Bored to Sleep? It’s a Real Thing With the ADHD Brain
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- Опубликовано: 15 май 2024
- Does your brain check out when you get bored to the point where you go unconscious just like that? It can happen when you’re sleep deprived, or have narcolepsy, but it can also happen when you have ADHD . That’s what what this video is about.
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References
Bioulac S, Taillard J, Philip P, Sagaspe P. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Measurements in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:3. Published 2020 Feb 26. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00003
Walters AS, Silvestri R, Zucconi M, Chandrashekariah R, Konofal E. Review of the possible relationship and hypothetical links between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the simple sleep related movement disorders, parasomnias, hypersomnias, and circadian rhythm disorders. J Clin Sleep Med. 2008;4(6):591-600.
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You're actually one of the first psychiatrist even bringing up such problems, currently this disorder feels like getting gaslighted by 90% of the people I encounter because I can't prove my symptoms whatsoever. Authorities do it, therapists do it, psychiatrists do it, even social workers and almost my entire family. I clearly feel how much I struggle, I want to get shit done so badly yet it's like you're kept back by some invisible wall while being unable to clearly express my problems in a manner normal people would believe nor are there enough truly objective tests like imagery or blood tests which makes neurotypical people just attribute your struggles with personal flaws like being lazy, just having to put in more effort etc.
I've talked to many people with ADHD over the last few months, a lot of them feel like me - we got this inner fire burning to be good at something, to be praised and/or reach the results we intended to - just to fail over and over again. Feels like you're cursed with some invisible enemy who's preventing you from getting to where you want to be.
So true! I'm so glad Dr. Marks is addressing this problem!!!
I hear and feel you loud and clear!
I am so, so tired of waking out of my GP’s and psychiatrist’s office feeling complete defeat and invalidation. Utterly unheard!
Years and years of this!
It has now impacted my work where I’ve been observed nodding off at my desk on a number of occasions.
When I experience this it’s like I’m in a thick, heavy tunnel of pure drowsiness and my brain simply cannot rouse itself and WAKE THE F UP!
Videos like these make me happy but also very emotional as someone of authority is actually hearing me!
@@mpras684 Well at least I have now an explanation for the following story:
Once upon a time I sat in a french lesson at school, got suddenly drowsy as heck, fell into seconds of sleep and bonked my head on the table as it fell down 😂
_Imagine the face of the teacher and fellow pupils at that sudden loud noise!_
Goes without saying, a similiar incidence happened multiple times at university during analysis (high level mathematics) lectures 😂
@@shadowmystery5613 oh that deserves these! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
I just forwarded this video to my mum and told her of my stellar performance in a lecture hall seating 500 students back in the day.
I woke up, lifting my head off the small foldaway side table to discover a thick string of drool streaming from my mouth to the lovely pool which had formed over my notes!
And what thorough notes they must have been! 🧐
2 big evils-
1) Once the Doctors hear you have ADHD, his staff and even himself will bypass every other possibility other that to blame everything to the patient and on the ADHD.
2) Doctors, people assume Doctors know it ALL, but truly very few Primary, Neurologist, and even Sleep Specialist Subspecialists have NO idea about these disorders and will discourage the patient obviate the possibility. Actually, some become defensive and irritated.
That is why the patient has to be SUPER proactive and find people that actually listen to them.
I have ADHD and am literally constantly falling in and out of consciousness in lectures. The motion of falling over wakes me just in time before hitting my head on the desk... most of the time... It's a relief to hear that this is a real thing. Thank you.
I get so sleepy, but can never actually sleep. If I get woken up in the night, I can't get back to sleep as often, and it's annoying. A bad combo. And ADHD meds make me sleepy, and then when they wear off, I can't sit still, so I can only take them if I take some kind of energy booster (lately that's been Rhodiola Rosea which was suggested by a doctor I saw), but even then, I find I get more sleepy, so I gave up on meds, unless I don't need to do anything productive. Which is counterintuitive, but I'm also that weirdo who gets migraines from Advil.
@@joylox Rhodiola Rosea? Thanks for the name drop! I'm going to look into it... so I'd better write it down so I don't forget lol. I've been trying nootropics recently so I can be better at accomplishing things beyond the basic minimums.
Good luck! And btw if you haven't already looked into it, the subreddit r/nootropics had a lot of useful info that helped me sort through things.
I found practicing the principles of Neuro Linguistic Programing (NLP) and dissecting the lecturer, the other students, the architect, and room design as well as any thing else I can do to keep my internal wheels spinning to be a decent stave for it,
Oh that, and make it interesting to my self, make it a game, make the topic fun, find out my true reason i am doing the thing or how i could possibly apply it or if the suggestions of the class are not to our liking, how we would make a rebuttal or dismantle what ever suggestion is being given and to gently incepting the idea of A view point slightly different then there own, for the Release of friction In there life based upon there own stated goals/directives/motivations.
Mhmm the power of words, An interesting study.
Same! I couldn't stay awake in general chemistry for love or money. I sat front and center, medicated, motivated, and fell asleep EVERY. CLASS.
I dealt with this for my entire college career. Some professors understood it was just something I did, but others mercilessly scolded me for it in a way that just wasn't helpful at all. So glad I'm finally done with all that and can now fall asleep in my own home during remote business meetings :)
Every time I watch your videos, I learn about a new symptom of ADHD that I had previously just attributed to personal failure, a lack of discipline or just "How I've always been". I used to sleep through classes in high school, lectures in university and pretty much anything that doesn't keep my brain engaged. Thank you for giving us so much more insight and evidence based knowledge about this condition. You are doing the lord's work! And So sweet seeing your son in the video too !
Thank you Akosua! He's taller and more teenagey now 😀 But yes, there are a lot of nuances to ADHD that I don't even think our profession appreciates on a collective level. It pains me to hear people say they thought they were stupid or just a screw up, etc. It's a passion interest for me and I'll keep chipping away at helping us all understand it better. ❤️
Yes, learning about these things is so helpful! I’ve always been deeply ashamed and confused by my tendency to accidentally nod off at highly inappropriate times… I’ve even done it during exams 🤦♀️ I actually did very well on all three tests I’ve fallen asleep during - A+s - and I think that’s part of why I fell asleep! The material was so easy for me that my brain found it the opposite of engaging, and what with not being able to doodle or move like I can normally, easy exams are a hard situation to work around!
