“I slept for 8 hours.” 

“I took a few days off work.” 

“I extended several deadlines at work.”

So why am I always tired?

In my experience, this is a common dilemma for people who struggle with ADHD. I’ll walk through some of the intricacies of ADHD’s effects on the mind and body, and share ways to overcome the constant fatigue. 

Why Am I Always Tired?

If you have ADHD, you might feel tired because symptoms like hyperactivity, brain fog, and restlessness drain your mental energy. This is backed by a recent study that found 62% of people with ADHD experience mental fatigue.  

Additionally, your ADHD symptoms could leak into your sleep routine. Recent studies confirm that ADHD symptoms do not go away at night.

Here’s why you might feel tired all the time with ADHD: 

1. Poor sleep: Your ADHD symptoms don’t go away at night, according to Dr. Dodson, M.D. I’ve often seen clients struggle with sleep disturbances and long sleep latency times (the time it takes you to fall asleep). Meditation can help you soothe common sleep disturbances and improve sleep latency.

2. Improper medication dosage: Some medications, such as Adderall and Vyvanse, can take some getting used to. You might experience a “crash” after it wears off, which could result in feeling tired. But beyond medication side effects, simply the wrong medication could contribute to fatigue. Check in with your doctor to ensure your medication plan is working for you. 

3. Hyperactivity: A common ADHD symptom, hyperactivity makes it difficult to focus, sit still, or fall asleep. This can also translate to mental restlessness. 

4. Anxiety: While not always a formal diagnosis for anxiety disorder, many of my clients with ADHD struggle with racing, anxious thoughts. You only have so much mental energy to disperse across your daily responsibilities. When that energy goes toward every passing thought, it’s easy to feel tired. 

5. Brain fog: Brain fog is a common ADHD symptom that can make it hard to remember things and causes confusion and forgetfulness. 

Types of ADHD Fatigue: Why Am I Always Tired?

ADHD fatigue doesn’t look the same for everyone. Here are the different kinds of fatigue you might experience if you have ADHD: 

• Physical fatigue: The most obvious form of fatigue, physical fatigue brings on body symptoms like muscle soreness. It can also affect sleep fatigue, which is when you feel sleepy even after getting rest. 

• Cognitive fatigue: The racing thoughts that come with ADHD can result in cognitive fatigue. This is also known as brain fog, which includes forgetfulness and trouble concentrating on tasks. 

• Emotional fatigue: Many of my clients (especially women) experience emotional fatigue because they’re sensitive to others’ emotions. People-pleasing is sometimes the culprit: a set of behaviours in which someone puts others’ feelings over their own. 

You might experience all three of these fatigue types with ADHD. The good news? You can address it. 

How Do I Stop Feeling Tired with ADHD?

The best way to feel more energized and awake is to follow a tailored plan that speaks to your specific ADHD symptoms. That way, you’ll mitigate the symptoms that drain your mental energy. 

Here’s where you can start: 

1. Get a diagnosis for your ADHD: You can’t heal if you don’t know what you’re dealing with. Many of my clients first suspected they had ADHD, but never received a diagnosis (even after years of symptoms). Visit our website to take a free ADHD test!

2. Identify your stressors: What drains your energy the most? Is it looming work deadlines? Family commitments? Find out what’s draining your energy and base your health plan on mitigating those stressors. 

3. Take regular breaks: Find time to rest, even if it’s just for a few minutes throughout your work day. Without breaks, you might overwork yourself and become burnt out, which is a sure way to feel tired all the time. 

4. Exercise: Studies show that regular exercise has significantly positive effects on ADHD symptoms and improves chronic fatigue. 

5. Talk it out: You know the happy feeling you get after catching up with a friend over coffee? Stay connected and see if it improves your energy. If not, consider talking through your symptoms with a mental health practitioner. 

Why Am I Always Tired Beyond ADHD Symptoms?

While ADHD is a notorious offender for fatigue, it might not be the only thing keeping you tired. Here are some other culprits I’ve identified throughout my therapy practice: 

1. Hormones: If you’re a woman with ADHD, you have the extra layer of hormonal fluctuations affecting your mood and energy. Consider consulting a physician to identify hormonal imbalances and explore dietary and medical treatments to treat them. 

2. Depression: Almost 30% of Canadians reported experiencing depression in 2024, up from 20% in 2016. And people with ADHD are 3x more likely to experience depression.  

3. Nutritional deficiencies: Medical experts link deficiencies in iron, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D to increased fatigue. 

Discover Ways to Rest with West Coast Adult ADHD

FAQs

1. Why am I always tired even when I get enough sleep?

You might feel tired even when you get enough sleep because of a few reasons, including ADHD symptoms, nutritional deficiencies, stress, depression, or hormonal imbalances. 

2. Do people with ADHD feel tired all the time?

People with ADHD can feel tired all the time because they’re more likely to experience sleep disturbances, since ADHD symptoms can continue into the night. 

3. What are the symptoms of ADHD burnout?

The symptoms of ADHD burnout include emotional sensitivity, low motivation, social withdrawal, cynicism, and feelings of overwhelm. 

4. What does an ADHD crash feel like?

An ADHD crash feels like an overwhelming feeling of mental and physical exhaustion that often follows a period of hyperfocus or hyperactivity. 

5. How do you fight fatigue with ADHD?

You can fight fatigue associated with ADHD through lifestyle changes such as incorporating more exercise into your routine, enhancing your sleep hygiene, and maintaining a balanced diet. Additionally, you can fight fatigue by taking regular breaks, establishing clearer boundaries at work, and consulting a medical professional for therapy or medication. 

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Link Index

1. Home page for ADHD clinic in Vancouver, British Columbia: https://adhdvancouver.ca/about-west-coast-adhd/

2. Medical study exploring rates of fatigue in people with ADHD: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27918087/

3. Bio for ADHD-specialist doctor:
   https://www.additudemag.com/author/william-dodson-m-d/

4. Article about ADHD medications:
   https://adhdvancouver.ca/adhd-medication-side-effects/

5. Article about ADHD symptoms:
   https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder

6. Article about brain fog: 
   https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/brain-fog

7. Online diagnostic tool for ADHD: 
   https://adhdvancouver.ca/free-adhd-test/

8. Medical study about the effects of exercise on fatigue:
   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9206544/

9. Guide and services for women with ADHD: 
   https://adhdvancouver.ca/women-and-adhd/

10. Article about increasing rates of depression in Canadians: https://www.cihi.ca/en/news/canadians-increasingly-report-poor-mental-health-cite-growing-economic-concerns-as-a

11. Article about the link between ADHD and depression: 
    https://add.org/adhd-and-depression/

12. Article about the link between nutritional deficiencies and fatigue: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/could-a-vitamin-or-mineral-deficiency-be-behind-your-fatigue

13. Contact page to book an appointment with a mental health practitioner:
    https://westcoastadultadhd.janeapp.com/

14. Article about ADHD sleep disturbances: 
    https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-sleep-disturbances-symptoms/

15. Article about ADHD burnout: 
    https://add.org/adhd-burnout/

16. Article about ADHD crashes:
    https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-hyperfocus-crash/

17. Medical study about fatigue solutions for people with ADHD: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37440739/