I watched this whole episode. Interesting points throughout but, I'm in favour of Steve's take away on this. The good sleep, the breathwork, no alcohol, and making space in the diary!
If you are highly functionally ADD then sure, you probably don’t need it. Obviously you aren’t in the struggling category where it impacts you in huge ways, others it does.. why it’s spectrum.
I saw you at terminal 5 the other day, if I had seen this episode I would have approached you to talk about it, I have adhd as does my daughter who has recently been permanently excluded from her school, quite simply because she can't sit in a class room and concentrate. I want her to succeed and reach her full potential, ut would have been interesting to hear your point of view as I'm struggling to know how to move forward with how to help her.
This old man is misleader careless in lying smart way!! ADHD is NOT all genetic!😅😮. Is making this young man feel bad with his diagnosis without proper diagnosis just by guessing is WRONG insensitive 😅😮😅😮😅
Almost all of my family has either ADHD or Autism, this is counting my grandparents as well...the only one I know for sure who has neither is my sister....and it is probably because she has a different dad
The hyper focus … if I find something I’m interested in I literally can go in for 12-15 hours researching everything to do with that topic. Forget to eat, become time blind and even bathing becomes irrelevant. That can be leveraged. Downside is I can’t chose when it happens, can’t do things I’m not interested in, become time blind in hyper focus so don’t even text people back, get burnt out and the cycle goes on. Gift and a curse. Basically people with adhd are driven more by satisfying curiosity than goals. Imagine that impact on life.
"... driven more by satisfying curiosity than goals..." Bingo, that hits a nail. I love how, even after so many years of trying to learn all I can about ADHD (and myself), little nuggets like this surface all the time.
The part you say you get burned out… Even if it is something I should study for school, if it comes to be that interesting, I’ll get burned out researching about it, instead of focusing on what is the assignment asking for.
Me too. My eyes welled up with tears. I was labelled stupid and lazy and dreamy by teachers, made to take an IQ test and I scored 130++ but I never finished college too. My youngest son was flagged with ADHD by his school which was how I realised I have it too! 😢
I have kids with adhd, and i must say they do have many benefits...They are extremely gifted as well as super creative. I decided to homeschool them , they learn different from so many other kids and thats also ok .My favorite part is to figure out how they think, this is a mystery at some points. We need more people Advocating for adhd openly. 😊
So why are the people with ADHD looked as being the issue in our society when there are many gifts associated with it??? Our schooling is the issue and having to fit into one box IS the issue. Why do we all have to be the same??
hi i would like to know if your kids are medicated?? im starting to homeschool my kid as well cuz here they want your kids to be medicated in schools and i dont really like the idea of medicating my 7 year old, at least not right now. she is very smart and learns fast but i dont think sending her to school right now is a good idea especially cuz she’s not fully verbal right now.
I suffered from adhd my entire life. I was told I didn"t care, I was lazy, I lacked motivation etc. I was diagnosed with ADHD around 50 while I worked with at-risk youth. My whole life, I became addicted to food, sex and I felt so hopeless. I have since learned the truth abt my condition. I am smart, capable, compassionate and understanding and accepting of people just as I find them. Diet and walking have helped me tremendouslyl. I am zany as hell. I don't care what people think abt me anymore. God allowed me to walk this path for a reason and I am finally learning He thinks I'm awesome!!! Gof bless you, Dr. Amen!!!
@@ilqar887 generally speaking, no. It’s a specific type of brain. “Cure” suggests an illness. It’s like saying is there a cure to seeing out of your eyes? The problem is the particular demands of life is not ideal for adhd brain. So you end up struggling immensely. So medication can make your brain act more like other brains, but it isn’t a cure. Hope that makes sense.
He said it. The isolation because people think you are unreliable and the feeling of shame that goes with it is just THE most immense pain. I have been under medication for 6 months now, and I was the same: really anti-pharmaceuticals, not taking any pills ever, thinking my body can sort things out, man let me tell you: it's your choice if you want to continue moving through life with -9 of vision without glasses when everyone else sees 10/10. It doesn't change you, and as Dr. Amen said, you don't have to take it every day, it's not like an antidepressant, it's just glasses for your brain. In 5 months I have achieved everything I couldn't do for 6 years, and ALL my relationships have dramatically improved as I discovered that I was a bit aggressive without even noticing it, I now can totally control my tone and be nicer. I actually feel finally more like myself. And don't worry I'm still a fucking human creative mess, only now I can finally execute all of my creative ideas instead of dwelling on them.
I’m 41 and started taking meds just 6 months ago. Somehow I figured out all kinds of coping mechanisms to get through life all this time, but it’s been such a relief the past 6 months to simply not need them
Perfect comment! I feel the same and I tell this to the anti-pharmaceutical people I encounter. I used to be like that too, but medication saved my life. Both for depression and ADHD. I’m glad I overcame the prejudice. It doesn’t mean we have to take it forever, things don’t need to be radical, but it’s good to open up and be flexible. It changes life. It feels much better indeed!
As someone who suffers with extreme severe anxiety I can totally relate to her. I would stop eating for days at a time as a punishment. I worry a lot about my life, everyone around me and pleasing everyone. It's absolutely crippling, so glad she got the help she needed, lovely young lady it's so sad that society has 1 in 3 people suffering mental health issues. I hope everyone seeks help
Can you help with the reliable source I would really appreciate it. Many people talk about how mushrooms and psychedelics treats anxiety, but nobody talks about where to get them. Very hard to get a reliable source here in Australia. Really need!
Yes, doctor Greg mushroom I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
Im in tears. “You mean its not my fault.” Self blame is a very common side effect of untreated adhd. That self blame and parental blame ( “why cant you be more like your brother, just focus more”), summed up my adolescence and into my professional career (ironically as a spec ed teacher). Struggling in my marriage (viewed as irresponsible) and professionally (feeling like an imposter), i sought out a counselor who encouraged me to get some formal testing done. Turns out I was off the charts in more than 1/2 the indicators and diagnosed with adhd. So why wasnt it found earlier? Well turns out my IQ was over 135 which explained my successes and how i was able to mask and hide some of my issues. After walking out of the appointment I sat in my car and balled. Decades of failures, blame, unrealized potential, second guessing, shame and insecurity all released in that moment. So thats why I failed _____. So thats why i quit grad school. So thats why i was struggling in my relationships. All that to say, if you think this sounds like you, go get tested. Just knowing the beast, helps you manage the beast. For me that has been medication, meditation, lots of exercise, clean diet and more recently yoga. Its still a struggle, but knowing the beast really helped me come to terms with who I was and why things went down the way they did. Finally having said all that, I also learned about all the blessings that come with an adhd brain. Look around, some great leaders, business geniuses and celebrities - many have figured out how get adhd to work for you, not against you. So dont kill the beast, learn to love the beast and thing will become much clearer in your life.
I’ve had ADHD or ADD my entire life.. I’ve been prescribed all the meds. What works for me is not taking the meds because I am an addict and can easily abuse them. What works for me is physical activity every morning and writing down a list of To Do’s. Getting my heart rate up to 180 BPM doing cardio and lifting weights allows me to not focus on the minutia during the day and actually focus on the tasks at hand for that day. We ADHDers are natural procrastinators. This routine works for me to not “make excuses” and procrastinate on items that need to be taken care of. It also allows me to focus on a single item on my To Do list until it’s complete
Writing a todo list every morning is the only thing that consistently helps me, like you say. I get so much more done when I have something to look at to remind me what I need to focus on next.
My daughter was diagnosed at 35, I’ve worked with children all my adult life and didn’t notice it because she was never hyperactive. 😢 I now recognise a lot of traits in myself and I spent my whole life feeling useless. I’ve exhausted myself trying to be like everyone else and I have been so embarrassed by my disorganisation and handwriting. Knowing is freeing 😊
Same here. I'm 59. Diagnosed at a age 52. Just started doing anything about it at age 58. Even when people praise me, I never feel like I deserve it. I just still always feel worthless and dumb.... 100% opposite of how people, such as Friends, Family, Co-workers, and Strangers actually see me 😢
I have 2 kids with inattentive type adhd and 2 with hyperactive adhd. It's very difficult to pin point..but I'm glad you were able to understand it now.😊
I have lived 30 years of my life without the meds. I found myself in a depression and self-treated with weed. This spiraled out of control as I was perpetually depleting my dopamine to a point it was impossible to function as a normal human being. I have ADHD without hyperactivity which I assume why I was never diagnosed. Getting my diagnose and taking these meds gave me a clear view of my life. It made me realize the job was the root cause of me being unhappy. I changed jobs because of this insight, quit weed and turned my life around. I now do a job I love and my personal and worklife has never been better. I have no idea how I was even able to function until this point let alone get my degree without being on meds. Normal things take WAAY more energy and I recognize so much about this womans symptoms. Studying the night before etc. It's safe to say it changed my life.
I have the exact same relationship with weed although I'm yet to see my GP for a diagnosis of ADHD, didn't seem to think it would matter anymore now that I'm an adult. I had extra time in exams despite never being told I had anything, just that I read slowly? Dropped out of uni after 3 years and studying (if you can call it that) two different courses. I've hated every job in my adult life, after the first 3 months of doing it. My question for you is, how did you find a job you love that you haven't got bored and fed up with? I'm seeing my GP in the next couple of weeks to see if I can get diagnosed
Also got diagnosed at 30 (a year ago) and im going through a lot of changes since then. I struggle a lot with behavioural patterns that are very deeply rooted from being untreated for so long and i feel like im just broken beyond repair.
Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.
Can you help with the reliable source I would really appreciate it. Many people talk about mushrooms and psychedelics but nobody talks about where to get them. Very hard to get a reliable source here in Australia. Really need!
Yes, dr.zachary3 I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
I have not had a diagnosis but learning about ADHD has put my whole life (70+) into perspective. It has brought me a degree of peace to realise that it wasn't my fault. ('IT' being 'ME' to everyone I was ever close to)
It's never too late to get diagnosed, I'm a bit younger than you but just got mine. It is totally up to you what you prefer at the end of the day though, and sometimes easing yourself into it by learning (or hyperfocusing lol) about the topic helps people like us, as we tend to struggle a bit with transitions sometimes. Sorry, I'm rambling but I think it's great you're now able to reframe hurtful notions from your past. Wishing you the best! :)
Fuck that. Superpower is the absolute last thing to call it as it diminishes your suffering and discredits your success. Any success i have is DESPITE my ADHD and not because of it. It's no superpower at all but im strong because ive learned to live with it even though it still causes me a lot of pain.
I was told by the head teacher in school back in 1974, that I was the worse student in the whole school. I’m 63 and understanding why I struggled so much throughout my life by just watching your videos, thank you. ❤ I agree it’s a difference, humans are evolving, the system isn’t.
@@GoFarFarAway. I'm so sorry, I too was called stupid by my mother, arrogant by my father, needy by my brother.... Shame how some people cannot operate by seeing the positives in others. Sending you a hug. 💖
Diagnosed 6 months ago at 50! It has been completely life changing. Loosing the self blame after all these years is amazing! I take meds and although the difference is subtle I feel a lot less stress and anxiety.
I can relate. For those of us who are over or near 50, there was basically zero awareness of ADHD during our childhood days. They completely missed us. Now I feel like I have to constantly run to catch up and compensate for 50 years of ADHD oversight 😢
I wasn’t diagnosed until 6 months ago at age 40, but I did know my whole life I had adhd. I just didn’t realize that medication would actually help. I was somehow under the impression it was just like a sedative for hyperactive kids or something. I wish I would have known sooner.
@@rockon8174 how is that related? I eat super healthy and have the same experience with meds. Exercise and eating well helps but that’s not the root of the problem so it won’t be the fix.
I tired meds and it made me anxious and my heart rate would sit at 100bpm at rest. I didn’t like that so chose high intensity exercise and using my calendar to set alarms to schedule myself. Also I felt alike a zombie physically so it was weird my brain felt slow but my body felt fast. It just wasn’t for me. Also I was done with meds as I had taken antidepressants for 13 years before I was diagnosed. I just treat myself with more kindness if I don’t do everything I need to in a day. It’s ok. Just stick to the priorities
Me too! Even before I was diagnosed I kept a diary and recorded what I was doing that day….if I didn’t get to do what was recorded, I’d move it over to the next day. This is how I’ve managed my life…..otherwise I would have been all over the place.
I deal with it the same. I schedule everything and never say yes to anything people ask... instead I say let me think about and I'll get back with you or let me check with my husband, etc. Then I make myself get back with them even if the answer is no.
@@JR-dt9ie that’s defo an issue. I highly recommend kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and other probiotics. Also don’t forget prebiotics such as inulin. Foods containing these are garlic, onion etc. Do a google search as there are loads. Start little and often. Remember our guts are our second brain so yes it affects our adhd if our gut is struggling.
Avoid processed foods as much as possible too as they mess us up and feed our bad bacteria. High sugary foods and quick processed carbs are the worse for us. Eat good fats (Avacado, olive oil, nuts, seeds, oily fish, a little cheese if you can tolerate, proteins and whole grains if you can tolerate, lots of veg and two or three fruits. Add new foods slowly.)
I remember few years back after my husband died, I was left alone with 3 kids. I suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Got diagnosed with ADHD. Not until a friend recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment changed my life for better. I can proudly say i'm totally clean for 8 years and still counting. Always look to nature for solution to tough problems, Shrooms are phenomenal.
I love hearing great life changing stories like this. I want to become a mycologist because honestly mushrooms are the best form of medicine (most especially the psychedelic ones) There are so many people today used magic mushrooms to ween off of SSRI medication- its amazing! Years back i wrote an entire essay about psychedelics. they saved you from death buddy, lets be honest here.
Hey mates! Can you help with the source? I suffer severe anxiety, panic and depression and I usually take prescription medicine, but they don't always help. Where can I find those psilocybin mushrooms? I'm really interested in treating my mental health without Rxs. I live in Australia don't know much about these. I'm so glad they helped you. I can't wait to get them too. Really need a reliable source 🙏
YES sure of mycologist Predroshrooms. I have the same experience with anxiety, addiction. Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
I'm so very happy for you mate, Psilocybin is absolutely amazing, the way it shows you things, the way it teaches you things. I can not believe our world and our people shows less interest about it's helpfulness to humanity. It's love. The mushrooms heals people by showing the truth, it would be so beneficial for so many people, especially politicians and the rich who have lost their way and every other persons out there.
Let me tell you, I went to the doctor after my mom told me I need to because "you need help". I laughed at the doctor when I got my diagnosis of ADHD. I didn't believe it. But, I took my meds and to say I was in disbelief of what was normal thinking would be an understatement. I only take my meds when I need to concentrate on things I'm not interested in. Other than that, I live my best life.
