Do I Have ADHD?
Vložit
- čas přidán 9. 03. 2017
- Just something I've been thinking about for a while.
How to Know if you have ADHD
• How to Know if You Hav...
SciShow Psych
/ scishowpsych
I am very lucky to have found myself (and gotten myself) in a situation that is well suited to the quirks of my personality. But I still find myself sometimes unintentionally hurting people, annoying people, or letting people down even though I often know the exact mistake I am making.
I'm not saying that means I have ADHD, I just want to continue to understand the mistakes I make, that I am prone to making them, and develop habits to stop myself. This channel: / @howtoadhd is full of tips I find useful, and there are a number of habits I've developed on my own.
Finally, here's a thing I didn't say in the video. I've struggled with worrying that if I get diagnosed, I will blame the disorder instead of myself and let that excuse my behavior. I know that's dumb, because if I'm being impaired by something, I should know and take the steps to reduce that impairment. But part of me always wants to believe that I'm strong and smart enough to handle any curve ball I get thrown without letting myself or other people down.
I think that might be a pretty destructive way to look at it, which is why I'm glad I've allowed myself to get support from friends, family, and professionals over the years.
----
Subscribe to our newsletter! nerdfighteria.com/newsletter/
And join the community at nerdfighteria.com effyeahnerdfighters.com
Help transcribe videos - nerdfighteria.info
John's twitter - / johngreen
John's tumblr - / fishingboatproceeds
Hank's twitter - / hankgreen
Hank's tumblr - / edwardspoonhands
me, watching this three and a half years ago: wow these symptoms sound like me!
me, now with an ADHD diagnosis: ohhhhh it was the ADHD
+
Same
same
I just got my diagnosis too!
well, for some reason my parents thought i was "making an excuse" for my bad grades and refused to get me diagnosed lol (life do be like that)
whenever I Google my symptoms for anything I always end up reading that I'm going to die
aren't we all?
That is likely a true statement.
You have a brain tumor don’t ya know
Hey Baman
@@annabelcrescibene4257 Me literally fearing that for no reason right now lol. Kind of funny how a brain tumor seems to be the universal fear for hypochondriacs.
As a woman with ADHD this video makes me very happy. I found out recently that my mother tried to get me diagnosed when I was a child, but was told "girls don't get ADHD". My whole life I have struggled with self-esteem and self-image issues with no idea why. I just assumed I was broken or stupid. It wasn't until my 30s that I got an official diagnosis and medication. Being able to think for the first time in my life is incredible. While so many things in the past now make sense, I do mourn all the missed opportunities and ruined friendships. I can't help but think, "Where would I be if...?"
P.S. THIS OMG SO MUCH THIS!!!
"I've struggled with worrying that if I get diagnosed, I will blame the disorder instead of myself and let that excuse my behavior. I know that's dumb, because if I'm being impaired by something, I should know and take the steps to reduce that impairment. But part of me always wants to believe that I'm strong and smart enough to handle any curve ball I get thrown without letting myself or other people down"
You are not alone, and for the love of all things holy, please read, "You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Crazy, or Stupid?" www.amazon.com/You-Mean-Lazy-Stupid-Crazy/dp/0743264487".
+
27yr old woman here and I just got diagnosed this year! I also saw that part in the description and mentioned it in my comment!
I know this is an older comment thread but I just wanted to say I know exactly how you feel from how you felt during childhood and youth and only recently figuring out on my own that I have it (I'm 36). So many things could've been different back then but I am glad I even discovered this at all and didn't reach the end of my life not knowing I have a tribe! (Jessica's video that he referenced is what helped everything fall into place)
WHAT, I swear every diagnosis I hear feels and says the exact same thing I'm saying. I'm just worried that if I don't have correct diagnosis I could either be just dumb or worse, be bi-polar
ADHD can be tough but it can be useful too. The problem is when it also comes with Anxiety and Depression. I call them the Unholy Trinity.
Im in this comment and I don’t like it
@@kathyanegron8891 Sorry to hear that. Unfortunately I cannot untag you from this comment. XD
Jade Damboise Rail 😂 LMFAO!
Like me VERY probably. I just want some hope, I wish there is treatment
@@cyper89 There are treatments, the first step is to get diagnosed.
This episode of vlogbrothers brought to you by Hank's Toes! Hank's Toes: They're goin' right now!
I cant stop thinking about toes now
this made me laugh out loud, well done!
My toes were going when he said that
This is likely the case at this very moment!
I got diagnosed with ADHD when I was in college after taking an abnormal psych class and realizing "wait, this is ME." Turns out, because girls present less often with the hyperactive symptoms, I wasn't diagnosed as a kid. Neither was my older sister, who didn't realize she had it until I talked to her about my diagnosis. She was FORTY. She (and my mom, who probably also has it) had built up some pretty bulletproof coping mechanisms throughout life, but it also cemented patterns and habits that were really destructive to her life, personally and professionally. We're both medicated now, and it's such a huge change. I'm extremely appreciative that knowing this about myself will probably help me avoid some of the pitfalls that befell them.
And MAN do I get pissed at assholes who say ADHD doesn't exist, or that the medications that treat it are "basically crack". Maybe with YOUR brain chemistry, Nathan Neurotypical, but if they didn't help me I wouldn't take them.
+Cee Bee yeah I heard that's how it used to be in the early 90's, celebrities such as Mathew Perry and people where all on prescription drugs and thought the same thing then got addicted.
TheluckyBoxer 313 Actually, most studies on adhd-medication show that medical treatment for adhd LESSENS the risk for substance abuse (because a lot of patients without medication will turn to illegal drugs as self medication, which is unsafe and addicting). Also, the medicine is not addictive. A lot of patients are dependent on it however, much like a lot of diabetics are dependent on insuline.
Cee Bee wait and see? I was diagnosed nine years ago and have been medicated since then, and my older sister has been medicated for six years. It's demonstrable how being medicated has improved our lives. How much longer should I "wait and see," another decade?
While it's certainly possible for ADHDers to abuse their meds (like most any drugs), most of us would rather maintain our dosages at a healthy level, because this is how we function in society! I don't want the key to my functionality to itself become a burden! I had my dosage increased while I studied for the bar exam, but when I got back to my dull, unchallenging job, I told my doctor I wanted to go back to my old dosage because I had a bunch of unused dopamine and norepinephrine in my brain that made me feel erratic and made sleep difficult. That's not the feeling I want my meds to cause, so I don't take more than I need.
Learned a lot about how my brain works only recently by reading the book about adult ADD/ADHD called Driven to Distraction...and I'm 48 years old. I'm in a foreign country where access to proper treatment may be not possible. I'm doing well with my coping strategies. Just another part of...me, and what I have to do during the day to do what I have to do.
The best definition of disability I’ve ever hear is: A disability is the mismatch between a person’s abilities (or features) and their environment; I love this one because it highlights that disabilities are often highly contextual.
I’ve struggled with this my whole life and keep feeling like there’s a place I belong, if only I could find it, that wouldn’t make me feel like there’s something wrong with me. That maybe I’m brilliant but just misunderstood. It can be very lonely and isolating when you are not seen, when no one “gets you”. I still want to shine like everybody else, and contribute in some way. It would be nice if I could feel good about myself, too - if I could be what I see is possible and not with limitations and barriers cast upon me. Thank you for this 🙏🩷🌸🌿
really encourage everyone to understand the Social Model of Disability...it's this, but also goes one step further to the question of WHY is the environment so difficult for neurodiverse people
I was looking into the Autism spectrum for my granddaughter, and I found myself. : O
Someone suggested i had traits and that's when i found myself on the suspectrum.
