As we become more and more conscious of our mental health, some of us might discover that a lot of our quirks and weird behaviors stem from our neurodivergent brains. The CDC reports that one in 16 adults in the U.S. currently have an ADHD diagnosis.
For us, that means that one in 16 Pandas might relate to a certain kind of humor more. That's why we're bringing you the best funny pics from the community "ADHD & ND Tips, Tricks, and Relatable Memes". This one is for all our neurospicy kings, queens, and in-betweens; scroll away and chuckle at these ADHD memes!
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There's an old New Yorker cartoon where a group of people are mumbling "Uh-oh" around an injured person lying on the sidewalk. That's me. My ADHD is focused, like obsessively focused, on a project. Detail work is my specialty. Research? Bring it on! But a crisis? Count me out.
If you're at all on social media, you might've noticed a trend in the last couple of years or so where people like to attribute ADHD and autism symptoms to themselves. A 2024 survey by the Ohio State University revealed that 25% of adults in America suspect they have undiagnosed ADHD.
This trend of self-diagnosing can be worrying, but it isn't so surprising once we consider the history of diagnosing neurodivergent people.
Social psychologist Devon Price writes that self-diagnosis can be liberating, especially for women. In the past, the tools to diagnose autism and ADHD have been suspiciously male-centric. Price writes that they were "designed with young, white, cisgender male patients with visibly obvious symptoms in mind."
I once spent an entire night learning everything I could find on the Kakapo. It's a big green bird and none of the infos I found have ever been useful.
Many patients with ADHD get misdiagnosed and dismissed because they don't fit that old criteria. One clue might be family members: since the disorder is genetic, people with neurospicy folks in their family tree are more likely to have the disorders, too.
Psychologist and clinical assistant professor in Ohio State’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Justin Barterian, PhD, explains how some adults might realize they have ADHD one it's been diagnosed to their children.
"There's definitely more awareness of how it can continue to affect folks into adulthood and a lot of people who are realizing, once their kids have been diagnosed, that they fit these symptoms as well, given that it's a genetic disorder."
Aww, this is wonderful! I never thought of it this way 🥰
Oh, yeah??? Well, I had to make 3 different doctor appointments, plus book rides to and from all three appointments, this morning. I'm thoroughly exhausted, like actually needed a nap exhausted.
You feel hyperactive sometimes? ADHD! You make impulse purchases online and regret them once the goods arrive? ADHD! This is something you might see on social media where people diagnose themselves and others with ADHD or autism without having proper credentials for it.
Dr. Barterian says it's okay to watch such videos and suspect you might be neurodivergent. He does, however, advise to get checked out by a proper psychologist, psychiatrist, or physician. They're most likely to give you the most reliable assessment, not strangers on TikTok and Instagram.
Oh cripes... do that every day when exercising. Constantly miss my 'slot' so start at the next half hour.
The biggest problem with self-diagnosing is that people tend to look at an autism or ADHD diagnosis as a explanation for their poor job performance, feelings of overwhelm, and other disappointing and frustrating experiences which may just be a normal part of life.
"Often enough, it is fair to say, the everyday distress, role conflicts, and lifestyle issues that motivate the personal appropriation of these categories have little to do with a mental disorder," professor of Sociology Joseph E. Davis wrote for Psychology Today.
Yep, amusing for the first 5 minutes, then you just want to cry out of frustration. Until you find that yo-yo someone threw in the junk drawer, and oh my gosh, is that my pink shoelaces?! I thought I threw those out!! Whatever happened to the shoes they were in? What the hell was I doing again? Whatever I'm gonna go play with my yo-yo.
Forgetful, careless, insubordinate, stubborn and overly ambitious, are mine. I believe I'm the opposite of all these, and yet it comes up in all my performance reviews.
Surprisingly, some experts believe that self-diagnosing can do good, too. Robert Chapman, a neurodivergent philosopher in the United Kingdom who specializes in disability theory, told the Los Angeles Times that psychology and psychiatry is rife with miscalculations and misdiagnoses. That doesn't mean that they're always wrong, but observing and trying to change one's behaviors after self-diagnosing can help some people reclaim power.
One of my oldest friends and I are like that. Someone recently asked her 'do you think you have ADHD' and she'd never considered it before.
This is a trick question. If you blow off your pain or give a low number you're stuck at the back of the line. By going a bit higher, chances are you'll be taken more seriously.
I struggle with remembering the names of my neighbours but I remember every face and name of actors in the most obscure movies for some reasons.
