2. “You Just Need to Try Harder”
Telling someone with ADHD to “just try harder” dismisses the very real executive function challenges they face. Research highlighted by ADDitude Magazine shows that ADHD impacts one’s ability to plan, organize, and follow through—not their willingness to put in effort. People with ADHD often work much harder than most realize, yet still struggle. Such comments can leave them feeling frustrated and misunderstood, rather than motivated or supported.