The Science of Adult ADD/Adult ADHD
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- Опубликовано: 29 ноя 2022
- In this episode of I CARE FOR YOUR BRAIN with Dr. Sullivan, board certified neuropsychologist Dr. Karen D. Sullivan discusses symptoms, impact and solutions for coping with Adult ADD/Adult ADHD. Learn more at www.icfyb.com
I just recently admitted to myself that I have ADHD and I am 72 years old. I remember not being able to pay attention in school and my first grade teacher hitting my on my hands, hard, with a ruler. That taught me to control how I was feeling and thinking. Then my daughter had it and it still wasn’t ‘discovered’. Then her son, my grandson, was born and he had it. Fortunately, his mom became a school psychologist and he was properly diagnosed and treated for it. I just recently admitted to him that he got it from me. We had a wonderful talk about it.
In addition my report cards in elementary school referred to my ‘not paying attention’.
Good for you!! What a great grandma you are!!
And you dear Carolyn, most likely got it from someone in your family.
All that you said, all my life. Went to a counselor in my mid 50's because I felt so stuck and hadn't finished a lot of what I wanted started.. He tested me for ADD and the clinician said 'oh yes, you are!'. It put everything in perspective, but as my counselor warned me, it was a trifle depressing as I had to work through the feeling I had wasted my life. However, there is peace when you can understand your 'wiring.
I'm so glad you advocated for an evaluation. What can you do know armed with your knowledge and hopefully treatment?
Yep, guilty as charged - female ADHD here, diagnosed 55 - when someone happened to mention the symptoms of ADHD, I thought 'you're talking about me!' I would love you to talk more about strategies to cope with ADHD [i.e. non-medication]. For me meds aren't an option.
You accurately listed all the bad turns your life can take as a child, then adolescent, then adult attempting to live with undiagnosed ADHD. I have fallen into every one of those holes in my life, and have done an enormous amount of unnecessary suffering as a result. The community of AA helped me into lasting recovery, and revealed underlying cyclic major depressive illness. I have found antidepressants helpful, and they allowed me to stop smoking cigarettes (2.5 packs a day for 16 years.) Probably the most potent help has come from one on one psychotherapy with focus on behavioral issues. I’m now age 62, sober 37 years, smoke-free 33 years, and struggling anew to focus and lower my generalized anxiety.
👏🏻❤
You have described my life as an ADD person, I’m almost 73 and diagnosed myself while researching in the 90’s for my second husband who as a child was the classic ADHD child. I’m definitely searching for a specialist now as I would like to at least for a time in my later years know how being normal feels. I have read lately that ADD and autism share a lot of symptoms. Would you please do a lecture on this?
P. S. I’m so glad in this second marriage for us both we did not have children as the chances inherited ADD or ADHD would have been so high.
Thank you!! I was diagnosed at 37 and the meds changed my life. It’s still a daily battle but understanding the ADHD helped me be more compassionate with myself. I devoured (hyper-focused) every morsel of information I could get my hands on. It saddens me when parents disregard their child’s diagnosis in favor of doing nothing. Education is so important, thank you again!
Diagnosed in my 30's as well for being a hyper-focused ADD "brain". Medication completely changed my life in how I now function in day-to-day life.
@@ArkansasSquawso glad to hear that! Diagnosed in my mid forties and although a coaching program in the recent past and stimulants have helped me, I am still struggling soo much with implementation of such, time management, and overall catching up on life 😵💫🤦🏻♀️ - please do share any protocols you might have benefited from! Thank you and sending you the best wishes for much success and satisfaction ahead! 😃🙌
To whom ever is watching this video I will tell you that ADD/ADHD is also a coping mechanism that you adopted based off of childhood trauma and this is also a main contributing factor to the ADD/ADHD in society.
Is it ADHD because of trauma or is the trauma caused by ADHD due to repeated misinteractions with your environement?
I'd stick to #2 because the renowned psychiatrist Dr. Russel Barkley actually conducted clinical studies on this subject and found no evident cause for traumas causing ADHD, but he found the reverse: ADHD renders you more prone to fuck ups and miss the expectations of your peers and causes you to be more likely to be negatively criticized, which in return leads to reduced self esteem, which worsens the condition even further.
