Does anyone else need to keep everything out in the open or you forget it exists?

This is extremely common in ADHD and it is not a character flaw or laziness. Many people with ADHD rely heavily on visual cues because working memory and object permanence are less reliable. When something is out of sight, it often truly feels out of mind. That drawer example is classic. Once the item is no longer visible, the brain stops tagging it as relevant. This happens because ADHD brains prioritize what is immediately stimulating or visible in the environment. Visual reminders act like external memory supports. Keeping things out is not disorganization, it is an adaptive strategy. Many people do better with open shelving, clear containers, or visible lists for this reason. The problem is that our culture often labels this as messy or irresponsible, which creates shame around a strategy that actually helps. Reframing this as a legitimate accommodation rather than a flaw can be incredibly relieving.