When You’re Burned Out But Still Masking — ADHD & Executive Dysfunction in Disguise

A conceptual illustration of a high-functioning woman burdened by mental and emotional overload, symbolizing the ADHD–burnout loop common in perfectionist adults.

Some people crash when they’re burned out.

Others? They keep going—smiling, helping, organizing… and quietly falling apart inside.

That second group is who we wrote this for.

At ShiftGrit, we see a pattern often missed in traditional therapy: the overlap between ADHD and burnout in high-functioning adults. These clients aren’t lazy. They’re over-adapted. And their executive systems are shutting down.\n\nWhat that looks like:\n- You’re doing a lot—but never catching up

  • You know the task—but can’t start it

  • You’re emotionally numb, but still pushing through

This isn’t just ADHD or stress. It’s an identity-level pattern: a loop where effort has been paired with pressure, fear, or failure. Over time, that loop creates the shutdown state we call executive dysfunction.\n\nIn therapy, we don’t just manage symptoms. We help clients recondition the beliefs that created the loop in the first place.

👉 Read the full breakdown:
https://shiftgrit.com/adhd-burnout-overlap/

📁 Get the free PDF guide:
Why You Can’t Slow Down — And What to Do Instead

📣 Explore identity-level therapy:
https://shiftgrit.com/executive-dysfunction-therapy/

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