ADHD and the Fear of Failure: Breaking the Perfectionism-Procrastination Cycle
Introduction Do you ever put off starting something because you’re afraid you won’t do it well enough ? Maybe you wait for the "perfect" moment, but that moment never comes—so the task stays unfinished. This is the perfectionism-procrastination cycle , and it’s incredibly common for people with ADHD. ADHD brains are wired for all-or-nothing thinking . If we can’t do something perfectly , we often avoid it altogether. But the longer we put it off, the more overwhelming it feels—leading to more procrastination, more anxiety, and a growing fear of failure. The good news? You can break this cycle. Let’s explore why ADHD makes us afraid to fail and how to move forward without waiting for perfection. Why ADHD Fuels Fear of Failure 1. Rejection Sensitivity (RSD) and Fear of Criticism Many ADHDers experience Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) —an intense emotional response to perceived failure or criticism. Even small mistakes can feel devasta...