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The Rush Doesn’t Help: When Hurry Sickness Meets ADHD Parenting

4–6 minutes

Do you ever race through breakfast with your heart thumping, bag half-packed, homework half-checked, door still locked, and the clock ticking in neon red? That feeling of always being behind is a major sign of what some call hurry sickness.
And when you’re parenting a child with Attention‑Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), that rush swirl adds another layer of stress.

Here’s what I’ve learned from my story as a mum + counselling-psychologist + partner in the ADHD-parenting journey — and how you can break the rush-meltdown-burnout cycle.

What Is “Hurry Sickness”?

The phrase “hurry sickness” isn’t a formal diagnosis. It’s a pattern: a chronic inner pressure to do, to finish, to move faster, to cram more into every minute. Experts call it “time urgency” or “constant rushing.” (Healthline)

Signs you’re in hurry sickness mode:

  • Speeding through tasks and relationships, more “next!” than “now.” (Healthline)
  • Feeling behind even when you’re technically on schedule.
  • Your mind is already five steps ahead while your body is still finishing step one.
  • Rush → mistakes → more rush, a loop.
  • Physical toll: strained heart, elevated stress levels. (Psych Central)

When you combine that with parenting a child who has ADHD, you’ve got a pressure cooker.

My Story: The Art Time Meltdown

I’m a mum to a spirited son who has ADHD. Last week: he was doing his art after school while I toggled between emails and dinner prep. My mind buzzing, dinner alarms, messages pinging.

Suddenly: paints flicked everywhere. Tears. Frustration. He couldn’t finish the piece fast enough. I froze.

My “psychologist self” thought: this is burnout territory.
My “mum self” felt helpless.

It wasn’t just a meltdown. It was a signal. When the adult’s speed and the child’s brain are out of sync, the crash isn’t far away. When we hurry-up and they’re in a system that can’t keep up, the emotional price goes up.

Why ADHD + Hurry Sickness = Higher Burnout Risk

  • Parenting a child with ADHD is already high-stress. Research shows parents of kids with ADHD report significantly higher stress levels than parents of typically-developing children. (PMC)
  • When adult time-urgency is added, it escalates: you’re moving fast, the child might be moving differently. Mis-timing happens, tension builds.
  • Studies show parental stress worsens ADHD symptoms in children. (Cambridge Core)
  • In India, Uganda and comparable settings, cultural, social and resource constraints amplify the stress-load: fewer supports, more stigma, longer ‘rush to coping’.

So yes: the blend of hurry + ADHD + parenting is a burnout tinder-box.

Traffic-Light Reset: 60-Second Fix That Works

Here’s a tool I use with my son and clients that gives us a half-chance to reset before meltdown. Paper. Three markers. 60 seconds.

  1. Red circle: write STOP inside. What am I doing that’s rushing me?
  2. Yellow circle: write WAIT. What one thing will I pause for (five slow breaths, looking at the sky, closing my eyes)?
  3. Green circle: write GO. What’s one small, intentional action I will then take (help Kuku with one brush stroke, set the timer for 10 mins, smile and say “we’ll finish together”)?

Then breathe: in for four counts, out for four counts. Look at the scribbles. Feel your pace slow.

We interrupt the rush-meltdown chain. We give our body and brain permission to shift gear.

Why It Works

  • It makes time conscious rather than just frantic.
  • It gives physical-visible anchors: red, yellow, green → we know those signs.
  • It creates a pause — an intentional break.
  • It shifts you from autopilot scramble to deliberate action.
  • It creates a moment with your child rather than “you vs the schedule”.

What You’ll Get if You Try It

  • Fewer “why did I snap?” moments.
  • More presence rather than pace.
  • A calmer home space, even if you’re still doing school run + dinner.
  • Real connection with your child, rather than parallel pacing.
  • A sense of control in the rush, instead of the rush controlling you.

Why I’m Hosting a Support Circle on Dec 6

Parenting with ADHD in the mix is a wild ride. I’m inviting you to join our Support Circle on 6 Dec: 60 minutes of real talk, real tools, and connection with parents navigating this too.

What we’ll cover:

  • Deeper dive into hurry-sickness + ADHD burnout.
  • Specific risk factors.
  • Breakout space: you, me, other mums/dads — sharing, co-planning.
  • Q&A: I bring counselling-psychology + parent-hood lived experience.

👉 Click the link below to reserve your spot. Spaces limited.

Reserve your seat

If you’re ready to stop the rush-fail-repeat loop, this is for you.

Final Words

You’re not failing because the morning was chaotic. You’re acting in a context built for speed when your child and their brain aren’t. Recognising this is not weakness. It’s wisdom.

Let the Traffic-Light Reset give you a tool. Let the Support Circle give you community. Let EducateAble support the deeper journey.

See you on 6 Dec. Hit the link. Let’s slow down so we don’t burn out.

References

  • Leitch S, Sciberras E, Post B, et al. Experience of stress in parents of children with ADHD: A qualitative study. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. 2019. (PMC)
  • Tarazhi R. Worsening symptoms in ADHD children caused by increased parental stress before, during and after Covid-19. European Psychiatry. 2024. (Cambridge Core)
  • Hughes, “Hurry Sickness: Symptoms and How to Cope.” Healthline. 2021. (Healthline)