Why an ADHD Person’s House Might Be a Mess

Living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be challenging, and one common issue is a disorganized living space. It's not uncommon for someone with ADHD to have a messy house, but this doesn't mean chaos reigns within their mind. In fact, many ADHD individuals have an almost opposite problem: a neat and tidy mind, coupled with constant mental activity that makes them resist maintaining order in the physical world.

ADHD and the Mind

In the article below, a person with ADHD describes their experience with a clean yet chaotic mind and a perpetually messy house. They explain how their internal organization starkly contrasts with their external environment, and they provide insight into the symptoms and behaviors associated with ADHD that can lead to this situation. Let's explore further.

Internal Tidiness and External Disorder

I put my lunch on my shoes. That way I dont forget about my lunch.

There is a box of water filters on my counter because there is no place in my house labeled “Water Filters” and I don’t know where else to put them except for the garage, but if I put them in the garage, they’re never getting seen again.

It took me three weeks to assemble a desk because I wasn’t in the right headspace when I had time to do it.

I had a drink. I set it down and now it’s gone forever. I get another drink, which I set down right next to the first one.

I have to take out the trash and the recycling and also if I leave now I won’t be late for work. Now where did I leave my shoes?

These situations often frustrate and stress me out, and they are just a few examples of how ADHD can affect daily life. Despite my mind's desire to be organized and tidy, the external world often fails to match this neatness.

Understanding ADHD in Action

The article also highlights that many people with ADHD struggle with a sense of urgency and the ease of distraction. These factors can exacerbate disorganization and messiness.

I read many others have this problem… nice to know I’m not alone. I live with my daughter and we are both ADHD though my wanting to get up and do things physically as in the past is severely limited by injuries and aging. Our house is always in disarray. If I manage to clean a table off, she fills it within a matter of minutes. My mind stands I can’t stand the mess, but my mind doesn't want to deal with a never-ending battle of tidy vs. messy. Besides, there are so many more important and exciting things running through my head that I really want to expend my limited motions and energy on such mundane tasks.

And of course, there are so many unfinished projects in the middle of the mess, making it hard to disturb this messy state of affairs. I do manage to keep my own room cleaned and organized so I can always find some relief from the chaos.

The Impact of Outside Perception

The hardest part to deal with the mess is when people who have never been here enter and immediately judge us as to the why of what they see—which is often far from the reality of it.

Contrasting with Some Expectations

It’s not. Everything is exactly where I want it. Don’t touch anything.

Some people believe that with ADHD, a house should be a complete disaster, but that is far from the truth for many.

I have ADHD and most of the time my house is very clean and tidy. It is the opposite to the chaos in my mind. I can’t stand mess and get very anxious when things don’t look tidy. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I don’t have the capacity to keep on top of things and it looks a state. If someone is coming round it gives me the push I need to sort it. My house might look lovely right now, but I haven't washed for nearly a week, and important stuff that needs doing isn’t done. ADHD presents in different ways for different people. I am currently unmedicated.