That’s similar to my mum. She found out she had adhd when she went to get my brother and I diagnosed
I've been a questioning if I'm autistic more and more over the years, and finally this year I had collected enough data to feel like I might have an answer... so I went to get tested for confirmation and wow, look at that, I'm autistic. It's nice actually :) I finally have answers to so many disparate questions in my life.
@@theyxaj It does help to know, and may turn up resources that could help in life. Happy for you ; )
@@theyxaj how does one go about getting diagnosed as an adult? I can't seem to find reliable or straight forward info on how to do it. 🙁
So basically, Hank should've gone to Camp Half-Blood but missed his opportunity.
ADHD can be caused by other things than being a demi-god. ;)
probably Athena
nerd life this comment wins best comment of the day, thanks for this!
Half blood in the organism?! How terrible! ;P
@@ragnkja unfortunately. Being a half-blood can be sucky but also. Powers
“But here’s the general thing about psychological disorders…disorders are only classified as disorders when they’re ongoing, frustrating impairments.” This quote was what I needed to hear today.
"I get irrationally angry"
*HANK SMASSSHHH!!!*
"I still often hurt people's feelings or annoy them by going somewhere else in my head when people that I care about are talking to me."
Boy, do I know this story! Thank you so much for addressing this.
Yup, it annoys my wife when I mentally wander off.
So this is why DFTBA socks are so quality
+Betsy Anderson Hahahahah! They do last much longer than the average sock!
They also have much better designs.
Foreshadowing
Oh, man. I'm an ADHDer, and the irrational rage about interruption thing gets me in heaps of trouble all the time. I feel that.
a.k. williams I can also definitely connect to that. But I'm just working every day to improve.
I had not really noticed this symptom until I had a child. My wife had, but I thought I was acting perfectly rationally until I started acting that way toward a baby :-)
Maybe this is why I've been getting really irritated with my roommates lately who just want to say hi to me, but I'm more focused on whatever I'm doing
I'm a middle school teacher, so I've worked with a lot of students with ADHD/ADD, but this is the first time (that I can recall) hearing about irrational rage at interruptions to hyperfocus. Is this a common issue?
Yup. That's a classic example. ADHD interruption sensitivity happens even when the interruption is intended to be pleasant. (Source: "Delivered From Distraction" by E. Hallowell) Which seems kind of like a mean symptom, huh? Like, do I really have to get annoyed/enraged by *good* things? Oh, I do? Okay. Thanks for that, I guess...
Re: not wanting to get diagnosed because you don't want to start blaming things on it: It doesn't sound like you have the problem I had, but getting diagnosed allowed me to stop blaming *myself* for various shortcomings and mistakes I'd made that I felt like I "should" have been able to just avoid like a "normal" person. That self-blame also led to a lot of self-doubt and completely crippled my self-esteem for most of my young adulthood. Having something to "blame" for a lot of my past troubles made my confidence shoot up and allowed me to move forward with my life. And now the things I still do wrong sometimes, I don't feel all "omg I just do those things and I don't know why and I can't seem to change it what is wrong with me??" kind of helpless. I feel empowered, because I know why I do those things and I know I *can* change them, or at least find some way to compensate for it.
+
I immensely agree with this. I still struggle with not blaming myself for stuff that just simply is part of living with ADHD. It has kept me in a depressive state for most of my life, worsening my problems. The only way to get out of it and stop unjustly punishing yourself is to accept that you have ADHD and that certain things cannot be taken care of in the way a normal person can.
I'm generally weeping reading your comment. As someone who has been pretty much suffering from my early teens to now nearly hitting 30, I am starting to realise there is definitely a reason why I struggle on a daily basis for everything. I've made that doctors appointment and I want to face this head on. Thanks for sharing your experiences, it means so much to me.
Elle J, if you've had your appointment already, I hope it went well and that you're well on your way to finding a treatment that works for you! I'm turning 30 this year and was only diagnosed a few years ago, so I know pretty much exactly where you're at right now. 🤗
Yes exactly. You hit the nail on the head. Honestly I think anyone who says "I might have ADHD, and the possible symptoms I present are making me an unpleasant person for the people around me, but I don't care enough to get diagnosed"... probably doesn't have it. Sorry. I jumped at the chance to repair my bad wiring and feel like I could finally be the person I wanted to be. I didn't see my shortcomings as "that's just me, quirky!". They bothered me.
Maybe no one will read this but, I was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia at 19 in my second semester of my senior year of high school. I've always been an average student, getting Cs wasn't a rare occurrence but no one ever suspected anything. I just thought that taking 2-3 hours on one assignment was because of my depression and anxiety and OID. I only got tested because I did REALLY bad on the ACT (standardized test to go to college in the US) and after spending thousands to get my diagnosis, it really cleared stuff up for me. I can't imagine how much better as school I could have been if I was diagnosed as a kid, and I think it wasn't caught because I'm a girl and was taught to sit quietly with my hands to myself. I thought I was just stupid because I couldn't read out loud or spell, and still in college I struggle to get work done. But now I know I'm not alone, getting that diagnosed changed me and I can catch myself when I have bad days or weeks. I wish more people would openly discuss learning disabilities in girls and women because it often gets over looked because the symptoms are different. Thank you for making this video
+
+
Same thing happened to me! I was 17
+
++
I love your shout out to How To ADHD, she has great videos and a helpful channel in general
David Keebler +
David Keebler +
+
David Keebler dito. She has been one of the best things for my ADHD
Collab with How to ADHD!
Whoops commented before the end. Cause of, you know. The ADHD.
@@TheN00bmonster I missed it. Did our presenter (who has a name even if I don't have it to hand right now) say he was going to collab with "How to ADHD"?
That's a great channel. I love the presenter and everything these people do!
OMG YES.
"how did I ever function without help?"
I ask my ADHD ass this question every day
Hank, I love how you’re recognizing the privilege that you’ve had - support, economic advantages, luck - and it’s also good to know that ADHD symptoms can be tackled - as a person who struggles hearing that you can lead a good life makes me excited to start therapy
**scrolling through the comments while video is still playing**
what did he say? something about adhd? glad i dont have that!
+
+
+
+
+
FUN IMPORTANT FACT: A lot of girl's don't get diagnosed with ADD/ADHD bc they often exhibit symptoms in different ways. I have a twin brother who was diagnosed in fourth grade bc he was openly disruptive and wiggly and unattentive, where as I diagnosed myself in college because I was trapped n my head with my inability to stay focused and not doodle and organize my thoughts/actions.
+
I would just draw stuff on my paper when the class is so boring even though I'm a guy, I hope I don't have ADHD.
I've been diagnosed with ADHD, and I am in the worst 1% of inattentiveness (according to a continuous performance task). I still managed to be fairly successful. That probably is because 1. I seek challenge (hard things are easier to focus on because they are interesting). 2. I use my associative memory (which is far more powerful than that of neurotypical people) to replace my working memory. I actually learned to program it a little. 3. I don't try to be neurotypical. I am not. And I have no desire to be neurotypical. A tiger can probably learn how to swim, but he's better at running on land (and enjoys it a lot more too). I wouldn't trade my brain for any other. I don't have much social anxieties, and because of this I just enjoy life more than most people.
