Decision fatigue is a state of mental exhaustion that occurs after making numerous decisions, leading to reduced cognitive function and impaired decision-making abilities. It can be caused by having to make too many decisions in a short period of time or when the decisions required are complex. Anxiety, overthinking, and lack of sleep also contribute to the problem, which creates a vicious cycle of cause and effect.
Both decision fatigue and the set of circumstances that cause it are themselves symptoms of ADHD. Because executive function is quite often impaired in those with ADHD, the simple act of making a decision requires more effort than it does for the average person, and this can become exhausting if too many difficult choices are required of them.
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