@yourmedmentor: New 2026 ADHD research found adults with ADHD had higher sleep-like slow wave activity while awake/ while trying to do focused tasks. Those waves correlated with attention issues, slower reaction time, variability, and subjective sleepiness—suggesting the brain may be partially “offline” during wakefulness. We know ADHD is also strongly linked with delayed sleep phase, meaning many people naturally fall asleep and wake later than society expects. We also see evidence of a delayed morning cortisol rise, which may contribute to that groggy, slow-start feeling many ADHDers describe. ADHD isn’t laziness—it seems to involve very real circadian and arousal regulation differences. Pinggal E, Jackson J, Kusztor A, et al. Sleep-like Slow Waves During Wakefulness Mediate Attention and Vigilance Difficulties in Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. J Neurosci. 2026;46:e1694252025. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1694-25.2025
Dr. Heidi | Your Med Mentor
Region: US
Tuesday 28 April 2026 22:28:42 GMT
Music
Download
Comments
kyrahanner :
I also have exploding head syndrome which I didn't realise until I lived rurally and had no neighbours/roomates
2026-04-29 04:51:30
1347
Chanh/🍋/🍋🟩 :
I recently learned about intrusive sleep being an ADHD symptom so
2026-04-30 11:48:00
70
staybossi :
so what the fuck do we do😭
2026-06-09 01:55:26
0
wRitEhAnDman :
yup. I could be falling asleep on the couch, feeling tired, but the moment I DECIDE it is bedtime my brain is wide awake as soon as I get into bed. it fkn SUCKS
2026-04-29 14:35:43
7013
Hakin Læknir :
SO THIS IS WHY I STRUGGLE TO FALL ASLEEP BUT CAN LITERALLY DOSE OFF ANY TIME DURING THE DAY WHILE BUSY
2026-04-29 07:57:52
4672
jennanananan :
waking up is literally agony for me. it takes me almost two hours to be able to form complete sentences.
2026-04-29 21:12:42
1457
daninouterspace :
Yes. The falling asleep while trying to focus…. University classes always put me to sleep… it was undiagnosed ADHD the whole time… LOL 😅
2026-04-29 00:01:02
473
Jessica Pessica :
Don’t suppose they happened to mention.. I don’t know… any solutions??
2026-04-29 11:27:32
1228
ThisGuy :
Does anyone else also feel like their circadian rhythms dont match up with our 24 hour day? I would love to be awake for 20 hours and then sleep for 8.
2026-04-30 04:21:39
620
Auntie Lenah 🏳️🌈 :
I used to literally fall asleep while trying to work. My doctor thought I had narcolepsy. Turns out if was just undiagnosed ADHD.
2026-04-29 16:10:38
305
Jonkel :
My brain is wired for watching the camp at night, not for working from 9-5.
2026-04-30 07:15:41
135
Kitt Walker :
I don't combat it, I rely on it. it's one of the ways I manage to get to sleep at a decent time is by focusing on something, usually a puzzle game on my phone that takes concentration, I'm lying in bed trying to figure out the solution and then next thing I know is that I'm waking up having dropped my phone hours ago.
2026-04-30 16:59:42
75
Ryan :
Don’t forget that epic fun known as revenge bedtime procrastination.
2026-04-30 21:59:58
115
Steph :
The invasive sleepiness is real- if I don’t get up and move I will just fall asleep when I hit the end of hyper focus time
2026-04-29 18:37:29
317
Uh-lee-yuuh :
THIS EXPLAINS WHY I ALWAYS START FALLING ASLEEP THE MOMENT I START STUDYING NO MATTER HOW WELL RESTED I AM
2026-06-07 20:22:29
1
larkfloof :
Literally happening to me right now. Trying to focus at work. Falling asleep instead. Not medicated today; meds help a lot with this.
2026-06-08 19:21:20
0
Vanessa beam :
Is it us actually falling asleep or is it us dissociating?
2026-06-08 07:15:03
0
sophiemac477 :
Is this why I always start falling asleep while reading?!? I’m not diagnosed but I’m 98% sure I have ADHD
2026-06-08 08:52:38
0
PantsFrog 🇨🇦 :
I literally daydream myself to sleep. At some point it transitions into actual dreams and I don't notice when it happens
2026-05-02 21:36:26
8
Irvin Christian Operio :
so this the reason it was easy to fall asleep when I try to study for a subject that I don't like? 🤣
2026-05-01 14:41:37
13
Megan :
This is why I'm falling asleep while reading my book at night, then have energy back when I put the book down to sleep 😅
2026-04-30 02:19:59
43
Denise Beaulieu :
When I was young and couldn’t sleep I would turn the light on and say to myself: it’s time to get ready for school. I would fall right asleep!!! ( Might need to try this again )
2026-04-30 00:36:25
56
jonahmthw :
is this why doing nyt crosswords in bed is the one thing that helps me go to sleep
2026-05-25 09:20:48
6
Ash :
I definitely experience the delayed wakefulness in the morning and I have my entire life. I learned a trick to set an alarm 30-60 minutes before your wake time, take my meds, go back to sleep. Then wake up alert. Very helpful!
2026-04-30 16:54:13
44
MatticusFinch🇨🇦 :
Hmmm, so I can trick my brain into falling asleep faster by attempting a focused task at bedtime?
2026-04-29 10:22:26
774
To see more videos from user @yourmedmentor, please go to the Tikwm
homepage.