This video was such a relief to watch. Obviously this will still be embarrassing when it happens, but to know it’s not a personal moral failing is empowering.
Yes. This. I had the same issues growing up decades ago. I had a very physically and mentally demanding career that I thrived in and am an adult learner in condensed courses. Turns out, "anything that doesn't keep my brain engaged" makes me bored so my brain checks out. Just like you, it wasn't a "lack of discipline", it was that the educational system was designed for a specific style of learning. It happened that it wasn't my specific style of learning. Anyway, I hope you are finding answers now and are doing well.
I never realized my tendency to fall asleep during lessons and meetings was because of ADHD! This is amazing. It explains why when I went to a full day of presentations after starting medication, I felt awake and alert the entire time. It’s usually so hard to keep my eyes open in these situations, and I spend most of my time and energy in the meeting/presentation fighting to stay awake. It’s so distressing when you don’t want to offend the presenter, but staying awake is impossible.
I have this problem too-when I sit hand have to listen for long periods of time, I never thought it was ADHD-I used to yelled at for it in school and college all the time and I couldn’t ever understand why I’d be tired even after sleeping decently. I’m working on getting more notes on this because I’m suspecting I might have autism and ADHD
@@virgofairy88
I would just stare out the classroom windows and my teachers all asked me if I was bored. Yes. Of course I was. Plus, I probably had less than 5 hours sleep. I was semi-shamed for staying awake so late. Like staying awake was willful. I was finally dx'd with ADHD in my late 40s.
Don't feel too bad. Something similar happened to me years ago before I met my husband and a long time before I got my ADHD diagnosis. I had a boyfriend who was a community theater actor. All his friends were actors there and were very passionate about it. Unfortunately, every time I get bored or found myself sitting too long I would fall asleep. Once I fell asleep in the FRONT ROW of his play Amadeus. And my front row I mean, it was a tiny place, like 3 feet from the stage. And it wasn't the only time. I did eventually break up with him because he was just too boring.
💡moment 😮
What medication did you get?
It was horrible during high school. I would fall asleep twice a day during lessons
Me too! I would get yelled at too
Me three. My English teacher was not impressed with that. Also didn’t help gym class was right before lol
Same!
Same!!
For me it was mainly math classes, cos I really suck at math. It might have helped if I had had a calculator, but at the time, calculators were still mainly toys for geeks, and cost around $150 - in 1978 dollars.
I'm sincerely about to cry. I've talked to my regular doctor and my psychiatrist both about being randomly sleepy during the day despite getting plenty of sleep, and they both just kind of shrug it off or assume I have sleep apnea. This absolutely explains it. My brain tends to turn off randomly during the day when I'm working, most commonly around 10am and 2:30pm and it feels like I'm going to either fall asleep or just get nothing done for the rest of the day. Nobody ever said it could be due to ADHD. Thank you so much for this video.
Hey that happens to me too, and i was coping it with lotta caffeine in the morning (3-4 espresso shots in americano) im taking pills for adhd now for 3 months, and it helps me to have clearer visions, but with sleep issue i still need same amount of caffeine. But before diagnosed i wasnt fully awake but now with pills i am. Hope this helps
I can’t tolerate the pills and looked for natural alternatives and lions mane capsules do it for me - they stimulate me in a lighter way than stimulants but it still works mixed with omega 3 and mate tea 🧉 in the morning when I get up (the original from Argentina though :)
Yes!! Me too! I can’t get anyone to not just believe me, but to actually look into this… It is not fun living with all these problems that adhd brings 😢
Good old "Afternoon sinking spell"
I always assumed it was my body trying to digest lunch and me having some sort of undiagnosable diabetis or whatever...
@@nogy-qd4xyI know for me it depends on what form my caffeine comes in. If I have caffeine with B vitamins it helps me be a bit more alert. If I have like coffee or similar, it calms my brain and I fall sleep more easily. I can drink it right before bed and sleep better. I tried caffeine daily for years and couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t helping. If I’m having a lot of daytime shrines, I take my adhd meds and I’ll avoid the coffee style products.
God this happens to me ALL the time. I thought I was just living sleep deprived for years. Even with my better sleep schedule I’m just folding over at my desk, driving, or after work each day. It’s so frustrating and I’m working through it. People have always thought I was lazy or disrespectful or something but it’s nice to know I’m not deciding to be this way. Thanks for making this video
So true. We can try our hardest to focus and regulate our sleep but still be dead tired at work- because it’s understimulating!
Same for me! I remember in high school falling asleep standing up while I was standing in formation at the Naval Academy almost falling over. I almost fall asleep- dozing while driving consistently if it's more than 10 miles , and at my desk All day long fighting to stay awake! It's constant fight even if I'm standing up. I'm 38 and undiagnosed.
@@sara.e.1111oh yeah, I fall asleep several times while I was standing, and also while biking. My feet was still spinning, but i dozed off totally, like I just shaken up because I almost lost my balance. So interesting to find out, that is just one more thing that I can blame on my ADHD. 😅
Honestly I didn't realize this was a thing, I always thought I was tired because I wasn't good enough at regulating my sleep, or sticking to a sleep schedule. I try to force myself not to take naps, but I've noticed especially with homework from a specific class no matter what I do I can't finish it without taking a nap. I can work on it for maybe 20 minutes before I begin to get sleepy and I have just fallen asleep at my desk before while trying to complete it. Nice to know maybe I'm not just stupid and lazy and it might be connected to my ADHD.
I have trouble with completing notes for work. I just get so tired and I physically cannot complete the notes that NEED done! I haven't had the trouble of falling asleep at my desk, but I've definitely had issues with feeling too tired
This makes more sense to me now. I tend to cycle at times. I’m alert fine and chitchatting. Then within 30 minutes I feel like taking a nap. The weight that comes on is incredible honestly. Sometimes I can’t even prepare for it. People can hold it against you like you’re doing it on purpose. It’s like no, I’m not sure why my brain said, “Time to bounce on out of here.”