Fun fact! Tigers love swimming and are just as comfortable in the water as on land. It's been years but I just wanted to say that your analogy was dead wrong lol.
More like a bird can walk but why when it can fly?
@@GreenGorgeousness Thanks for the fact! And yeah, that analogy works better.
Hi Hank - I just wanted to stop by and say thank you for making this video 7 months ago. It was a long journey from this video, through How to ADHD's channel, and working with my current therapist to receive a formal 3rd party ADHD evaluation and diagnosis, as well as working with my PCP to get started on a medication. Thanks to your video, I now have answers about my anger/impulse problems as a child, my parent's reactions to my childhood behavior, my compulsiveness toward food, my suicidal ideation as a teenager, and my job hopping and relationship struggles as an adult. Prior to understanding ADHD, specifically it's presentation in girls/women, I let myself and the doctors I worked with point me towards PMS, depression, anxiety and even PTSD. Now I understand that my symptoms for each of these things fall under the umbrella of ADHD, which I can treat directly, rather than playing whack a mole with my list of symptoms. *TL;DR This video directly led to immense improvement for my quality of life and my understanding of self. Thank you!*
Kaylad8528 I was diagnosed well into adulthood too so I just wanted to say congrats and I hope things are going well.
"Hello Brains! ". Thank you for sharing her with everyone. She saved me and will forever be my Ms. Rogers. It was so crazy to find another soul who was afraid to write stuff down because something inside me said the document I wanted to scribble notes on was somehow sacred. Thank you so much for this video!
Neuro Diversity is as important to our planet as Bio Diversity. Just saying!
Carolynn Cruickshank-Gray I love this comment so much
AvengeVoltaire this is quite a leap to make. To come to your conclusion you must first falsely believe that neurodiverse people and and secondly gardeners are dumb. You then have to believe that in diversity some contributors are "lesser" and that their tasks are menial.
Are you sure you are avenging Voltaire, a man who was against inequality, injustice and prejudice?
Cure ADHD
@AvengeVoltaire Here's your answer: you have 2 broken premises in your hypothesis. I'll address them as though your comment *wasn't* a trolling drama-grab. Just for fun.
1. Neurodiversity isn't about a lack of intellect. Many neurodiverse people have a far higher than average IQ and a unique way of absorbing, parsing and expressing information because of the different way our brains work. That is of value, because uniqueness of views in community - coupled with the intuitively creative nature of difference is one of the reasons our species has been successful in ANY pursuit.
2. Gardening is not actually something that requires a person be dumb in order to do it. That's pretty dismissive of a significant and actually very rigorous science. If you were to study it, you'd learn more about the importance of bio-diversity OP was referring to. In so doing, you'll understand the simile even better, I think.
Because it's true. Diversity in any community creates a strength in the fabric of that community that will protect it from unmitigated disaster. The very thing that makes humans different from all other animals is how we use our brains and our ability to function as communities to see and solve problems. And when you have a variety of POVs in a group - and a variety of coping strategies and techniques, you have even more strength.
When one way of looking fails, another will be there to see the missed opportunities and capitalize on them. The nature of neurodiversity is to see things differently - to solve things differently, and to innovate while doing so.
So - no. ND isn't necessary because we need dumb labourers. It's necessary because we need different brilliance in every part of our society - from agricultural science to rocket science, Einstein to...Voltaire.
I wish more than anything in the world that I didnt have ADHD. just saying!
This video convinced me to go in for ADHD testing one year ago. Since then, my life has improved immeasurably. Thanks, Hank.
As someone with autism.... this sounds A FREAKIN' LOT like myself. And I too was first diagnosed with ADD (not ADHD) and after getting my Autism Diagnosis the psychologist told me that the ADD diagnosis still stands because there's some links between them they don't fully understand yet.
So, interesting.
It's always ADHD. There's the predominantly inattentive type, but the H is still there
ADD is actually now seen as ADHD!!! they are similar, though ADD would be the “inventive” type!
Yeah I have an ASD diagnosis and was told I also qualify for an ADHD (inattentive type) diagnosis as well by my diagnostician
@@hannahherrmann4921 I think op was saying their diagnosis at that time was ADD, since ADD & ADHD used to be classified separately
@@rrrrrfffff ah, that makes sense. thank you!
I have a mental disorder called Asperger's syndrome, which is classified as an autism spectrum disorder which is characterized by difficulty with communication and social situations. I decided to take this as a challenge and forced myself to pursue a career where I had no choice but to communicate effectively. I became a teacher and can confidently say that while I still prefer being alone, I have very little difficulty communicating with others when I want to.
That's interesting. I'm self diagnosed autistic (can't afford a proper diagnosis right now) and also became a teacher
@@christopherporto3902 I'm self diagnosed ASD as well, people always told me growing up I should be a teacher because I'm kind and seem like I'd be good with kids, but the idea of being a teacher is TERRIFYING to me
More power to you!
Could you be a bus driver? That would be even more of a challenge I would think
I was just diagnosed with ADHD at 24! I'm so much happier now. Hyperfocus is a telltale sign of true ADHD.
CaBobProductions Happy? What are you happy about you have a problem.
Seeing Clearly Media I can see you commenting on a lot of people's posts very negatively. To answer your question, I don't have a problem. My brain works differently than most people's. And being diagnosed and effectively dealing with the symptoms that can be negative obviously makes someone happy. I can see you're very unhappy in your life, and that sucks, but it's going to be okay.
I wouldn't call hyperfocus "a telltale sign of true ADHD"... hyperfocus can also present in other disorders (from the autistic spectrum to sensory disabilities) and not everyone with ADHD has hyperfocus (I sure don't and I was definitely thoroughly diagnosed). I think it's dangerous to make complete generalizations regarding ADHD - even the psychiatric field is still working on it, certainly we can't decide as "patients" that everyone else should be like us...
Thank you for talking about this, Hank. As someone with really, really severe ADHD, it means a lot to see one of my role models talking openly about it. Although I was diagnosed as a teen, I was only given medication, not the tutoring and help that you talked about, and I'm really struggling to deal with adult life now having not learned how to deal with those. But knowing that you can manage all that you do with a similar disability makes me believe maybe I can achieve at least some of the things I want to in life.
+
ADHD won't stop you from achieving things in life! I've gotten further than I ever thought I would in life, it's all about taking it step by step and not expecting yourself to go from 1 to 100 in a day. I really recommend going to a specialized clinic if that is available in your country, and attend group therapy sessions, cognitive therapy, 1-on-1 therapy and try some very light different medications in the meantime to let it all settle in. That did a lot for me!
I don’t know if you’ll ever read this, but I got diagnosed last year at 25, and because I never received the early intervention I would’ve gotten if I was diagnosed as a child, I don’t have those management strategies you talk about. Last week, I finally made an appointment with an ADHD informed psychologist to start developing those management strategies. It’s not too late, and there is help out there. There’s ADHD coaches, psychologists, mental health occupational therapists, and probably more. There’s hope.
I have ADD (I grew out of the H), and when people joke around saying, "Oh, I guess I was just ADD there!," it irritates me a little bit. Like ADD is some sort of joke or punchline. They don't understand the fact that some routine tasks take a while because it's hard to focus on them, or that it can be too easy to hyper-focus on something that maybe isn't the top priority (and feel very uncomfortable when I'm forced out of that activity until I can get back to it and finish it), or insomnia because you can't turn off your mind just because it's dark. So thank you for brining this issue up and showing people that 1) it's not a joke, 2) drugs aren't the only way to treat it, and 3) if you do need drugs, there is nothing wrong with that.
