Life with ADHD is challenging, to say the least. Not only does it complicate my ability to focus, switch tasks, regulate my emotions, and more... but there's also an awful stigma that comes along with it.

In an attempt to shed light on our daily struggles, I asked ADHD twitter what might be scary to someone with ADHD. As always, they did not disappoint! This was originally made as a list for Halloween, but I think these ADHD-specific challenges can be related to all year-round.

50 things that might scare you if you have ADHD

Spooky socialization

1. Incoming calls
2. Outgoing calls
3. Upcoming plans that were made when you were feeling social
4. Making “small talk”
5. Using a collaborative platform—Google docs, Notion, Figma—and seeing that someone else is on the same page as you
6. Asking someone for help or clarification
7. Incoming video calls with no prior warning
8. When someone says to you, "can I just have a quick word?” or “we need to talk.”
9. Group projects
10. Seeing someone in person that you accidentally ghosted a long time ago

Calendar creeps

11. An appointment that’s scheduled later in the day (waiting mode is the worst)
12. “That one time I put ‘appointment’ on my calendar with absolutely no other information — no location, topic, who my appointment was with, or what it was about. I never received any reminders, so it was just a steadily rising panic for several days.” - @moeinminn‍
13. Having upcoming deadlines
14. Not having any deadlines at all

Messaging menace

15. Scheduling appointments over the phone
16. Reading emails
17. Sending emails
18. “Accidentally opening someone’s text(s) that you were procrastinating responding to, so now you have to respond right now or you’ll forget to respond forever.” - @river_jade_‍
19. Checking your voicemails

Adulting agony

20. Mondays; the start of a work week
21. Refilling monthly prescriptions 
22. Tax season
23. Filling out forms
24. Going on vacation
25. Returning items (whether they were broken, didn't fit, etc.)
26. Opening your mail
27. Spreadsheets
28. The Adderall shortage

Daunting decisions

29. "What do you want to eat for dinner?"
30. Getting an invitation to an event, but it’s worded as “you can come if you want”
31. Trying to decide what to wear for the day
32. "You can turn this in whenever you want."

Chilling chores

33. Laundry
34. The giant stack of dishes
35. The random collection of clothes and other belongings that were haphazardly piled in the corner in an attempt to “organize stuff”

Terrifying tasks and transitions

36. To-do lists
37. Packing for a trip‍
38. Unpacking after a trip
39. Getting out of bed
40. Getting out of the car after parking
41. A task list without any prioritization whatsoever

Scary shames

42. Late fees
43. Abandoned hobbies
44. A graveyard of used mugs all over the house
45. Calls from debt collectors

Forgetful frights

46. When websites ask you to make a password that you will definitely immediately forget
47. That really nice planner you forgot you bought and is now collecting dust somewhere
48. Realizing you forgot to take your meds while you’re on your way to work
49. Expired food in the fridge
50. Remembering that there was something important you needed to remember, but not remembering what it was you needed to remember