It’s weird for sure. I could be hanging out with family, at a movie or just chilling at home. There’s those times where it comes out of nowhere.
💯👏
I'd never heard of this before, but it explains so much. I've had issues with oversleeping my whole life, there have been many times when I was so sleepy I couldn't think about anything else but the desire to sleep. I started drinking coffee, even though it makes me anxious, because I got in trouble at work because I literally couldn't keep my eyes open. I always assumed it was a combination of depression and my fault for having bad sleep habits, but even with various medications and lots of effort it's been so so hard to improve and I still often feel uncomfortably sleepy at the worst of times. I got diagnosed with ADHD (inattentive type) in adulthood a couple years ago and even just a diagnosis makes me feel better, because I'm discovering that all these obstacles I assumed were due to laziness and felt guilty for my whole life can instead be explained and solved by the fact that my brain just works differently. Thank you!
I figured out a freelance career decades before I was ever diagnosed, because of many issues related to ADHD and ASD. I was constantly "in trouble" at work. Lateness and nappiness being 2 big ones. I've known for a while about other issues resulting from the ASD, but I didn't know these particular issues were ADHD related. It's helpful to know, even now, because I still struggle with it, it's just that working on my own I can make accommodations.
This is brilliant and really informative. I'm a Psych professor and L.P. I had a student in a few of my classes with pretty clear undiagnosed ADHD-PI. That student would also fall asleep randomly in the middle of class, and other profs complained about the same behavior in their classes. The student was having trouble seeing/finding a MD to help him get diagnosed and treated, but was confused about his random bouts of sleep/sleepiness. This really puts some things together for me, and I've already shared it with him. Thank you so much for digging into this "scant" research! :)
I love this woman! Thank you Dr. Marks for bringing light to our daily difficulties! 🥰🥰
In college I would sit in the front, to make sure I had the least amount of external distractions possible. I was eons away from detecting or being educated on ADHD. 📝One day in health class ( a subject which I LOVE ) I’m the front row I interlocked my hands behind my head as I was enjoying the lecture. 😌Next thing I know, I heard silence, and I opened my eyes to see an indignant and perplexed look on the instructors face. I could tell she was insulted. I felt ashamed. 🧑🏫Shiiiit, I didn’t even know I why (or when) I just TKO’d right in front of her face like that. 🤷🏾♀️I laughed it off but it’s stuck with me for 20 years 😬
Once, I attended a virtual business conference and had to grapple with my consciousness for 3 days. 🥷I was pumped, excited and ready to go! Until someone started speaking, then I felt like someone put NyQuil in my tea…I was so so drowsy. 🥱💤I could not understand wtf was going on with Me! And trying to engage with others in and out of that state is embarrassing-cause you’re literally half awake!
I love that Dr. Marks gives us insight into our own minds 🧐🧠and a marker for research should we choose to look further into it!
ADHD meds help, a lot, 💊but my brain is my brain! Now I won’t feel bad for doodling…..hugs for all you out there that read this and can relate. Namaste🙏🏾🫂😘♥️♥️♥️
Yesss!!! I thought I was crazy. I literally feel like I’ve been drugged and can hardly keep my eyes open. I’ve had this happen while getting trained for a new position, I could not understand her, I couldn’t stay awake. I lied and said I had taken an allergy pill that must have made me drowsy. I always felt it was connected to ADHD . I’ve never been medicated for it. I think it’s time.
You consistently bring up things I’ve never heard of, and I bet I’m not the only one. This video is a fantastic service to those of us who have felt shame for something that we just needed told about. Thank you once again. You are worth more than I can say. 🥰
Agree 💯
This video made me feel heard and validated (and a little teary tbh). And the shame plays such a huge part on our overall well-being.
Gives me faith that there are health care professionals out there who are actually in our corner!
Those who not only keep abreast of emerging research but find the time to share it with an audience who may not have access people like her, but desperately need such care.
Note: Yes I am one of many who have been seeking help for years only to feel utterly unheard. 😉
I'm literally crying right now. I've struggled with this for YEARS and could never figure out why I doze off in classes no matter how much sleep I get the night before. Thank you for this. I feel so seen ❤😭
I used to be a very devout Christian and went to church almost every Sunday. When I got married and stared going to my ex's church i found their sermons were pretty much an hour to an hour and a half long theology lectures. While I never fell asleep, staying awake was super hard. I'd be so sleepy I'd feel nauseated. My eyes would water, I'd yawn incessantly. I'd go to te bathroom, wonder the halls, even pretend like I needed to get something out of the car just to stay awake. I'd felt so guilty about being SO bloody sleepy in church, but I now I know it wasn't entirely my fault lol.
Been there! And don’t let it be a small church! Lol. It feels like a sort of torture…but with loads of guilt in top!
😂😂
That is why I don’t go to church
I love Jesus but I cannot for the life of me 😂😂
Have a blessed one
Omg yes to the constant yawning!! Even when im not sleepy i yawn so much. And any time im in a room with a lot of ppl and someone is talking, be it a big office meeting, a presentation, conference, etc. I just get so drowsy. I always theorized it was because the oxygen goes down with everyone breathing, but i still get this when the room is well-ventilated...
@@BuriedTeeth Lmao OXYGEN!!! The things we have to theorize to make sense of our lives!!!!!
@@cinthyasalas2360 it’s hard to fight! And some preachers will call you out! 😱
Omg for the longest time I've been testing for all these sleeping disorders but turns out it's my ADHD causing it! I was in a session with a therapist and i legit fell asleep and couldn't even recall what we were speaking of. Thanks so much for this video dr Marks! I've learnt so much from you and thank you for your insites and valuable knowledge.
