“Do I Have ADHD or Am I Just Burned Out?”: Understanding the Overlap
If you’ve ever wondered, “Do I have ADHD or am I just overwhelmed?”—you’re not alone. Many women I work with ask this exact question.
And for good reason: burnout and ADHD can look incredibly similar. Trouble focusing, constant forgetfulness, overwhelm, emotional reactivity, procrastination—it’s easy to see how the lines get blurred.
Let’s talk about how to tell the difference, what overlap exists, and how to get clarity so you can finally feel in control of your mind again.
Burnout and ADHD Share a Lot of Symptoms:
🌀 Mental fatigue
🌀 Trouble starting or finishing tasks
🌀 Forgetfulness or losing track of things
🌀 Feeling overwhelmed by decisions
🌀 Emotional sensitivity
🌀 Trouble sitting still or unwinding
🌀 Restlessness and racing thoughts
The cause, though, is different.
What’s the Difference?
Burnout is usually situational. It develops after chronic stress and emotional overload—think work demands, caregiving, perfectionism, or constantly putting others first.
ADHD is neurodevelopmental. It’s a brain-based difference in how you process attention, motivation, and regulation—something you’ve likely struggled with (in some way) since childhood.
ADHD in Women Often Goes Undiagnosed
Historically, ADHD was only recognized in boys who were hyperactive and disruptive. But ADHD in women looks different.
You might be:
Daydreamy, forgetful, or disorganized
Emotionally intense or sensitive
Prone to perfectionism or people-pleasing as a form of masking
Always busy—but rarely feel productive
Feeling guilty for procrastinating, running late, or losing things
Overcompensating to “seem normal” while struggling internally
Sound familiar?
That’s not a character flaw. That’s undiagnosed (and untreated) ADHD in women.
Why This Question Matters
If you’re only treating burnout—but you also have undiagnosed ADHD—you may never fully get the relief you need.
On the flip side, if you’re burnt out from unrealistic expectations, and you assume it’s ADHD, you might end up misdiagnosed or feel like nothing ever works.
At The Serene Sanctuary, part of what I do is help women explore both.
So... Which One Is It?
It might be one. It might be both. Here’s how we figure it out together:
✅ We talk about your symptoms and your history.
ADHD usually has early roots—if you were always forgetful, sensitive, or distracted as a kid, that’s a clue. But if it started more recently, burnout might be the main driver.
✅ We explore how your brain works under pressure.
Burnout symptoms often ebb and flow with life circumstances. ADHD symptoms tend to persist regardless of what’s going on around you.
✅ We look at how your symptoms impact your functioning.
You don’t need a label to validate your struggles. But understanding what’s going on gives us direction—and relief.
What Treatment Can Look Like
At The Serene Sanctuary, ADHD and burnout support may include:
💊 Medication support (when appropriate)
📘 Nervous system regulation tools
🧠 Executive function coaching to manage procrastination, planning, and focus
🌿 Holistic support like sleep hygiene, nutrition, and movement
🧾 Emotional and lifestyle strategies to help you feel like yourself again
All of it happens virtually—on your schedule, from your own space. And always with someone who listens without judgment.
You Deserve Answers
You don’t have to keep wondering what’s “wrong” with you. Whether it’s burnout, ADHD, or a combination of both—you deserve care that digs deeper and meets you where you are.
✨ Book a free 15-minute consult and let’s start getting answers—together.