Thank you for sharing your experience, I'm freshly diagnosed as of yesterday (at 39 yo) and will be getting medication next week and I am a bit afraid for the side effects and for losing my personality, so it's good to hear that you're living your best life despite the medication.
@@fatmapunt8460 Oh, please do not worry about losing your personality. It doesn't dull or calm you. All it does, is allow you to not get side tracked. It only allowed me to say to myself "I need to do this" and then do it. I guess think of it as the anti procrastination pill. Honestly, the first day I took it, I finished several projects that had been sitting for years. I will admit, later that night I cried a little because if I had this while I was in school it would have changed everything for me. I constantly thought I was a bad kid because I just couldn't do things people wanted me to do. I forgot a lot. I was smart but got bad grades. Teachers blamed me for it. If I had known while I was younger ... GOD so many things I could have done without shame. So, please. Don't be fearful. You are on your way to helping yourself. And, that's a beautiful thing.
@@tmc1373 Generic Adderall 30mg. I break it into four. And, take it throughout the day if I have a big project I need to do. Normal days, take 1/4 in the morning, if I'm working. Nothing on weekends or when I'm relaxing. I hate taking pills but because these have been a life saver for me, I take them in low doses. But, just remember, everyone metabolizes meds differently. So, your reaction to 30mg might be bad. Find what works best for you. Don't be afraid to tell your doctor to change to see if another dose is better. You'll never know unless you try.
@@fatmapunt8460 Every person reacts differently to medication, if you don't like the side effects you can always go for another medication or no medication at all and some other kind of treatment like psychotherapy (I guess you were prescribed methylphenidate or adderall). So take it easy, you can opt out when you want. Indeed, some people say they "lose their personality", that seems to be because the medication acts on their nervous system in such a way that it suppresses their emotions, but that's one possible side effect out of many. If you don't feel that in the first days (or the first days after raising your dosage) you'll possibly never feel them. Other side effects like high pressure, headache nausea, you should monitor that closely with your psychiatrist. Once again, potential side effects are usually felt from the start
I love that you said a difference. Every person in my family who has had adhd has been super successful and wonderful. Smart, hard working, determined, and kind. Different, but wonderfully so.
Definitely teared up at "you mean it's not my fault?" 😭 Also, the bit about ADHD people being excluded because they can't be relied on...oof. Was diagnosed with combined type this year, and it has been completely life changing to be on meds combined with ADHD coaching. I feel like a superhuman just for being able to maintain habits and stick to a schedule (and make a schedule). I am less anxious and feel more confident in my own skin. I think before I had learned to hide my differences, so meds make me more outgoing. They quiet my internal hyperactivity enough to get me out of my head and be more present. I was one of the smart ones who could get everything done the night (or class) before. I was also very fortunate to have a scholarship to a university in town so I could stay at home and didn't have to take on the other life duties that would come with moving away to my own place (and holding down a job during school semesters). I am also very interested in science and engineering, and anyone with ADHD knows interest is everything. I would absolutely have failed out if I was studying tax preparation or some other boring shit. I can barely make it through the easy mode turbo tax software that holds your hand the whole way without wanting to jump off a bridge. Being smart & interested doesn't fix things enough for the working world, though. I quickly lost my first job, and even in my second I worked hard for 5 years before I got a decent (acceptable) performance review. And to get there and maintain it I burned myself out so bad I quit out of the blue one day and took an extended break. I can truly say that before being medicated it just felt crushingly obvious that this world is not meant for someone like me. I lucked out that my interests line up with valued and well-paid professions, but I'm just as handicapped in everyday life stuff as those ADHDers who struggled in school. I sometimes wonder where I'd be if I'd have struggled more and gotten diagnosed earlier.
@@neerajkerkar I'm on generic vyvanse right now, and it's working great. I started out on generic ritalin, but the ups & downs were a bit much for me. I didn't try concerta, but it would probably do good based on how ritalin worked.
I'm diagnosed with this. Neither of my parents have it as far as I'm aware but a lot of my cousins on my mother's side of the family have it. I was a little concerned that this video would be one of those "ADHD isn't real pull yourself by your bootstraps" spiels and was pleasantly surprised to see an empathetic, medically accurate conversation. Thank you. I have the typical story of someone who's ADHD went undiagnosed in school because they were able to get assignments done the night before and do well in tests without really studying, but hit a wall in university when the work got harder.
Gabor Mate, the leading ADHD researcher, says that it is not genetic. He is more along the idea that it is a coping mechanism developed as children because of the way parents treated us. It could be because they're always fighting so you need to zone out and not pay attention. A nice idea I had was that it is also an "attention deficit" in the sense that the child didn't receive the attention needed so ADHD developed. That being said, if you have a parent with ADHD, it's much more likely that you will develop ADHD but it's not hereditary, it's because the way they act, you start to act the same or maybe because one has ADHD, can't deal with children's needs properly so they develop it too.
@@ilv1I don't like that theory. For my parents, it's already hard to accept I have adhd. They start to think about the times they should have done differently in raising me, although I had a very happy childhood. I have a sibling and we would always play with each other and parents would show up to solve conflicts and take care uf us. I don't see anything negative about my early childhood and I don't want parents to think 'my child can't have adhd because we did well in raising them' or 'my child has adhd because we failed them'. In my experience, they think this anyway even though the concensus theory is that it's innate and not parents' fault. I see no benefits from this kind of theory. It makes adhd something the parents are ashamed of. Shame can hinder the process of getting diagnosed and treated/supported. Already does. Theories like this are not useful. If it's something that happened in child's early childhood, parent's probably did what they could with the support they had (raising babies and toddlers is very hard). It's also something you couln't redeem later. If there were books for parents like, 'how to raise your child so they won't get adhd', there would still be children who will have. Now the stigma would just get higher. People would think kids with adhd are from bad backgrounds. Now, there already is something like this. Kids from lower socioeconomic backgrounds get more adhd-diagnoses that kids from well-off families. So it's possible that for some kids adhd is misdiagnosed because of their behaviour that looks like adhd but comes from some other root. We know that adults get adhd-like symptoms from stress. It's probably same with children. Children's adhd symptoms are different from adults; adults get forgetfulness, messiness, easy irritability - that are often associated with stress. Kids get restlessness, teasing their friends, 'hyper' representations, that are more likely associated with adhd. I think it's because of these associations, that kids with stress are more likely diagnosed with adhd even if they don't have it. And kids with 'adultlike' representations of adhd are more likely to not be diagnosed at all. Now, I do think that early support in stressful family situations is important. In Finland where I'm from, we have this institution called 'neuvola', which translates to 'place of advice'. All parents are required to go there with their child frequently until their child reaches school age (7 years), more frequently when the child is younger. They can talk about things they need support or advice with in raising the child. We still have adhd
@@raapyna8544 I do support your well worded opinion, and the truth is yet unknown. You do make some really valid points but I do want to point out that its origin is important so that we know how to treat it or manage it. If it's a coping mechanism I guess the treatment would be different than if it were something genetic. Psychology is pretty difficult so what might seem like a good childhood, you might find out later that stuff was missing. In my case, I didn't know they were missing since I never knew they existed.
@@ilv1 gabor mate is not a leading ADHD researcher it is inaccurate to say that. this point is easily debunked by the fact that in parents with adhd who adopt children those adopted children are less likely to have adhd then biological children and same thing for adopted children there rate of adhd is more inline with their biological parents then adopted parents
@@imnotnotgameiacmaniac5327 I have some issues with Gabor Mate. He's not really a researcher, but he does make some good points that deserve further investigation. Like many conditions, ADHD has a large genetic component, but how genes interact with the environment is important as well. I don't agree with him that it's all trauma, though. I'm not sure where you got your information about parents with ADHD adopting neurotypical children, but adoptees are about two to three more times likely to have ADHD than biological children. There may be population reasons for that. It's possible that someone with ADHD is more likely to place a child for adoption. However, it's important to remember that all adoption, even infant adoption, is a type of trauma in itself. (Dr. Amen is full of it as well, but that's another issue.)
I never even considered adhd as a possibility because im not hyper at all. After learning about innatentive type adhd i was shocked at how well it described me. And i now realize while im not hyper, im always moving.
I have ADHD my mind is always on 100 mhp but i do show symptoms i get fidgety when standing in lines, i talk too fast, i sense others energy and i catch on it and then i hate feeling so much more anxious when someone else is talking to me because i can absorb their energy.
I can attest that as a 45 y/o adult who was only diagnosed 10 years ago with ADHD teachers never thought I had ADHD because I was a chill kid but couldn't focus. They thought I was lazy and undisciplined. Taking medication has completely changed my life. I am able to excel at my job, remember important things and rarely lose my keys.
Diagnosed at 5 I’m now 35 and I love my ADHD. I had to learn to love it. I think a lot of yall are going through a grieving process with your ADHD. It’s not going anywhere, accept that it’s a part of you and you will love it. You can do things that right now are unfathomable. You can learn at such a high rate it’s unreal. Learn to love it and it’s like life begins again I promise you. You can hate it but it will only crush you.
I’m 33, just got diagnosed, and honestly I love seeing my potential now with the medication, coaching, and therapy. I’m a better husband and father now, and look forward to what it may do for my career. I’m not ashamed of it; but I’m SO happy to know I have it so I can manage the symptoms, which has largely disrupted my life in a lot of ways. I’m not grieving the past like some do; just embracing the future I now have.
@@jennifermarlow. Yeah, if it was a thing in the '70s they'd have diagnosed me twice. It's just a thing you deal with when you have to, as an adult, you find something interesting to do, and it's not a problem. You're lucky you got the accelerated programs, I got shoved onto the other track and eventually got bored enough to quit and they got frustrated enough to let me. Once they invented the PC, I found programming very interesting and made a career out of it. =)
From a lot of research and conversation, it’s so much easier when you knew you had it from a young age. A lot of those grieving found out they had later in life when it had done significant to major damage in their lives.
I've suffered my entire life with this as many others. Professionally, it can really be draining. After taking meds for years, I began meditating, and it has drastically improved my daily functioning. Thanks so much for this video! ❤
I cannot speak for all people who Have been diagnosed but in my situation, taking meds has saved my marriage, my sanity and acceptance has brought me internal peace. I am not broken. I used to be conflict driven, because I needed the stimulation. I craved anything that would stimulate me in exciting ways. The chaos and stress of it all… And now I know why it was so bad for my family. I celebrated 1 year of acceptance a couple days ago and its been much happier and peaceful since I started my meds. I only take it during working hours but it has brought balance to my life.
Adult ADHD here (diagnosed by psychiatrist at 50 y/o). To the interviewer: I’m so glad your ADHD lets you do what you do now. For many, our ADHD is not just a matter of let’s say having a different personality, it’s a matter of basic daily function or not. That’s why many of us take medication. When I started on it, I cried because I never would’ve thought life could be so easy if one just had a little help.
Heck my life is still hard as all hell and frankly im mad i had anti med hippy parents that made it so much worse. BUT im makeing progress and thats what counts, ive always been outgoing socially but now im able to start maintaining those relationships, basic stuff still illudes me at times but i do my laundry every day and shower. Heck, when people are unaware of how much it interferes with basic tasks i point this out, i gained weight on the max FDA recommended dose of amphetamine, because i actually remembered to eat.
Twenty years ago I thought the same thing about taking meds. But as time went on, I find meds really help. Period. I love his question “what are the side effects of NOT taking meds?” Great point.
Just a cautionary tale on taking meds (I was prescribed Concerta...) 1. Both my parents have ADHD and so do I 2. Multiple IQ tests indicate I have an IQ around 140 3. I can do complex math in my head, I taught myself to play chess at 10, am very good with spatial patterns and recognition etc. 4. When I started taking Concerta, I felt super human. I was learning things at the speed of light. 5. That being said, my appetite for risk went sky high. I had the same symptoms as someone who was on cocaine. 6. It ruined my life. I lost everything within a span of 2 years. I'm currently off the drug and rebuilding.
Yeah, that is why I had to stop taking it almost 15 years ago in middle school because I engaged in every risk and was constantly fighting....but my grades were super good. After I stopped taking it, no more fights but I went from colleges looking at me to struggling to pass.
You should get genomic testing done. You may have a slow COMT gene where you can't beeak down catecholamines well, or you may have trouble breaking down other types of drugs and substances. Nedication is not for everyone because not everyone has the proper enzymes to metabolize the drugs. This is an issue in my family for those of us with ADHD. We have also experience terrible problems following medications. If only everyone could be tested prior to being prescribed. Meds can really mess somepeopleup who have ADHD.
My daughter is diagnosed with ADHD and autism she's struggling big times but she's only 13 but we're both supportive and we truly believe she'll do well in the future 💖
I realized that I have ADD when my son was diagnosed with it because he was just like me when it came to school and self esteem/self doubt when it came to “performing” like everyone else. Then looking into it I realized I had all the symptoms of adult ADD. I consulted with a doctor and started medication. It changed my life. I was able to work efficiently, be a better mother, be organized and clean my house, start showing up on time for meetings and my kids practices/games etc, start college and get good grades and the list goes on. I was a teenage mother and dropped out of high school when giving birth. Always thought “school wasn’t for me” until I started the meds. After starting medication around 26 I went back and got my high school diploma, went to a community college and got 2 associates degrees, now I’m at a university finishing up my bachelors in psychology then I’ll be applying for the PhD program in clinical psychology. Psychology has always been interesting to me so going to school for it is exciting and I love it. Meds can help.
@@bababaha4392 It cuts my appetite but I like that cause it helps me keep my weight down. It could raise your bp and heart rate but I haven’t had that problem and usually that means your dose is too high and you should go down a little. When you start taking it you might get headaches. But honestly that’s it. I haven’t had any other negative side effects.
"You're clearly not broken, but are you optimised?" Diagnosed after my first chold at 35 - medication has absolutely optimised my performance, especially at work.
I was diagnosed with it at 17, but then I went for counseling and my psychiatrist and psychologist both said I have anxiety that causes my brain fog from childhood trauma. I would love to hear more information about childhood trauma's impact on the function of the brain and its ability to access the frontal lobe. Thanks ❤
Mate's theory is just his theory. He seems to think all ADHD is caused by trauma. If you don't acknowledge this that's because you've suppressed it/in denial/masking it/or are ignorant of his theory. Listen and make your own mind up if you are able.
I was diagnosed with C-PTSD, ADHD, and was told my mood components are “out of whack” by a therapist (with a master’s degree) He referred me to the psychiatrist who met with me for about 5min. and told me I have bipolar disorder. I was given a low dose of Wellbutrin-biggest mistake of my life. I clenched my jaw for ten hours straight. 11 years later I still constantly clench my jaw. My teeth are getting crooked and I have also developed facial tics. I have been medicating with weed and alcohol as I suffer with extreme anxiety and depression simultaneously. I will be visiting Amen Clinic in Walnut Creek, CA for a brain scan. I’m so glad I found this interview!! Thanks for sharing!!
