"Doesn’t Everyone Have a Bit of ADHD?" (No, actually)

Hi, I’m Lori—your go-to virtual assistant for ADHD individuals, business owners, CEOs, and entrepreneurs trying to bring order to the daily chaos. If you've recently been diagnosed with ADHD, chances are you've already heard it:

“Doesn’t everyone have a bit of ADHD?”

That well-meaning but wildly incorrect comment that somehow manages to minimise years of internal chaos, missed deadlines, late-night overwhelm, and emotional burnout—often in a single sentence.

So let’s clear things up.

ADHD is not just being forgetful or distracted

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition, not a personality quirk or a phase. It’s not about occasionally losing your keys or zoning out in a boring meeting. It’s about how your brain is wired to process, regulate, and respond to the world—every day, in every part of your life.

Let’s look at the numbers for context.

ADHD in the UK: What the stats say

  • Around 2.6 million people in the UK are estimated to have ADHD.

  • That’s about 1 in 25 adults—many of whom are undiagnosed.

  • Roughly 5% of school-aged children are diagnosed with ADHD.

  • Diagnosis rates are rising in women and non-binary adults, as awareness grows that ADHD presents differently in people who don’t fit the “hyper little boy” stereotype.

  • Many adults wait decades for a diagnosis. It's common to be misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression before ADHD is recognised as the root cause.

So no, not everyone has a bit of ADHD. But far more people have it than most realise—and it shows up differently in everyone.

Why the “everyone has it” comment hurts

When someone brushes off your diagnosis with “We all get distracted sometimes,” it might sound like they’re trying to connect. But it can feel invalidating—like the years of struggle you’ve faced are being minimised or dismissed.

Here’s the reality: ADHD isn’t about being quirky or forgetful. It can affect every corner of life—relationships, finances, work, mental health—and often comes with deep feelings of shame or self-doubt from years of masking or “underperforming” in neurotypical systems.

It’s not bad. It’s not broken. It’s just different. And different deserves support, not scepticism.

5 Polite, firm (and possibly funny) comebacks

If you’re someone who freezes in the moment when these comments come up—don’t worry. Here are five ready-to-use responses to keep in your back pocket:

  1. “Actually, ADHD is a clinical condition—it impacts how my brain regulates attention, emotion and energy. It’s not just being forgetful.”
    (Polite, clear, educational.)

  2. “If everyone had ADHD, we’d all be on waiting lists for assessments. The difference is in the intensity and impact it has daily.”
    (Great for logical thinkers.)

  3. “Haha, maybe—do you also get emotionally paralysed by choosing a toothbrush?”
    (For those moments when humour helps ease the awkward.)

  4. “I used to think that too. Then I got diagnosed, and realised there’s a whole system of executive functioning I was working twice as hard to keep up with.”
    (Empathetic and enlightening.)

  5. “I get that a lot—it’s a common myth. But ADHD affects motivation, working memory, impulse control and emotional regulation. It’s a bit more than losing your keys sometimes.”
    (Respectful, but assertive.)

You’re not being “too sensitive” for correcting someone. You’re setting the record straight on a lived experience that deserves recognition.

Reframing ADHD: A brain type, not a defect

Here’s the empowering bit: ADHD is not a character flaw. It’s a brain type with unique wiring—often highly creative, intuitive, curious, and full of ideas. But that brain also needs structure, support, flexibility, and a bit more breathing room than typical systems allow.

It’s not about fixing who you are. It’s about finding ways to work with how you function best.

So… What helps?

  • Self-acceptance. Stop comparing your productivity to people who don’t have to hack their way through every day.

  • Systems that make sense for your brain. Visual reminders, timers, automation, and routines that don’t rely on willpower alone.

  • Support. That might mean coaching, medication, or accommodations like flexible schedules or workplace adjustments.

  • And yes… a VA who gets it.

This Is Where I Come In

As an ADHD-specialised virtual assistant, I support business owners and CEOs with everything from inbox chaos to system design. I understand what it means to go through 20 open tabs and still forget what you were doing. I know the difference between “I’ll do it later” and “I will literally never think about this again unless someone reminds me.”

Whether it’s helping you apply for Access to Work, setting up automations, managing your schedule, or just being your external brain, I’m here to make work workable.

So no, not everyone has ADHD. But if you do—you don’t have to navigate it alone. Let’s build your support system together.


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