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Why do I keep missing appointments with ADHD? 

Posted
Updated
ByMy Patient Advice
Author: Phoebe Carter, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

If you live with ADHD, you might often feel confused or frustrated about missing appointments, even ones you genuinely care about. This isn’t laziness or a lack of motivation. According to NICE guidance (NG87), it’s usually linked to executive dysfunction and time blindness core features of ADHD that affect planning, memory, and awareness of time. 

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Understanding why it happens 

People with ADHD often struggle with prospective memory, remembering to do something at a specific future time. The Royal College of Psychiatrists explains that this difficulty stems from challenges in task initiation, sequencing, and emotional regulation. In practice, that can look like setting a reminder but forgetting to act on it, losing track of the day, or underestimating how long getting ready will take. 

The NHS calls this “time blindness”: an impaired sense of how time passes and how tasks fit together. When stress or distractions pile up, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and that can lead to avoidance or shame when appointments are missed. 

What helps in the long run 

According to the NHS ADHD Taskforce (2025), consistent use of structured supports can make a big difference. Examples include: 

  • Digital reminders: phone alarms, app notifications, or smart calendars with alerts set the day before and an hour before appointments. 
  • Visual schedules: printed or whiteboard planners help make time visible and predictable. 
  • Coaching or CBT: these approaches teach practical routines, accountability, and time-awareness strategies. 
  • Medication and environment changes: stimulants can improve focus but combining them with routines and prompts creates more sustainable results. 

NICE recommends using these supports as part of a holistic management plan, reviewed regularly and adapted as needs change. Even small adjustments can help prevent the “domino effect” of stress that often follows a missed appointment. 

Rebuilding confidence 

If missed appointments have become a pattern, it’s important to know it’s not a moral failing; it’s a symptom of how ADHD affects the brain’s time management systems. Coaching and structured behavioural programmes, such as those being developed by Theara Change, focus on practical skill-building to restore consistency and confidence in everyday life. 

The takeaway 

Missing appointments is one of the most common frustrations in ADHD but it’s also one of the most manageable. With reminders, structure, and compassionate self-management, people can gradually rebuild trust in themselves and their routines. According to NICE and NHS guidance, practical coping tools combined with medical or behavioural support offer the most reliable way to stay on track. 

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Phoebe Carter, MSc
Author

Phoebe Carter is a clinical psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and a Bachelor’s in Applied Psychology. She has experience working with both children and adults, conducting psychological assessments, developing individualized treatment plans, and delivering evidence-based therapies. Phoebe specialises in neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, and learning disabilities, as well as mood, anxiety, psychotic, and personality disorders. She is skilled in CBT, behaviour modification, ABA, and motivational interviewing, and is dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health care to individuals of all ages.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy. 

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS
Reviewer

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy. 

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