submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by SubArcticTundra@lemmy.ml to c/adhd@lemmy.world

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I hate that I do this, but there are friends/acquaintances in my life that I would mask around, and my mental health and general motivation has been very bad lately, meaning that when they reach out to me, I just don't have the mental stamina -- which I usually had -- to open that message/take that call and reply to them. We were friends sort of out of inertia from the past, and I was kinda hoping we'd drift apart naturally, but they keep calling me even though I told them that my mental health is bad rn and I'd reach out later. I just want to be left to be depressed in peace rn plus seeing them again I'd have to address my compounding guilt of ghosting them, and that's something I'd have to mentally barge though. But it's not their fault that I'm tired 'of them', so it's a tricky situation and I feel like a terrible person for it ending the way it does.

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[-] PotatoesFall@discuss.tchncs.de 9 points 1 day ago

Maybe telling them your mental health is bad is only making them more concerned / wanting to be there for you? Maybe tell them you need some space instead? If you make excuses for your behavior, you might lead them to believe you're still interested in a friendship, when you're really not.

Deeper thing is, you shouldn't feel bad about being tired of them. Many friendships drift apart naturally, and it's rarely because of something somebody did wrong. It's also not always mutual. Now I totally understand not wanting the confrontation. Ghosting is honestly the easiest middle ground.

As always, guilt is the core emotion that makes ADHD so hard lol

this post was submitted on 04 Oct 2026

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