Also, as a new dad (6 mo.), I know that having these issues while having a young child can be really hard. Trying to focus when there is screaming in the back room or being constantly pulled out of projects to help out can take its toll. If you need someone to talk to (who isn't one of your real-life friends or family or any of your other 2.96 million subscribers), let me know!
+
Garin Savage
I've grown to where so many things annoy me. I don't have ADD, but I'm disabled by BPD, anxiety, and depression. My thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all impacted. The way I respond to things is heavily influenced by issues out of my control and others can't understand (and insist because they have some really minor version of something vaguely similar ever and can manage to deal with things, I obviously can get to the same state of not being bothered). And through all of this, and with much frustration as I am frequently literally told by people I shouldn't be online or even shouldn't go anywhere remotely public (!), I've also gotten more attentive to and irritated by the many ways mental health problems are used to discredit, denigrate, dismiss, etc. people. Short of some specific clinical terms and diagnoses nobody uses in casual settings, I'm unaware of a _single_ word or phrase related to mental illness that doesn't double as an insult. Worse, a huge array of words and phrases used to be insulting or otherwise chide people for bad behavior, rediculous lines of thought, overreacting, etc. themselves stem from attacks on people suffering (often with few or no alternatives without similar history or stigma).
I'm pretty sure I have ticked off more than a few people when I've overreacted specifically to the language around these things. I'm sure I will in the future, too. I can kinda almost ignore self-depreciating uses of some (not like "add moment" or "I'm OCD," well I can but that's not what I was meaning, rather things like calling _oneself_ crazy as opposed to using it to dismiss another), but the insult and dismissal forms get on me on two levels at once. First, because they're not valid when being used (and even if they were true it's often an adhom during discussion of some idea), furthering the misuse of the words and promoting them _as_ insults and dismissals. Then simultaneously they are usually inadvertently lumping a bunch of innocent people into a group to be insulted or dismissed (frequently myself among that group) when it's not actually valid that way either, since what's being ridiculed isn't in any real way related.
Have you tried meditating, listening to music, other stuff?
Just FYI :) it's all ADHD now - ADD is no longer a recognized medical diagnosis or term. ADD and ADHD are now both ADHD - one is referred to as the hyperactive type, the other is the inattentive type (and there are obviously combination types - the most common!). My psychiatrist explained it is because even with the former "ADD", hyperactivity of the mind is the problem, so it is all ADHD, not an attention deficit, but attention hyperactivity.
If you are restless and have anxiety of some sort and need physical pressure stimulus on your joints and muscles, so technically speaking, you really haven't grown out of the hyperactivity aspect. I have combined type adhd and thata how it manifest.
AS SOMEONE WITH SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER + ADHD YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW HAPPY IT MAKES ME TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE SUCCESSFUL THAT I LOOK UP TO ALSO HAS A SIMILAR CONDITION
High Five!
vlogbrothers 💖💖💖
The caps are unnerving.
Aditya Khanna I'm enthusiastic sorry
I have Sensory Processing Disorder too! It feels good to know we're not alone in our struggles :)
Hank, I watched this video last spring soon after you posted it... and I had never before considered the fact that I had ADHD. I was so intrigued as in this video, you described so much of my life as potential "symptoms of ADHD." I then watched "How to ADHD" videos... like a million of them... and quickly self-diagnosed myself with ADHD. Since then, I've talked to my doctor, gotten properly diagnosed, gone on meds (which have helped immensely!!!) and this has also led to my son getting diagnosed, and my husband being in the process of potentially being diagnosed as well. Yes, we're one happy ADHD family over here.
All of this to say, thank you for being honest and willing to share about this - diagnosis or not. It has made an incredible difference in my family. Similar to you, I had developed so many coping mechanisms and had such great supports that the "impairments" were buffered enough that I could function seemingly fine without a diagnosis or medication. My six year old son, however, did not have those coping mechanisms. He was struggling emotionally and otherwise, and we desperately needed this breakthrough.
While I'm sure we would have ended up at this conclusion eventually, your video was absolutely the catalyst to us all being diagnosed when we did. So again, thank you.
I have loved your videos for a long time, and will continue watching for a very long time... but this video will always be my favourite as it was the first glimpse I had at the key to peace for my son.
I was diagnosed with slow processeing speeds officially in my first year of university. Before that, I was tested in my last year of high school, but it wasn't until university that I actually took an IQ test with an educational psychologist. All the time previously, my family, my teachers and I all thought I was just slow. Everything I do, at school and at home, I lagged behind my peers in speed. It's not that I can't do it, it just takes me longer. So I also show up late for things, my attention drifts etc. But I am not diagnosed with ADHD. If anyone in school or has kids in school has any concerns about being slower than your/their peers, get tested by a certified educational psychologist. If I had had the support that I have now I'm in university when I was at school, I know that I would have done better
I'm autistic and we share some similar traits. I totally am there with you. Thank you for talking about it!
Hyper-focus, you say?
me, circa 2010:
"Mike, when did you get up this Saturday morning?"
"Like, eight?"
"And you've been working on your animation assignment since then?
"Yeah."
"It's like 9. PM. Did you eat dinner?...Did you eat at all?"
"...oh yeah. Food is a thing."
Truth!
My son has sensory processing disorder, and we are currently waiting to see a developmental pediatrician to see if a better diagnosis would be autism spectrum disorder. He is 7 and always moving. We often discuss this "busy brain" of his and help him develop coping mechanism because, as you damn well said, this will be the reality of his life and we, as his parents, are tasked with the singular privilege of helping him navigate his world. Quirks and all. If I could reach through this screen and give you a huge hug I would. Tears in face and all. Not only for shining a light on an often uncomfortable issue to talk about, but for giving this mom hope that yeah, even when we aren't there to help him buffer the noise, he is gonna be ok. ❤
+Simply Lancaster ❤
Simply Lancaster from a 16 year old with sensory processing disorder, you are incredible! It's an impossible task to try and help us when even we don't know what is going on in our own heads. But trust me when I say your son is going to thank you for sticking with him for years to come, you'll show him coping mechanisms he'll use for life, even if they take months to find and years to teach. We are a lot, we know, but having love and support makes our own task of navigating the overwhelming world that little bit easier. Keep doing what you're doing and appreciating what a wonderful gift you have in a son who sees the world completely differently to you ❤️
Simply Lancaster it's really hard to understand young children with SDs of any kind but the fact that you are trying your best to help him understand his world is the best thing you can do :) he will no doubt grow up as a caring, bright, thoughtful person
If he gets his diagnosis there are lots of ways you can help him with his day to day life. Sound cancelling headphones (like big builder's headphones) are available as well as special sunglasses that wrap around and block painful light out. I'm 13 and on a waiting list too, for Tourette's. The best thing is to talk about it, whatever the problem because silence can hurt and the more his family or friends or school teachers talk to him about his condition the more they and he will accept and understand, and the less ignorance about mental health and disorders there will be. My best wishes to him
Simply Lancaster "we as his parents are blessed with the singular privilege to let him navigate this world." Damn I wish my parents actually took the time to learn coping mechanisms to help me like this. Kinda makes me sad, but hey I just wanted to say you're doing a great job!