"You might notice you have all of these challenges with social relationships, sensory difficulties, or paying attention, and you might think it's autism for a while," Chapman explained. "And then you're like, 'Hang on, I fit more with ADHD.' Even if you've gotten it wrong, you've still learned about yourself, your differences and needs."
Yes! The negative reaction to sharing personal experiences that mirror someone else's as a way to connect has always enraged me. I'm not a selfish asshóle trying to one-up you, I'm an empathetic individual trying to connect through shared experience.
Why does ADHD often is misdiagnosed, ignored, or overlooked in women? Mostly because they present symptoms a little bit differently. Generally, there are two types of ADHD: inattentiveness and impulsivity/hyperactivity. As ADHD often is diagnosed at an early age, in boys it presents as jumping around and getting in classmates' faces. Girls with ADHD, on the other hand, are social, energetic, and talkative.
Me literally screenshotting everything I relate to here before I saw this
"Since girls often display fewer behavioral problems and less noticeable symptoms, their difficulties are often overlooked," says Dr. Lisa MacLean, M.D., a psychiatrist at Henry Ford Health. Other symptoms in girls with ADHD may include:
- Distractedness and forgetfulness,
- Fidgeting,
- Carelessness,
- Cluttered, messy environment,
- Disorganized thoughts.
This is why I'm cleaning/organizing my house XD 43 years of crud, stuff, junk, tchotchkes I knew that I *COULD NOT* live without when I saw them online, little figurines, plushies, and other pieces of cr@pola that I honestly stopped caring about as soon as I opened the box and put the figurine on a shelf. Then the figurine gets swept into a box, where it sits forgotten for years XD There are only a few items I own that I *truly* love and care about (besides my living things like my pets and my beloved plants/trees.) One is the stuffed German Shepherd I've had since I was 5 (his name is Chace.) Another one is my dad's ashes. A third is my long-gone old gray cat's collar. I think I could probably toss out all of my other possessions and not care, in the long run. But somehow, it's still difficult to do :(
When women don't get diagnosed at an early age, they often develop coping mechanisms and learn to mask their symptoms. They might overcompensate the symptoms mentioned above by working late during the night to compensate what they haven't finished during the work day. Friendships and romantic relationships might suffer too, as patients might be afraid to show their true selves.
And people are also mad that you're struggling and when you ask for shoes they tell you that you don't need them because you've climbed without them so why would you need them now ?
The only meal prep I'm prepared to do is the dish I've made many, many times before. I'm currently on the Wendy's chili copycat recipe. Its predictable and ingredients are easy and its easy to transport and it tastes good late at night or for breakfast
Those pre-employment personality questionnaires really get me. Like I don't know if I am good working alone or Am I good working in a team? Well someday I can do one and not the other, but it depends. Is the place noisy? Are there strong smells like perfume that others in the team wear? Answers take a while, sometimes I just guess
How many neurodivergent Pandas have we got here among us? Share your ADHD, autism, or other diagnosis journeys with us in the comments! If you don't feel ready yet – no biggie. Just quietly upvote the pics you liked most from this list. And if you feel like scrolling through more funny ADHD pics, check out our previous post right here!
To my fellow ADHDers, how many notepads you have with just the first page filled and the rest fully empty ?
I started out reading this list for fun but looking back I may have some form of mild ADHD. It honestly explains a lot of my life
Yup. I’m not that smart I just know a bunch of random facts that I found interesting.
I have yet to meet someone who could be considered completely neurotypical
Both of my super smart (I know, I'm biased!) kids have ADD, boy and girl, and really struggled in school. Son went on to become a professional pilot (SO many unmedicated ADD/ADHD pilots!) Daughter refused to medicate for school for years and finally started as an adult and it helped so much! She's still got anxiety but she's finally pulling her life together. It's a tough disease to have. :(
I currently have 7 stacked up, all dated for this year, with less than a month filled out. But you never know when I'll need One...
OMG this. My ADHD daughter is incapable of sitting at the dinner table in the typical way. I expect someday she will balance on her head while eating dinner.
"How d'you solve a problem like Maria?" "OH MY GOD YOU GUYS SHUT THE F**K UP."
