If you’re feeling like you’re always second-guessing yourself. If you struggle to trust your instincts, even when you know you’re capable really. The chances are self-doubt shows up more than you’d like to admit if you have ADHD. You’re not alone – ADHD and self-doubt often go hand-in-hand, but there are ways to untangle the two and actually start backing yourself.
The connection between ADHD and Self-Doubt
ADHD isn’t just about being ‘distracted’ or ‘forgetful.’ It’s a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how your brain processes information, manages time, and regulates emotions. When ADHD goes undiagnosed or unsupported, the messaging we internalise over time can seriously mess with our self-trust.
Self-doubt in ADHD can look like:
- Constantly questioning your own judgement.
- Feeling like everyone else has the ‘rule book’ and you missed it.
- Over-explaining yourself or apologising more than needed.
- Holding back from opportunities because you’re afraid to get it wrong.
- Needing confirmation from others that what you’re thinking and feeling is ‘right’.
- Waiting to feel ‘ready’ – and never quite getting there.
This isn’t because you’re not capable. It’s because you’ve spent years taking in the message that your brain works ‘wrong’. This means that self-doubt isn’t necessarily a symptom of ADHD, but a result of the environment around you.
Common Signs & Symptoms
You might experience:
– Difficulty starting tasks because you don’t believe you’ll do them ‘right’.
– Anxiety around saying the ‘wrong’ thing.
– Procrastination tied to fear of failure or judgement.
– Over-reliance on external reassurance e.g. researching how you feel or needing others to make decisions for you.
– Perfectionism, or avoidance if something can’t be done perfectly.
– RSD (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria), which means your feel BIG emotions in response to perceived criticism or rejection.
– Feeling like a fraud, even when you’re doing well (think imposter syndrome at work).
– Comparing yourself constantly to others who seem to have it all together.
– Not voicing your opinions or saying how you feel, especially when it comes to setting boundaries with others.
Impact Self-Doubt in ADHD has on Daily Life
ADHD & self-doubt can quietly (or not so quietly) shape every part of your life:
Work & career: Struggling to advocate for yourself, take risks, or follow through on goals.
Relationships: Apologising unnecessarily, masking your needs, people-pleasing to avoid conflict.
Mental health: Increased anxiety, burnout, and depressive symptoms due to internalised shame or never feeling good enough.
Decision-making: Feeling stuck, indecisive, or afraid to act without reassurance from others.
Over time, this builds into a self-reinforcing cycle where ‘I’m not good enough’ becomes your lens for every situation.
Work on Self-Doubt in ADHD with us
You don’t need to ‘fix’ yourself – but you can unlearn some of the stories that ADHD has convinced you are facts. Working with us means being supported by neuro-affirming therapists who actually get it (because we’ve been there too!).
What we focus on:
– Understanding how ADHD and past experiences have shaped your relationship with self-doubt.
– Exploring how perfectionism, fear of failure, and RSD show up and how to manage these.
– Rebuilding self-trust through compassionate, practical strategies.
– Helping you identify your needs, strengths, and sensory profile.
– Learning how to take action without waiting to feel 100% confident first.
What you can achieve by working with us:
– Greater self-trust and emotional resilience.
– Confidence in your own voice, decisions, and boundaries.
– Tools to manage procrastination, people-pleasing, and overwhelm.
– The ability to stop over-apologising and start advocating for yourself.
– A version of self-worth that isn’t based on productivity.
We offer therapy that’s ADHD-informed, validating, and tailored to you – not some generic motivational advice you’ve probably tried a hundred times.
Let’s unpick the self-doubt, together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about ADHD & Self-Doubt
- I’ve tried therapy for self-doubt before and it didn’t help – how is this different?
Many of our clients say the same. But when neurodiversity isn’t accounted for in therapy, this can lead to poor experiences and reinforce shame & self-doubt. We’re neuro-affirming therapists and neurodivergent ourselves! Which means we don’t pathologise the way your brain works. We understand what its like to feel the way you do, so you don’t have to explain the parts of your ADHD that might not make sense. Instead we can spend more time on what matters – helping you understand how your ADHD experiences have shaped your self-doubt, and what to do about it. But we do this in a way that works for you and embraces your personal strengths.
- Can self-doubt really be unlearned? I’ve felt this way forever.
Yes, you can learn how to manage self-doubt in ADHD – but not overnight. We use compassionate, structured approaches to help you rebuild self-trust slowly, in ways that feel real and doable. It’s not about becoming confident all the time, but more about learning how to stop listening to the self-doubt when it shows up.
- What if I don’t have a formal ADHD diagnosis?
That’s completely okay. We specialise in all types of self-doubt and low self-esteem. We work with lots of people who are exploring whether they’re neurodivergent or who feel like the ADHD label explains their experience. You don’t need a diagnosis to access support.
- Is my self-doubt ADHD related or part of who I am?
Self-doubt is linked to ADHD when your inner critic feels loud, especially around tasks, decisions, or speaking up, and that’s been present since childhood or worsens under stress. In this case, it’s worth exploring. Self-doubt is often learned from navigating a world that wasn’t designed for your brain.