Hank, I can't ever remember not having SPD. I remember the therapy I would go to when I was 4, and then I was 6, and then was I was 10. I remember that I used to be so overwhelmed by just the clothes that I would wear, I could shut down completely. It was only a year ago that I finally eased into wearing my first pair of jeans because of this, when I was fifteen. And it certainly doesn't help that I live in Houston, where the summer heat was my number one enemy. It means a lot to me, even if no one sees this comment, that you made this video. Because just like I can remember every obstacle SPD has handed to me, I don't ever remember anyone that I knew that had it, and that was probably the hardest part. This video would have changed a lot for me as a kid, when I was ostracized from my peers because of everything, especially knowing that an idol of mine faced the same challenges. And even if I can't go back and change my past, I know that this video will reach someone like me who needs it now. Thank you.
What’s spd?
I also have SPD
This video has single handedly given me a break down but also kinda changed my life. Thank you.
As someone with Aspergers and ADD (as I've never been hyperactive, but I do struggle with focusing), I deeply appreciate this. I used to be really self-conscious about my diagnosis, but now I've figured out a lot of ways to help myself thanks to the support system I have. I've realized that I focus better when I'm being creative and that it helps to break big projects into chunks to avoid getting too anxious about them. Folk/acoustic music helps me relax when I'm stressed or anxious, so I keep playlists on all of my devices. I still struggle sometimes, but I'm getting better grades in college than I ever had in high school because I've finally learned to work with the way my brain functions.
I don't have ADHD but I just get distracted a lot, and I think A LOT slower. I'm always the last one to finish an in class assignment in class and I have a 504 that gives me extended time on tests. I know I'm not stupid, but it just frustrates sometimes that I can't process things as quickly as my classmates can.
Do you think slower or are you processing many things at once/jumping around a lot, making it hard to focus on the task at hand? That's what I've realised about myself. (Know this is y.o. old btw, hope things have improved for you.)
sounds just like me and i have it
@@despres380 I think I have it. Just never been diagnosed. I had that an also I lose my things all the time like at home or work. My coworkers are always bring my keys or phone to me.
And I forget tasks sometimes that my boss gives me cause I get distracted doing 3 other things I wanted to get done too.
Thank you for this video, Hank! I diagnosed myself with ADHD- inattentive at 30 and I'm still trying to figure out how to get through the hardest parts of living in my brain and working with it to survive and thrive. It's a lot of trial and error but I'm working hard and also found How to ADHD a few months back. What a gift! Thanks for being so honest and I'm so glad you had amazing help and support and have created a life in which your brain thrives. That is so hopeful to hear!
Thank you Hank for giving me some hope today after a very trying and exhausting weekend.
My middle child has an SPD and possibly autism or some wacky combination of both or, jeeze, some days none. The best answer most days is he's a bit different. For years we have been going to therapy and special education meetings and behavioral planning sessions etc etc. Its hard, its expensive, it's exhausting and most painfully most days it feels pretty fruitless as we still struggle deeply. His father and I do all of these things with the hope and mantra in heart that one day years from now he will be able to say the things you just said " because of the help I had, I have formed my own functional path".
So, thank you for the reinvigorated fire to read another article and schedule another therapy session and yet again remind him not to body slam his siblings simple because they aren't paying direct attention to him. Thank you!!!
I love the fact that the internet has so much info about ADHD now because people have gone from "you are clumsy, easily distracted, forgetful, desperate, take forever reading, kind of rude and always start stuff but never finish it" to just asking "do you gave ADHD?"
This is perfect timing; I was having this very conversation with my mother last week because I've been having trouble understanding how my mind works recently. My concentration is not what it used to be. Sometimes I fade off mid-conversation. My attention span and sensitivity is changing. Maybe I have adult ADHD. Maybe I'm having harsher PMS symptoms that I didn't have in the past.
My mom told me that in any case, you can never escape the effort of understanding and getting along with yourself. Then I realized the privilege, of having the time, recourses, and support to find a way to work it through. It's like I've entered a new chapter in life. I have a new friend, my own body, and it's really just like any other deep relationship. Sometimes it's hard to get along, sometimes it won't do the things you would want it to do, but it just takes patience, understanding, and faith to build a relationship that's productive yet caring.
Not watching the vlogbrothers for years and then coming back by watching this video hits different (just recently diagnosed adhd things~)
same
Yes
OML!! I love Jessica so much and I was watching her video over and over yesterday bc it was so good and helpful, and then I see this and I think "haha, what if he's talking about Jessica and HowToADHD?? Imagine that" and then you freakin mention her and link her channel!!??? Like this is so surreal I'm so happy for her bc I feel like her channel is so good but it's not getting enough "attention",(haha ADHD joke), so I'm so glad you made this video. Her channel really helps me out on an almost daily basis, and I think she'll be able to help lots more people now💕💕💕
TLDR: acknowledging and seeking help with mental disorders is not weakness and medication prescribed by a good therapist will likely only help you.
I was diagnosed with ADHD about 10 years ago. I initially went on medication and then stopped because I didn't like the side-effects. For years I struggled with all of the most common effects of ADHD and developed increasingly crazy coping strategies. It wasn't until about 2 years ago when I went back into grad school and was working full time in a math focused career that I finally felt defeated and went back for therapy and medication.
I felt defeated by and sad that I couldn't just get by like everyone else. I had always felt smart and had gotten by enough to function but it seemed apparent that I just wasn't good enough anymore. It was stressing me out and making me depressed. Almost immediately after beginning the therapy sessions and medication I experienced a near complete turn around. My memory and attentiveness improved, my fidgeting almost completely stopped, I was able to keep a schedule, it was easier for me to focus and I was less annoyed when my focus was broken.
It was like night and day. While medication isn't the answer for everyone, my life has SUBSTANTIALLY improved because of it and I wish I could go back and see what my undergraduate degree would have been like with it. If anyone is questioning whether or not their ADHD is "serious" enough for medication, please go talk to a mental health provider.
You are awesome.
+
++
+++
++++
+++++
The worst period of my life was being prescribed Adderall as a child. Like you, I couldn't handle the side effects. Now that I'm 21, I've had this internal debate about going back on medication more than once. I've learned to adapt my environment better, and I'm coping day to day. (It's been 10 years since I stopped taking medication.)
I guess my question is... How are you doing with side effects now? I went through a major depression and the craziest appetite ever when I was medicated. The possibility of going through that again is really scary for me.
Depression is the worst though because not only do you feel bad for seeking mental help when you shouldn't but also depression is seen as something you should just overcome but it's a chemical imbalance that needs medication or a change in lifestyle to correct. Depression also causes the victim to feel like seeking help is pointless because that's what depression does, it depresses one's thoughts. So the idea of seeking help may come to mind but it is quickly replaced with negative thoughts and so they have the hardest time working up the motivation to seek help. Couple that with an anxiety of say public spaces or just interaction with people in general and the victim will find it very hard or near impossible to get help. The one thing that can really help someone who is depressed is friends or family that reach out to help them because they will likely not get the help themselves.
My son (13) has had anxiety, depression and panic attacks since he was very young. It wasn't until this year that we realized he is sensitive to salicylates (the chemical in fruit, most vegetables, aspirin, honey and spices). Taking those out of his diet has been like magic. He is so calm and happy now.
Holy crap!! I've never heard anyone on CZcams talk about this. I've struggled with Sensory Processing Disorder my whole life and I'm so grateful for you talking about this! Thank you thank you thank you!!