I went through the same thing, testing for ANYTHING that could explain this debilitating fatigue/urge to sleep throughout the day, it’s amazing how many symptoms ADHD can be responsible for! I can at least say for me stimulant medication/Vyvanse made a massive difference for me, I don’t get the urge to sleep as frequently or as strongly/unfightable as I did before. Can even have days now where I don’t have a several hour nap during the day, something I could never achieve before!
Wow. I didn't know this was a thing, but it perfectly explains why I get sleepy and fatigued when I'm bored, even if I felt jazzed about something a few minutes ago. Thank you for talking about this!
Thank you SO MUCH for addressing this and acknowledging it. I have felt this for years before I got an ADHD diagnosis. It was so bad at times I'd google symptoms of narcolepsy because no one else I knew would nod off like that. Driving on the interstate was a big problem for me for years because no matter how I opened the windows or turned up the radio I could quickly nod off. In high school and college, I'd fall asleep in class. I'd get in the car for a fun road trip and I'm out. I once zonked out in the middle of a college football game, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CROWD. I fell asleep in the front row of my boyfriend's play. I would be with a group of friends playing a new board game. They'd want to read out all the directions and I'd just fall asleep right in the middle of everything. Most recently my problem has been with working remotely. There were times when I would get off of a Zoom meeting and lay down on the floor by my desk to sleep. I also find myself snacking a lot in these situations (or constantly drinking coffee/soda) just to stay awake. I've always felt that it was my brain being so bored that it would simply shut off.
About a year ago I started getting neurofeedback therapy. As you can imagine my theta waves were taking over. After 20 sessions I can say my theta waves are now in line with the rest of them (I'm not sure exactly how to phrase this) and while I still have the urge to nap every once in a while, I no longer have that feeling of the need to sleep just shutting me down against my will. I really REALLY hope you can make this more well-known as a symptom of ADHD. It has been one of my major ones for as long as I remember.
Oh and it wasn't lack of sleep. I've always gotten between 8-9 hours of sleep except when my daughter was a baby. And yes then the symptoms were way worse.
I wish I could afford any kind of specialized therapy where the therapist is actually qualified and could provide things like neurofeedback therapy. I am struggling with this very problem that this video addresses. Even my dextroamphetamine doesn't do much for me anymore.
@@robinboyko2080 sounds interesting - where did you go for this treatment and which country are you in? In Canada, I would imagine this possibly through a hospital sleep clinic. 🤔
I was just about to comment about this. Before I was diagnosed and medicated, driving on the interstate was the worst. Windows down, ac on, loud music, slapping my face, nothing worked. I’d often have to pull over at a rest stop and take a cat nap. Didn’t matter what time of day it was or if I had gotten 10 hours of sleep.
I also fell asleep during all movies in the theaters and at home. College classes were difficult to ever stay awake.
Church was bad too. I had to go to church with my family every Sunday and when I was old enough to not be in the kids Sunday school classes myself, I started volunteering to work in the nursery and be an teacher assistant for the 3 and 4 year olds so I had an excuse to not have to struggle to stay awake during church.
I am so grateful that the medication has helped me with this. I don’t want to go back to dealing my with that again.
I'm literally going through this right now! And I couldn't understand for the life of me why I was always so tired and listless. Since I'm getting restful nights of sleep. This is a sign! Thank you, Dr. Marks!
I’m diagnosed with ADHD. I’m 21 years old. Taking Concerta helped me with this issue. I’m really grateful, but I didn’t know this issue was related to ADHD too!
This channel's content is always exceedingly fresh. Even though I felt I've research ADHD and anxiety heavily, you always provide content I never could have imagined. This channel is incredible!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cried over your videos. Ugly cried.
I (M 58) remain undiagnosed, but my lifelong symptoms are impossible to ignore. I’m clearly full-on ADHD and have several obvious and strong ASD characteristics. I’m finally starting to care for myself, but I’ve had three psychiatrists tell me (in the last two years) that I “couldn’t possibly have ADHD because I was never diagnosed as a child. And how could you have accomplished what I did, if you were ADHD?” The VA mental health services are the worst, by the way.
I’ve lost jobs, friends, housing, and was estranged from family members. So many times I’ve re-watched your videos because they hit way too close to home, and I couldn’t stop thinking about what could have been.
I would probably benefit from medication, but meditation is better than nothing. I’m using the background clues that you give to help me understand the origins my thoughts, and that helps tremendously! I’m looking into a new MH provider.
Thank you.
I'm so sorry you're in this situation. I know there are ADHD/ASD tests that you can take that aren't covered by your insurance, so you would have to pay out of pocket. They can be really expensive. But at least you would get a definitive diagnosis from people who specialize in that subject. Maybe look into that? All the best to you.
Sending love. I'm so sorry you're having to deal with that and hope you get a diagnosis soon. I was diagnosed with bipolar at 24, then ADHD at 39 (I think) - I'm about to hit 42. My therapist and a new friend at a job were both convinced I had ADHD, then I started looking into it. I had to nag my psychiatrist for a year before he'd even consider it. I understand the "what could have been" feelings, and how suddenly everything makes sense. You accomplished what you did because you found workarounds, and hacks, and tricks, and tried to work with your brain instead of against, and did the best you could. You shouldn't be punished for learning to manage. Those psychiatrists need to be slapped.
I got diagnosed at 55, I hear you, if I had known earlier it would have changed a lot of things for me, I am waiting on an assessment for Autism but they often go together and I definitely fit the symptom’s.
I totally feel you! I'm F57, and only now has my Medi-Caid case worker found a doctor to give me a preliminary eval for ADHD and ASD. I sometimes wonder what I could have accomplished if I had been diagnosed when I was young.
My daughter takes the full spectrum cbd gummies (she is asd with sensory issues) and it’s amazing,Look up albovegateway
So so so happy that you made a video of this, for some time I thought I had some weird form of narcolepsy.
One day I randomly googled “excessive daytime sleepiness in ADHD” and found a series of studies done showing a strong correlation and this just further validates it.
In school and movie theaters are the main places I struggle with this.