I constantly forget to eat. My mom cannot fathom how I don't "notice" that I'm hungry. She's asked me before, "Doesn't it hurt?" Uh... no? Does it usually hurt when you don't eat for an entire day? I mean, I feel hunger, and my stomach growls, but it doesn't hurt, and generally my ADHD brain jumps to something/the next thing so fast that I barely notice when I AM feeling hunger.. XD
How to relax my brain: keep it partially occupied by doing something fysical, then i can think, daydream clearly without overthinking or getting overwhelmed by too much, confusing emotions. To my surprise breathing exercises are fysical enough to work for me. Or keep it completely occupied by reading, puzzels, ballet dancing, writing.
god....cleaning my wardrobe in my teenage years always took at least three days..and It wasn't a very big one....
“Distance-nesia.” I always have to go back to the room where the thought of origin happened. 🤦♀️
Depends on whether these are facts or skills you will need in your chosen field when you don't have immediate access to a book and need to do something quickly.
Its' not like how you are goes away just because you don't get diagnosed..! 😳🙀
YES !! How many people still think that "we all have a little bit of ADHD", or that "ADHD is an American issue only" (yep I actually heard that one this morning), or that "ADHD is just being lazy", or again that "ADHD is not a handicap"... I'm TIRED !
I'm constantly covered in bruises, scratches, and cuts. My family is constantly asking where/how I got them. I rarely remember. XD I've also got all the rest of these things, if you swap out "lucid dreams" for "sleep paralysis". Never gotten fortunate enough to lucid dream :p
The "short lived interest" is what's currently preventing me from finding a potential job that I'll like. I don't have any passions, so if I start to like something and want to make it a job, how do I know that it's not something I'll lose interest in in 3 weeks ?
For some with ADHD. For others reading becomes a stimulant and relaxes one.
Just like you don't "grow out of" adhd. You just get better at compensating (due to a herculean effort, generally).
You forgot: looking at a ready meal that's literally three minutes in the microwave and deciding "nah, far too much effort".
I came into this just to see what ADHD is like and now I leave realising that my whole life up to this point was the way it was due to potentially undiagnosed ADHD
As a complete and total aside, it is so good to see you again, my friend :)
Load More Replies...Just this week I started the process of getting a diagnosis. I’m not sure where this will take me but I’m somewhere in the neighbourhood of ADHD if not actually running the whole place! As an aside I’m the man you need in times of chaos / crisis, steely cold logic will come to the fore and my completely emotionless logic may offend I’ll bulldoze my way right through any emotion based decision making, it has no place here. PS There’s a high chance I’ve caused or allowed the chaos to descend, sorry about that.
It's 3:10a and i read 2 novels tonight. Starting another one now, BP was my palate cleanser.
I ordered a pizza a little past midnight and decided to start doing homework, finally. I don't pretend to be in charge here, my brain just... has its own preferences on when to do what.
Load More Replies...A big thank you to my history teacher from 12th grade (terminale) who allowed me to put my headphones with music on while doing my exercises in class.
I love lists like this one because I'm on a waiting list to get tested for inattentive adhd and I feel so f-ing alone with all my "symptoms" because my bf doesn't seem to care about it, his parents don't care (they just lable me as stupid and lazy), my own parents don't care about it. At least the few friends I have seem to care, but only one understands to a degree. I am struggling every day to get normal things done and not to "drown" in my hyperfixations. I can hardly wait to get tested.... I've been on the waiting list for about 1.5 years already and have under 1.5years left to wait. September 2026 is gonna be an enlightning month. 😬
I hear you and relate to what you are writing. Ive spent most of my life trying to understand my triggers and attempts to mimic others who aren’t triggered. When my bf says normal people as a response.. thats when i leave the room
Load More Replies...I got up fully prepared and enthusiastic to do a specific task - found the things I need and brought them downstairs all ready to go. Lots of good ideas and plans in my head, looking forward to it. Got distracted by this thread, because I needed something to read while I was eating breakfast, HAD to finish it (I hate unfinished things; I think I have AuDHD) and now half an hour later I've lost all motivation, and need a nap. 😡
Me: No, I don’t have AuDHD what are you talking about? Also me: *scrolling through this post at midnight and relating to everything*
As someone on spectrum I dont find these funny but relatable in a comforting way
One of the things that is clear is a great many self-diagnose. They pick and choose a symptom or two that fits them. It's like the people who say they are 'a bit OCD'. Having undiagnosed ADHD is a life sentence. It is nothing to do with intelligence, but it both enhances abilities and lack of them. It makes personal relationships fraught with fear, lack of understanding and bewilderment. It's not a handicap, but it's so little understood, other people see us as 'difficult', 'odd', 'peculiar' and other undesirable characteristics. It's not about running around uncontrolled, but it can involve making rash decisions, being very, very bad with money, having flashes of brilliance yet not be able to remember your best friend's name. Don't diagnose yourself, go to a psychiatrist, not one of these on-line psychologists, they don't know anything. Go to a psychiatrist.