Seems like this is an area that requires more research?
I am amazed at people who remember so much of their childhood. I remember key moments, but other than that, not much else that’s happens in a typical day.
Thank vou soooo much! This information explains so much of the struggles of parenting two ADD kids in the 80's and 90's. Unfortunately, the thought process of school counselors and special ed staff back then was to make them work independently and not help them with homework and such. This drove my daughter to not even put her name on school work and tests because of embarrassment and self-doubt of her intellect. As adults, my kids still struggle as does their children. So I'm sharing this with all of them to help them better understand themselves and feel hope that answers are out there!
I put this on to listen to as I took a nap after work and I neither slept or listened properly and now I'm looking up jobs with this playing in the background for white noise
I was diagnosed with combination ADHD at 57 and I've tried every type of medication. The non-stimulants didn't do anything and the stimulants, at even extremely low doses, sent my anxiety into over drive and drove up my blood pressure sky high.
So we know that inattention issues can be caused by many things. What about Central Auditory Processing Disorder? Are you familiar with this? Could you possibly do a deep dive into for us at some point? Thanks much!
My best friend was recently diagnosed with ADD and bipolar. She was prescribed Adderall and said it was a game changer, that she felt so good and so much better, has initiative to do things. She said she actually had to go without the medication for a week or so and could tell a difference...negative. I asked why she hadn't taken it and she said there is a shortage of Adderall.
Exceptional and accessible unpacking of our difference. One point that I want to underscore is that ADHD does not go away in adulthood, the neuro divergence does evolve and can present differently as we age. What presented as poor, inconsistent grades in childhood might manifest as chronic unemployment or underemployment as an adult. As we age we often learn assistive, coping strageies to help with management of certain traits (lifestyle, organizational, emotion regulation and other skills and habits).
This lecture was fantastic! Thank you for this!
I was diagnosed with ADD recently. I went to the doctor due to my depression and, almost immediately, they know it. I didn't know about this condition before (I come from a country where this is not something the people know about, even the doctors). When they started to explain to me about add, my conception of myself change 180 degrees. I knew that i was a very intelligent person, but for some reason I couldn't do anything with that, and i felt so frustrate about. Now is starting a new era in my life.
Thanks for the video and the information.
Would love to hear about steps you have taken to change things around. It’s still been difficult for me after diagnosis and lack of effectiveness in treatment. Thanks
@@transphotography I started to take the pills. I have a lot of problems with them. It was awful, so I stopped .Now I do nothing about it.
Great Video! Thank you for such helpful, honest words!
Regarding neuropsychological testing, I did well on most of the tests except on some of them, I failed miserably in. So inconsistencies in the different test results could be key indicators. I performed poorly on tests that required the use of working memory and sustained attention (which I thought I did well in but apparently didn’t). However, I was told I didn’t meet their clinical diagnosis threshold because I wasn’t hyperactive, which was weird. A second assessment (3 appointment interview/surveys) was how I got my diagnosis. That doc also reviewed my neuropsych results. So, try both if one doesn’t work.
Thank you.
This was amazing. I learned sooo much! Several depression, anxiety, social anxiety, did so bad in school because I couldn't remember stuff I would study. I wish I was diagnosed back then. I was only diagnosed last year and im 42. So I'm not just nuts!
Nope! Now you need to do the work to un-do the shame! You can do this :-)
lovely work Doc
Wonderful video!professional and practical and organized
I subscribed, commented, and shared!!!! Love your channel!!!!!
This was so timely for me. I've been referred to a behavioral therapist and now I will have a lot of questions to help determine if her approach is likely to help me. Thank you.
thank you so much ! this truly helped a lot
Very good Help You just describe my whole life. Everything I went through.
I am seeing psychiatrist now
Good for you!
I’ve never heard it explained so well. Sertraline has really helped me be able to function better in many areas of ADHD
Lots of really great information here that helped me! Thank you.