Bored senseless is a good way of putting it and pretty literally what happens. The other thing that literally happens is being bored to actual tears. It's like torture, physically and mentally.
this happens to me all the time! and it’s specially infuriating after sleeping technically well. i can be in a lecture, alert, and a few minutes later falling asleep for like a minute, sitting straight, out of the blue. my professors take offense to it.
i used to be so angry at myself, specially on days I slept ok. this video is comforting. at least i know where it’s coming from. you strike again, adhd!
At 65, I have long since stopped trying to explain these things even to my closest friends. They have no understanding, and no willingness to throw out their anecdotal misconceptions of what it is like to live inside a brain with this wiring. Thank you, at least, for not only understanding but for communicating what it means so well.
I don't want to jump to conclusions about my own diagnosis because obviously I'm not a professional, but there have been multiple times where I watch one of your videos and it just makes so much sense. I have ADHD, and I constantly get exhausted in the afternoons, sometimes to the point where I can drift off while sitting up and doing something. I'll knock out for hours, and I always figured it was just from poor sleep (which I'm sure doesn't help), but it felt like it was too severe to be normal. Having at least a possible idea of what it can be is so validating - sure it doesn't fix my problems right away, but having terminology that explains it just makes it feel more real and manageable. Thank you for always sharing such important info in a concise and understandable way!
This is so good! I've experienced this my whole life, but haven't had words to explain it. Thanks for sharing. I don't feel like there's something wrong with me anymore - it's just my ADHD.
Wow this explains so much. For as long as I can remember I have always felt tired or sluggish, especially when I was in school. I had tried getting more sleep or less, different diets and lots of exercise but still felt this way. Eventually I just assumed that I was going to feel this way forever and never grow out of it. That's changed recently when I was finally diagnosed with adhd and prescribed a stimulant medication and it has made a world of a difference, thought I'd never feel not exhausted or sluggish.
This is so real. Ive struggled with this since i was a child. Id draw to stay alert and many instructors would become angry and take my drawings away, then i'd fall asleep! Id have to demonstrate to certain instructors that the drawing helps me listen, it was a struggle up until University.
I had this exact thing happen to me in college. I was totally fine in every class except for math, which I had absolutely no interest in. It never failed, as soon as the professor started speaking, I started struggling to stay conscious. I ended up dropping out because I couldn't make it through a single lecture and I knew I wasn't actually learning anything. This was before my ADHD diagnosis, so I just thought it was my fault and that I was doing something wrong. When I finally did get an ADHD diagnosis, my psych at the time even then had said that ADHD could manifest in the form of sudden drowsiness when in a situation where your brain has checked out from the situation. This is the first time since then (over 10 years ago now) that I've seen anyone talk about this symptom.
SAME.. I suffered like this back in high school, at boring seminars, in classes at uni, and sometimes at work when things are slow... I receive medication and am diagnosed now (that helps), but this video by Dr Marks further validates and explains my symptoms when I was younger, and it helps to know that I wasn't struggling from some random sleep disorder
I experienced this too. Subjects like English or History I actually performed fairly well. Borderline failed everything else, inescapable subjects like science or economics were the worst. On those days I would collapse on bed when I got home.
This happened to me in high school everyday. Most of my teachers were used to it and knew that I would catch up with work after class, but it was still soooo embarrassing!!! I didn’t want to give that impression of “you can’t keep me interested so i’m gonna fall asleep on you” I was trying my HARDEST to stay asleep and pay attention but it was IMPOSSIBLE. Eventually i started putting my head down and doodling and it helped a little bit, but I still wasn’t really paying attention… My inner monologue would get louder than the teacher’s voice when doodling… In my first year of college I was determined to not let this happen and I would force myself to be actually interested in the lectures by participating and making it my goal to get all As without having to study too much at home. It worked until one day when we were discussing a review for the final exam and going over everything we already learned. I knew everything, so I slammed into the table and slept through the entire lecture. IN COLLEGE. That’s when I decided to get professionally diagnosed and I got medicated about 6 months later. This is a biiig problem and I’d love if professionals could find techniques to deal with it other than medication. I’d also love if more teachers knew about this sort of thing cause I remember a couple of my ADHD classmates getting scolded for falling asleep in class. We can’t help it that we’re bored!!!
This is so interesting. I’ve talked about this with multiple people recently because I learned that this doesn’t happen to everybody. In high school I would fall asleep in class all the time and could not control it at all & tried to compensate with caffeine. It’s really cool to know that theta waves are the cause of that uncontrollable feeling of sleepiness that I get before I accidentally fall asleep.
I don't have ADHD, but am diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. I tend to usually lack motivation and easily get sleepy even when I've been able to get a full night's sleep. My psychiatrist prescribes (off label so not covered by Medicare) Modafinil 200mg. It helps me immensely to stay awake and helps me get out of bed and motivate me to do a few things. The only downfall is that around late afternoon I can feel it's effects start to wear off. But it's still been a big game changer for me.
I was diagnosed for depression for so long because of my sleepiness and lack of motivation, but turns out it was adhd. It’s interesting how they can present the same way
This was my cousins experience as well. So glad you got it figured out
So true. I would fall asleep while standing up in my 8th grade history class because my teacher had a boring voice and his lessons were boring....
And for the record.. He made me stand up when i was falling asleep, didn't work.
I sleep almost 11 hours and yet I'm tired constantly as i have ADHD
This is fascinating. I do this. It's gotten to the point I can feel myself checking out and I have even fallen asleep with my eyes open multiple times. Never thought it was linked with my ADHD, but thanks to a later in life diagnosis, I'm still pretty new to all that too
Wow! Thank you for the video. Feeling very sleepy during boring stuff or stressful occasions has given me a lot of problems. Just like your son, I tend to feel very sleepy at about 4 in the afternoon. I’d doodle or swing my chair or play with my hair at school. I was called lazy. Doctors would tell my mom to give me iron pills and vitamin C - that didn’t help at all. Relationships and work were always problematic. The only things that helped, really, were watching my blood sugar and working the graveyard shift. I got my ADHD diagnosis in 2009, at 44. Unfortunately, I can’t take stimulants as they give me terrible hives.
