When ADHD Takes Over: The Power of Pausing (and the Wisdom of My Son)
Some days, ADHD feels like an unstoppable storm—whirling thoughts, forgotten tasks, and an overwhelming sense of too much. Yesterday was one of those days.
I woke up already exhausted, my mind running in a thousand directions, my emotions sitting just beneath the surface. The pressure of trying to juggle everything—work, life, commitments—felt like too much, and before I knew it, the tears came.
I sat there, frustrated with myself. Why couldn't I just keep up? Why was my brain making everything so much harder? I wanted to push through, to force productivity, to "just get over it"—because, well, that's what we’re conditioned to do, right?
But then, my son stepped in.
This little man, with all his beautiful insight, looked at me and said:
"Mum, it’s okay to take a break. You just need to chill for a bit."
Just like that. So simple. So wise. And exactly what I needed to hear.
Learning to Listen (Even When It’s Hard)
ADHD makes rest feel complicated. The guilt of stopping, of not doing enough, of letting people down—it creeps in and tells us we should be pushing through. But my son reminded me of something I often tell others but struggle to follow myself:
Rest is not failure. It’s necessary.
Burning out doesn’t serve anyone. Running on empty only leads to more frustration, more overwhelm, more moments of feeling like we’re drowning. If I had heard someone else say they were exhausted and struggling, I would have told them to take a break. So why is it so hard to give myself that same grace?
The ADHD Rollercoaster: From Overwhelm to Empty
By the afternoon, my emotional energy was depleted. My body felt like it had run a marathon without moving. My mind was sluggish, foggy, and begging for rest. The emotional whiplash of ADHD—going from hyper-aware, hyper-emotional, and overstimulated to completely drained—is something many of us know too well.
And yet, even as my energy crashed, my brain tried to convince me to do more.
"You have things to finish.""People are waiting on you.""You can’t just stop now."
But then my son’s words echoed in my head. “Mum, it’s okay to take a break.”
So, for once, I listened.
Giving Yourself Permission to Pause
If you’ve ever felt this way—like you’re fighting your own brain just to function—please know you’re not alone. ADHD is a wild ride, and some days are just harder than others.
So here’s a reminder, from my son to me, and now from me to you:
💡 It’s okay to pause.💡 It’s okay to step back.💡 It’s okay to chill.
Your worth is not tied to how much you accomplish in a day. You don’t have to earn rest. You are allowed to just be.
And if you need someone to tell you that, take it from the wisdom of my little guy—"Just chill for a bit, Mum."
If you've ever needed to hear this too, drop a 💜 in the comments. Let’s remind each other that rest is not a weakness—it’s part of the journey.
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