I've spent about half my 72 years wondering what the hell was wrong with me. My friends are like "you're OCD" I'm like "yeah I've got some O's and some C's but no D cuz I can still function in Society" and they say "you're still weird." Saw myself in every one. Effing c*****d me up.
And you're still alive and have friends. I'm finding I attract people just like me and its great. I feel you have to HAVE it to understand it.
Load More Replies...Here's a song that might be relatable. Yes, the tune is to "The Nations of the World" from Animaniacs. It's VERY catchy. https://youtu.be/OpHiqHqQMWM?si=HUvVR-pu8Iv592Hu
I came into this just to see what ADHD is like and now I leave realising that my whole life up to this point was the way it was due to potentially undiagnosed ADHD
As a complete and total aside, it is so good to see you again, my friend :)
Load More Replies...Just this week I started the process of getting a diagnosis. I’m not sure where this will take me but I’m somewhere in the neighbourhood of ADHD if not actually running the whole place! As an aside I’m the man you need in times of chaos / crisis, steely cold logic will come to the fore and my completely emotionless logic may offend I’ll bulldoze my way right through any emotion based decision making, it has no place here. PS There’s a high chance I’ve caused or allowed the chaos to descend, sorry about that.
It's 3:10a and i read 2 novels tonight. Starting another one now, BP was my palate cleanser.
I ordered a pizza a little past midnight and decided to start doing homework, finally. I don't pretend to be in charge here, my brain just... has its own preferences on when to do what.
Load More Replies...A big thank you to my history teacher from 12th grade (terminale) who allowed me to put my headphones with music on while doing my exercises in class.
I love lists like this one because I'm on a waiting list to get tested for inattentive adhd and I feel so f-ing alone with all my "symptoms" because my bf doesn't seem to care about it, his parents don't care (they just lable me as stupid and lazy), my own parents don't care about it. At least the few friends I have seem to care, but only one understands to a degree. I am struggling every day to get normal things done and not to "drown" in my hyperfixations. I can hardly wait to get tested.... I've been on the waiting list for about 1.5 years already and have under 1.5years left to wait. September 2026 is gonna be an enlightning month. 😬
I hear you and relate to what you are writing. Ive spent most of my life trying to understand my triggers and attempts to mimic others who aren’t triggered. When my bf says normal people as a response.. thats when i leave the room
Load More Replies...I got up fully prepared and enthusiastic to do a specific task - found the things I need and brought them downstairs all ready to go. Lots of good ideas and plans in my head, looking forward to it. Got distracted by this thread, because I needed something to read while I was eating breakfast, HAD to finish it (I hate unfinished things; I think I have AuDHD) and now half an hour later I've lost all motivation, and need a nap. 😡
Me: No, I don’t have AuDHD what are you talking about? Also me: *scrolling through this post at midnight and relating to everything*
As someone on spectrum I dont find these funny but relatable in a comforting way
One of the things that is clear is a great many self-diagnose. They pick and choose a symptom or two that fits them. It's like the people who say they are 'a bit OCD'. Having undiagnosed ADHD is a life sentence. It is nothing to do with intelligence, but it both enhances abilities and lack of them. It makes personal relationships fraught with fear, lack of understanding and bewilderment. It's not a handicap, but it's so little understood, other people see us as 'difficult', 'odd', 'peculiar' and other undesirable characteristics. It's not about running around uncontrolled, but it can involve making rash decisions, being very, very bad with money, having flashes of brilliance yet not be able to remember your best friend's name. Don't diagnose yourself, go to a psychiatrist, not one of these on-line psychologists, they don't know anything. Go to a psychiatrist.
I've spent about half my 72 years wondering what the hell was wrong with me. My friends are like "you're OCD" I'm like "yeah I've got some O's and some C's but no D cuz I can still function in Society" and they say "you're still weird." Saw myself in every one. Effing c*****d me up.
And you're still alive and have friends. I'm finding I attract people just like me and its great. I feel you have to HAVE it to understand it.
Load More Replies...Here's a song that might be relatable. Yes, the tune is to "The Nations of the World" from Animaniacs. It's VERY catchy. https://youtu.be/OpHiqHqQMWM?si=HUvVR-pu8Iv592Hu