I have ADHD and definitely struggle with this.
Wow. You’ve described my experiences [and profound frustrations with myself] until I started medication. Involuntary sleep/iness was the single greatest impairment to me accomplishing my work in university. It never mattered how much sleep I got or what time of day or however many every drinks or coffee I had, sitting in a campus library studying textbooks that were sawdust dry and I was asleep. I could even read fiction/non-fiction until meds.
Holy crap I knew it was related to ADHD once I was diagnosed but it’s nice to see a video reassuring that! i’m so surprised that all of my teachers never did anything about me constantly falling asleep. It wasn’t just me being sleep deprived, something in my brain would literally switch off and it was out of my control! I still struggle with this problem to this day, I genuinely can’t work in an office because I get so bored I go to sleep and I can’t help it!
This answered so many questions I’ve had for years! I would literally be standing and singing in choir class and just drop; my sister would have to catch me! Nowadays I just focus on getting more than 9 hours of sleep each night, but that doesn’t always stop it, and it isn’t always possible anyways. Thanks for the info! Glad to know I’m not crazy!
Yes I have had this my whole life and I have ADHD. All of the coping strategies mentioned are ones I’ve tried. It’s frustrating that no one takes ADHD seriously. I run my own company now because I can accommodate myself. It means I have to also push myself, but it’s fine. I’d rather that to the stress of trying to fit in where I don’t.
FINALLY SOMEONE TALKING ABOUT THIS! Been struggling with this since high school, to the point where I even have a hard time driving because of the boredom. It's honestly crippling, and I had no idea why it was happening to me.
Modifinil has been a miracle for me. I used to go to sleep driving very easily even on short trips around town. It was made worse by my irregular sleep schedule due to shift work. I think I was technically Dx’d for “shift work disorder”, but I was undiagnosed ADHD and I can’t take adhd meds due to my heart condition. Modifinil helps and doesn’t raise my blood pressure too much.
I also take Modaffinel. My body doesn't handle stimulants very well. Modaffinel is a good non stimulant stimulant stimulant.
It was so amazing taken it for the 1st time. I've suffered from narclepsy since I was a kid, I didn't get diagnosed til like 25.
So I never really knew what it felt like to be awake Before I was put on medication. I was always tired. I woke up tired. I never felt rested. I was so tired all the time that my dreams would often feel more real than reality.
And then when I was 11 I suddenly started collapsing every so often. I had cataplexy too.
on medication feeling my eyes opened without any strain it's thrilling. My head feeling clear, Not always being in a fog. I feel lighter. That is until the medication wears off. Then all my will power to stay awake just disappears. It's not gradual it hits me like an instant.
Suddenly I have difficulty concentrating, I have to put everything I can into focusing on my body moving in what I'm doing, So therefore I have difficulty listening and paying attention to other people.
It's like my batteries have run out. And every particle of my core is looking to just lie down. I admit often times I'll be found asleep on the floor.
thank you so much for bringing up this problem. really appreciate your efforts ❤
Thank you so much for this video. This is real it's not just in our heads. You're the first to bring this up, and you explained it so well.
cool to find your channel again, and glad you still make these enlightening videos for people like me to learn about other conditions ❤
Thank-you for validating this very, very real issue. I get so tired randomly throughout the day, and when I was in high-school, college, and even early career, sometimes I'd just randomly fall asleep, or get very close to it. Thankfully, no one ever seemed to notice, or at least never acknowledged it to my face, or maybe I got some sort of pass because I could do really good work when I wasn't feeling dozy. I still get waves of exhaustion in the middle of the day, even when I get good sleep the night before. I'm grateful for the managers that I've had, and also for being able to work from home, so that I can accommodate my work hours around periods of time when I feel alert and productive.
My son has had insomnia for all his life, he was diagnosed with ADHD at 5 years old , he was taking melatonin until 12 years when this stopped to work . He can’t sleep at nights , some days he has 2 days without sleep; it brings a lot problema with his school , the psychiatrist sent different for sleep and he can’t he fell sleep until late , next day a zombie ; he failed school, now he is depressed with a lot of anxiety sleep problem and I still can't get a psychiatrist to give him the proper treatment 😢😢😢 it is so hard !!!
I'm so sorry. Hope you'll find someone eventually that helps a little.
I can relate my son as a young child had sleep issues, and was diagnosed at 17 adhd, generalize anxiety etc at 28 still nothing works and suffers i hste when thry arecup a few nights which can cause mania etc
@@donnawiseman3686 your son gets mania I do as well I thought have bipolar but it never last that long to be it,.
@@Peter_Sokunbi i have noticed some extremely stressful events pushed him into mania, now trying to get a proper diagnosis schofective disorder has been mentioned. Mental health is so complicated and can take years to get a proper diagnosis
Does your son suffer with nightmares, night terrors as this has been an issue too from young age still happening.
I'm so glad someone is finally talking about this! This is the worst problem I have with adhd since I was a child, and still. Time blindness, impulsive behaviors and problems with executive functions are tough, but this one hits me harder. Thank you so much, I hope they can study it more to become one of the DSM diagnosis criteria.
Omg, YES! Thank you! This has always been so confusing to me. I'd be so sleepy at all the wrong times and just up & ready to go during all the others. It must be hard to be looked to for the answers when science and medicine are behind in a lot of ways but thank you for explaining what we do know - it helps even in the level of self-acceptance and awareness.
Thank you for making a video about this! Fighting to stay awake has been something I’ve struggled with for years - it had never occurred to me that this could be linked to my ADHD.
I’ll often get frustrated with my lack of strength to stay awake during important times. It’s very comforting to hear someone recognize this as a problem and difficulty that exists. This video helped me replace some of that shame with more understanding and patience with myself - thank you! :)
Thank you for another excellent insightful video, and a HUGE Appreciation THANK YOU to your son for letting you share. Seeing you as a mom, not just a brilliant doctor, is helpful!