Great to hear!
@@icareforyourbrainwithdr.su7103 does people with ADHD have problems on the Digit span test (forward) short term memory ? Thank you .
Thank you doctor! I’ve had this diagnoses since 25 medicated and I’ve had issues since kindergarten actually, I’ve gone off medication for 6-7 months recently and just went back on vyvanse, for me, I will admit I’ve been in lots of “risky” behavior, I’m moving place to place just cause i literally like new things and feel TORTURE when I’m stuck somewhere, but I actually have the least likely diagnosed one as I’m very good on a lot of the first part but the second one you said is the rarest is the one that I think goes mislabeled the most because many people think I have it all the looks the salesmanship the talk but inside, I’m screaming and I’m constantly playing with my hair since it’s longer and thick Native American/Italian hair it’s very easy to twirl, I’m constantly tapping, constantly getting up, and the biggest thing was I was given benzos at first very young to treat it when it truly made it worse as I already don’t care about what people think or what situation I put myself in I tell myself “I’ll figure it out” and my timing is terrible, I’ve recently had an emotional outburst I never ever had with my girlfriend, that was scary, I came back to normal within 15 seconds as she’s looking at me as a wild animal, so I’m trying to learn my best and not rely on amphetamines everyday and I have to do the routine like you said where I have to do things a certain way and my online e-commerce business is great but im becoming extremely unorganized and trying to fix that. This video gave me answers none of my doctors ever could!
I’m now 27 btw
I just came across your video, I can honestly say you have described ADD the most accurately thus far, as far as I've seen but there are some thing you didn't mention that maybe you don't know or maybe you do. People with ADD/ADHD have a much faster thought process than normal, this leads to speech and typing issues because our mind is processing faster than we can physically speak or type. this can cause people to explain things out of order (skipping ahead) or stumble over their words or slur. On the positive side of this we are excellent problem solvers, due to being able to run multiple scenarios and multiple end results to each simultaneously to come up with the best solution fast than most. I would also mention that people with ADD/ADHD also notice more than you may think, due the the fact that just about everything can and will catch our attention. This allows us to read people, through noticing every facial expression, body language, the change in mood/attitude, the slightest change in the tone of voice, down the the way things are worded that would imply or emphasize. I can also tell you that I have not taken any medication for ADD since the age of 16 and have learn how to manage it pretty well, not perfectly but for the most part better then most. I wouldn't mind speaking with you, I have a sightly different view on ADD as I see it as just a different brain function than said normal. I can also give explanations and example of what its like from the view point from the inside instead of the view point of that of someone on the outside trying to look in. Watching your video made me realize a couple thing I haven't noticed that I was doing but do do, so I will say that I did have one drink and listen to music to slow and calm me before watching this because it does in fact help me. anyway feel free to reach out and contact me, I mite be able to help explain a lot as this is something I have been studding for years in order to learn and manage. The key to managing is to build a higher level of focus and concentration and learn to block out your surroundings to avoid distractions, combating boredom is easier than combating distraction and less frustrating. Listening to LOUD music is great for Dopamine levels, better yet LOUD music videos. SOooo much more I could say and explain....
I love this contribution, Binary Matrix. Just awesome and appreciated!
@@icareforyourbrainwithdr.su7103 I would say the reason it is key to build a stronger level of focus and concentration by learning to block out or ignore your surroundings, is because its the first thing people with ADD need to do in order to begin to manage it. The lose if focus and concentration is due to how fast our mind processes, a distraction Brakes that focus. Not only that but then our mind races down the rabbit whole thinking about that distraction. For example, if I'm sitting in a class room that is dead silent trying to focus and concentrate on a test. I will hear the clock on the wall ticking, this distraction will brake my focus and my mind will then race down the rabbit whole and begin thinking about how a clock works, the internals of that clock, all its parts and gears that make it work and what internal parts makes that clock make the ticking sound. I also begin to also visual this as well, this is when I would realize that I need to redirect my focus, find where I left of and try to concentrate again. This part is what causes frustration because about the time I do, someone one will start clicking an ink pen or drop a pencil on the floor. All of this is due to the fact that people with ADD tend to analyze everything they see, hear and feel.
