10 Lesser-Known ADHD Behaviors

ADHD, and similar forms of neurodiversity, can be challenging to deal with. For those diagnosed with ADHD, navigating daily life can feel overwhelming at times, but it’s important to acknowledge the unique, helpful, fascinating, and often underappreciated traits that come with it. Also, although some behaviors and habits may appear puzzling to neurotypical individuals, understanding them will foster greater empathy and patience.

Many neurotypical people experience a number of the traits and behaviors listed here. Just because you identify with one or many of them does not mean that you have ADHD. If you suspect you might have ADHD, it’s always best to get a professional diagnosis.

10 Lesser-Known ADHD Behaviors

For those who have been diagnosed, your ADHD behaviors might be frustrating to yourself and those around you. Here are some of the lesser-known ADHD behaviors, along with insights into why they occur and how they can be leveraged as strengths.

1. You can fixate on a single activity

Many people love unwinding by binge-watching a series, but ADHDers take this to the next level through hyper-focus. This behavior can be highly beneficial for tasks that require intense focus, such as creative projects or athletic training. However, you can also get stuck in activities that aren’t productive.

The ADHD brain struggles to produce dopamine, the hormone that helps us feel pleasure and enjoyment. Even though most don’t understand what dopamine is or how it works, they are still naturally drawn to activities that create it. It might not be a TV show that grabs your focus, but when you find the activity that gives you that dopamine buzz, you become fixated on it almost entirely to the exclusion of everything else.

Friends might describe you as “obsessed.” Not only are you finding dopamine in the activity, but the rhythm and repetition of the activity comforts your brain. Unfortunately, dopamine doesn’t last very long, so your brain gets stuck on trying to get the most possible dopamine to get the most enjoyment out of the activity.

2. You may be drawn into the “scrolling vortex”

Many apps are designed to provide an endless stream of content. No matter how much time you spend scrolling, there is always something new to see. You may spend hours on your phone before you realize it.

Remember that your brain is always searching for stimulation, and similar to binge-watching or adventure sports, when your brain finds a good source of dopamine, it locks in and milks it for all it’s worth. This isn’t a sign of laziness or even procrastination; rather it’s a form of “executive paralysis.” Your brain becomes overwhelmed by the choices in front of it, leaving you stuck in a loop of unproductive behavior.

3. You are likely a curious and open-minded person

You may be drawn to unusual and interesting things that cause you to ask “Why?” and “How does it work?” You love researching new ideas and building up your knowledge of a subject. You are drawn to novel, challenging, or even risky activities. Your impulsivity might make you less risk averse, being more open to trying new things.

This is why so many with ADHD have fantastic critical thinking skills, a broad knowledge of a variety of topics, or deep knowledge of a single topic. They also tend to be creative and able to see things from an unlikely or uncommon angle. This can also allow for sensitivity and openness to others’ ideas, since it might be easier for someone with ADHD to be more receptive to unconventional ways of solving a problem or completing a task.

4. You may be a collector

Some might call you a hoarder, but it’s usually less serious than that. ADHDers often find it difficult to throw things out, especially when there is sentimentality attached to the objects. Things like childhood toys and even clothes that no longer fit can be treasured items. With ADHD, you are more likely to be more expansive in your sensory and emotional ranges.

These things bring a natural sense of comfort to you, possibly because they remind you of simpler times. The only drawback to keeping sentimental items is that you often forget where they are!

5. You may have a preference for morning appointments

If you have an event or meeting scheduled for the afternoon, the chances are you won’t be productive at all in the morning. You get stuck in “waiting mode” as you anticipate the event. Even your body is tense waiting for it. Sometimes this happens because you are subconsciously trying to make up for past experiences.

ADHDers struggle to keep more than one thing in their minds at once, and it’s not uncommon for them to miss deadlines, appointments, or events because they get distracted thinking about something else. Others might have thought you rude or arrogant for missing the meeting, but you simply became distracted and forgot about it. Scheduling important tasks for the morning when your mind is freshest can help manage this. That way, you can avoid the distractions that tend to creep in as the day progresses.

6. You may be competitive

The ADHD brain is hard to satisfy and is constantly searching for the next exciting thing. Thus, when there is an element of competition or even conflict about a task, you might find yourself becoming focused and excited. Even if you feel like you won at the activity, your sense of victory might fade quickly as your brain is already searching for the next stimulating challenge.  In this way, you don’t seem like a competitive person on the surface, and people might be surprised to find out that you are. This hidden competitiveness can be a useful motivator, pushing you to excel in sports, games, or work when the stakes are high.

7. You may stay up far too late at night

This is something called “revenge bedtime procrastination” and many neurotypical people experience it, too. It is where you stay up at night doing enjoyable things well past your bedtime, even when you know you need to get up early the next day.

ADHDers do this because late at night, when they are alone, is when they feel most free to be themselves. You can do what you want, in whatever way you want, without needing to perform, adjust, or feel frustrated. Unfortunately, this often leads to exhaustion and frustration the next morning. Finding a balance between enjoying your late-night freedom and getting enough rest is key to managing this behavior.

8. You may struggle with eye contact

Maintaining eye contact while having a conversation can be difficult for those with ADHD. This isn’t because they’re disengaged, but because their brains are working overtime to process the conversation. For the ADHD brain, talking and listening are complex things. Listening requires you to absorb information and talking requires you to convey information, but some distractions come with these tasks.

You cannot focus on two things at once, and your brain struggles with task switching. This means you can only concentrate on listening or talking; maintaining eye contact is a second task. While this behavior might be misinterpreted as inattentiveness, it’s actually a sign that you are concentrating intensely on what is being said.

9. You may wait until the last minute to complete tasks

If you have ever waited around doing nothing until the time when you have to be productive, this is not laziness nor even procrastination. Your brain responds best to pressure and urgency.

For you, these things are exciting and interesting. Routine tasks like house cleaning and laundry need higher stakes for you to do them. You might find yourself sitting on a deadline or forcing yourself to clean your house by inviting guests over. You just need that bit of excitement to get going.

10. You may prefer unpredictable or unusual media

The ADHD brain excels at pattern recognition and processing information quickly. When you watch a movie with friends, they might get annoyed because you figured out the plot before they did.

You naturally gravitate to movies, shows, art, music, and books that are unpredictable, complex, and unusual because you find that kind of media more engaging. You might not be able to connect with your friends over niche media, but that kind of entertainment tends to have more flamboyant and enthusiastic fanbases, so you will find your people eventually.

A Beautiful Mind

The biggest struggles of being neurodivergent are having to conform or perform to neurotypical ways of doing things, which, unfortunately, are the norm. When someone has an unusual way of performing a task, or a quirky habit, they might feel ostracized or frustrated with having to explain themselves. But these traits can also be their greatest strengths.

Often a person with ADHD can struggle to understand themselves. There are many struggles with having ADHD but the key is to embrace and understand the ADHD brain and feel more content and compassionate towards yourself.

If you or someone close to you is struggling with ADHD or any form of neurodiversity, seeking support from a counselor can be invaluable. A counselor can offer guidance on managing symptoms, recognizing strengths, and developing strategies to live a fulfilling, productive life.

Contact our office today and we can get you started. We will schedule an appointment for you with a therapist in our office who has experience counseling those with ADHD behaviors.