A Big Thank You, Dr. Marks ! This explains So much of the symptoms I see in some family members. For taking the time to explain it, the doodling, sleepiness, falling asleep, overactive brain at night. Instead of most Dr.s just pass it off as "behavior".
oh my god, i’ve been struggling with this issues my whole life in education and never had a term for it. i used to think i had narcolepsy, when i would get those completely uncontrollable waves of sleepiness and would randomly fall asleep in class, seminars and meeting. it’s always been so embarrassing to me and caused me a lot of stress and feelings of being judged. thank you for covering this topic, i will definitely look more closely into the research in this field ❣️
sidebar: When trying two different stimulant medications for my ADHD (Vyvanse, then Concerta, both extended (14 hr) release), I found that neither helped much with my focus control (even after going to the upper limit of the safe dosage for either, based on my body's other factors). BUT I did find that for the first time in my life I had a really regular circadian/sleep cycle that pretty much matched the neuro-typical hours.
Dr. Marks, I want to thank you. Your videos are so helpful, that after watching many of your videos on adhd I realized that it was probably I had it (I always thought I might but I always assumed one had to be hyperactive which I’m not). Your videos gave me understanding and motivation to seek a diagnosis which I got earlier this week (inattentive type - which is apparently more prevalent in girls). Thank you again for your videos. You help a lot of people. 💛
Thank you so much for sharing ❤️ and using your son as an example. Seeing it happen up close and personal really does make a difference.
I wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until my mid twenties, but I've had many different experiences over the years. My mental health journey didn't start until I was 20 and in my junior year of college. That was an extremely stressful time in my life. I had my first and only full-blown manic episode. I was hospitalized against my will (at the time I was pissed but looking back now, I'm grateful). Mania is probably my greatest fear now. I struggled a lot with accepting my diagnosis of Bipolar 1 disorder and taking the medication. After my full manic episode, I fell into a deep deep depression. I left school for 3 years. As an individual, I changed. Change is normal. I was able to eventually accept myself and be happy with myself. Therapy, meds, and my own willpower to learn more about how I can be content living my life has gotten me here. Yes, I still struggle, but I know things will get better eventually. I'm a believer that everything happens for a reason. Even with my struggles, I feel happier and mentally stronger now than I was when I was 20.
I got way off track, but it's hard to know when it's my ADHD causing me problems or my Bipolar Disorder.
I will definitely say that over this past weekend, I had to let my boyfriend watch Titans alone because I knew the show wasn't stimulating enough for me and I would fall asleep extremely early (b4 9pm 🙈).
Instead, I played a game on my laptop to pass the time. It helped. I am trying to work on getting a better sleep schedule, but it's difficult 🙈😅
Thank you for all the work you do.
I like Ur videos so much . Last year I got depersonalisation and I found Ur channel and the depersonalisation Manuel which helped me so much
Happens to me everyday, thought I had narcolepsy or my ADHD giving me low quality sleep, but i noticed this way before I was diagnosed and thought it was normal. I only took it seriously when I stretched because I feel so sleepy and I passed out while stretching causing me to drop to the floor. Thanks for bringing light to this.
It always seems like you take a trip to my brain and observe every landscape in it on your ADHD videos.
Thank you for that 🙏🏼🥰
Thank you!! This is so validating. I struggled with this all throughout high school and my military time post-HS. No one understood.
My ADHD was so bad that I would fall asleep in class from 1st to 3rd grade, they accused me of being retarded - teachers even decided to lower my grades despite my high performance on tests (I was basically being gaslit). I became afraid of the education system and I became dysfunctional in class. Anyway, eventually it turned out that I had college-level reading and math, and work for children was just not stimulating enough for my brain at the time. I eventually went into homeschooling, got through that, and now I'm finally in university doing studies that actually interest me.
You just explained something I’ve been chasing for decades!
I even went through all the narcolepsy meds… heavy stimulants… all kind of attempt to fix it and nobody could ever give an explanation. This is something else to look into! Thank you! ❤
I’ve literally fallen asleep standing up before. Any attempt at focused concentration makes me exhausted. So annoying!
Do you smoke cigarettes?
Wow, I'm glad you put this video out. I now have an explanation for what I've experienced with ADHD.
This phenomenon has happened to me all my life. It is absolutely real, and I'm glad to see someone talking about it.
I'm so glad you did a video on this! I still struggle with sleepiness when facing things I really don't want to do. I thought I was just lazy. Then I heard Markiplier talking about him experiencing the same effect when he would sit down and try to practice his trumpet in school. It was the first time I ever heard anyone talk about it! It's just one of those symptoms no one mentions.
Dr. Tracy Marks, thank you. Thank you for explaining this very important information about what sleep issue my ADHD has been causing me for the past couple of days.
I’m a chronic insomniac and I also have anxiety, depression, cerebral palsy, and autism. Learning about this theta wave intrusion now helps me put everything into perspective. But oh my gosh, I wish someone had told me this sooner! I’ve had days where I’ve been bored at work and I try to keep myself alert, but it’s frustrating. Not to mention that it is so hard to quiet my brain down before I go to sleep so that I ACTUALLY CAN get some sleep. I also had a brain injury before I was born which caused my cerebral palsy to begin with.
Oh blimey! I have struggled with this for such a long time. There have been so many occasions when I have dipped at inappropriate times. The movement thing makes a lot of sense and I will definitely have to incorporate this into my day.
I go through this a lot w/ my Adhd. If I don’t take long acting meds I’ll get sleepy after 4-5 hours of awakeness, even if had plenty of sleep the night before. It’s really annoying to just have to take naps all day which eventually ruin your sleeping time. Thanks for making a video on it!
I used to struggle through school and college lectures, finding it extremely difficult to stay awake. Even in the holidays, if I was watching a movie with friends during the day I’d often fall asleep.
@@kainickname sadly not, I currently work from home which helps keep my brain more active during the day. Cutting out gluten has also helped a bit, I feel sharper whereas when I ate gluten I felt foggy in my head.
I’m 43 and still quite often nap in the afternoon if I’m not doing something that fully occupies my mind.
@@kainickname i split my medicate up. i take it again when i know I would be getting tired.
