Psychotherapists and ADHD advocates are identifying a behavior known as "tossing"—the impulsive disposal of cluttered items—as a potential indicator of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The practice often involves discarding "DOOM" piles, an acronym for "didn't organize, only moved," which refer to accumulated stacks of mail, boxes of desk items, or general household clutter. While the behavior provides temporary relief from organizational overwhelm, experts suggest it is often a reactive response to executive dysfunction.
Executive dysfunction is a behavioral symptom that interferes with a person's ability to initiate or complete tasks. Oliver Drakeford, a psychotherapist based in West Hollywood, California, stated that tossing is an "automatic, reactive behavior" used to avoid the anxiety and overstimulation caused by physical mess. For individuals with ADHD, the process of sorting a single box is not a simple task but a series of many smaller cognitive steps that can lead to choice paralysis or "experiential avoidance," where a person avoids uncomfortable thoughts or sensations even if the avoidance causes long-term problems.
Advocate and educator Cate Osborn, who hosts an ADHD-focused podcast, noted that the impulse often occurs when a person runs out of "steam and focus" to prioritize tasks. Madison Perry, a psychologist in Austin, Texas, compared the sensation of tossing to closing all open internet browser tabs at once, noting that it removes the need to maintain or store an item from an overwhelming to-do list. However, Perry noted that this rush to declutter can lead to the accidental disposal of important documents or bills.
On a day-to-day basis, individuals using this method may notice a cycle of accumulating clutter followed by drastic cleaning actions that bypass traditional organization. Experts warn that while this provides a "Band-Aid" for emotional overload, it does not build the "distress tolerance" needed for long-term ADHD management. The habit can also lead to increased household waste if usable items are thrown in the trash rather than being sorted for donation or continued use.
To manage these impulses, mental health professionals recommend strategies such as the "10 Things Game," where a person commits to opening only 10 bills or washing 10 dishes to make large tasks feel more manageable. Another suggested technique is the "two-minute rule," which encourages completing any task that takes less than two minutes immediately to prevent clutter from building up. Currently, there are no specific deadlines or legislative actions related to this behavior; instead, advocates encourage the use of podcasts and organizational resources to develop skills that accommodate ADHD-specific brain processing.