Good god, same same, wellbutrin (or bupropion) brought out the monster. Stress is such a nice companion and never takes any vacation...so me totally stressed out (do you sweat a lot and at the drop of a hat due to anxiety?) so a few weeks ago i had a gap between my teeth..not anymore!!.. I've also come across an article that stated that muscle-tonus is also influenced by dopaminedeficiëncy. I get crazy tics in my SMC- muscle equal to people with tourette's they hurt big time... Good luck with Dr. Amen though
I took Wellbutrin at one point too and hated it. I felt numb all the time, the first few days was extremely dizzy. I also clench my teeth a lot, to the point where my gums are now receding from my teeth. I'm undiagnosed but now thinking ADD is possible when I used to think it was depression/anxiety. Thank you for sharing, I don't feel so alone now
The brain scans solve nothing and are a complete waste of thousands of dollars. Signed, someone who went to their clinic many years ago. A proper therapist is enough to diagnose
sadly amen clinic does seem to be a scam they will prescribe you overpriced supplements and just generally is overpriced. i recommend you look at the reviews first before buying
He explained the benefits of medication so well towards the end of this clip. Very well said. For so many ppl medication is the beginning of a better life.
I hope so, I am waiting for a diagnosis at the age of 64 but still feel 35 in my head, I hope its not to late for me. I have suffered with depression all my life.
Optimization is the key. That was an excellent answer from Dr. Amen for the folks who 'don't do medication.' Our bodies, as miraculous as they are, can't do everything for themselves. We are not totally self-contained, self-sustaining entities and sometimes require outside substances. The most basic example is our need for food and water that we don't ourselves produce. Food is also medicine.
@@markhoffman not at anywhere near therapeutic dosages. Downregulation from stimulants is only observed in long term high dose methamphetamine abuse and chronic cocaine users. In the therapeutic range med use is associated with strengthening pathways in the brain and a reduction of symptoms when off the medication. Something i can personally attest to.
Love is the best medicine, but people seem to be isolating themselves from other people, so the chances for love and all it’s delights are diminished. Families are also going through alienation and crisis and young people are not growing up with feeling of the shelter and the security that family circles traditionally provided. It’s interesting how so many individuals only talk about themselves and are barely interested in conversation. I see young kids not knowing anything about their family history, no idea what grandpa did, what grandma did, no quirky family dinners, no singing together, no community. An isolated life is basically a suicide as H.Hesse described well in Steppenwolf. Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam” is a true masterpiece and one of the ways to look at it is as two human hands (the first time that God was depicted as a simple man) reaching for each other within the divine space. Art helps!
Fascinating. My daughter has ADHD and has taken meds for over 30 years. She would not have succeeded in life without it but she still suffers from poor planning, messiness, awful financial decisions, poor driving skills etc.
Always thought that something wasn't quite "right" and spent my life searching for answers. A few years back while talking to a mental health advisor she said out the blue "I think you may have ADHD" I never considered that before but when I looked into it, all the dots lit up. I was so excited to finally possibly getting an answer to the elusive question that had been plaguing me all these years only to be told It was a minimum of 3.5 years to get a diagnosis, NHS England. The news was soul destroying. I Was 36 at the time. I ended up spending a lot of money to get privately diagnosed and got a diagnosis of combined ADHD. I can not tell you how much my life has changed through the fact that I finally had the answer to the question that had been slowly destroying me for so long and the positive effects of the medication. My life has improved drastically since. I finally managed to get my life in order and focus on what I need to do to bring myself happiness
I've just broke down in tears. The moment he said about his friends saying that their life started after going on meds broke me. I had to be assessed as a child and displayed symtoms but not enough for a formal diagnosis. Looking back I don't understand how the fuck I wasn't diagnosed as all the symtoms were there. Lord only knows what my life would be like now. All at one just now i've had massive waves of grief of everything that could have been, not realising how much shame I've been carrying from feeling so fucking useless. I'm currently waiting to be diagnosed and I know the moment I start medication my life is going to look a lot different. I honestly think untreated ADHD is one of the most destructive disorders. It has wrecked havoc all through my twenties and feel like my life has been one massive joke up until now. We're not useless, we're not lazy, we're not unreliable like society has been telling us most of our life. We simply have a brain that is existing only to work against us and live life on self destruct mode. We know what sort of life we want to live and we know the things we want to get on with in our lives... but this wonderful complex organ inside our skull has had other ideas. It's not our fault, but it's now our responsibility to take charge with the knowledge we have gained. The knowledge that there is nothing wrong with us... but there is just a part of us, in our own unique individual experience in life that needs special tending to. We are as one. A tribe of wonderfully neurodiverse beings all on the path to freedom. Big love to anyone who has been riding the crazy train of survival mode up until this point. It only goes up from here. ♥
Great to hear someone talk accurately and in a fully informed way about adhd. See many doctors try to speak on it as an expert even though they haven't specialised in it and end up spreading misinformation. It can be surprisingly hard to find true experts in this.
as someone who is also a creative, a writer, don't like medication, fully believe I'm able to heal anything. I take Adderall for ADHD and have been taking it for 9 months, 4 months correct dose. COMPLETELY changed my life. OPTIMIZED LIFE IN EVERYWAY! biggest thing, I'm able to be fully present in the moment without having to work REALLY hard at it.
I just love the answer that the Dr. gave about medication. Many people are broken inside and don’t even know why. The diagnosis just allow us to make sense in this planet.
Yea, so rude, regular teachers aren’t the brightest it seems. A student isn’t really meant to be “useful” to the teacher but the teacher should be useful to the student.
I love that Dr. Amen brought up what the side effects are going to be if you DON'T take medication. This is not addressed often enough. Our lives are not meant to be just about ourselves‼️
GAME CHANGER 🎉. I've been accused of having it and shamed. I built a successful company and it is why. I can't live in the matrix because of it and it's kept me youthful and mentally agile open and living a cool life! Thanks ADD. Struggles are real too, but now I'm focusing on it as a super power.
i cant stay organised , i can t stay focused , from my early age. still its the same . i forgot things . and this is making my life hard. affecting my relationship .i am tired of this and no body understands me
I am turning 38 this month. I was diagnosed severe ADHD last week. Runs in my family. I am taking my first adderall ever today. My mind feels more calm, less noise, and I have mental energy! It’s amazing. I did very well in school but would constantly burn out and drop out. I studied biochemistry and earned high grades. Have more credits than most with no degree. I never slept growing up
Im 50 years old just figuring this out. Im listening to many different channels to see if this is what ails me, and this interview by far has been the most helpful, so thank you, and i will give you a sub.
Psychedelics definitely have potential to deal with mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression, I would like to try them again but it's just so hard to source out here
I’ve been researching on psychedelics and it’s benefits to individuals dealing with Anxiety, Depression, ADHD and from my findings, they really work and I’ve been eager to get some for a while but its been difficult to get my hands on them.
The Trips I've been having really helped me a lot. I’m now able to meditate and I finally feel in control of my emotions and my future and things that used to be mundane to me now seem incredible and full of nuance on top of that I'm way less driven by my ego and I have alot more empathy as well
@@CarmenOrtiz440 I feel the same way too. I put too much on my plate and it definitely affects my stress and anxiety levels. I am also glad to be a part of this community.
This interview is so enlightening. So far, my favorite part is when the doc says Sandy was relieved to know it wasn't her fault! I've felt broken and ashamed my entire life, and I'm 58! I'm finally seeing a counselor. As soon as she works with me a bit, she'll send me back to my GP, and we will see if low-dose meds help. My 28 yr-old son was diagnosed recently, and he encouraged me to seek help, as he suspects I have had it all along. I got through college cramming, and it was so stressful. Only subjects and activities that truly interested me got my focus (what little there was). Thank you for posting this valuable information.
I would love for the doctor to talk about the cultural limitations in a proper diagnosis. I was recently diagnosed and while I white knuckled my way through grad school there were many limitations within my community and family in getting diagnosed.
Just one of the best interviews on ADHD-ADD that I have ever listened to! Dr Amen is compassionate, not judgemental and leaves the options open to the person - Well done you!
My experience with Vyvanse has been relatively positive, I have been taking it for over a year. I was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD), but the non-hyperactive version. I tend to have a low energy drive, which makes me procrastinate and overthink, and I have low self-esteem, and I often keep to myself. But when I started taking Vyvanse 40mg, I actually became more energetic, and I no longer procrastinate. I also noticed that my self-esteem improved, and I am more willing to engage in conversations with people. I think it's safe to say that Vyvanse helps me break out of my shell.
I started crying listening to this. Ive always been so smart and creative but adhd has made me depressed and anxious and unmotivated and i often think what would my life would be like now if i was diagnosed at 16 and got meds. Id probably be living my dreams, meanwhile i can hardly survive
Do something for yourself now! Go get his book, with guidance on vitamins, & on meds & how to address treatment in general. Go to the library for the book, if you do not want to spend the money. Effexor works very well for a lot of people. And it is a generic now, so it is reasonable in price . Find a responsive & supportive dr, with a good nurse practitioner if possible, & they can usually help you going forward.
I was diagnosed with a ADD A FEW YEARS AGO. I’m 52 now. It wasn’t being diagnosed when I was a kid. it all makes sense now. I use meditation when it’s needed. Thank you for sharing this information. I always learn something new from ADHD topics.
All these years of my life(42 years) I‘ve been blaming myself for not getting things done and that I am not competent and end up feeling depressed. After listening to them I am ADD because I am everything that an adhd person has but hyperactive so that no one knew I needed help.
I was diagnosed and medicated for ADHD in my mid forties after a lifetime of running late, scattered thoughts and last minute cramming. Still adjusting to the medication, but definitely notice the difference.
@@smallcatbigmeow Diffrent person, but 2 years in, and my experience is the help more the longer you take them with some regularity. first 6 or 8 months was basically useing the stimulateing factor of the meds to brute force myself into completeing tasks, then somewhere around 8 or so months "it" started to click. A degree of cognitive control, being able to decide what your doing because your able to prioritize. then id say last month or so "it" clicked even more in a big way, long term goals, instead of burning out on an intrest because the number of steps to achieve it i feel accomplishment with each step of the process. So yes people online will say "yeah they work, until you get a tollerence" but in my experience that has not been the case at all. ive actually lowered the amount i normally take daily because i need less to accomplish the same level
Hi Steven, I can relate to sitting in a classroom and having no interest on the subject matter at all. As an adult I choose what I want to this provides a thriving mindset and I love it. I am also diagnosed dyslexic in the later part of life a a mature student. I am curious and love to seek solutions from creativity. Thank you so much for you commitment to sharing your loved experience with all of us. The range and diversity of the speakers is so fulfilling and provides a wealth of intellectual property to the audience. Have a beautiful calm productive day.
This explains so much, I never did well at school but when I came to the creative side, I excelled but was run down by teachers. I have always blamed myself for not doing better in my school years and even into adulthood I questioned what was wrong with me. I plan to get myself tested for ADD at the age of 50. Thank you for this.
This is a very informative video on ADHD & I have watched plenty! My dad was often teased about being “absent minded.” My son who had ADD but was not hyperactive m, was recommended by teachers to be tested to receive Ritalin due to his inability to finish class work & his constant distraction despite the fact that he was well behaved. I unfortunately delayed having him tested until 3rd grade because I didn’t understand that the hyperactivity was not necessarily a given. With Ritalin, his schoolwork improved immediately. Now my 7-year-old grandson is benefiting greatly taking ADHD meds. I was diagnosed at age 53 with ADHD. What a relief to finally be able to understand all the mental issues I had had to deal with throughout my life. Now through therapy & research, I am able to cope better with my ADHD.
Loved this video. Im not officially diagnosed but just like you in school I was exactly the same. It got to the point the school invited a health visitor to psychoanalyse me in year 6 so I was 10 years old and he determined that if anything I was more intelligent than the teachers I was just bored and uninterested. College was the best. Being taught by actual pros who knew how to engage and saw your skills and knew how to nurture you cause most of them had ADHD as well. Being Creatives. And then Uni....I went from having 8 project for 2 to 4 weeks to just 4 for a whole term. Massive let down. And they didn't teach you or guide you in how to set up business or any business skills let alone how to look for work. They just gave us out of date guide books. Well done UK. Well done. That was 2010 mind.
Thanks for this vid. Good hearing from you both. “If you go back a couple hundred years” ADHDers were perhaps investigators, hunters, night watchers, inventors, and consultants. Those aren’t regular nine to fives. But nobody othered them for it.
So good to hear how it positively changed your confidence and how you show up ♥. As someone who just got diagnosed with ADHD yesterday, I'm a bit afraid of the side effects, do you mind if I ask if you experienced any?
@@fatmapunt8460 the side effects I’ve experienced is not feeling hungry and or thirsty, sometimes not being able to sleep. I just make sure to eat a big breakfast before taking my medicine and bring a water bottle everywhere with me. Make sure to eat!! Because for me I don’t feel hungry at all
Thank you for sharing your experience and for the tips. I will make sure to eat well before I take my meds and drink enough water too. @@julissaalferez7950
Thank god there's a psychiatrist out there on a podcast that's actually being positive about ADHD medication for adults. So many out there demonize its use and profess all these things about building healthy habits but don't realize how insanely difficult it is (skill issue fr) to even form those habits in the first place let alone undo-ing all the bad habits you've picked up throughout your life growing up with undiagnosed ADHD.
I'm glad he's positive about medication. Unfortunately, Dr. Amen is also a quack who sells expensive scans that don't show what they claim to show. Dr. Russell Barkley also promotes the combination of both medication and therapy for both children and adults, and he was the leading researcher before he retired. He has a YT as well.
@@MeredithDomzalski Yeah, it seems a lot of reputable health professionals end up selling out in one way or another, it's really discouraging to hear since ADHD stigma still exists largely because people with shady motivations end up minimizing the struggles of ADHD by trying to sell you *this* and *that*. Diagnosed at 32 and I'm happy to be on meds, happy to eventually taper off them if I can but also happy to stay on them indefinitely (responsibly, of course). P.S. I also disagree with his stance on caffeine that 100mg is the safe limit when a lot of peer reviewed studies have shown that up to 4 cups of coffee are within a safe amount for a healthy adult not susceptible to any heart conditions
I'm 73, diagnosed ADD in '92. IQ is in the mid 130's. Was prescribed Ritalin. I never studied or did homework... got lousy grades, didn't care, at all... I couldn't wait to get home to work on my model (slot) race cars... I am now an accomplished musician. I cannot get organized but I continue to practice... occassionally perform to raves. Ritalin was useless... Adderall worked well for one day, I was hyper-focused. The next day, the only effect was anxiety. My focus was gone. I kept taking it, and it damaged my creative element... unacceptable. These drugs dulled my musical skills severely. Now, I go day-to-day... I need something... I'm fed up with the level of disorganization I live in. I cannot create an agenda, a plan. Even if I do, I get distracted away from the plan. I'm buried in partially completed projects. This has to stop... I am healthy, eat a great diet, exercise. I have to live long enough to complete something in my life.