I wanted to come back a bit later and say thank you for this video. I was diagnosed with ADD in 2015 ( I was 14 almost 15) and I didn’t really know how it was affecting me other than I was spacey (which I already knew) but is has grown more of an issue over time (which is maybe why It was diagnosed so late). After watching this video I visited “How to ADHD” and it has helped me so much. I know understand how my brain works and I can manage my ADD so much better now. This one video (and the many helpful videos on how to ADHD) have honestly changed my life in a way that I never would have known it could be changed. Thank you so much for being open about mental disorders and learning disabilities. You really are helping people.
i have HD-ADHD. It's difficult for me to focus, but when i do the detail i retain is INCREDIBLE!
Hyperfocus is an incredibly powerful tool, but I wish I had more control over it. (As someone who is also on the autism spectrum, my hyperfocus usually kicks in when I'm focusing on things that really fascinate me, so using it for learning a curriculum has generally been more "miss" than "hit".)
Isn't hyporfocus the best superpower!? ...Too bad it fires whenever it wants, huh? I'm very lucky that I happen to love my professional field enough that I hyperfocus on it relatively frequently, but always having control over what that intense a beam of concentration grabs onto would be just fantastic.
Mary R It used to be the best, but now that common sense is so rare among humans that's now considered the best SuperPower.
I have 720p ADHD
Now I'm always going to imagine Hank's toes dancing quietly in the privacy of his sneakers while he chats with us.
Thank you for the incredibly honest perspective, as someone dealing with mental disorders it feels so good to not be alone.
I really appreciate how you guys are open about mental health
I have my assessment for ADHD this Sunday! Awesome video Hank!
Silvia Sapora I'm hANK.
Silvia Sapora Hey, good luck! I hope you figure out whatever is going on in your brain!
PokéCenter i'm now officially diagnosed!!
Silvia Sapora High five!
How To ADHD is one of my favorite channels! I am a heart (person who loves someone with ADHD) to a 9 year old Brain (person with ADHD) and these videos have been great for both of us - thanks for letting more people know about them.
Love that more people are talking about ADHD. It is because of videos like this that I am now seeking out help at the age of thirty.
So, thanks.
Thank you for sharing your experience Hank. I was recently diagnosed with inattentive ADHD/ADD at 46. One large part of my getting diagnosed was How to ADHD's CZcams channel. What you described is basically my ADHD life. I also identify as an HSP, so sensory overload is definitely a thing and now that I know more about this stuff I identify with being along spectrums of Dyscalculia, Dispraxia, Aphantasia and Alexithymia. I would not have done as well without a father who was an educator. I still have a lot self-esteem issues and underlying trauma from being different. Getting diagnosed helped immensely as it changed how I felt about myself - there's finally an explanation and I am not alone.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS VIDEO HANK!!! First of all, How to ADHD is an amazing resource and her videos are constantly shown by the psychologists and councillors in my ADHD support group.
I was diagnosed with ADHD just over a year ago and that diagnosis changed my life. I wish I had been diagnosed as a child. I got effortlessly good grades throughout most of high school so I didn't notice any issues until I hit year 12 when it actually started affecting my studies. I've always had issues with time management and irrationally intense bursts of emotion or anger. I didn't know there was anything different about me though.
Getting diagnosed was the best and scariest thing that ever happened to me. If there's anyone who thinks they might have ADHD, go to a GP, or if you're at school or uni, go to see your free councillor. So many people are diagnosed when they're already past their teens, girls especially tend to be underdiagnosed because they tend not to fit the ADHD stereotype as much as boys. When ADHD is untreated for so long you can tend to have more issues with anxiety and depression as well, so see a doctor and start on the path to getting treatment. That can be a combo of medication, learning how to structure your life to get the most out of the way your brain works, nutrition and exercise.
The main thing I've learned through this whole ordeal is I need to try and get over my fear of asking for help, because if I'd never asked for help, no one would have known I needed it. Also, every time I have worked up the courage to ask, everyone has been more than willing, eager even, to help me.
This comment comes to you in 4 parts
1. Hank you can still get tested for ADHD just to have it confirmed.
2. you probably do have ADHD
3. HOLY SMOKES YOU MENTIONED ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHANNELS
4. cute Hankler fishes!
OMG thanks for posting this video. I have Asperger's, and Dyslexia and have all of the problems you mention and it's so inspiring to see a person with the same problems as me to be so successful.
This explains a lot about why so much of how you talk about living your life has been so helpful to me
I am an Autistic adult (diagnosed between 5 and 6) and relate to so much of this, especially the inability to sit still and irrational irritation when I'm interrupted. Like many people with ASD I have SPD too. Thanks for touching on some of these topics, they should definitely be talked about more rather than hidden. It's part of you that makes you you! :)
Thank you so much for making this video. As someone with ADD it means a lot to me. Also- what you said about being able to get really focused on something and getting angry when interrupted is called hyperfocus. I highly recommend Driven to Distraction by Edward Hallowell and John Ratey.
Dear Hank, I have been diagnosed with this for some time. You spoke about things that I have been feeling, dealing with, and trying to get better at. Thank you deeply. Congratulations on being able to take care of things and create systems for yourself; that is hard and I am so happy for you. I can't wait to watch this next video!
thank you. thank you thank you thank you thank you. I just can't form any thought that isn't thank you right now. my son is 8 and he's been diagnosed with sensory processing disorder and adhd and sometimes I feel so discouraged and I hit a wall and I wonder if he will ever master the mindfulness side of it. we just started him on a low dose of medication. and I don't see the change I though I would and I still watch him struggle everyday. it's so scary to not know what is going to happen. I don't want to ever put him in a box and think he's incapable of becoming a successful functioning adult. I can't even put into words how much of a weight you lifted off my shoulders hearing that you struggle with sensory processing issues as well. Seeing a grown, functioning, successful person talking about this is exactly what I needed right now. thank you so much for talking about this. thank you for giving me hope for my son's future and relighting the drive I have to get him the accommodations and tools that he needs to thrive. I'm so excited for him to watch this video!
also while I'm at it. thank you for nerd con and for stopping and saying hello to me on your way out of the hotel. I'm sure you were exhausted. thank you thank you thank you.
sorry for your struggles... glad things are manageable... thanks for sharing
Oh my goodness this video just helped me immensely! I clicked on it because I was very certain that Hank can't possibly think he has ADHD, so I wanted to see what he was really going to talk about. But when he started describing the characteristics of those with ADHD, I couldn't help but notice he was also describing ME perfectly. These are some things that friends of mine tease me about constantly, and I thought they were just my personality traits. Now I have taken some online tests, and scored through the roof on every one of them. How can I be 45 years old and not realize I may have this??? This may just have changed my life completely. I already feel the pieces of the puzzle are coming into place, and I have been struggling immensely with these pieces my whole life and couldn't figure out why things are so hard for me. I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow to discuss getting actual tests done to confirm. Even if the tests don't show ADHD, I have already done some reading on how to work with ADHD, and ways to manage it, and will be implementing them in my life. Who knew that one little 4 minute video on CZcams could change my thinking so dramatically. Thank you Hank for all you do!!!
+
Omg LOVE that you linked Jess’s video. She’s the best human!!!!
Also, speaking as someone with ADHD, you definitely have it. I’ve always thought that. The way you act and move and talk, you’re in the tribe!!