Wow I'm 48 and I have ADHD of course we didn't know or talk about that stuff when I was younger so I did try the adderal for a while it does help but then I stopped and I just hope people because I'm 48 I know it was something I dealt with now my whole life and I have tried to learn how to understand it and deal with it but then I do try my adderal every now and again but wow you are spot-on when it comes to problem-solving I have prided myself in that lol
I actually do have a better view of people and I pay attention to my surroundings and I absolutely talk fast the biggest thing I hate about and I've tried and gotten better with I have a habit of cutting people off before they're finished speaking and I interrupt I hate that more than anyting.
My biggest problem is I lack motivation. Especially when I don't even take my adderal the part I hate the most is that both of my daughters are struggling with these mental illnesses and I feel so guilty for it I guess that's part of my only honest but they are the ones who made me accept and realize that you know I do need to accept my ADHD and bipolar.now I feel like my bipolar I have extremely calm down maybe due to a and I have a better understanding because I focus on my two grown adult daughters and I remember their childhood I was always in a hurry I still kind of an I'm always in a hurry to go nowhere that's what my mom always told me I feel like I have calmed down a lot in that aspect but there's moment I'll get a huge Manic rush if I think we're going to be late to anything, I'll also and I always have talked very quickly and sometimes loudly but I have learned to slow down my speaking and Adderall does help me with that. However instead of 30 mg instant a day I will break that into 4 pieces because initially yeah the 30 mg was helpful but then I felt like I could taper down to those smaller amounts.
It's very interesting when you focus on the positive side of having ADHD which is what I try to do and I think now that I have a better understanding I can manage it better however I try to guide and I do talk too especially my oldest daughter about how to handle the thing she's going through and it blew my mind in the beginning of this video because she absolutely describe my daughter and so I absolutely sent this to my daughter I just want to help my kid at this point and I do have three grandkids 2 biological. My grandson is 6 years old they wanted to put him on medicine because he does have ADHD he was diagnosed with it they tried adderal my daughter did not think it helped she thought it help it first but then it kind of made him become aggressive so we stopped in and of course he went to see it a therapist and so did my nine year old granddaughter.
My biggest problem in School is losing interest or I would have to be told something over and over again eventually I would learn it but teachers had no patience back then I feel like IDK memorial intelligent adult and school really didn't teach me much I taught myself a lot of the education I have now. Of course I grew up in the city school and it was basically and a poor district but I will tell you this I'm a retired plant manager and I'm good at multitasking problem-solving and my high amount of energy before I realized what ADHD was I will credit that probably to ADHD however a lot of negatives came with it on the flip side but again I had no idea what it was my dad was at way my oldest brother is at way so I just assumed it was normal. Normal.
I am so glad you focused on the positive side of having ADHD because there are some if you can learn to control them I mean never can we control them all the way but I guess if I control I mean understand them so thank you for your comment it really did help me.
I love this channel I think this doctor is amazing I'm so glad this came up through my suggested feed today.
@@jenniferkline4196 I to used to take medication for my ADD but I was on Ritalin, I hated it. I always felt like it was slowing me down to much and made me feel like a zombie. I stopped taking it at the age of 16, and started researching and learning about Add. I'm now 37 and have it pretty well managed. I've been researching and doing studies on this for yeeeaaarrrs. I am dead on like hitting a nail on the head with a hammer because I have it and understand it extremally well. Also my studies are from the view point perspective from the inside looking out instead of from the view point perspective of the outside trying to look in. If you feel your lacking motivation I have one word for you, "Dopamine". Its a neurotransmitter that the receptors in you brain need, also note that we have more receptors in the brain than said "normal" people do, just also note that to much dopamine could have negative effects as well. Turn on some good Music and you will naturally produce dopamine and you'll have that motivation your looking for. Dopamine is produced and released when ever you experience doing things that you enjoy, so the more enjoyable the better. Lucky for me my work allows us to play music while we work and so it help me out greatly. I wrote about all my studies and if I find anything new that helps or improves things I add it to my notes. I'm glad this video and my comment helped. I'm always open to share what I've learned especially if it helps others.
