ADHD Experts Podcast – Episode 572: "Why ADHD Brains Go Over-Bored"
Date: September 4, 2025
Host: ADDitude
Featured Article by: Nicole C. Carr
Episode Type: Featured Reading from Attitude Magazine
Episode Overview
This episode explores the intense and often distressing experience of boredom for people with ADHD. Through scientific studies, expert commentary, and practical strategies, Nicole C. Carr unpacks why ADHD brains are prone to boredom, how it can lead to risky behaviors, and what steps individuals and parents can take to manage and reframe this feeling. The article includes insights from psychologists, neuroscientists, and real-life ADHD community responses.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Pain of Boredom in ADHD Brains
- [00:31] Being bored is not just uncomfortable; it can feel unbearable for individuals with ADHD.
- Boredom is described as "torture" by Pen Holderness, co-author of ADHD is Awesome:
"Boredom is torture. It's borcher." (Pen Holderness, 01:30)
- The craving for stimulation means ADHD brains get bored more frequently and more intensely than neurotypical individuals.
2. Boredom Drives Extreme Behaviors
- A referenced study from the University of Virginia and Harvard shows that over half of adult participants would rather self-administer an electric shock than do nothing for 15 minutes.
- This underscores how aversive and intolerable boredom can be, even for neurotypical individuals—but it is even more pronounced for those with ADHD.
- Nicole Carr:
"Simply being alone with their own thoughts for 15 minutes was apparently so aversive that it drove many participants to self-administer an electric shock that they had earlier said they would pay to avoid." (Nicole C. Carr, 02:50)
3. Neuroscience of Boredom, Risk, and Impulsivity in ADHD
- Boredom correlates with risk-taking and impulsivity—both known ADHD traits.
- Dr. Tamara Rosier (ADHD Center of West Michigan):
"People with ADHD are used to feeling emotions at a 9 or a 10. When there's a lack of emotional intensity, they interpret this as negative and call it boredom. They either move into hypoarousal, where they numb out, or hyperarousal, where they try to push themselves out of orbit." (03:34)
- Dr. Matt Parker & Dr. James Clay:
- People with self-reported impulsivity are more prone to boredom and feel more stress when bored (measured by elevated cortisol).
"It's similar to what we see in fight or flight situations... the lived experience of boredom feels more intense and aversive for people who are highly impulsive, transforming into an overwhelming need to escape." (Dr. Matt Parker, 05:01)
- This creates a feedback loop: boredom breeds stress and impulsivity, which in turn increase boredom and stress.
4. Real Life ADHD Responses to Boredom
- Readers described "extreme" activities used to escape boredom—from car racing to cliff jumping.
- Some actions led to regret, others opened new life paths—highlighting both the risks and the unexpected growth that can result.
5. Breaking the Cycle: Strategies to Tolerate and Manage Boredom
-
Reframe the Feeling (06:20)
- Dr. Tamara Rosier advises acknowledgment without judgment.
"If you're feeling bored, that doesn't mean you're lazy or incapable. Let's not moralize it. Let's accept it as it is." (Rosier, 06:30)
-
Resist the Stress Response (06:40)
- Dr. Parker suggests interventions like yoga or mindful walking to help tolerate boredom without activating the stress response.
- Dr. John Eastwood (author, Out of My Head: The Psychology of Boredom) recommends replacing avoidance (like "long breaks in the bathroom") with engagement strategies—e.g., making a game of a boring situation, or tracking how often a teacher uses three-syllable words.
-
Identify the Cause of Boredom (07:10)
- Dr. Eastwood:
"Feelings point to needs like compasses. Sadness tells us we've lost something of value. Anger tells us we need to assert ourselves. Boredom points to our need to have agency, to be the captain of our own ship." (07:20)
- For those with ADHD, self-direction is often limited—so boredom may signal a deeper need for autonomy or a chance to reconsider one's path or purpose.
6. Pharmacological Insight
- A small study showed that three months of methylphenidate (a stimulant) treatment reduced boredom proneness and improved symptoms in children with ADHD. When treatment stopped, boredom resurfaced.
- This suggests medical intervention can support but does not "cure" boredom.
7. Final Thoughts: Listening to Boredom's Message
- Eastwood encourages accepting and learning from boredom:
"Boredom often has a message for us. I would encourage people to take boredom seriously. Try not to be afraid or intolerant of it. There may be an opportunity to see how you can live in a way that gives fuller expression to who you are." (07:50)
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
"Boredom is torture. It's borcher."
– Pen Holderness, 01:30 -
"Simply being alone with their own thoughts for 15 minutes was apparently so aversive that it drove many participants to self-administer an electric shock..."
– Nicole C. Carr, 02:50 -
"People with ADHD are used to feeling emotions at a 9 or a 10... When there's a lack of emotional intensity, they interpret this as negative and call it boredom."
– Dr. Tamara Rosier, 03:34 -
"It's similar to what we see in fight or flight situations... the lived experience of boredom feels more intense and aversive for people who are highly impulsive, transforming into an overwhelming need to escape."
– Dr. Matt Parker, 05:01 -
"If you're feeling bored, that doesn't mean you're lazy or incapable. Let's not moralize it. Let's accept it as it is."
– Dr. Tamara Rosier, 06:30 -
"Boredom points to our need to have agency, to be the captain of our own ship."
– Dr. John Eastwood, 07:20 -
"Boredom often has a message for us... Try not to be afraid or intolerant of it."
– Dr. John Eastwood, 07:50
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [00:31] – Episode theme/introduction: ADHD and Boredom
- [01:30] – Experience of boredom: quotes and research
- [02:50] – Extreme measures to escape boredom: shock study
- [03:34] – Emotional intensity and boredom (Dr. Rosier)
- [05:01] – Neuroscience of stress and impulsivity (Dr. Parker)
- [06:20] – Strategies for reframing boredom
- [06:40] – Mindfulness and engagement strategies
- [07:10] – Interpreting boredom's message—need for agency (Dr. Eastwood)
- [07:50] – Final thoughts: Living authentically with boredom
Tone and Style
The episode is empathetic, science-based, and practical, balancing the distressing reality of ADHD boredom with hope, humor, and actionable advice.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone who lives with, loves, or works with people who have ADHD and wants a deeper understanding of why boredom is uniquely challenging—and what to do about it.