This is one of the most maddening parts of having ADHD—many of us can teach a masterclass on productivity systems, multi-step routines, and life management. We've hyperfocused on every possible solution and consumed every piece of content. We constantly watch ourselves not doing the things we know would help while explaining those exact strategies to someone else who will probably actually use them.

The gap between what we know and what we can actually implement becomes a source of deep shame. When someone thanks us for our great advice, it can actually feel painful because if they could see the disaster of our own life—the unopened bills, abandoned projects, and basic self-care we struggle to manage—would they still trust our guidance?

(This is an excerpt from tomorrow’s free post on why ADHDers are better at solving other people’s problems than our own.)