Thank you so much! I have ADHD and was diagnosed when I was 12. I didn't know about that channel How to ADHD but I've gone and watched a couple of videos and I'm in love.
I remember being a kid and getting tested for something as a kid, but they couldn’t figure it out. But this was before adhd was a specific diagnosis. That being a girl as well. I finally got diagnosed as an adult. In the end nothing really has changed but it’s nice to know I”m not broken, and how I have better coping mechanisms: it’s good to know
I was tempted to talk of my own short comings/not short comings, then I realized it would disappear in the sea of comments. So, I guess best wishes all/
Yesterday was my first day on adhd meds. I appreciate you. I know this is an older video, but I still appreciate it.
I’m 21 and got diagnosed with ADHD about five/six months ago. Getting that diagnosis that I had been needing since I was a child felt so validating, especially with being so depressed through my teenage years (I do have depression as well, but I feel like if my ADHD was treated properly I would have been MUCH happier and I would have done way better in school). Having that validation and learning to live in your own head/learning to accept that your brain works differently is such an important thing.
I don't have ADHD, but I do have learning disabilities, specifically dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dystonia. This is pretty spot on to my experiences dealing with my conditions. I was pretty luck to have accommodations coming up through the school system so I could demonstrate what I was learning and what I could do even if it took me longer then a regular class poired. Accesses to assistive technology was key.
In response to what you said in the description:
I was scared of a diagnosis becoming an excuse, like you. I still often struggle to find the balance between acknowledging what the ADD makes more difficult and taking responsibility for my own (in)actions.
But getting diagnosed was maybe the biggest relief of my life. I used to believe I was willfully lazy, irresponsible, and rude, and I hated myself so much for it. If, like me, you're racking up guilt from your potentially ADHD behaviors and it's wearing down on your self-esteem, a diagnosis might be a nice assurance that it's not all your fault.
thank you for making this video and sharing the link. it's great to hear different perspectives on things that others might consider just a hinderance.
I discovered your crash course videos and my first thought was “OH MY GOSH THESE ARE DESIGNED FOR ADHD BRAINS”
We didn’t know I was autistic and have adhd until my late 20s when a lifetime of trying to do things and be places that weren’t suited to my brain in ways that also weren’t suited to my brain (and the crushing feeling of never living up to my potential that accompanied those circumstances) finally broke me
I seriously seriously appreciate you being aware of how your circumstances have been part of why you’ve thrived, and I’m so glad your amazing brain helped you find wonderful things to do that were a good fit for you!
Hi hank!!! I have adult ADHD (probably as a child too but was just diagnosed two years ago, I'm 21) and this video meant a lot to me. I too have found some things in the difference of my brain that i love and help me. Would you ever consider an official diagnosis and/or medication? It helped me a lot and it made possibe for me to start med school. Love from Colombia. Memento mori
I'm thinking about it. I think it will come down to whether I feel like my behavior is negatively affecting my parenting ability. So far so good though, (I think!)
+
As someone who got medicated for ADHD at age 28, even if it isn't necessarily negatively affecting your life, getting the medication can make a HUGE difference in just... day-to-day brain energy and ability to handle a lot of information/input. (But it might also not be worth it, thanks to side-effects and other factors, sadly it doesn't work for everyone.)
Who's subscribe to ' how to ADHD'
+
This reminds me of yesterday's DH&J livestream where John kept getting annoyed at you for being distracted.
Yeah, put a brother who gets distracted easily in a room with a brother with dental pain and GO!
Sounds like a reality show pitch
I just want to say that this actually gives me a lot of hope and joy for myself; mercí for talking about your ADHD.
Thank you for making this. I always wondered if you have it because people always complain about how fast you talk. But I love it because it is the same speed as my brain so I don't get bored in the middle of your sentences. I have ADHD and I would love to welcome you to the tribe.
This video has me thinking back to a topic that's always rattled around my brain - where is the line between our perceived mental deficiencies and our personalities? As someone who was raised in a Christian religious environment and close with people who have special needs, I always wondered what they would be like in heaven. Are they going to be the same person I know here? Or will they be at their "true" potential, released from the limits of their emotional/intellectual deficiencies? This gets to the heart of our understanding of ourselves abstractly and how we perceive ourselves as somehow within our bodies and our brains but also not of our bodies and our brains. What also can't be forgotten is that almost all of these perceived deficiencies are reflections of a lack of ability in an area that we value culturally, not some objectively quantifiable inability. They also are always juxtaposed with a timeline of expectations that say you should be at X point at Y time, so that even if you can gain the skills you're perceived to lack, if you haven't done it by Y time, it's still seen as a deficiency.
There are many challenges we all face and it would be a mistake to say that whoever we are at a given moment is all we should try to be. As you said in your video, you've gotten where you are because the challenges you faced were acknowledged and addressed. When one door of opportunity was closed, you weren't forced to stay still but instead were helped to find another opportunity. But the line between pushing ourselves to be better and dehumanizing each other for our challenges is so razor thin. We will always fall short when trying to define ourselves in our vast complexities with words that are designed for specificity. We are tasked with understanding ourselves and each other for everything we've been and are and will be simultaneously, even though our understanding of any of those things on their own even is naturally tenuous. So thanks Hank for sharing your experiences and understanding of yourself, because I think this sort of conversation is essential for improving our understanding of our collective existences in this strange, wonderful, misleading, and endlessly complex state of being.
We are our brains. There is no separating me from my ADHD, nor should there be - I medicate myself to treat the destructive tendencies, but that chemistry is what created my personality over the 26 years I've been alive. I want to not have ADHD sometimes, but I also sometimes want to not have brown hair - I can do things to chemically alter it, but it still grows out brown.
It's really sad that many people don't believe that ADHD is a thing, and that they don't need medation. Oppositional defiant disorder (5-10y) and conduct disorder (10-18y) are labels applied to children who behave badly, and you can argue that these aren't really psychiatric conditions, and hence *don't* need medication. This is because both ODD and conduct disorder are almost purely behavioural in origin and a result of poor parenting.
ADHD on the other hand has a strong genetic component suggested by the evidence. This gives the children increased impulsivity, inattention and hyperactivity which they simply cannot mentally control. Additionally, there is countless evidence of the impact that methylphenidate (Ritalin) really helps these kids and prevents them from developing conduct disorder in the future.
Even good parenting will struggle to handle a true ADHD kid. There is a DIFFERENCE between ADHD kids and those with ODD/conduct disorder. ADHD is real, and people need to accept that, and accept that it is okay to medicate the kids.
Misterioso before I continue writing this comment I must say everything this comment claims is factual.
Now with that out of the way I'd like to point out something your not considering. The millions upon millions of ADHD imposters, it's become a "cool" thing to have your fashionable mental disorder, it makes the faker feel unique. So when people easily dismiss ADHD it's because of this huge group which is diluting the importance of the real victims.
You say that "both ODD and conduct disorder are almost purely behavioural in origin and a result of poor parenting."
Eek! Both of these things are things that were said about ADHD only a few y... well... they're still said about ADHD. Let's not risk doing what we know's been done to other conditions by making assuming things like that.
+Robo Batman Excellent point. Unfortunately, such fakers and the issue of overdiagnosis and labelling all contribute towards this, and in fact make people even more dismissive of ADHD.
