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Can ADHD make me misplace things constantly? 

PostedOctober 16, 2025
UpdatedOctober 18, 2025
ByMy Patient Advice
Author: Avery Lombardi, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

If you spend a good chunk of your day retracing your steps to find your phone, wallet, or keys, you’re not just forgetful you might be dealing with ADHD forgetfulness. Constantly misplacing things is a classic and frustrating sign of the condition, often tied to distractibility and frequent memory lapses. 

In ADHD, the problem isn’t losing things as much as never fully registering where you put them in the first place. Your attention may have already moved on to the next thought or distraction before your brain finished encoding the last action. That’s why the object isn’t where you “remember” putting it because you never truly remembered it at all. 

Get your ADHD test

Why It Keeps Happening 

Here’s how ADHD forgetfulness leads to constantly misplacing things: 

Distracted placement  

You put something down mid-task while thinking about something else. Your brain skips the mental note. 

No mental bookmark  

Without conscious attention, your memory doesn’t create a clear snapshot of where you left something. 

Out of sight, out of mind  

Once it’s not visible, it might as well not exist especially if it’s not in your usual routine or space. 

Executive functioning overload  

Juggling too many thoughts at once leaves no room to log the small details. 

In conclusion, this isn’t a character flaw it’s a feature of how ADHD affects your memory and attention.  

Visit providers like ADHD Certify for personal consultations and expert guidance tailored to your unique situation. 

For a deeper dive into the science, diagnosis, and full treatment landscape, read our complete guide to Zoning out & Forgetfulness in ADHD.

Get your ADHD test

Avery Lombardi, MSc, author for my patient advice - mypatientadvice.co.uk
Avery Lombardi, MSc
Author

Avery Lombardi is a clinical psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. She has professional experience in psychological assessment, evidence-based therapy, and research, working with both child and adult populations. Avery has provided clinical services in hospital, educational, and community settings, delivering interventions such as CBT, DBT, and tailored treatment plans for conditions including anxiety, depression, and developmental disorders. She has also contributed to research on self-stigma, self-esteem, and medication adherence in psychotic patients, and has created educational content on ADHD, treatment options, and daily coping strategies.

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, author and a reviewer for my patient advice - mypatientadvice.co.uk
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.