@@jenniferkline4196 One last thing, music, now I'm not saying that I know you in particular but I've found that most people with ADD/ADHD enjoy fast pace music more. this could be music like rap or just music with a fast rhythm. This is simple because of how fast our though processes run. I'd also be willing to bet money on the fact that those music artist that compose that fast pace music, probably also have ADD/ADHD. ;-)
Excellent, helpful information.
Glad it was helpful!
So, is there such a thing as Adult Onset ADD? I don't remember having trouble as a child or young adult. I have ET and the worse my head tremors are, the more trouble I have concentrating; my brain just jumps from one thing to another....
You have already answered my question... Thank you!
Has anyone else noticed that the audio and video are out of sync on her videos?
Everyone has noticed. 😁 we all have some form of ADHD. That won’t let us not notice.
Just come across your you tubes videos. Waiting to see a consultant re ADD I am 58. Been 2 years so far and still on waiting list!!! I have always struggled with focusing in school and at college. I became more unorganised. I have M.E. Suffer with depression. I was able to cover up that I was struggling. Can relate to your video and peoples comments.
Can you please address evidenced based treatments for accident proneness in adults. Thank you.
I don't see not paying attention because I'm not interested as a deficit or disorder. To me, there are 2 reasons to pay attention: 1. Because I'm interested and WANT to, and 2. Because I HAVE to. The 'have to' is what I struggle with. I think it's just a matter of self-discipline. When I catch my mind wandering, I just bring it back to the present. I'm getting better at it the more I practice mindfulness.
Gah! I am so distracted by the timing of audio vs. Video and the CONSTANT ads! Wow! Maybe if I can listen with my eyes closed. But I know I am very interested in what you are saying. I'm 49, female. Have struggled without the "H" my whole life. My biggest issue is organizing my thoughts into a plan that is implemented. I study a lot of things and I am interested in everything but I can't even get a decent grocery haul because I want to eat healthy and I know I need vegetables and not sugar and I have printed a ton of recipes but I cannot actually create the foods. It has to be things I can eat and my 7 year old. I just can't get the things chopped and prepared. That is just my current, most perplexing issue at this moment. For as much as I read and study I should have more solid thoughts in my brain. So e sticks as I repeat things but recall when trying to talk to others is zero. Or makes Bo sense because I can't get it in order.
Thank you so much for this information. I am starting to think that I have ADD since when I was a child I struggle a lot to study. I had good grades but I had to do like 5x effort compared to others that could achieve the samr thing but with less effort. I remember even going into depression because I was just exhausted from doing a lot of homework and like being very upset with school. And also I don't remember some things. Often I leave my clothes and personal items in places. And so on.
Diagnosed at 50....but listening to you now, other things happening with my brain and am hoping Clinic I go to has Neuropsychologist who might be able to guide me....just sent note to my doctor for referral IF we have this type doctor in our clinic.
SCT, Russell Barkley's work. Please speak to this subset distinct different diagnosis.
I have been researching this as my son has just been diagnosed with inattentive ADD at the age of 35! It’s usually associated with little boys being disruptive in the classroom but he was never like that. It’s also been shown to be hereditary and I’ve put ticks next to most of the symptoms although I haven’t been diagnosed. Do you think women are the most under diagnosed, as they’re thought to be neurotic or a hypochondriac? 🤔
Does one have to have ADD/ADHD from birth or can it develop/show up later in life. Can some of these symptoms start to develop as part of dementia? I have been told that stimulants improve depression?? Thank you for your great videos.
What would be the developmental effect of taking a combination of vaping, weed and rittelen for a young male that has been diagnosed with ADD impulsivity type and with insomnia, plus depression and anxiety and tendency for borderline personality disorder?
Would this include compulsive over eating, can’t stop eating and don’t when to stop eating, how do you know if your full?
