ADHD & The Lifetime Legacy of Bullying

Mar 31, 2026

Brooke Schnittman, an ADHD coach and advocate who led a pioneering survey on ADHD and bullying, shares how bullying follows many people with ADHD from childhood into adulthood. She explores overt and subtle forms like micromanagement and gaslighting. The conversation covers lasting nervous-system harm, masking and overworking as survival, workplace exclusion, and paths toward awareness, boundaries, and community.

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INSIGHT

Bullying Persists Into Adulthood For People With ADHD

Brooke's 2025 survey found 90% reported childhood bullying and 82% reported adult bullying among adults with ADHD.
This shows bullying rarely ends for ADHDers and often morphs rather than disappearing into adulthood.

INSIGHT

Bullying Is Pattern Power And Harm

Brooke defines bullying as repeated targeted behavior, a power imbalance, and harm to the target regardless of intent.
Examples include chronic criticism, exclusion, micromanagement, and gaslighting in adult settings.

ANECDOTE

Teacher Publicly Humiliated A Top Student

Brooke shares a fourth-grade teacher punished her by retroactively docking 20 points for not putting her name on a test despite being the only perfect score.
That humiliation reinforced shrinking and long-term mistrust of authority.

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In this vulnerable and eye-opening conversation, ADHD-ish host Diann Wingert sits down with fellow ADHD coach, Brooke Schnittman, to explore the lasting impact of bullying for those of us with ADHD, drawing from her own lived experience and groundbreaking research.

One of the most surprising insights? While bullying trends downward in the general population as we age, it barely drops for those with ADHD, showing up in new and often subtle forms throughout adulthood.

What starts as name-calling and exclusion on the playground can morph into chronic criticism, micromanagement, gaslighting, and professional exclusion in adulthood. This constant “othering” can erode confidence and reinforce masking, people-pleasing, and overachievement as survival strategies.

Here are 4 key takeaways for anyone navigating ADHD (or supporting neurodivergent folks):

What makes it bullying? Repetitive pattern - Power imbalance - Harm
Bullying rarely ends with childhood: For adults with ADHD, bullying simply morphs. Physical teasing and exclusion may become workplace micromanagement, social exclusion, and subtle undermining.
The harm goes beyond “hurt feelings.” Chronic criticism and exclusion keep the brain’s stress system on high alert, triggering anxiety, imposter syndrome, burnout, and even making executive dysfunction worse.
Self-acceptance + community are critical. When we name bullying for what it is and seek out supportive communities, we can start to untangle shame and build resilience. As Brooke notes: “We were never too much. We were exactly who we were meant to be, just waiting for a world that could understand us.”

About Brooke Schnittman, MA, PCC, BCC:

Brooke Schnittman is an ADHD coach, educator, and advocate for adults with ADHD. With years of working directly with individuals and families, she noticed an alarming pattern: bullying is not only common in the lives of people with ADHD but is also a neglected topic in ADHD research and support. Brooke’s recent pioneering survey on adult ADHD and bullying—the first of its kind—has started an essential conversation about the legacy of bullying, how it changes form over time, and how those affected can heal and thrive

Connect with Brooke:

Website: https://www.coachingwithbrooke.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachingwithbrooke/

Free e-book:https://www.coachingwithbrooke.com/ebook

Participate in the survey on ADHD & bullying: https://bit.ly/4stMllM

Mentioned during this interview:

Ned Hall owell, MD

William Dod so n, MD

Take action:

Participate in Brooke’s survey on ADHD & Bullying: https://bit.ly/4stMllM

Your ADHD-ish host, Diann Wingert

Diann Wingert brings decades of experience as a psychotherapist and serial business owner, and is now a sought-after coach to entrepreneurs with ADHD traits. Her style is direct, strategic, and always honest—peppered with the insight of someone who lives and breathes the neurodivergent experience.

If conversations like this one are one of the reasons you keep coming back to ADHD-ish, the best way to let me know is to leave a review on Apple or Spotify. Here’s the link to make it happen.