Brain fog can feel like wading through a mental haze—when focus fades, thoughts are harder to grasp, and everyday tasks take extra energy. For people with ADHD, brain fog can stem from differences in attention regulation, working memory, and executive functioning. It’s not about a lack of motivation or ability; it’s the brain working harder to sort, hold, and retrieve information.

How it can show up

• Forgetting why you walked into a room or losing track of mid-conversation details

• Slower recall of words, names, or steps in a task, even when you know them

• Feeling “mentally tired” much sooner than others, even after small tasks

• Struggling to prioritize because everything feels equally blurred or important

• Trouble moving from one thought to the next

• Needing breaks, naps, or quiet before re-engagingng