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS)—formerly referred to as Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT)—is an empirically supported clinical construct characterized by excessive daydreaming, mental fogginess, staring, slowed thinking, hypoactivity, and fatigue. Historically conceptualized as a feature or subtype of ADHD, contemporary research confirms that CDS is empirically distinct from ADHD inattention, demonstrating stronger associations with internalizing symptoms, social withdrawal, and subjective cognitive disconnection.
Although CDS is not currently a formal diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR, a growing body of literature highlights its clinical significance and independent functional impairment. Assessing CDS requires a comprehensive, multi-informant evaluation to differentiate it from ADHD, mood and anxiety disorders, sleep disturbances, trauma, and medical conditions. Understanding and evaluating CDS allows clinicians to provide targeted accommodations and functional supports for individuals experiencing chronic cognitive fog and disengagement, validating difficulties that have often been misattributed to poor motivation or personal failure.
Should I Ask for Accommodations or Disclose My ADHD at Work?
Deciding whether to disclose ADHD at work is rarely a simple yes-or-no decision. For some people, disclosure can open the door to meaningful accommodations, greater understanding, and a more sustainable way of working. For others, sharing a diagnosis may create unwanted scrutiny, stigma, or assumptions about their abilities.
The decision does not have to begin with, “Should I tell my employer that I have ADHD?” A more useful starting point may be, “What is making my work harder than it needs to be, and what support would help?”
You may be able to address some workplace barriers without disclosing a diagnosis at all. In other situations, formal accommodations may provide important and necessary support. Understanding the difference between asking for a change at work and disclosing a diagnosis can help you make a decision that protects both your privacy and your ability to function effectively.
In this article, I explore the potential benefits and risks of ADHD disclosure, alternatives to full disclosure, workplace accommodations, and the questions worth considering before deciding what is right for you.
Is It ADHD or Anxiety? How to tell the difference, and when you can have both.
Struggling with concentration, restlessness, or procrastination, but unsure if the root cause is ADHD or anxiety? While both conditions can disrupt executive functioning and leave you feeling overwhelmed, they stem from different underlying mechanisms. Discover how to evaluate symptom patterns, mindsets, and developmental history to better understand what is driving your difficulties—and why it is so common to experience both.
The Body Keeps the Score, But Can't Find the Words: Interoception, ADHD, and Trauma
Ever feel fine until suddenly you're completely overwhelmed? For adults with ADHD and trauma, missing stress signals isn't a lack of discipline—it's a neurophysiological "double blind spot." Explore how diminished interoception delays distress cues, why standard "listen to your body" advice fails, and evidence-based, neurodivergent-affirming ways to safely reconnect.
Designing Work Around an ADHD Brain: A Clinical and Neuropsychological Perspective
Conventional work structures often privilege a specific kind of mind—one that thrives on linear progression and consistent output. But for the ADHD brain, this "invisible architecture" can create a chronic experience of misalignment. Moving beyond the traditional deficit-based model, Dr. Cristina Louk explores the neuropsychological mechanisms of interest-based attention and how we can shift from remediating individuals to designing work that aligns with neurocognitive variability.
Is It ADHD, PTSD, or Both? Understanding Symptom Overlap
Have you ever wondered why your mind feels scattered, yet your body feels like it's on a "high alert" that you can't quite turn off? In my clinical practice, one of the most common points of confusion for adults is whether their restlessness and difficulty concentrating stem from ADHD, PTSD, or a complex blend of both.
While the outward behaviors—irritability, distractibility, and sleep disruption—look strikingly similar, the "why" inside your nervous system is very different. Is your attention wandering because of executive functioning differences, or is it scanning for safety? In my latest article, I explore how we can use frameworks like Polyvagal Theory to understand these patterns and, more importantly, how we can begin to regulate a nervous system that has been shaped by both neurodivergence and adversity.
Why Adults With ADHD Are So Often Misunderstood in Relationships
Adults with ADHD are often misunderstood in relationships—not because of a lack of care, but because of differences in communication, working memory, and emotional processing. This article explores relationship distress in ADHD through a neuropsychological lens, highlighting why misunderstanding is common and how reframing these patterns can reduce shame and improve connection.
Reconceptualizing ADHD Burnout: A Nervous System Response to Chronic Regulatory Load
ADHD burnout is not a failure of motivation or resilience. It is a nervous system response to chronic cognitive, emotional, and sensory load. This article reframes burnout through a neuropsychological and regulatory lens, distinguishing it from depression and shutdown while highlighting sensitivity as an adaptive early-warning system.