The 3 AM ADHD Engine: Sick, Sleepless, and Going Troppo
Right, let’s get real. It's 3:00 AM.
I’m not just awake, and I’m not just dealing with the standard cough-and-sniffle combo. I’m in the eye of the storm: ADHD, Sickness, and Insomnia the unholy trifecta.
If you know, you know. And if you’re reading this at a stupid hour because your brain won't switch off, especially if you also have the delightful ADHD wiring, then you and I are mates tonight.
The Real Villain: The Uncorked ADHD Brain
When you have ADHD, your brain is already a V8 engine built for rally racing. Sleep is supposed to be the pit stop where you change the oil and switch the gears to 'off'. But for us, 3 AM is when the engine revs louder.
* The Gearbox Grinding: Trying to switch off is futile. Instead, you hear the constant grinding of the mental gears. Ideas, concerns, things you forgot to do three years ago they all come slamming into the forefront. It’s a torrential downpour of utterly random, non-sequential thoughts.
“Did I lock the back door? I should really learn to speak Portuguese. Wait, what colour are platypus eggs? Should I start a side hustle selling gourmet toast? The cat is breathing too loudly. I need to make a spreadsheet for my life.”
* The Hyper-Focus Trap: The world is quiet, distractions are low, and suddenly, your brain decides one of those random thoughts is a mission. You might find yourself hyper-focusing on the dust motes in the bedside lamp’s glow, or trying to silently count the texture bumps on the ceiling. It’s the brain’s way of saying, "I'm awake and ready to be productive... at literally anything except sleeping."
* The Dopamine Drought: Experts reckon a big part of ADHD sleep issues is a glitch in the dopamine system. Our brains are seeking stimulation to feel settled, and guess what's not stimulating? Lying still in the dark. So, we stay awake, chasing the mental reward of the next thought, the next worry, the next thing. It’s a genuine biological battle.
🤯 The Sickness Multiplier: Going Troppo
Now, chuck a bit of sickness on top of that. Mate, that’s just evil.
The cough, the headache, the running nose they aren't just symptoms; they are physical anchors that prevent your brain from achieving the calm, predictable rhythm it needs.
* Symptom as Stimulant: Every physical discomfort becomes a new thing for the ADHD brain to hyper-fixate on. Instead of ignoring the slight throat itch, it becomes a four-hour research project on minor viral infections.
* The Vicious Cycle: Being sick makes it hard to sleep. Lack of sleep worsens ADHD symptoms (focus, emotion regulation, hyperactivity). Worse ADHD symptoms make it even harder to sleep. It’s a truly troppo cycle that leaves you feeling absolutely knackered.
A Nod to the 3 AM You
I feel you, because I am you right now.
I’m sitting here, typing this out in the dark, the keyboard light reflecting the exact mix of fever-induced sweat and mental exhaustion. I know that feeling of complete defeat when the clock rolls past 3 AM and your body is screaming for rest, but your mind is running an unauthorised all-night rave.
We’re not failing at sleep; we are struggling against a literal chemical and neurological imbalance that is being rudely exacerbated by a germy invader.
So, let’s take a breath. Forget the Portuguese and the gourmet toast for now. Be kind to the struggling, sick, wide-awake version of yourself.
Put on something utterly boring (podcasts about accounting are a personal favourite) and let your brain float, not race.
The sun will come up, and we'll survive the day, running on three hours of rest and five cups of tea. Because that’s just the ADHD, sick-day hustle, isn't it?
If you’re up right now, what random, unhelpful thought has your brain latched onto tonight?
Share the insanity below!