+Mary R I am not assuming anything, let me explain. ODD and conduct disorder, at least according to both DSM-IV and ICD-10 do not have any real defining features except for features typical with an angry, truant, vandalistic, antisocial and destructive personality. Hence, it is used as a label for bad behaviour, they are NOT conditions of organic or psychogenic origin by definition. They are in essence a diagnosis of exclusion until such a cause is found. IF there was an organic/psychogenic cause to explain such bad behaviour, then they will be considered appropriately as having a mental illness. ODD and conduct disorder can only BE due to a poor environment (bad parenting) otherwise they would have instead been diagnosed with an organic or psychogenic illness.
I suggest you look at the DSM-IV if you are American or ICD-10 otherwise.
The problem with ADHD is that ignorant individuals do not realise that ADHD was never a term for bad behaviour, it specifically described a pattern of symptoms. Soon, it was realised this pattern is psychogenic (due to genetics) in origin.
In the mid nineties I was told by my psychiatrist "Adults don't have ADD; they grow out of it" and refused to prescribe anything for it. Things have gotten somewhat better now.
Misterioso - having raised a child that would have been classified as ODD if such a diagnosis had been available at the time, I take offence to anyone pointing a finger and saying it is because of bad parenting. that is what us parents of strong willed misbehaving kids were always accused of and were told by sanctimonious parents of quiet well behaved children that we should follow their example. it was always fun to watch those parents then have a difficult child. they certainly changed their tune then. science may not yet have identified what it is that makes some kids difficult but it doesn't mean it was automatically "bad parenting" just because you haven't found the key.
I'm so glad you suggested How to ADHD, she is such an excellent resource and wealth of knowledge after years of studying and expanding her team to help her study more
This is so on point my friend. I've been on the journey to really knowing myself and what my brain needs. It's been great.
when hank mention how to adhd, im so happy, because i also liked her channel 😁
I got distracted halfway through this video by trying to figure out which Terry Pratchett books were on the shelf.
... Which is mildly amusing given the topic at hand.
thank you, I've watched many things you have put on youtube....crash course is my favorite...I love the approach you use. it took me along time to figure out adhd without medication and I have a lot more to learn about how it helps and ways it can be a problem and working to overcome the shortcomings by mainly accepting them and having people or a habit to help me...it's been rough. I'm 33 and it took time. anyhow I wanted to thank you for the topic of adhd because it's something that people need to talk about because it's a difference in thinking not a difference in ability and since we can't explain or see what's going on in our own heads or those in others it makes it almost impossible to relate (hard enough to relate if you grow up in different enviroments). well thank you again for your work and your teams ability to make a difference that will shape the future.
Thank you very much for making this video, my son was diagnosed with a sensory processing disorder late last year.
While I know my family and I can deal with it and help him figure out how to work himself, my wife has been very depressed wondering if he would still be able to lead good/full life. This video has brought her a little bit of hope, which is always needed.
Thanks again,
Phil
So, if you didn't see the Nerdcon mental health panel, Hannah Hart recommended a book to people (and my academic advisor recommended it to me as well) it's called Driven to Distraction by John Ratey and it's so good, and it helps a lot with trying to figure things out and it gives some cool strategies to help. I'm not diagnosed (yet) but I'm pretty sure the results are gonna come back that I do have ADD :)
MattieOnCZcams It's never occurred to me that I might have something like this because I always did pretty well in school, but so much of what Hank just described hit me pretty hard.
(and by "pretty hard" I mean if I wasn't already sitting it would have knocked me down)
No empirical evidence that behavioral intervention helps with ADHD. (source: ADD Thomas E. Brown textbook)
+
therabbithat
Actually there is a ton of evidence. Here's one meta-analysis I found within seconds of Googling it:
ccf.fiu.edu/research/publications/articles-2000-2009/a-meta-analysis-of-behavioral-treatments-for-adhd.pdf
That's not to say behavioural intervention necessarily is or is not the right kind of intervention. I haven't read all the research and I am not an expert. However, it is quite disingenious to say there is no evidence at all. Given that people with SpLDs typically develop at least some ad-hoc coping mechanisms before they are diagnosed and those coping mechanisms can only be cognitive-behavioural in nature, it would be quite a surprising, if not shocking, result that structured cognitive-behavioural interventions developed and possibly administered by trained experts had no effect at all on the severity of impairment from SpLDs including ADHD/ADD.
The book I mention is essentially just case studies, from years of work with children and adults with ADD (and ADD alongside other issues) and it suggests that not only does talking therapy and behavioural intervention help but it can be more effective than medication for some individuals. Much like many other neurological and psychiatric disorders, it's disingenuous to suggest that one way will work, or not work, for everyone.
posted 8 seconds ago? I picked a good time to look at youtube!
Patrick Daly exactly!
Patrick Daly same
Thank you Hank, I have always looked up to you and it's really comforting to hear that you have difficulties with that stuff to. Thank you for being such a hero with your brother, I can't tell you how much you've helped me learn and become who I am today.
I am diagnosed ADHD, have been my entire life, and I have a son who is very strongly ADHD. Everything you have described is both a part of my life (especially hyper focusing as I know it to be called) as well as read and learned about. My ADHD is what drives me to psychology, to learn more and more how my brain as well as other people’s brains, work.
I often hear of adult diagnoses for people so if you really want to know for sure, you can go to a doctor and basically fill out a questionnaire it seems.
Anyway, mine is a disorder for my current lifestyle, though I continually seek a lifestyle more fitting to my brain. If you want to learn more about ADHD and a more positive way at looking at the disorder, I strongly recommend the books of Thom Hartmann, an ADHD researcher who posits the Farmer/Hunter theory. A theory that ADHD brains are positively adapted to fit a hunter-gatherer society while neurotypical brains are more adapted to an agricultural society.
I feel like some of the most creative and inventive and revolutionary people have ADHD. It's something that has such a stigma (either because people think that people with ADHD were just difficult kids who shouldn't have medication or because they think people with ADHD are stupid) when it, in my mind, should also be seen as a common phenomenon in humans that can sometimes make society better at large.
(Edit: I realize that people with ADHD and their families face many challenges and please note that I by no means am implying that living with ADHD is easy or that it gives people an inherent degree of creative talent or savant-ism.)
+
yeah but I'm a complete failure and now I can't use this as an excuse heh
+
sure, but you don't NEED to be creative to justify having ADHD. people can exist with learning/mental disorders without being geniuses or super skilled or whatever. just saying
Arizona Jonson of course, I in no way meant to imply the contrary. I just meant that in *some* select cases, ADHD allows people to think more outside-the-box than if they did not have it. Hence, people with ADHD shouldn't be looked down upon as difficult or stupid.
On one hand, a clickbait-ish title for people who 'know' you. On the other hand, 100% on the follow-through. A+
"Clickbait"-like video titles are OK as long as they deliver.
"Does Hank have ADHD?"
"How long does it take for caffeine to kick in? OH! GOOGLE! *dives off bed*
Yes.....
3 years ago, this video helped me find the channel How to ADHD, which has really helped me come to terms with my own ADHD diagnosis. The many people that support that channel have helped encourage me, and also have led to me having the confidence to get a full time job. A mix of adapting my environment and trying to adapt/cope with my mind has really helped me get to the point I'm at. So, thanks for this, Hank.
I have sensory processing disorder and adhd and its so wonderful to hear someone first of all mention sensory processing disorder and even talk about how it can connect with adhd. Love your commentary on this thank you for always using your platform this way!