PLEASE look into Peter Levines somatic work. I’m 10 yrs younger than you and have benefited more than I can ever describe. I do it on my own (so it’s free) and it’s a total life changer. I’d changed my entire diet and lifestyle many many years ago and that was good and necessary, but negative body memories absolutely must go too.
In the old days, you would just get a wife and she would organize stuff. Isn’t there a saying that behind every successful man there is a woman. There is a good reason for it 😁. My husband can’t deal with day to day house work, his organizational skills are zero, but he is hard working and brilliant at humanitarian work. He doesn’t do just a bare minimum to hardly any result, no he pushes his ideas and vision until there is a true accomplishment. I think ADHD people do that, especially in arts. They do art, the art that’s authentic and powerful. Anything creative and well done requires an enormous amount of someone’s energy, time and soul work. But, in my husband’s filled some of his well organized colleagues do better in terms of promotion and climbing up the hierarchical ladder. That’s not an easy part for ADHD people.
It's really painful before diagnosing ADHD it's like everything is bad and feeling unsecured. I am blessed that I listened to this interview the topic is very beneficial, science is beautiful when it serves humans to live a better life ❤️ 🙏 thanks
Since I started medication 2 years ago, I’ve lost my multidimensional thinking and feeling, my regular feelings of spiritual transcendence, my creativity, my fast and passionate learning, my hyperfocus on dreams and goals. I’m just literal. I’ve increased in self-regulation and sensory regulation. This has helped in all my relationships and tolerance for others and for the environment. I used to be super rigid with my likes and dislikes to where I chose to live work or socialize because I could feel the vibe of a place or certain people so intensely.
I have no reason to receive an ADHD diagnosis, and no reason to take medication until I became a parent, and at the same time my business grew to a certain size. Instead of being able to create my own accommodations, which I have been doing subconsciously all my life, I had to operate on other peoples schedules in order to serve them. I wish I had started medication with my kids were little, because they needed a type of consistency, but neither my husband nor I have provided. We’re doing our best now, but I will say, I do recommend medication if it’s not a problem for you.
Thanks for sharing your story! I'm still a bit on the fence, similar to the host of the show.. did you take therapy while on medication? I was diagnosed with inattentive ADD when I was a kid, but I never went on medication. Also due to concerns about abusing them. Do your meds have that potential or do you take a nonstimulant like atomoxetine? I'd be thrilled to hear your answer!
The only potential Superpower that I can accurately trace back to my ADHD is an unbelievable high intuition. At this stage I have not been able to fully harness this gift. But i honestly believe that once I fully understand the power that lies within and how to use it to help others… that I will be able to make a huge difference in others lives around me that’s also suffering. I only see the truth and can 100% tell and distinguish between whether it’s genuine or not. It’s can also be very scary at times and be careful with whom you share this info with. People like to think that one has lost his marbles, coz only a small percentage of humans has the same experience. Stay blessed and beautiful ❤️
I recommend a great book in this: Scattered Minds (by Gabor Mate). I'm now 53 and so I've managed ok without medication. There are some things I really like about my brain, that I don't want risk losing by medicating. I'll just ask people to repeat themselves if I think I missed something important
@@michaelhughes8413 You don't qualify as ADD? Then I don't understand how your comment is relevant. People with severe ADHD don't "manage ok"; it's a daily struggle. The book you recommended is by a doctor who thinks ADHD has no genetic component and is only caused by childhood experiences, ignoring all the scientific literature to the contrary.
I think the only genetic factor of adhd is that the parent(s) who has the condition did pass it along to their child(ren) through uneducated decisions with lifestyle and diet. When the mother dis nothing but eat processed foods, she feeds her child processed foods and it's a roller coaster effect of generational disease. Mental disorders are metabolic issues of the brain. Just as you feed yourself garbage you look like obese and malnourished. What would happen if someone put diesel in a Maserati? It stops functioning! I'm tired of people or per say experts saying adhd or mental conditions are not a choice! You are what you ear! Fix it.
I heard another doc a while back say that hyperactivity is always present, but how we manifest it varies, and it can be internal. This aligns with my experience. My only outward hyperactivity has been fidgeting, drumming fingers, tapping my feet, but my brain is in overdrive and swerving all over the place every waking moment. That, according to the other doc, is also hyperactivity.
Personally, ritalin was great for me when I first started to take it but then I was constantly needing to increase the dosage to the point that a day without ritalin was almost unbearable. I was a zombie without it. After 8 months I scrapped it and cleaned up my diet and and exercised more. It's brought me more benefits than ritalin ever did, to the point where I can now use my ADHD for positive things. Be careful with the meds.
@@ara4220 No bread, reduced the amount of sugary snacks drastically. Held off breakfast until later in the day and when I did eat it was handful of nuts with fruits and plenty of water. For evening meals it was protein heavy food. I also had to start walking during the day and writing down my thoughts when I was overrun with obsessive negative thinking. I also see a therapist which helped increase my self awareness.
100% pick something you love. All of a sudden you have a burning passion for something that will reap in money… hold the thoughts of all of the things you can buy until after your first or second paycheck.
“…pick something you love“ but there lies the problem with me. I can’t find anything I love. I think, over the years, I’ve lost every little bit of confidence I once had so I now just think I’ll be useless at anything, so trying will be futile. I spend my days just feeling useless, lazy and full of guilt.
someone with out ADD, its easy to say its easy to get organized. As someone that lived over 40 years with it, I can tell you that its impossible to stay organized or do things that you're not interested in.
I can say that's actually possible (in my experience). However, the amount of emotional and mental energy that goes into it leads easily to exhaustion, which in the long run leads to breakdowns and heavy burnouts (own experience too, unfortunately).
I resonate completely with what this man is saying. I felt like I had a lazy brain and I used to cram the night before an exam. Then I started the meds and it was like wearing glasses for my brain! Exactly that .The worst betrayal was someone getting in my phone and changing languages and settings on my phone, making me look like I was worse on meds. Now that is really cruel. Hands up I need some computer training but given the opportunity I would. Whilst everyone was training and learning I was caring for my father, so thanks for the confidence in me,, if anybody has any and to the people who sabotaged me, that wasn't fair!!.
ADHD is such a huge part of my life and takes it toll, yet I don"t wish it away. My creativity is limitless. If I want and I'd have the time I could write a short story a day or make a new song every day. The medicine (stimulants) is what society would like you to be on as you become more like a neurotypicals. Everybody should make up if it's a good thing or not, but I feel the downsides are a bit downplayed and other modalities (diet, exercise, somatic therapy,...) is often forgotten.
I mean, that's just your opinion. Maybe you have a more mild ADHD and getting things done is still relatively easy for you. Its on a spectrum and everyone has a different experience with it. The medication actually helps a lot of people just function with basic tasks. The medication doesn't make you neurotypical. I just helps you get shit done.
@@truckywuckyuwuhey, first off, I appreciate your comment and your input. Ofcourse this is my opinion and it is largely based on my life’s experiences. My ADHD was absolutely crippling and my executive functions were really, really bad. As you say, adhd is a spectrum, but our brains are also adaptable. We can grow and learn new things, coping mechanisms… And I too started medication and it helped me to function… for a while. It had a huge impact on my health and well-being. I didn’t say the medication makes you a NT, it helps to *act* like one. In the end it made me a robot, completely robbed of all my creative sparks and juices. Just checking off to-do lists. If it helps you, that is great and I am really happy for you! Just be mindful that there is a huge and growing community out there that is recovering from this medication journey and that we now see that although it initially helped, it backfired and made things worse.
@@davidcaubergh6349 Might not have just been the right one or dose to you, for me its a huge boost to my creativity because i can *Actually do my projects* instead of just thinking about a painting or a song or a story i can actually make it happen.
Waited till I was 38 to finally takes medication. I was the same way, thinking I could fix myself. However it's more like you train yourself to get around your behaviors. Taking it, even at my age had made a tremendous improvement in every aspect of my life
I just got diagnosed at age 35 and I’m feeling the same way about medication. But I spent the last handful of years dealing with something I knew something was off and I’m so happy I found out that it’s something that I wasn’t crazy about. I haven’t yet requested to be on medication, but I’m curious as to what types of medication would one recommend with ADHD ?
@@mondohdz531 theres only really 2 routs, methylphenidates and amphetamines. in each class you have, methylphenidate and dextromethylphenidate, or amphetamine, dextroamphetamine or a 50/50 mix of both. beyond that its a matter of finding what dosage and rout of administration works best, some people do best with an all day capsul in the morning, some people like myself work best with shorter acting IR tablets througout the day as needed. theres not really a right or wrong answer with that, try both see what works for you
Fantastic video! Dr Mike's commentary was so interesting. Congratulations as well for discovering a new part of yourself, and I wish you a happy welcome to the neurodivergent community.
I believe my 6yo son had ADHD. He doesn’t know how to control the volume of his voice, he has a hard time focusing or concentrating, if he’s told to do a few things at once he forgets and has to be reminded many times, and all day I have to remind him over and over to do something. He’s such a good boy. My dad thinks it’s bad behavior, I know it’s not.
Doing what you love isn't always great advice though. I LOVE music but I feel like my brain shrinks without financial stability. Doing my best to push through and learn skills that will help me earn more so I can spend more time doing things I love
I would say more specifically, why take medication if your high functioning and successful. But for people who struggle, can’t finish things or study then it would be very helpful. At 47 now I wish my parents would have known to get me help as I couldn’t focus at school. I was a low grader. Even though I believe I had great potential, I blanked out in tests, couldn’t finish long projects and inevitably had to quit high school and no chance of doing University, so it completely changed the projectory of my life. I just realized earlier this year I have ADD and it all makes so much sense now.
ADHD is definitely stems from brain damage. I recently got diagnosed at the age of 67. No history in my family, but I was hit by a car as a child, had a nasty fall on an military airplane in 1988, Gulf War exposure to toxins in 1990, Narcolepsy immediately after, more exposure to toxins, complex PTSD, then several high fevers from Covid, then finally an auto accident with deployed airbag. THEN I couldn't think my way out of a paper bag. Have 4 degrees, a 25 year career in the military, former health professional.
I'm sorry you went through all that. There is acknowledged a form of later-aquired symptoms that can come from brain damage, that can resemble 'regular' ADHD . 'Typical' ADHD however is known to be hereditary with no trauma to the brain required.
Well tbi messes with minerals really bad the sam e minerals that create ad adhd I wish dr amen spoke about the intracellular mineral ratio indicators for add adhd and what happens in brain injuries 😑 mineral profiles are genetic from mothers but we eat how parents eat so we get similar issues depending on their diet which relates our mineral profile
![ARGENTINA vs. PERÚ [1-0] | RESUMEN | ELIMINATORIAS SUDAMERICANAS | FECHA 12](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xtI25ENDDSY/mqdefault.jpg)
Watch the full episode here❤ruclips.net/video/ycTZ_t-aiuU/видео.html
Don't forget to Like & Comment! 🙌🏽
I watched this whole episode. Interesting points throughout but, I'm in favour of Steve's take away on this. The good sleep, the breathwork, no alcohol, and making space in the diary!
If you are highly functionally ADD then sure, you probably don’t need it. Obviously you aren’t in the struggling category where it impacts you in huge ways, others it does.. why it’s spectrum.
I saw you at terminal 5 the other day, if I had seen this episode I would have approached you to talk about it, I have adhd as does my daughter who has recently been permanently excluded from her school, quite simply because she can't sit in a class room and concentrate. I want her to succeed and reach her full potential, ut would have been interesting to hear your point of view as I'm struggling to know how to move forward with how to help her.
This old man is misleader careless in lying smart way!! ADHD is NOT all genetic!😅😮. Is making this young man feel bad with his diagnosis without proper diagnosis just by guessing is WRONG insensitive 😅😮😅😮😅
Almost all of my family has either ADHD or Autism, this is counting my grandparents as well...the only one I know for sure who has neither is my sister....and it is probably because she has a different dad
The hyper focus … if I find something I’m interested in I literally can go in for 12-15 hours researching everything to do with that topic. Forget to eat, become time blind and even bathing becomes irrelevant. That can be leveraged. Downside is I can’t chose when it happens, can’t do things I’m not interested in, become time blind in hyper focus so don’t even text people back, get burnt out and the cycle goes on. Gift and a curse. Basically people with adhd are driven more by satisfying curiosity than goals. Imagine that impact on life.
"... driven more by satisfying curiosity than goals..." Bingo, that hits a nail. I love how, even after so many years of trying to learn all I can about ADHD (and myself), little nuggets like this surface all the time.
YES. This describes me to a t. My Google search history looks schizophrenic. Lol
I thought you were describing me... especially 'I can't choose when it happens..." I am 68 and it remains the same!
Well, I'm repeating what the other replies said, but this describes me perfectly! I mean, at least that part of how I function.^^
The part you say you get burned out…
Even if it is something I should study for school, if it comes to be that interesting, I’ll get burned out researching about it, instead of focusing on what is the assignment asking for.
I broke down crying right as he told the story about the woman realizing her diagnosis and saying it’s not her fault. Very powerful
Never feel guilty dearies.
Same!! I felt that too 🥺❤️
Me too. My eyes welled up with tears. I was labelled stupid and lazy and dreamy by teachers, made to take an IQ test and I scored 130++ but I never finished college too. My youngest son was flagged with ADHD by his school which was how I realised I have it too! 😢
I felt that too x
I’ve been diagnosed with ADD but honestly I’m not sure if it’s depression or not. Anyone have any ideas on how to differentiate them
I have kids with adhd, and i must say they do have many benefits...They are extremely gifted as well as super creative. I decided to homeschool them , they learn different from so many other kids and thats also ok .My favorite part is to figure out how they think, this is a mystery at some points. We need more people Advocating for adhd openly. 😊
I am also thinking of homeschooling kids when I have them. Just Incase they have it like me and need extra help or different types of learning
Good decision.
So why are the people with ADHD looked as being the issue in our society when there are many gifts associated with it??? Our schooling is the issue and having to fit into one box IS the issue. Why do we all have to be the same??
As someone with ADHD i would love to help figuring out how they think 😂🧡
hi i would like to know if your kids are medicated?? im starting to homeschool my kid as well cuz here they want your kids to be medicated in schools and i dont really like the idea of medicating my 7 year old, at least not right now. she is very smart and learns fast but i dont think sending her to school right now is a good idea especially cuz she’s not fully verbal right now.