I just picked at my scalp for 3 hrs, now im behind schedule. I also have ADHD. But sometimes believe I also have Autism. Why do I like to feel the texture of hair?
I’m curious if one could be a very calm, detail oriented person (accused at times for being OCD) and later in life develop ADD? Total opposite habits, practices.
I’ve always been detail oriented. Last couple years I have overlooked so many details, I’m very forgetful and my wife says my legs fidget constantly as I fall asleep and even while I sleep. All newer habits at 49yrs old.
At times it worries me. I have had more than average head injuries growing up. Many concussions. Trained in boxing for many years.
You. Mood swings are there too. Yes, sounds more like a post concussion syndrome type thing but hoped for the least problematic and checked this out.
I stumbled across your Statins video and took numerous notes that will help me dig further into my research and evidence gathering to talk intelligently to both my GP & cardiologist in the coming weeks. I was attracted to this video on ADD & ADHD mostly because I have extreme difficulty with focus, concentration motivation & energy not to mention sleep issues & probably dietary issues too.
My scenario is multifaceted as I’m not sure especially after listening to this👆video if I have undiagnosed ADD or if my issues are a result of a right brain (frontal stroke) Oct 2019. The cause was determined to be from a blood clot going from my lungs thru a PFO (hole in my heart). A month after my stroke Drs closed the PFO and w/in 3 weeks I was having high heart rate issues and shortly after A-fib. Not a single dr believe me until I got a Apple Watch and documented it. This whole time the Neurologist insisted I had to take a statin along with blood thinner. My cholesterol like yours Dr Karen is a hereditary thing, on the slightly higher side but not extreme by any means. My GP of over 30 yrs didn’t think I needed the statin either. I was not over weight, exercise regularly and eat a clean diet. After many months and trying different statins I final told Neuro dr, no more!! Your info in the former video gave me a clue it was probably the kind that passes blood brain barrier to easily & too high of dose. My cognitive issues then & know are still very challenged even without the statins.
I’m trying to dig farther into my research project to note on the ADD side things that could have been clues as a child and note what I’m dealing with since my stroke. 🧐 🤔 current I don’t know if it’s the other meds I’m having to take that could be causing my lack of focus, Drive, energy & motivation/procrastination or if it’s a result of my stroke. I do take a stimulant currently used fir ADD/ADHD but because of a diagnosis of stoke induced narcolepsy (I can’t spell the medical term, polysonomic something) ;)
I’m aware of the connection of the gut and brain relationship too so wondering if my lack of desire to eat (since the stroke) contributes to the brain & focus stuff too. I’m struggling to stay awake to type this along with making sense of what I wanted to say.
If you know of a good referral for a lipid specialist or someone else I should consult with feel free to let me know. Keep the amazing information coming. It’s well organized, understandable and very helpful. I like that it’s in video format that I can stop a d start as I take notes because my hand & brain can’t keep up in a live lecture format.
When you have it & afraid at young age to say anything. When your smart enough to still make grades in h. S. By college it causing so many other disorders to co exists. I never read thru h. s . Went to college 3 yrs math major, then life all falls apart When no support. I remember 1st time I was diagnosed & medicated. I got a Real Estate license only 5 wks. But not being diagnosed & medicated around 16, life is impossible. Anxiety, depression, on & off substance abuse , it's incurable, then when real life crisis acurres, only God & your spirituality keeps you alive. But not a life I would wish on anyone. Picking what you like & hyper focused on it, is the only way to survive. Most adders I met do have higher IQs , which brings in lack of achievement.
Does ADHD make a person slow motion?slow in every thing
I don't think so, but depression definitely does that.
Karen, ADD and ADHD are all called the same thing now. If you look at the DSM 5 criteria, you'll notice that the ADD diagnosis is gone and there are now 3 different types of ADHD. Inattentive ADHD is what was once diagnosed as ADD.
Really? A 45 minute video about ADD? 😂
Outdated information…. Narrow and uninformed viewpoint
What did I get wrong, Mary?
Ive been using small amounts of meth, about a kitchen match head size dose. It seems to help.