GOD I found another article about why ADHD kids say “I don’t know” so much. my entire childhood was getting yelled at for doing some ADHD shit and me not being able to offer an explanation when asked why I did something.
Adding to this, its cause of our executive dysfunction and emotional dysregulation (naturally there’s more things at play than just these two but I’m naming main aspects).
We tend to have alexithymia, meaning we have difficulty identifying and describing own feelings.
You can’t say how you feel if you legit don’t know.
Self monitoring is an executive function; our self awareness about how we are doing presently .. which is hampered in ADHDers.
You can’t say what you think if you legit don’t know.
oh my god
Of fucking course there’s a word for it.
Also,
Of fucking course it’s because of ADHD.
That text is from the book “Driven to Distraction” by Edward M Hallowell M.D. and John J. Ratey M.D.
Has some amazing case studies on ADHD, and is a very cathartic read for someone diagnosed as an adult.
Thank you so much for adding a source to this! In general any book by M.D. Hallowell or by Dr. Russell Barkley is a sound bet for a good book on adhd that’s incredibly validating!