I suffered from adhd my entire life. I was told I didn"t care, I was lazy, I lacked motivation etc. I was diagnosed with ADHD around 50 while I worked with at-risk youth. My whole life, I became addicted to food, sex and I felt so hopeless. I have since learned the truth abt my condition. I am smart, capable, compassionate and understanding and accepting of people just as I find them. Diet and walking have helped me tremendouslyl. I am zany as hell. I don't care what people think abt me anymore. God allowed me to walk this path for a reason and I am finally learning He thinks I'm awesome!!! Gof bless you, Dr. Amen!!!
My guess is you have done a great job, helping at-risk youth!
Is there a cure for adhd¿
@@ilqar887 generally speaking, no. It’s a specific type of brain. “Cure” suggests an illness.
It’s like saying is there a cure to seeing out of your eyes?
The problem is the particular demands of life is not ideal for adhd brain. So you end up struggling immensely. So medication can make your brain act more like other brains, but it isn’t a cure.
Hope that makes sense.
He said it. The isolation because people think you are unreliable and the feeling of shame that goes with it is just THE most immense pain. I have been under medication for 6 months now, and I was the same: really anti-pharmaceuticals, not taking any pills ever, thinking my body can sort things out, man let me tell you: it's your choice if you want to continue moving through life with -9 of vision without glasses when everyone else sees 10/10. It doesn't change you, and as Dr. Amen said, you don't have to take it every day, it's not like an antidepressant, it's just glasses for your brain. In 5 months I have achieved everything I couldn't do for 6 years, and ALL my relationships have dramatically improved as I discovered that I was a bit aggressive without even noticing it, I now can totally control my tone and be nicer. I actually feel finally more like myself. And don't worry I'm still a fucking human creative mess, only now I can finally execute all of my creative ideas instead of dwelling on them.
beautiful story of how treatment can be of benefit. than you for sharing, and wishing you continued healing on your journey
I’m 41 and started taking meds just 6 months ago. Somehow I figured out all kinds of coping mechanisms to get through life all this time, but it’s been such a relief the past 6 months to simply not need them
what a lovely comment and very helpful to read
Perfect comment! I feel the same and I tell this to the anti-pharmaceutical people I encounter. I used to be like that too, but medication saved my life. Both for depression and ADHD. I’m glad I overcame the prejudice.
It doesn’t mean we have to take it forever, things don’t need to be radical, but it’s good to open up and be flexible. It changes life.
It feels much better indeed!
wich med ?
@@luizalouyoga
As someone who suffers with extreme severe anxiety I can totally relate to her. I would stop eating for days at a time as a punishment. I worry a lot about my life, everyone around me and pleasing everyone. It's absolutely crippling, so glad she got the help she needed, lovely young lady it's so sad that society has 1 in 3 people suffering mental health issues. I hope everyone seeks help
People need to realise that people with anxiety disorders have oversensitised nerves, it's not a simple case of manning up and getting over it.
Can you help with the reliable source I would really appreciate it. Many people talk about how mushrooms and psychedelics treats anxiety, but nobody talks about where to get them. Very hard to get a reliable source here in Australia. Really need!
Yes, doctor Greg mushroom I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
Please, how do I reach doctor Greg?
Is he on the internet?
Im in tears. “You mean its not my fault.” Self blame is a very common side effect of untreated adhd. That self blame and parental blame ( “why cant you be more like your brother, just focus more”), summed up my adolescence and into my professional career (ironically as a spec ed teacher). Struggling in my marriage (viewed as irresponsible) and professionally (feeling like an imposter), i sought out a counselor who encouraged me to get some formal testing done. Turns out I was off the charts in more than 1/2 the indicators and diagnosed with adhd. So why wasnt it found earlier? Well turns out my IQ was over 135 which explained my successes and how i was able to mask and hide some of my issues. After walking out of the appointment I sat in my car and balled. Decades of failures, blame, unrealized potential, second guessing, shame and insecurity all released in that moment. So thats why I failed _____. So thats why i quit grad school. So thats why i was struggling in my relationships.
All that to say, if you think this sounds like you, go get tested. Just knowing the beast, helps you manage the beast. For me that has been medication, meditation, lots of exercise, clean diet and more recently yoga. Its still a struggle, but knowing the beast really helped me come to terms with who I was and why things went down the way they did. Finally having said all that, I also learned about all the blessings that come with an adhd brain. Look around, some great leaders, business geniuses and celebrities - many have figured out how get adhd to work for you, not against you. So dont kill the beast, learn to love the beast and thing will become much clearer in your life.
😊
wow i felt like you were narrating my life in that first paragraph
I’ve had ADHD or ADD my entire life.. I’ve been prescribed all the meds. What works for me is not taking the meds because I am an addict and can easily abuse them. What works for me is physical activity every morning and writing down a list of To Do’s. Getting my heart rate up to 180 BPM doing cardio and lifting weights allows me to not focus on the minutia during the day and actually focus on the tasks at hand for that day. We ADHDers are natural procrastinators. This routine works for me to not “make excuses” and procrastinate on items that need to be taken care of. It also allows me to focus on a single item on my To Do list until it’s complete
Routine helps
Spot on! Exercicing and engaging in "uncomfortable" activities like swimming in winter (which has become a must)
Good too hear someone the same as me out there 😂
Writing a todo list every morning is the only thing that consistently helps me, like you say. I get so much more done when I have something to look at to remind me what I need to focus on next.
I see no point in abusing adhd meds, they just make you feel normal
My daughter was diagnosed at 35, I’ve worked with children all my adult life and didn’t notice it because she was never hyperactive. 😢 I now recognise a lot of traits in myself and I spent my whole life feeling useless. I’ve exhausted myself trying to be like everyone else and I have been so embarrassed by my disorganisation and handwriting. Knowing is freeing 😊
Same here. I'm 59. Diagnosed at a age 52. Just started doing anything about it at age 58.
Even when people praise me, I never feel like I deserve it. I just still always feel worthless and dumb.... 100% opposite of how people, such as Friends, Family, Co-workers, and Strangers actually see me 😢
46 and just now. I now know why coffee makes me sleepy and calm 😂
Better late than never sister!
@@charisma-hornum-friesmy parents cannot fathom how I take coffee naps...
I have 2 kids with inattentive type adhd and 2 with hyperactive adhd. It's very difficult to pin point..but I'm glad you were able to understand it now.😊
I have lived 30 years of my life without the meds. I found myself in a depression and self-treated with weed. This spiraled out of control as I was perpetually depleting my dopamine to a point it was impossible to function as a normal human being. I have ADHD without hyperactivity which I assume why I was never diagnosed.
Getting my diagnose and taking these meds gave me a clear view of my life. It made me realize the job was the root cause of me being unhappy. I changed jobs because of this insight, quit weed and turned my life around. I now do a job I love and my personal and worklife has never been better. I have no idea how I was even able to function until this point let alone get my degree without being on meds. Normal things take WAAY more energy and I recognize so much about this womans symptoms. Studying the night before etc. It's safe to say it changed my life.
Good for you mate
I have the exact same relationship with weed although I'm yet to see my GP for a diagnosis of ADHD, didn't seem to think it would matter anymore now that I'm an adult. I had extra time in exams despite never being told I had anything, just that I read slowly? Dropped out of uni after 3 years and studying (if you can call it that) two different courses. I've hated every job in my adult life, after the first 3 months of doing it. My question for you is, how did you find a job you love that you haven't got bored and fed up with? I'm seeing my GP in the next couple of weeks to see if I can get diagnosed
Hey, just wanna ask. How exactly did you get your diagnose? Was it EEG? And what kind of meds do you get? Thank you so much.
Also got diagnosed at 30 (a year ago) and im going through a lot of changes since then. I struggle a lot with behavioural patterns that are very deeply rooted from being untreated for so long and i feel like im just broken beyond repair.
@@menamgamg How did you get diagnosed?
Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.
Can you help with the reliable source I would really appreciate it. Many people talk about mushrooms and psychedelics but nobody talks about where to get them. Very hard to get a reliable source here in Australia. Really need!
Yes, dr.zachary3 I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
Anxiety happens when you think you have to figure out everything all at once.
Breathe. You're strong. You got this Take it day by
day.
Is he on instagram?
Yes he is. dr.sporees
I have not had a diagnosis but learning about ADHD has put my whole life (70+) into perspective. It has brought me a degree of peace to realise that it wasn't my fault. ('IT' being 'ME' to everyone I was ever close to)
It's never too late to get diagnosed, I'm a bit younger than you but just got mine. It is totally up to you what you prefer at the end of the day though, and sometimes easing yourself into it by learning (or hyperfocusing lol) about the topic helps people like us, as we tend to struggle a bit with transitions sometimes. Sorry, I'm rambling but I think it's great you're now able to reframe hurtful notions from your past. Wishing you the best! :)
As an ADHDer I can now laugh at what made me ashamed. Once you understand your ADHD, it becomes a superpower, not a curse.
Does it?:D
What makes ADHD a superpower for you ?
Yes. Please detail this. Very interested.
Hyper focus, It’s a super power and a curse !
I also have adhd
Fuck that. Superpower is the absolute last thing to call it as it diminishes your suffering and discredits your success. Any success i have is DESPITE my ADHD and not because of it. It's no superpower at all but im strong because ive learned to live with it even though it still causes me a lot of pain.
I was told by the head teacher in school back in 1974, that I was the worse student in the whole school. I’m 63 and understanding why I struggled so much throughout my life by just watching your videos, thank you. ❤ I agree it’s a difference, humans are evolving, the system isn’t.
They were the worst headteacher! Stay strong ❤
I was called stupid!
@@GoFarFarAway. I'm so sorry, I too was called stupid by my mother, arrogant by my father, needy by my brother.... Shame how some people cannot operate by seeing the positives in others. Sending you a hug. 💖
Diagnosed 6 months ago at 50! It has been completely life changing. Loosing the self blame after all these years is amazing! I take meds and although the difference is subtle I feel a lot less stress and anxiety.
I can relate. For those of us who are over or near 50, there was basically zero awareness of ADHD during our childhood days. They completely missed us. Now I feel like I have to constantly run to catch up and compensate for 50 years of ADHD oversight 😢
I wasn’t diagnosed until 6 months ago at age 40, but I did know my whole life I had adhd. I just didn’t realize that medication would actually help. I was somehow under the impression it was just like a sedative for hyperactive kids or something. I wish I would have known sooner.
🙄 what is your nutrition like?
@@rockon8174 how is that related? I eat super healthy and have the same experience with meds. Exercise and eating well helps but that’s not the root of the problem so it won’t be the fix.
Yeah you would feel good - - you are taking fckin drugs ---
I tired meds and it made me anxious and my heart rate would sit at 100bpm at rest. I didn’t like that so chose high intensity exercise and using my calendar to set alarms to schedule myself. Also I felt alike a zombie physically so it was weird my brain felt slow but my body felt fast. It just wasn’t for me. Also I was done with meds as I had taken antidepressants for 13 years before I was diagnosed. I just treat myself with more kindness if I don’t do everything I need to in a day. It’s ok. Just stick to the priorities
Same!!!!
Me too! Even before I was diagnosed I kept a diary and recorded what I was doing that day….if I didn’t get to do what was recorded, I’d move it over to the next day. This is how I’ve managed my life…..otherwise I would have been all over the place.
I deal with it the same. I schedule everything and never say yes to anything people ask... instead I say let me think about and I'll get back with you or let me check with my husband, etc. Then I make myself get back with them even if the answer is no.
@@JR-dt9ie that’s defo an issue. I highly recommend kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and other probiotics. Also don’t forget prebiotics such as inulin. Foods containing these are garlic, onion etc. Do a google search as there are loads. Start little and often. Remember our guts are our second brain so yes it affects our adhd if our gut is struggling.
Avoid processed foods as much as possible too as they mess us up and feed our bad bacteria. High sugary foods and quick processed carbs are the worse for us. Eat good fats (Avacado, olive oil, nuts, seeds, oily fish, a little cheese if you can tolerate, proteins and whole grains if you can tolerate, lots of veg and two or three fruits. Add new foods slowly.)
I remember few years back after my husband died, I was left alone with 3 kids. I suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Got diagnosed with ADHD. Not until a friend recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment changed my life for better. I can proudly say i'm totally clean for 8 years and still counting. Always look to nature for solution to tough problems, Shrooms are phenomenal.
I love hearing great life changing stories like this. I want to become a mycologist because honestly mushrooms are the best form of medicine (most especially the psychedelic ones) There are so many people today used magic mushrooms to ween off of SSRI medication- its amazing! Years back i wrote an entire essay about psychedelics. they saved you from death buddy, lets be honest here.
Hey mates! Can you help with the source? I suffer severe anxiety, panic and depression and I usually take prescription medicine, but they don't always help. Where can I find those psilocybin mushrooms? I'm really interested in treating my mental health without Rxs. I live in Australia don't know much about these. I'm so glad they helped you. I can't wait to get them too. Really need a reliable source 🙏
YES sure of mycologist Predroshrooms. I have the same experience with anxiety, addiction. Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
I'm so very happy for you mate, Psilocybin is absolutely amazing, the way it shows you things, the way it teaches you things. I can not believe our world and our people shows less interest about it's helpfulness to humanity. It's love. The mushrooms heals people by showing the truth, it would be so beneficial for so many people, especially politicians and the rich who have lost their way and every other persons out there.
Where do I reach this dude? If possible can I find him on Google
Let me tell you, I went to the doctor after my mom told me I need to because "you need help". I laughed at the doctor when I got my diagnosis of ADHD. I didn't believe it. But, I took my meds and to say I was in disbelief of what was normal thinking would be an understatement. I only take my meds when I need to concentrate on things I'm not interested in. Other than that, I live my best life.
Thank you for sharing your experience, I'm freshly diagnosed as of yesterday (at 39 yo) and will be getting medication next week and I am a bit afraid for the side effects and for losing my personality, so it's good to hear that you're living your best life despite the medication.
Which meds did they give you?
@@fatmapunt8460 Oh, please do not worry about losing your personality. It doesn't dull or calm you. All it does, is allow you to not get side tracked. It only allowed me to say to myself "I need to do this" and then do it. I guess think of it as the anti procrastination pill. Honestly, the first day I took it, I finished several projects that had been sitting for years. I will admit, later that night I cried a little because if I had this while I was in school it would have changed everything for me. I constantly thought I was a bad kid because I just couldn't do things people wanted me to do. I forgot a lot. I was smart but got bad grades. Teachers blamed me for it. If I had known while I was younger ... GOD so many things I could have done without shame. So, please. Don't be fearful. You are on your way to helping yourself. And, that's a beautiful thing.
@@tmc1373 Generic Adderall 30mg. I break it into four. And, take it throughout the day if I have a big project I need to do. Normal days, take 1/4 in the morning, if I'm working. Nothing on weekends or when I'm relaxing. I hate taking pills but because these have been a life saver for me, I take them in low doses. But, just remember, everyone metabolizes meds differently. So, your reaction to 30mg might be bad. Find what works best for you. Don't be afraid to tell your doctor to change to see if another dose is better. You'll never know unless you try.
