ADHD and stress can look similar, but their causes, patterns and long-term impact are very different. This guide explains how to tell them apart and what to do if you’re unsure. Many adults who wonder whether they have ADHD initially assume they are simply “stressed”, “tired”, or “not coping well enough”. Because ADHD and stress share several overlapping symptoms, it is easy for people to dismiss their difficulties as the result of a busy lifestyle rather than a neurodevelopm