Everyone Isn't "A Little ADHD"

I keep hearing people say "Everyone's a little ADHD these days." And I have to say that this is bullsh*t. If you agree, and you want to know what to say to these people when they spew this crap, then keep reading.

Everyone Isn't "A Little ADHD"

Let me be crystal clear: ADHD and neurotypical brains are wired differently. Fact.

ADHD is a real, physical difference in brain structure and chemistry. This isn't opinion. It's not subjective. It's measurable science.

Research on ADHD brain structure shows that ADHD involves delays in the development of certain brain areas, particularly the prefrontal cortex—the part responsible for executive functions like planning, impulse control, and organization.

This isn't "being a bit scattered sometimes." This is fundamental differences in how your brain developed and functions.

The Pre-Installed GPS That ADHD Brains Don't Have

Here's the key difference people don't understand:

For most people, their fully developed brains give them a natural template for order. A mental map of what "organized" looks like and how to navigate things.

It's like having GPS pre-installed. They don't think about how to organize because their brain automatically provides a framework. Planning feels natural. Prioritizing happens intuitively. Starting tasks doesn't require enormous effort.

But for us with ADHD? That map doesn't come pre-installed.

We don't have a built-in baseline for order, so we have to create it ourselves. From scratch. Every single time.

It's not that you're lazy or don't care. It's that our brains don't have the default GPS for getting things done.

Neurotypical people take for granted the automatic organizational framework their brain provides. When they get distracted, they easily return to what they were doing because the mental map is still there. When they need to start a task, their brain provides a natural sequence of steps.

ADHD brains don't get that automatic support. Every task requires manually constructing the framework, the steps, the organization. It's exhausting. And when people say "everyone's a little ADHD," they're comparing occasional GPS glitches to not having GPS at all.

Why "Everyone's A Little ADHD" is Harmful

This phrase dismisses real struggle. It invalidates genuine disability. And it prevents people from getting the support they need.

When someone says this, they're usually trying to relate or be supportive. But what they're actually communicating is:

• "Your struggles aren't that special or severe"
• "I get distracted sometimes too, so it can't be that hard"
• "You should be able to just try harder like everyone else"
• "ADHD isn't a real condition deserving accommodation"

Yes, everyone gets distracted sometimes. Everyone forgets things occasionally. Everyone procrastinates on unpleasant tasks.

But ADHD is when these things happen:

• Persistently: Not occasionally—constantly, across all situations
• Pervasively: Not just at work or school—in every domain of life
• Impairingly: Not just annoying—actually preventing you from functioning well

When the same executive function challenges show up in your relationships, your work, your health management, your finances, your self-care, and your ability to accomplish basic life tasks—that's not "everyone." That's ADHD.

Understanding what ADHD really is helps people see beyond the stereotypes.

What to Say When People Dismiss Your ADHD

If you're wondering what to say when someone hits you with "everyone's a little ADHD," here are some responses:

"Everyone gets sad sometimes, but that doesn't mean everyone has clinical depression. ADHD is a diagnosable condition with specific criteria and measurable brain differences."

"The difference is frequency and impact. I don't just get distracted occasionally—my ability to focus, plan, and organize is consistently impaired across all areas of my life."

"ADHD brains are structurally different. Neurotypical brains have automatic organizational frameworks mine doesn't have. It's like comparing a GPS glitch to not having GPS at all."

"I appreciate you trying to relate, but saying that actually minimizes my struggles and makes me feel like my experiences aren't valid."

You don't owe anyone a detailed explanation. But having these responses ready helps when people dismiss your very real neurodevelopmental condition.

But There Is Good News

We can draw our own map. It's harder. But it's 100% possible.

Every time you tackle a task, every small system you put in place, you're building a blueprint for yourself.

And those blueprints will make you stronger, clearer, and more resilient.

Bit by bit, you're creating your own roadmap. And you'll be amazed where it can take you.

Yes, neurotypical people have advantages you don't. They started with a GPS. But that doesn't mean you can't navigate. It just means you need external support systems to compensate for what your brain doesn't provide automatically.

This is why understanding strategies that work WITH your ADHD brain is so important—you're building the organizational framework externally that neurotypical brains have internally.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Most importantly: Forgive yourself for feeling like you're always playing catchup. Stop comparing yourself to others, and compare yourself to a past version of you. That's what matters.

You're not failing because you can't do things as easily as neurotypical people. You're succeeding when you make progress despite having to work harder for results they achieve effortlessly.

It's NOT impossible. Keep rolling every day and you'll get there. Your brain works differently, not worse. You need different strategies, not more effort.

**Claudia by Neuro** understands this reality. She knows you don't have the pre-installed organizational GPS. So she provides external structure that works with your brain rather than demanding you function like a neurotypical brain.

It's a done-for-you system that understands exactly how your brain ticks. One that you can trust. That will help you get your sh*t together within just 10 minutes.

Because you shouldn't have to spend enormous energy building organizational frameworks from scratch every time. That's what external support systems are for—compensating for the GPS neurotypical brains have automatically.

Your ADHD is Valid

Everyone isn't "a little ADHD." Your struggles are real. Your diagnosis is valid. Your need for support and accommodation is legitimate.

Don't let dismissive comments make you doubt yourself. The neuroscience is clear. The brain differences are measurable. The impairment is real.

You deserve understanding, not dismissal. You deserve support designed for your actual neurology, not minimization of your struggles. You deserve to stop fighting your brain and start working with it.

By Josh Budd | Founder @ Neuro Notion