@@fatmapunt8460 Every person reacts differently to medication, if you don't like the side effects you can always go for another medication or no medication at all and some other kind of treatment like psychotherapy (I guess you were prescribed methylphenidate or adderall). So take it easy, you can opt out when you want.
Indeed, some people say they "lose their personality", that seems to be because the medication acts on their nervous system in such a way that it suppresses their emotions, but that's one possible side effect out of many. If you don't feel that in the first days (or the first days after raising your dosage) you'll possibly never feel them.
Other side effects like high pressure, headache nausea, you should monitor that closely with your psychiatrist. Once again, potential side effects are usually felt from the start
I love that you said a difference. Every person in my family who has had adhd has been super successful and wonderful. Smart, hard working, determined, and kind. Different, but wonderfully so.
Definitely teared up at "you mean it's not my fault?" 😭
Also, the bit about ADHD people being excluded because they can't be relied on...oof.
Was diagnosed with combined type this year, and it has been completely life changing to be on meds combined with ADHD coaching. I feel like a superhuman just for being able to maintain habits and stick to a schedule (and make a schedule). I am less anxious and feel more confident in my own skin. I think before I had learned to hide my differences, so meds make me more outgoing. They quiet my internal hyperactivity enough to get me out of my head and be more present.
I was one of the smart ones who could get everything done the night (or class) before. I was also very fortunate to have a scholarship to a university in town so I could stay at home and didn't have to take on the other life duties that would come with moving away to my own place (and holding down a job during school semesters). I am also very interested in science and engineering, and anyone with ADHD knows interest is everything. I would absolutely have failed out if I was studying tax preparation or some other boring shit. I can barely make it through the easy mode turbo tax software that holds your hand the whole way without wanting to jump off a bridge.
Being smart & interested doesn't fix things enough for the working world, though. I quickly lost my first job, and even in my second I worked hard for 5 years before I got a decent (acceptable) performance review. And to get there and maintain it I burned myself out so bad I quit out of the blue one day and took an extended break.
I can truly say that before being medicated it just felt crushingly obvious that this world is not meant for someone like me. I lucked out that my interests line up with valued and well-paid professions, but I'm just as handicapped in everyday life stuff as those ADHDers who struggled in school. I sometimes wonder where I'd be if I'd have struggled more and gotten diagnosed earlier.
What medication are you on? Your story sounds very similar to mine.
@@neerajkerkar I'm on generic vyvanse right now, and it's working great. I started out on generic ritalin, but the ups & downs were a bit much for me. I didn't try concerta, but it would probably do good based on how ritalin worked.
I'm diagnosed with this. Neither of my parents have it as far as I'm aware but a lot of my cousins on my mother's side of the family have it.
I was a little concerned that this video would be one of those "ADHD isn't real pull yourself by your bootstraps" spiels and was pleasantly surprised to see an empathetic, medically accurate conversation. Thank you.
I have the typical story of someone who's ADHD went undiagnosed in school because they were able to get assignments done the night before and do well in tests without really studying, but hit a wall in university when the work got harder.
Gabor Mate, the leading ADHD researcher, says that it is not genetic. He is more along the idea that it is a coping mechanism developed as children because of the way parents treated us. It could be because they're always fighting so you need to zone out and not pay attention. A nice idea I had was that it is also an "attention deficit" in the sense that the child didn't receive the attention needed so ADHD developed.
That being said, if you have a parent with ADHD, it's much more likely that you will develop ADHD but it's not hereditary, it's because the way they act, you start to act the same or maybe because one has ADHD, can't deal with children's needs properly so they develop it too.
@@ilv1I don't like that theory.
For my parents, it's already hard to accept I have adhd. They start to think about the times they should have done differently in raising me, although I had a very happy childhood.
I have a sibling and we would always play with each other and parents would show up to solve conflicts and take care uf us.
I don't see anything negative about my early childhood and I don't want parents to think 'my child can't have adhd because we did well in raising them' or 'my child has adhd because we failed them'.
In my experience, they think this anyway even though the concensus theory is that it's innate and not parents' fault.
I see no benefits from this kind of theory. It makes adhd something the parents are ashamed of. Shame can hinder the process of getting diagnosed and treated/supported. Already does.
Theories like this are not useful. If it's something that happened in child's early childhood, parent's probably did what they could with the support they had (raising babies and toddlers is very hard). It's also something you couln't redeem later. If there were books for parents like, 'how to raise your child so they won't get adhd', there would still be children who will have. Now the stigma would just get higher. People would think kids with adhd are from bad backgrounds.
Now, there already is something like this. Kids from lower socioeconomic backgrounds get more adhd-diagnoses that kids from well-off families. So it's possible that for some kids adhd is misdiagnosed because of their behaviour that looks like adhd but comes from some other root. We know that adults get adhd-like symptoms from stress. It's probably same with children. Children's adhd symptoms are different from adults; adults get forgetfulness, messiness, easy irritability - that are often associated with stress. Kids get restlessness, teasing their friends, 'hyper' representations, that are more likely associated with adhd.
I think it's because of these associations, that kids with stress are more likely diagnosed with adhd even if they don't have it. And kids with 'adultlike' representations of adhd are more likely to not be diagnosed at all.
Now, I do think that early support in stressful family situations is important. In Finland where I'm from, we have this institution called 'neuvola', which translates to 'place of advice'. All parents are required to go there with their child frequently until their child reaches school age (7 years), more frequently when the child is younger. They can talk about things they need support or advice with in raising the child.
We still have adhd
@@raapyna8544 I do support your well worded opinion, and the truth is yet unknown. You do make some really valid points but I do want to point out that its origin is important so that we know how to treat it or manage it. If it's a coping mechanism I guess the treatment would be different than if it were something genetic.
Psychology is pretty difficult so what might seem like a good childhood, you might find out later that stuff was missing. In my case, I didn't know they were missing since I never knew they existed.
@@ilv1 gabor mate is not a leading ADHD researcher it is inaccurate to say that. this point is easily debunked by the fact that in parents with adhd who adopt children those adopted children are less likely to have adhd then biological children and same thing for adopted children there rate of adhd is more inline with their biological parents then adopted parents
@@imnotnotgameiacmaniac5327 I have some issues with Gabor Mate. He's not really a researcher, but he does make some good points that deserve further investigation. Like many conditions, ADHD has a large genetic component, but how genes interact with the environment is important as well. I don't agree with him that it's all trauma, though.
I'm not sure where you got your information about parents with ADHD adopting neurotypical children, but adoptees are about two to three more times likely to have ADHD than biological children. There may be population reasons for that. It's possible that someone with ADHD is more likely to place a child for adoption. However, it's important to remember that all adoption, even infant adoption, is a type of trauma in itself.
(Dr. Amen is full of it as well, but that's another issue.)
I have severe inattentive ADHD/ ADD and people always say but you’re not hyper! Lol if only they knew how my mind is racing 24/7
I never even considered adhd as a possibility because im not hyper at all. After learning about innatentive type adhd i was shocked at how well it described me. And i now realize while im not hyper, im always moving.
You probably have ADHD type i
I have ADHD my mind is always on 100 mhp but i do show symptoms i get fidgety when standing in lines, i talk too fast, i sense others energy and i catch on it and then i hate feeling so much more anxious when someone else is talking to me because i can absorb their energy.
Weird way to explain it but that’s how i feel
1000mph lol
I cried just like that lady when I realized what was wrong all these years. And I’m exactly like the host who doesn’t take prescription medications.
I can attest that as a 45 y/o adult who was only diagnosed 10 years ago with ADHD teachers never thought I had ADHD because I was a chill kid but couldn't focus. They thought I was lazy and undisciplined. Taking medication has completely changed my life. I am able to excel at my job, remember important things and rarely lose my keys.
Just curious what job do you do? Some people complain that the drugs for ADHD kills their creative mojo.
@@SculptExpress-gv8jp client service manager for medical software
Diagnosed at 5 I’m now 35 and I love my ADHD. I had to learn to love it. I think a lot of yall are going through a grieving process with your ADHD. It’s not going anywhere, accept that it’s a part of you and you will love it. You can do things that right now are unfathomable. You can learn at such a high rate it’s unreal. Learn to love it and it’s like life begins again I promise you. You can hate it but it will only crush you.
I’m 33, just got diagnosed, and honestly I love seeing my potential now with the medication, coaching, and therapy. I’m a better husband and father now, and look forward to what it may do for my career. I’m not ashamed of it; but I’m SO happy to know I have it so I can manage the symptoms, which has largely disrupted my life in a lot of ways. I’m not grieving the past like some do; just embracing the future I now have.
Do you take medication? When did you start?
@@jennifermarlow. Yeah, if it was a thing in the '70s they'd have diagnosed me twice. It's just a thing you deal with when you have to, as an adult, you find something interesting to do, and it's not a problem. You're lucky you got the accelerated programs, I got shoved onto the other track and eventually got bored enough to quit and they got frustrated enough to let me. Once they invented the PC, I found programming very interesting and made a career out of it. =)
From a lot of research and conversation, it’s so much easier when you knew you had it from a young age. A lot of those grieving found out they had later in life when it had done significant to major damage in their lives.
I believe there is no magic pill.
I've suffered my entire life with this as many others. Professionally, it can really be draining. After taking meds for years, I began meditating, and it has drastically improved my daily functioning. Thanks so much for this video! ❤
Thank you for being so honest about yourself. If only schools catered more for ADHD kids.
I cannot speak for all people who
Have been diagnosed but in my situation, taking meds has saved my marriage, my sanity and acceptance has brought me internal peace. I am not broken.
I used to be conflict driven, because I needed the stimulation. I craved anything that would stimulate me in exciting ways. The chaos and stress of it all… And now I know why it was so bad for my family. I celebrated 1 year of acceptance a couple days ago and its been much happier and peaceful since I started my meds. I only take it during working hours but it has brought balance to my life.
Adult ADHD here (diagnosed by psychiatrist at 50 y/o). To the interviewer: I’m so glad your ADHD lets you do what you do now. For many, our ADHD is not just a matter of let’s say having a different personality, it’s a matter of basic daily function or not. That’s why many of us take medication. When I started on it, I cried because I never would’ve thought life could be so easy if one just had a little help.
Heck my life is still hard as all hell and frankly im mad i had anti med hippy parents that made it so much worse. BUT im makeing progress and thats what counts, ive always been outgoing socially but now im able to start maintaining those relationships, basic stuff still illudes me at times but i do my laundry every day and shower.
Heck, when people are unaware of how much it interferes with basic tasks i point this out, i gained weight on the max FDA recommended dose of amphetamine, because i actually remembered to eat.
What medication¿
Twenty years ago I thought the same thing about taking meds. But as time went on, I find meds really help. Period.
I love his question “what are the side effects of NOT taking meds?” Great point.
Just a cautionary tale on taking meds (I was prescribed Concerta...)
1. Both my parents have ADHD and so do I
2. Multiple IQ tests indicate I have an IQ around 140
3. I can do complex math in my head, I taught myself to play chess at 10, am very good with spatial patterns and recognition etc.
4. When I started taking Concerta, I felt super human. I was learning things at the speed of light.
5. That being said, my appetite for risk went sky high. I had the same symptoms as someone who was on cocaine.
6. It ruined my life. I lost everything within a span of 2 years. I'm currently off the drug and rebuilding.
Yeah, that is why I had to stop taking it almost 15 years ago in middle school because I engaged in every risk and was constantly fighting....but my grades were super good. After I stopped taking it, no more fights but I went from colleges looking at me to struggling to pass.
Damn, thanks for the warning
I had the same effect. Was taking risks in the car also, racing above speed limits.
You should get genomic testing done. You may have a slow COMT gene where you can't beeak down catecholamines well, or you may have trouble breaking down other types of drugs and substances. Nedication is not for everyone because not everyone has the proper enzymes to metabolize the drugs. This is an issue in my family for those of us with ADHD. We have also experience terrible problems following medications. If only everyone could be tested prior to being prescribed. Meds can really mess somepeopleup who have ADHD.
That means you don't have it, concerta fixed my life
My daughter is diagnosed with ADHD and autism she's struggling big times but she's only 13 but we're both supportive and we truly believe she'll do well in the future 💖
I’m 48 and just got officially diagnosed. My family never saw me as anything but special 🤷♀️ thank goodness
I realized that I have ADD when my son was diagnosed with it because he was just like me when it came to school and self esteem/self doubt when it came to “performing” like everyone else. Then looking into it I realized I had all the symptoms of adult ADD.
I consulted with a doctor and started medication.
It changed my life.
I was able to work efficiently, be a better mother, be organized and clean my house, start showing up on time for meetings and my kids practices/games etc, start college and get good grades and the list goes on.
I was a teenage mother and dropped out of high school when giving birth. Always thought “school wasn’t for me” until I started the meds.
After starting medication around 26 I went back and got my high school diploma, went to a community college and got 2 associates degrees, now I’m at a university finishing up my bachelors in psychology then I’ll be applying for the PhD program in clinical psychology.
Psychology has always been interesting to me so going to school for it is exciting and I love it.
Meds can help.
No side effect taking meds ?
@@bababaha4392 It cuts my appetite but I like that cause it helps me keep my weight down. It could raise your bp and heart rate but I haven’t had that problem and usually that means your dose is too high and you should go down a little. When you start taking it you might get headaches. But honestly that’s it. I haven’t had any other negative side effects.
Congrats on the progress. I think its important for people to know that ADHD impacts people differently
@@sp123 Thank you ♥️ I’m grateful
Wow you sound like an amazing person ❤️👍🏻 i suffer with it but doctors seem to flog me off and aint intrested
"You're clearly not broken, but are you optimised?"
Diagnosed after my first chold at 35 - medication has absolutely optimised my performance, especially at work.
What medication¿
Omg the most accurate conversation about ADD and ADHD thank you so much for spotting lights about this untold truth.
I was diagnosed with it at 17, but then I went for counseling and my psychiatrist and psychologist both said I have anxiety that causes my brain fog from childhood trauma. I would love to hear more information about childhood trauma's impact on the function of the brain and its ability to access the frontal lobe. Thanks ❤
You should watch Dr Gabor Mate talk about ADHD
Mate's theory is just his theory. He seems to think all ADHD is caused by trauma. If you don't acknowledge this that's because you've suppressed it/in denial/masking it/or are ignorant of his theory.
Listen and make your own mind up if you are able.
Dr Mate also speaks about childhood trauma and how pain is connected to ADD, ADHD, and addiction.
There's another trauma channel, Crappy Childhood Fairy that also talks about how trauma brain can appear like ADHD...
