Christian, a 31-year-old based in New York City, lost his job in the latter half of 2022. He was aware that his attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) had caused him to fall behind on his management consulting projects, so this didn’t come as a surprise to him.

Many people with ADHD experience workplace challenges that can make them less successful. For instance, some people struggle to maintain an organized workstation or keep appointments. Some people are always punctual and orderly, but they can’t help but interrupt conversations. Its effects can be particularly severe at work, where bosses may accuse those with ADHD of being disinterested or incompetent due to the norms surrounding their behavior and procedures. Self-judgment is one of the undesirable side effects that may lead people with ADHD to experience negative emotional states. ADHD still carries a lot of stigma, which might cause some people to think that it is solely an issue for children. As a form of compensation, many workers instead turn to “masking,” which involves repressing many of their innate tendencies in order to blend in with their coworkers.

More people are now able to seek their employers’ assistance due to the increase in ADHD diagnoses over the past ten years. Some managers might also be more open, particularly if they are dealing with sickness in their own families.