Thank you so much for this video, you just helped me answer something I've been struggling with my whole life! I have chronic migraines so I assumed maybe this was related to that, but it being an ADHD thing makes a lot more sense. This happened to me all the time in school and happens to me a lot at work, but I've recently found that listening to humorous videos or playing with magnets at work helps to prevent me from suddenly checking out. I only got diagnosed with ADHD a few months ago at 19 years old, and I wish I'd known about this symptom sooner!
Omg! This explains so much to me! I didn’t understand how I could have ADHD and yet get so tired when I don’t take my medication! Now it makes so much so much sense! Thank you so much for this video!
I get this very, very severely. We’ve never been able to figure out why but it happens slowly or very very quickly and I have to pull over driving. I would like to take part in a study, I’m sure my brain would produce it 😅😢. My life is a complete disaster and I’m a constant disappointment to myself and my family who think I’m lazy or don’t push hard enough. Anyway, if I can help someone else out by participating somehow I’d appreciate being reached out to.
Yep, know that. If a task is really bad I can't even keep my head up it gets SO heavy. I've slept on the floor in university libraries bc of this. When I can't sleep in a moment like that then I'm done after the thing that bored me to almost death. Done for the day. Like, DONE. I always came back wiped out from school as well. Just drained of any will or energy to live. To do anything but crawl into my bed and just be left alone. And this has nothing to do with getting enough sleep. I could sleep all day and still be tired. I sleep 8 hours most nights and still get up feeling absolutely smushed and it takes me a long time to gear up.. like hours. Except if sthg bad happens that gives me an adrenalin rush or if there's sthg really exciting to do. Ugh
This is literally so validating. I was diagnosed very recently, but have struggled with randomly falling asleep in lectures for much of my adult life. I have always taken notes and doodled but there are times (it was worst when I was a TA) where I would be writing then wake up a few slides later and the prof would be BIG mad.
Yes, Finally thanks for speaking about this topic ❤
Yes. Yes it can! It is a REAL problem for me. THANK YOU for posting this!!!
I've always felt I was extra sleepy all the time, more than other people, and I never knew it could ever be linked to my boredom and ADHD?? I always tell people I can sleep anytime and anywhere; and that sometimes when I'm bored, sleeping is usually something I do. I just never thought... just wow. So much to learn!!
This explains so much!! I always fell asleep in school and at work, sometimes even while standing up! I was always accused of not getting enough sleep even though I had slept my 8 hours the night before and it was so frustrating. Thanks for sharing this and hopefully we'll get a lot more studies on this asap.
Thank you so much for posting this. Im a therapist and Ive dealt with this for years and have recieved a lot of judgement in my professional career due to my symptoms of ADHD. I get this a lot while driving my mind checks out and i nod out which has made me change my driving habits but its scary. Thanks again for sharing.
This is such a good description and explanation of what happens... and it's so frustrating when you are trying *so hard* to stay awake, sometimes literally poking at cuts or something to use the pain to stay awake and you still pass out. Or get in trouble for doodling while trying to stay awake during a meeting so you just have no way to work around it. You can go and get a walk in grab something to drink but the moment you sit back down your brain just turns off again and it's like the walk never happened! Going to show everyone important this video, it's wonderfully explained and a great pace :)
Perfect timing!! Just sent this video to my child’s teacher.
Welp. For whole my life I thought that I’m just “sleepy” by myself, and here I am.
In fact I was intuitively doing exactly same things as you advice to stay awake. But it’s so good to know that I’m not alone and all that is a real thing.
Thank you for this channel
You have a great understanding of the ADHD experience! Thanks so much for sharing
Thank you for this. I was diagnosed late in life (just before 50th birthday) so I’m still figuring it all out and live with chronic fatigue.
Not a fun combo.
Love your channel.
❤
Wow this really helped me understand that my random daytime fatigue is not me being “lazy” but it is due to my adhd. There are so many areas of my life negatively affected by this disorder which sucks BUT knowing it’s not all on me really helps. Thank you for sharing this information!!
This video made me cry. I'm 52 years old, diagnosed with ADHD at 44... I have struggled with this my whole life! I felt so validated and relieved. Thank you for talking about this. I'd to help or with any research because it is so prevalent in my life, I'd be a good lab rat. 😊
This is so validating 💜
Holy cow…for years I have been trying to figure out why I get this sudden, almost drugged feeling of sleepiness!! Thank you!
I've never heard of this before but i have definitely experienced it. Thank you.
My life every day. Once again, Dr. M nails it.
Holy shit this describes me so well. Especially when you said your son went from being "alert" to going unresponsive within mere minutes. Ive been having that same issue even when i was in highly intensive situations that required all my attention, just to suddenly drift off completely for multiple minutes, the only thing keeping me awake being my coworkers engagement and even then i found it extremely difficult to even just keep my eyes focused. Ive felt really ashamed about this because i felt like i could potentially lose my job if it became more apparent to other people so ive never mentioned it to anyone but this makes so much sense and possibly gives me the ability to understand that pattern better in the future and maybe even counteract it better.
I really enjoy you ADHD coverage. Thank you
Oh my word, I fall asleep every single day at my desk at work. Sometimes nodding off 30-40 times throughout the day, no matter how rested I am from sleep the night before. And I’m guaranteed to fall asleep in the car as a passenger.
In high school, whenever I was forced to watch a video that I found boring, I’d fall asleep. I fell asleep during lectures in university as well.
Thank you so much for taking the time to do these videos. You explain things in a very rational and very practical manner and get right to the point. Your videos are information dense which is great for my brain :) I am now in my 50s, and I've discovered most of these coping skills throughout the years but wish I had learned these things in my 20s.
omg. It's so nice to put terms onto things that I experience but no one ever seems to understand.
STOP ITTTTTTT Dr Tracey you have solved my mystery!!!!!! Before diagnosis I’d have bouts of this when bored at work. It was uncontrollable like narcolepsy but it wasn’t narcolepsy. It was THIS!!!!! I still get it very occasionally when bored but not as often thank goodness. BLESS YOU QUEEN