@@Mrs_Susan He talks Freudian psudointelectual babble
I feel it in my heart when you said you're a remarkable quitter and I want to cry cause I feel like this too. I feel extremely guilty about it too!
I was diagnosed with C-PTSD, ADHD, and was told my mood components are “out of whack” by a therapist (with a master’s degree) He referred me to the psychiatrist who met with me for about 5min. and told me I have bipolar disorder. I was given a low dose of Wellbutrin-biggest mistake of my life. I clenched my jaw for ten hours straight. 11 years later I still constantly clench my jaw. My teeth are getting crooked and I have also developed facial tics. I have been medicating with weed and alcohol as I suffer with extreme anxiety and depression simultaneously. I will be visiting Amen Clinic in Walnut Creek, CA for a brain scan. I’m so glad I found this interview!! Thanks for sharing!!
Good god, same same, wellbutrin (or bupropion) brought out the monster. Stress is such a nice companion and never takes any vacation...so me totally stressed out (do you sweat a lot and at the drop of a hat due to anxiety?) so a few weeks ago i had a gap between my teeth..not anymore!!.. I've also come across an article that stated that muscle-tonus is also influenced by dopaminedeficiëncy. I get crazy tics in my SMC- muscle equal to people with tourette's they hurt big time... Good luck with Dr. Amen though
Do your research before booking an appointment.There are plenty of people on reddit who regret spending that much money for a scan.
I took Wellbutrin at one point too and hated it. I felt numb all the time, the first few days was extremely dizzy. I also clench my teeth a lot, to the point where my gums are now receding from my teeth. I'm undiagnosed but now thinking ADD is possible when I used to think it was depression/anxiety. Thank you for sharing, I don't feel so alone now
The brain scans solve nothing and are a complete waste of thousands of dollars.
Signed, someone who went to their clinic many years ago. A proper therapist is enough to diagnose
sadly amen clinic does seem to be a scam they will prescribe you overpriced supplements and just generally is overpriced. i recommend you look at the reviews first before buying
He explained the benefits of medication so well towards the end of this clip. Very well said. For so many ppl medication is the beginning of a better life.
I hope so, I am waiting for a diagnosis at the age of 64 but still feel 35 in my head, I hope its not to late for me. I have suffered with depression all my life.
What a lovely doctor he explains things so well.
Optimization is the key. That was an excellent answer from Dr. Amen for the folks who 'don't do medication.' Our bodies, as miraculous as they are, can't do everything for themselves. We are not totally self-contained, self-sustaining entities and sometimes require outside substances. The most basic example is our need for food and water that we don't ourselves produce. Food is also medicine.
Don’t agree RE meds. Your argument is a stretch.
@@rb.x You don't agree but you don't make an argument either, so what's the point of disagreeing? Say something useful.
If you take meds, you risk your body producing even less dopamine all on its own, so when you’re off your meds….look out!
@@markhoffman not at anywhere near therapeutic dosages. Downregulation from stimulants is only observed in long term high dose methamphetamine abuse and chronic cocaine users. In the therapeutic range med use is associated with strengthening pathways in the brain and a reduction of symptoms when off the medication. Something i can personally attest to.
Love is the best medicine, but people seem to be isolating themselves from other people, so the chances for love and all it’s delights are diminished. Families are also going through alienation and crisis and young people are not growing up with feeling of the shelter and the security that family circles traditionally provided. It’s interesting how so many individuals only talk about themselves and are barely interested in conversation. I see young kids not knowing anything about their family history, no idea what grandpa did, what grandma did, no quirky family dinners, no singing together, no community. An isolated life is basically a suicide as H.Hesse described well in Steppenwolf. Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam” is a true masterpiece and one of the ways to look at it is as two human hands (the first time that God was depicted as a simple man) reaching for each other within the divine space. Art helps!
Fascinating. My daughter has ADHD and has taken meds for over 30 years. She would not have succeeded in life without it but she still suffers from poor planning, messiness, awful financial decisions, poor driving skills etc.
Always thought that something wasn't quite "right" and spent my life searching for answers.
A few years back while talking to a mental health advisor she said out the blue "I think you may have ADHD"
I never considered that before but when I looked into it, all the dots lit up.
I was so excited to finally possibly getting an answer to the elusive question that had been plaguing me all these years only to be told It was a minimum of
3.5 years to get a diagnosis, NHS England. The news was soul destroying. I Was 36 at the time.
I ended up spending a lot of money to get privately diagnosed and got a diagnosis of combined ADHD.
I can not tell you how much my life has changed through the fact that I finally had the answer to the question that had been slowly destroying me for so long and the positive effects of the medication.
My life has improved drastically since. I finally managed to get my life in order and focus on what I need to do to bring myself happiness
I've just broke down in tears. The moment he said about his friends saying that their life started after going on meds broke me. I had to be assessed as a child and displayed symtoms but not enough for a formal diagnosis. Looking back I don't understand how the fuck I wasn't diagnosed as all the symtoms were there. Lord only knows what my life would be like now. All at one just now i've had massive waves of grief of everything that could have been, not realising how much shame I've been carrying from feeling so fucking useless. I'm currently waiting to be diagnosed and I know the moment I start medication my life is going to look a lot different.
I honestly think untreated ADHD is one of the most destructive disorders. It has wrecked havoc all through my twenties and feel like my life has been one massive joke up until now. We're not useless, we're not lazy, we're not unreliable like society has been telling us most of our life. We simply have a brain that is existing only to work against us and live life on self destruct mode. We know what sort of life we want to live and we know the things we want to get on with in our lives... but this wonderful complex organ inside our skull has had other ideas.
It's not our fault, but it's now our responsibility to take charge with the knowledge we have gained. The knowledge that there is nothing wrong with us... but there is just a part of us, in our own unique individual experience in life that needs special tending to. We are as one. A tribe of wonderfully neurodiverse beings all on the path to freedom.
Big love to anyone who has been riding the crazy train of survival mode up until this point. It only goes up from here. ♥
Great to hear someone talk accurately and in a fully informed way about adhd. See many doctors try to speak on it as an expert even though they haven't specialised in it and end up spreading misinformation.
It can be surprisingly hard to find true experts in this.
as someone who is also a creative, a writer, don't like medication, fully believe I'm able to heal anything. I take Adderall for ADHD and have been taking it for 9 months, 4 months correct dose. COMPLETELY changed my life. OPTIMIZED LIFE IN EVERYWAY!
biggest thing, I'm able to be fully present in the moment without having to work REALLY hard at it.
Wow! Wow. 😮👏💕I’m very happy for you.
I just love the answer that the Dr. gave about medication. Many people are broken inside and don’t even know why. The diagnosis just allow us to make sense in this planet.
“You were a useless student”. Sounds like a great teacher.
Yeah, that made me sad and angry simultaneously😢
Honest teacher. His teaching duties ended long ago, his right to express his conclusions regarding his former useless student applies.
What was the teacher doing and why? Is my question.
How abysmal was she as a teacher?
Yea, so rude, regular teachers aren’t the brightest it seems. A student isn’t really meant to be “useful” to the teacher but the teacher should be useful to the student.
I love that Dr. Amen brought up what the side effects are going to be if you DON'T take medication. This is not addressed often enough. Our lives are not meant to be just about ourselves‼️
GAME CHANGER 🎉. I've been accused of having it and shamed. I built a successful company and it is why. I can't live in the matrix because of it and it's kept me youthful and mentally agile open and living a cool life! Thanks ADD. Struggles are real too, but now I'm focusing on it as a super power.
Do you take medication?
i cant stay organised , i can t stay focused , from my early age. still its the same . i forgot things . and this is making my life hard. affecting my relationship .i am tired of this and no body understands me
I am turning 38 this month. I was diagnosed severe ADHD last week. Runs in my family. I am taking my first adderall ever today. My mind feels more calm, less noise, and I have mental energy! It’s amazing. I did very well in school but would constantly burn out and drop out. I studied biochemistry and earned high grades. Have more credits than most with no degree. I never slept growing up
The energy is from the stimulant effect.
@@ccoodd26 duh, arnt you a brain surgeon.
I should hope stimulants are energizing, thats part of why they are useful, ADHD is tireing as all get out
Im 50 years old just figuring this out. Im listening to many different channels to see if this is what ails me, and this interview by far has been the most helpful, so thank you, and i will give you a sub.
Psychedelics definitely have potential to deal with mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression, I would like to try them again but it's just so hard to source out here
I’ve been researching on psychedelics and it’s benefits to individuals dealing with Anxiety, Depression, ADHD and from my findings, they really work and I’ve been eager to get some for a while but its been difficult to get my hands on them.
The Trips I've been having really helped me a lot. I’m now able to meditate and I finally feel in control of my emotions and my future and things that used to be mundane to me now seem incredible and full of nuance on top of that I'm way less driven by my ego and I have alot more empathy as well
I was having this constant, unbearable anxiety due to work stress. Not until I came across a very intelligent mycologist. He saved my life honestly
@@CarmenOrtiz440
I feel the same way too. I put too much on my plate and it definitely affects my stress and anxiety levels. I am also glad to be a part of this community.
@@AlbertoTorres894Does he deliver to various locations?
This interview is so enlightening. So far, my favorite part is when the doc says Sandy was relieved to know it wasn't her fault! I've felt broken and ashamed my entire life, and I'm 58! I'm finally seeing a counselor. As soon as she works with me a bit, she'll send me back to my GP, and we will see if low-dose meds help. My 28 yr-old son was diagnosed recently, and he encouraged me to seek help, as he suspects I have had it all along. I got through college cramming, and it was so stressful. Only subjects and activities that truly interested me got my focus (what little there was). Thank you for posting this valuable information.
I would love for the doctor to talk about the cultural limitations in a proper diagnosis. I was recently diagnosed and while I white knuckled my way through grad school there were many limitations within my community and family in getting diagnosed.
Just one of the best interviews on ADHD-ADD that I have ever listened to! Dr Amen is compassionate, not judgemental and leaves the options open to the person - Well done you!
My experience with Vyvanse has been relatively positive, I have been taking it for over a year. I was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD), but the non-hyperactive version. I tend to have a low energy drive, which makes me procrastinate and overthink, and I have low self-esteem, and I often keep to myself. But when I started taking Vyvanse 40mg, I actually became more energetic, and I no longer procrastinate. I also noticed that my self-esteem improved, and I am more willing to engage in conversations with people. I think it's safe to say that Vyvanse helps me break out of my shell.
I started crying listening to this. Ive always been so smart and creative but adhd has made me depressed and anxious and unmotivated and i often think what would my life would be like now if i was diagnosed at 16 and got meds. Id probably be living my dreams, meanwhile i can hardly survive
Do something for yourself now! Go get his book, with guidance on vitamins, & on meds & how to address
treatment in general. Go to the library for the book, if you do not want to spend the money. Effexor works very well for a lot of people. And it is a generic now, so it is reasonable in price . Find a responsive &
supportive dr, with a good nurse practitioner if possible, & they can usually help you going forward.
I would give absolutely anything to have Dr. Amen scan my brain. Literally just about anything. ❤
Not literally😂
He’ll take money lol
Try hes brain quiz plz🙂
@@oyandakona5994I’d like to, where can I find it?
Call for an appointment. He does this for a living. He has an office in NYC.
I was diagnosed with a ADD A FEW YEARS AGO. I’m 52 now. It wasn’t being diagnosed when I was a kid. it all makes sense now. I use meditation when it’s needed. Thank you for sharing this information. I always learn something new from ADHD topics.
All these years of my life(42 years) I‘ve been blaming myself for not getting things done and that I am not competent and end up feeling depressed. After listening to them I am ADD because I am everything that an adhd person has but hyperactive so that no one knew I needed help.
Resonated 🫂
I was diagnosed and medicated for ADHD in my mid forties after a lifetime of running late, scattered thoughts and last minute cramming. Still adjusting to the medication, but definitely notice the difference.
How are you doing 4 months on? Are the meds still helping
@@smallcatbigmeow Diffrent person, but 2 years in, and my experience is the help more the longer you take them with some regularity.
first 6 or 8 months was basically useing the stimulateing factor of the meds to brute force myself into completeing tasks, then somewhere around 8 or so months "it" started to click. A degree of cognitive control, being able to decide what your doing because your able to prioritize.
then id say last month or so "it" clicked even more in a big way, long term goals, instead of burning out on an intrest because the number of steps to achieve it i feel accomplishment with each step of the process.
So yes people online will say "yeah they work, until you get a tollerence" but in my experience that has not been the case at all. ive actually lowered the amount i normally take daily because i need less to accomplish the same level
Hi Steven, I can relate to sitting in a classroom and having no interest on the subject matter at all. As an adult I choose what I want to this provides a thriving mindset and I love it. I am also diagnosed dyslexic in the later part of life a a mature student. I am curious and love to seek solutions from creativity. Thank you so much for you commitment to sharing your loved experience with all of us. The range and diversity of the speakers is so fulfilling and provides a wealth of intellectual property to the audience. Have a beautiful calm productive day.
This explains so much, I never did well at school but when I came to the creative side, I excelled but was run down by teachers. I have always blamed myself for not doing better in my school years and even into adulthood I questioned what was wrong with me. I plan to get myself tested for ADD at the age of 50. Thank you for this.
Meditation and yoga has helped me with adult ADD.
This is a very informative video on ADHD & I have watched plenty! My dad was often teased about being “absent minded.” My son who had ADD but was not hyperactive m, was recommended by teachers to be tested to receive Ritalin due to his inability to finish class work & his constant distraction despite the fact that he was well behaved. I unfortunately delayed having him tested until 3rd grade because I didn’t understand that the hyperactivity was not necessarily a given. With Ritalin, his schoolwork improved immediately. Now my 7-year-old grandson is benefiting greatly taking ADHD meds. I was diagnosed at age 53 with ADHD. What a relief to finally be able to understand all the mental issues I had had to deal with throughout my life. Now through therapy & research, I am able to cope better with my ADHD.
Loved this video. Im not officially diagnosed but just like you in school I was exactly the same. It got to the point the school invited a health visitor to psychoanalyse me in year 6 so I was 10 years old and he determined that if anything I was more intelligent than the teachers I was just bored and uninterested. College was the best. Being taught by actual pros who knew how to engage and saw your skills and knew how to nurture you cause most of them had ADHD as well. Being Creatives. And then Uni....I went from having 8 project for 2 to 4 weeks to just 4 for a whole term. Massive let down. And they didn't teach you or guide you in how to set up business or any business skills let alone how to look for work. They just gave us out of date guide books. Well done UK. Well done. That was 2010 mind.
Thanks for this vid. Good hearing from you both.
“If you go back a couple hundred years” ADHDers were perhaps investigators, hunters, night watchers, inventors, and consultants. Those aren’t regular nine to fives. But nobody othered them for it.
