ADHD and the Shame Spiral That Follows “Simple” Mistakes

When little mistakes trigger big shame...

Ever send a message and forget the attachment? (Me? Never! lol)
Miss an appointment you swore you had written down?
Start something… and then realize you completely forgot to finish it?

For most people, these are minor missteps. But if you have ADHD, they can send you into a full-on shame spiral.

Why? Because for many of us, those little mistakes feel like confirmation of the worst things we secretly fear:
That we’re unreliable.
That we’re disappointing someone.
That we can’t be trusted to “keep it together.”

But here’s what’s really happening:
Your brain processes time, attention, and organization differently — and these so-called “mistakes” are symptoms, not character flaws.

The mistake isn’t proof that you’re failing.
It’s a signal that you need more support — not more self-blame.

Let this be your reminder: You are NOT broken. You are allowed to be human. You are allowed to learn. And you are not your worst moment. (Thank goodness for that! Ha!)

You’ve got this!

Jorie