Is being late a real medical condition?

Being chronically late isn’t just rude or inconvenient — it’s now considered a medical condition.

A number of medical experts have labeled the condition “time blindness” and associated it with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or other mental health issues.

And while there are strategies and therapies that can help, a few people who say they have the condition insist on being accommodated.

Now, a young woman on TikTok has been ridiculed for asking during a job interview “are there accommodations for people who struggle with time blindness and being on time?”

“Do the world a favor and give them this information at every interview you go on,” responded one TikTok user.

“I have actual blindness and I am always on time,” noted another.

“So if you’re supposed to get paid on the 1st but the company struggles with time blindness pays you on the 30th? Is that okay????” asked a third.

The young woman, identified as Sarah Trefren by news.com.au, blamed the mockery on “political polarization,” adding, “I think that a culture where workers are just cut off because they struggle with being on time … that culture needs to be dismantled.”

Refusing to yield to accusations of being “entitled,” a teary-eyed Trefren said, “No if people think it’s okay to treat others like this — that’s entitlement.”

While the comments she received are almost uniformly negative, psychologists and other experts acknowledge that time blindness is a real condition and for people who have it, everyday tasks can be an uphill battle.

“Time blindness is a difficulty with a perception of time, how much time is passed, how much time it’s going to take to do something, and it can be quite impairing to people,” Stephanie Sarkis, a psychotherapist specializing in ADHD, told USA Today.

“It is a real thing that’s been researched,” Sarkis added.

Despite the condition’s link to ADHD, time blindness can show up in anyone with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental health conditions. “It’s not exclusive to ADHD, but it does impact ADHD quite a bit,” Sarkis said.

“Everybody has time blindness at times,” said Dr. Michael Manos, a pediatric behavioral health specialist at the Cleveland Clinic.

“We all can get caught up in something and get ‘in the zone,’” Manos added. “Some people with ADHD, though, are more prone to having difficulty being able to judge how long something will take to do or to lose track of time.” 

And when people with ADHD “are doing something they like, they can more easily go deep into hyperfocus,” Manos said.

Psychologists and other mental health experts — even TikTok users who also have time blindness — offered a number of strategies to address problems caused by time blindness.

“I have the same issue however we have to make our own accommodations for this, such as frequent alarms or beeping watches,” said one TikTok user.

“Putting reminders out in the physical world can bring your mind back to the present moment and keep you on task,” Manos suggested. 

“Take advantage of the technology we have,” Sarkis recommended. “Apps are really helpful, so use your timers as much as possible. Use apps that help you schedule and help you prioritize. Change the tone of your timer if your brain’s getting used to it.”

Other experts noted that analog clocks might be better than digital clocks at showing how time has passed, and how much time is left before an appointment.

Sleep deprivation can exacerbate time blindness. “If you’re having a lack of sleep and having a lot of life changes going on, it’s really important to talk to someone about that,” Sarkis said.

And if those strategies aren’t enough, consider seeking professional help, because some therapies and medications can help people if they’re struggling with ADHD, Sarkis added.