I love this video! I was diagnosed at 26 and medication has significantly increased my self confidence and how I show up in the world.
So good to hear how it positively changed your confidence and how you show up ♥. As someone who just got diagnosed with ADHD yesterday, I'm a bit afraid of the side effects, do you mind if I ask if you experienced any?
@@fatmapunt8460 the side effects I’ve experienced is not feeling hungry and or thirsty, sometimes not being able to sleep. I just make sure to eat a big breakfast before taking my medicine and bring a water bottle everywhere with me. Make sure to eat!! Because for me I don’t feel hungry at all
may I ask what medication was prescribed? my doctor prescribed escitalopram and I have stomach aches
Thank you for sharing your experience and for the tips. I will make sure to eat well before I take my meds and drink enough water too. @@julissaalferez7950
Thank god there's a psychiatrist out there on a podcast that's actually being positive about ADHD medication for adults. So many out there demonize its use and profess all these things about building healthy habits but don't realize how insanely difficult it is (skill issue fr) to even form those habits in the first place let alone undo-ing all the bad habits you've picked up throughout your life growing up with undiagnosed ADHD.
I'm glad he's positive about medication. Unfortunately, Dr. Amen is also a quack who sells expensive scans that don't show what they claim to show. Dr. Russell Barkley also promotes the combination of both medication and therapy for both children and adults, and he was the leading researcher before he retired. He has a YT as well.
Not if that "medication" is an inherent degridant and/or eugenic, gatekept by colonial, consummerist capitalism? Look up "the quantum mind"?
Their system is rigged of the whole environment in cities and institutionally and globally, so do not be gaslit by it?
All intake is also bad, let alone in excessive amounts, let alone of animals?
@@MeredithDomzalski Yeah, it seems a lot of reputable health professionals end up selling out in one way or another, it's really discouraging to hear since ADHD stigma still exists largely because people with shady motivations end up minimizing the struggles of ADHD by trying to sell you *this* and *that*.
Diagnosed at 32 and I'm happy to be on meds, happy to eventually taper off them if I can but also happy to stay on them indefinitely (responsibly, of course).
P.S. I also disagree with his stance on caffeine that 100mg is the safe limit when a lot of peer reviewed studies have shown that up to 4 cups of coffee are within a safe amount for a healthy adult not susceptible to any heart conditions
I love this guy and this platform. So sincere & vulnerable. Love it!👌🏾
I'm 73, diagnosed ADD in '92. IQ is in the mid 130's. Was prescribed Ritalin.
I never studied or did homework... got lousy grades, didn't care, at all... I couldn't wait to get home to work on my model (slot) race cars...
I am now an accomplished musician. I cannot get organized but I continue to practice... occassionally perform to raves.
Ritalin was useless... Adderall worked well for one day, I was hyper-focused. The next day, the only effect was anxiety. My focus was gone. I kept taking it, and it damaged my creative element... unacceptable. These drugs dulled my musical skills severely.
Now, I go day-to-day... I need something... I'm fed up with the level of disorganization I live in. I cannot create an agenda, a plan. Even if I do, I get distracted away from the plan. I'm buried in partially completed projects.
This has to stop... I am healthy, eat a great diet, exercise. I have to live long enough to complete something in my life.
PLEASE look into Peter Levines somatic work. I’m 10 yrs younger than you and have benefited more than I can ever describe. I do it on my own (so it’s free) and it’s a total life changer. I’d changed my entire diet and lifestyle many many years ago and that was good and necessary, but negative body memories absolutely must go too.
In the old days, you would just get a wife and she would organize stuff. Isn’t there a saying that behind every successful man there is a woman. There is a good reason for it 😁. My husband can’t deal with day to day house work, his organizational skills are zero, but he is hard working and brilliant at humanitarian work. He doesn’t do just a bare minimum to hardly any result, no he pushes his ideas and vision until there is a true accomplishment. I think ADHD people do that, especially in arts. They do art, the art that’s authentic and powerful. Anything creative and well done requires an enormous amount of someone’s energy, time and soul work. But, in my husband’s filled some of his well organized colleagues do better in terms of promotion and climbing up the hierarchical ladder. That’s not an easy part for ADHD people.
It's really painful before diagnosing ADHD it's like everything is bad and feeling unsecured. I am blessed that I listened to this interview the topic is very beneficial, science is beautiful when it serves humans to live a better life ❤️ 🙏 thanks
Love this❤ Ive very recently came to the conclusion i have ADHD, my Dad and daughter both have it, but its only recently Ive understood myself!
Since I started medication 2 years ago, I’ve lost my multidimensional thinking and feeling, my regular feelings of spiritual transcendence, my creativity, my fast and passionate learning, my hyperfocus on dreams and goals. I’m just literal. I’ve increased in self-regulation and sensory regulation. This has helped in all my relationships and tolerance for others and for the environment. I used to be super rigid with my likes and dislikes to where I chose to live work or socialize because I could feel the vibe of a place or certain people so intensely.
I have no reason to receive an ADHD diagnosis, and no reason to take medication until I became a parent, and at the same time my business grew to a certain size. Instead of being able to create my own accommodations, which I have been doing subconsciously all my life, I had to operate on other peoples schedules in order to serve them. I wish I had started medication with my kids were little, because they needed a type of consistency, but neither my husband nor I have provided. We’re doing our best now, but I will say, I do recommend medication if it’s not a problem for you.
Thanks for sharing your story! I'm still a bit on the fence, similar to the host of the show.. did you take therapy while on medication? I was diagnosed with inattentive ADD when I was a kid, but I never went on medication. Also due to concerns about abusing them. Do your meds have that potential or do you take a nonstimulant like atomoxetine? I'd be thrilled to hear your answer!
The only potential Superpower that I can accurately trace back to my ADHD is an unbelievable high intuition. At this stage I have not been able to fully harness this gift. But i honestly believe that once I fully understand the power that lies within and how to use it to help others… that I will be able to make a huge difference in others lives around me that’s also suffering. I only see the truth and can 100% tell and distinguish between whether it’s genuine or not. It’s can also be very scary at times and be careful with whom you share this info with. People like to think that one has lost his marbles, coz only a small percentage of humans has the same experience. Stay blessed and beautiful ❤️
I recommend a great book in this: Scattered Minds (by Gabor Mate).
I'm now 53 and so I've managed ok without medication. There are some things I really like about my brain, that I don't want risk losing by medicating. I'll just ask people to repeat themselves if I think I missed something important
Even if I don't qualify as ADD, at least I can say I have something in common. And feel less embarrassed/shameful
@@michaelhughes8413 You don't qualify as ADD? Then I don't understand how your comment is relevant. People with severe ADHD don't "manage ok"; it's a daily struggle. The book you recommended is by a doctor who thinks ADHD has no genetic component and is only caused by childhood experiences, ignoring all the scientific literature to the contrary.
I think the only genetic factor of adhd is that the parent(s) who has the condition did pass it along to their child(ren) through uneducated decisions with lifestyle and diet. When the mother dis nothing but eat processed foods, she feeds her child processed foods and it's a roller coaster effect of generational disease. Mental disorders are metabolic issues of the brain. Just as you feed yourself garbage you look like obese and malnourished. What would happen if someone put diesel in a Maserati? It stops functioning! I'm tired of people or per say experts saying adhd or mental conditions are not a choice! You are what you ear! Fix it.
Meds dont make you loose anything, they last 4 to 6 hours.
dont like it or dont want the effect at that time just, dont take it
Does he recommend medicating?
I heard another doc a while back say that hyperactivity is always present, but how we manifest it varies, and it can be internal. This aligns with my experience. My only outward hyperactivity has been fidgeting, drumming fingers, tapping my feet, but my brain is in overdrive and swerving all over the place every waking moment. That, according to the other doc, is also hyperactivity.
Phew the tears streamed down my face when he mention her saying “you mean it’s not my fault” phew you are doing powerful things for people.
2:27 Pick something you love, not a job you make more money.
Much needed for me.
My brain literally shuts down when I try to concentrate, it's so hard
Like¿what tasks¿😊
Got diagnosed at 33. Explained so much. Meds are helping. I probably won't ever go off of them
Personally, ritalin was great for me when I first started to take it but then I was constantly needing to increase the dosage to the point that a day without ritalin was almost unbearable. I was a zombie without it.
After 8 months I scrapped it and cleaned up my diet and and exercised more. It's brought me more benefits than ritalin ever did, to the point where I can now use my ADHD for positive things.
Be careful with the meds.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
1000% same.
What diet you followed?
@@ara4220 No bread, reduced the amount of sugary snacks drastically. Held off breakfast until later in the day and when I did eat it was handful of nuts with fruits and plenty of water. For evening meals it was protein heavy food.
I also had to start walking during the day and writing down my thoughts when I was overrun with obsessive negative thinking.
I also see a therapist which helped increase my self awareness.
Vyvanse was mine
100% pick something you love. All of a sudden you have a burning passion for something that will reap in money… hold the thoughts of all of the things you can buy until after your first or second paycheck.
“…pick something you love“ but there lies the problem with me. I can’t find anything I love. I think, over the years, I’ve lost every little bit of confidence I once had so I now just think I’ll be useless at anything, so trying will be futile. I spend my days just feeling useless, lazy and full of guilt.
Pick a problem worth solving.
someone with out ADD, its easy to say its easy to get organized. As someone that lived over 40 years with it, I can tell you that its impossible to stay organized or do things that you're not interested in.
I can say that's actually possible (in my experience). However, the amount of emotional and mental energy that goes into it leads easily to exhaustion, which in the long run leads to breakdowns and heavy burnouts (own experience too, unfortunately).
I resonate completely with what this man is saying. I felt like I had a lazy brain and I used to cram the night before an exam. Then I started the meds and it was like wearing glasses for my brain! Exactly that .The worst betrayal was someone getting in my phone and changing languages and settings on my phone, making me look like I was worse on meds. Now that is really cruel. Hands up I need some computer training but given the opportunity I would. Whilst everyone was training and learning I was caring for my father, so thanks for the confidence in me,, if anybody has any and to the people who sabotaged me, that wasn't fair!!.
ADHD is such a huge part of my life and takes it toll, yet I don"t wish it away. My creativity is limitless. If I want and I'd have the time I could write a short story a day or make a new song every day. The medicine (stimulants) is what society would like you to be on as you become more like a neurotypicals. Everybody should make up if it's a good thing or not, but I feel the downsides are a bit downplayed and other modalities (diet, exercise, somatic therapy,...) is often forgotten.
I mean, that's just your opinion. Maybe you have a more mild ADHD and getting things done is still relatively easy for you. Its on a spectrum and everyone has a different experience with it.
The medication actually helps a lot of people just function with basic tasks.
The medication doesn't make you neurotypical. I just helps you get shit done.
@@truckywuckyuwuhey, first off, I appreciate your comment and your input.
Ofcourse this is my opinion and it is largely based on my life’s experiences. My ADHD was absolutely crippling and my executive functions were really, really bad.
As you say, adhd is a spectrum, but our brains are also adaptable. We can grow and learn new things, coping mechanisms…
And I too started medication and it helped me to function… for a while.
It had a huge impact on my health and well-being.
I didn’t say the medication makes you a NT, it helps to *act* like one.
In the end it made me a robot, completely robbed of all my creative sparks and juices. Just checking off to-do lists.
If it helps you, that is great and I am really happy for you!
Just be mindful that there is a huge and growing community out there that is recovering from this medication journey and that we now see that although it initially helped, it backfired and made things worse.
@@davidcaubergh6349 Might not have just been the right one or dose to you, for me its a huge boost to my creativity because i can *Actually do my projects* instead of just thinking about a painting or a song or a story i can actually make it happen.
Waited till I was 38 to finally takes medication. I was the same way, thinking I could fix myself. However it's more like you train yourself to get around your behaviors. Taking it, even at my age had made a tremendous improvement in every aspect of my life
I just got diagnosed at age 35 and I’m feeling the same way about medication. But I spent the last handful of years dealing with something I knew something was off and I’m so happy I found out that it’s something that I wasn’t crazy about.
I haven’t yet requested to be on medication, but I’m curious as to what types of medication would one recommend with ADHD ?
@@mondohdz531 theres only really 2 routs, methylphenidates and amphetamines. in each class you have, methylphenidate and dextromethylphenidate, or amphetamine, dextroamphetamine or a 50/50 mix of both.
beyond that its a matter of finding what dosage and rout of administration works best, some people do best with an all day capsul in the morning, some people like myself work best with shorter acting IR tablets througout the day as needed. theres not really a right or wrong answer with that, try both see what works for you
Fantastic video! Dr Mike's commentary was so interesting. Congratulations as well for discovering a new part of yourself, and I wish you a happy welcome to the neurodivergent community.
I believe my 6yo son had ADHD. He doesn’t know how to control the volume of his voice, he has a hard time focusing or concentrating, if he’s told to do a few things at once he forgets and has to be reminded many times, and all day I have to remind him over and over to do something. He’s such a good boy. My dad thinks it’s bad behavior, I know it’s not.
Doing what you love isn't always great advice though. I LOVE music but I feel like my brain shrinks without financial stability. Doing my best to push through and learn skills that will help me earn more so I can spend more time doing things I love
I would say more specifically, why take medication if your high functioning and successful. But for people who struggle, can’t finish things or study then it would be very helpful. At 47 now I wish my parents would have known to get me help as I couldn’t focus at school. I was a low grader. Even though I believe I had great potential, I blanked out in tests, couldn’t finish long projects and inevitably had to quit high school and no chance of doing University, so it completely changed the projectory of my life.
I just realized earlier this year I have ADD and it all makes so much sense now.
This was fascinating, informative and so beautifully explained
As someone who was originally diagnosed in ADD, and has never been hyperactive, thank you fir the recognition. The H should not be in the default.
ADHD is definitely stems from brain damage. I recently got diagnosed at the age of 67. No history in my family, but I was hit by a car as a child, had a nasty fall on an military airplane in 1988, Gulf War exposure to toxins in 1990, Narcolepsy immediately after, more exposure to toxins, complex PTSD, then several high fevers from Covid, then finally an auto accident with deployed airbag. THEN I couldn't think my way out of a paper bag. Have 4 degrees, a 25 year career in the military, former health professional.
I'm sorry you went through all that. There is acknowledged a form of later-aquired symptoms that can come from brain damage, that can resemble 'regular' ADHD . 'Typical' ADHD however is known to be hereditary with no trauma to the brain required.
Well tbi messes with minerals really bad the sam e minerals that create ad adhd I wish dr amen spoke about the intracellular mineral ratio indicators for add adhd and what happens in brain injuries 😑 mineral profiles are genetic from mothers but we eat how parents eat so we get similar issues depending on their diet which relates our mineral profile
Airbag after Covid fucked me up!!
The covid vaccine definitely wasn't good for adhd