What Happened When I Stopped Taking My Medication 

It can't be emphasized enough that ADHD is on a spectrum and whether or not you need meds is highly dependant on your severity and degree of frontal lobe development. Kids are more likely to have ADHD symptoms because of brain development. it's when those symptoms continue to impact the individual or the individual doesn't grow out of it that you know it's something serious. Because ADHD severity varies between people, medication is going to affect each person differently and like glasses, some people need them just while the read or drive, while others are blind as a bat without them. It's worth noting, ADHD can trick you into thinking you don't need meds when hyper focus kicks in. If you are doing something that is engaging you, it boosts your dopamine and allows you to focus. But it's all those boring, routine things that fall through the cracks that our ADHD can neglect (like renewing insurance) and thus leads to bigger issues when they create fires. Medication helps manage task switching, controlling your emotions, keeping organized and making sure your aren't skipping over important details. It's also worth noting, untreated ADHD can cause severe issues as an adult. I went untreated most my life, did everything I hyper focused on, but then hit a mid life bump and due to lack of medication and coping skills, had a complete psychological collapse. I've been putting my life back together for over a year now and am still not at 100%. So, with ADHD, I would advise someone to find the top psychiatrists and doctors who understand it, get real help and avoid the snake oil alternatives. ADHD is real and it can be life threatening if not properly cared for. The good news, there are lots of good coping tips and tricks (many of them on this channel) and meds do work for most people once you get them dialed in.

“I missed wanting to do something and being able to sit down and do it.” That got me

I feel like I'm cheating sometimes when taking them, then I remember normal people feel that way 24/7 and I'm like "That's op af".

The hardest part about being diagnosed as an adult is realizing how much better your life could have been had you known you had it sooner and trying to get those around you to understand that you don't choose to be this way and it's not something you can just make go away.

You’re so brave, I’m still ashamed that I have to take meds to function and I’m not sure of your age but ADHD wasn’t really acknowledged here in Australia when I was a kid, doctors just labelled it “he’s just an energetic kid, he’ll grow out of it” and it wasn’t until my second child was diagnosed as ADHD along with my third some 3yrs later and during an appointment that I had to take them to, which was generally my wife due to me working, that she looked up at me and said you’re ADHD too, in a much more sensitive way I might add. So yeah I was diagnosed properly at 38 years old and my life began to make sense. It’s been difficult not gonna lie, going that long untreated( sorry ‘undiagnosed’ would be a better term) created a lot of bad habits bc we find our own coping mechanisms and strategies regardless of how effective they are. But I’m still coming to terms with the fact I have to take what some consider illicit drugs to function on a day to day basis. Very happy I found this channel as well. P.s. Sorry for the huge wall of text, I was gonna delete it like I always do after spending time compiling walls of txt but this time I thought what the heck just hit post. So I did. Thanks for making me feel brave enough to.

My kids' psychologist explained it as... when your mom finishes reading a long article she doesn't say, "my glasses did a great job reading that article." No. SHE read the article... she just used her glasses to correct and aid her eyesight so SHE could see better. The glasses didn't read and comprehend anything. ... In the same way, your A.D.H.D. meds are not the reason for your success. Like the glasses, they are an aid that you need and use.. but YOU are the one doing the great works! Congratulations on a job well done !!

My husband doesn't think I need ADHD meds because: "you just need to control yourself, its all in your head there's nothing wrong with you." At the same time he complains about me forgetting and losing everything, procrastinating over everything, and being too sensitive. This past week I've been really productive, ive been able to get things done and he's noticed. What he doesn't know is that I bit the $200 bullet, saw a doctor, and went back on my meds. He'll figure it out someday lol.

I've been off my ADD meds for 29 years now, and videos like this make me wonder how much better things might be if I worked with my doctor to explore taking medication again. Thank you for being here. You're awesome and I appreciate you.

I take psych meds for mental health (including ADHD) and I also face a ton of stigma. Nothing makes me more upset than ppl telling me what I should be doing to “conquer” my mental health issues with “natural methods.” AS IF I’ve never tried any alternatives to medicines. I tried EVERYTHING before I got on meds.

Your style of quick cut editing represents how someone with ADHD feels really well. I appreciate you.

this made me cry. this is how I feel everyday

* empathetic crying right now * because your face of relief when you finally took your meds again - I felt that relief soooo deeply after going decades undiagnosed and unmedicated. Thank you for your vulnerability and honesty!!! I appreciate it so much and your channel is AMAZING

This episode choked me up. I’m 63 and this week finally got ADHD help with meds and I wonder what my life would have been had I started 50 years ago. THANK you so much for what you do. PS you even look like my daughter who last year was diagnosed and who convinced me to look into it. One way I knew there was a difference? My butt hurt at the end of the work day - and I realized I’ve never sat so long without jumping up after each email distracted.

Talking to ADHD person: "Try harder! *Your just not trying!*" Talking to kid with broken legs: "Just walk it off! Stop fakeing!" *EXACTLY THE SAME THING*

I feel like a drug-addict for taking my meds. They make you believe that you're addicted to legal speed.

I literally just started crying. This is the first video I’ve ever seen seen on the channel and I didn’t know I needed positivity and comfort from jet someone I just seen just saying but it’s OK that I am struggling to manage my own. I always feel so behind everybody else in my life and how they’re able to go about their day with little struggle at remembering simple things or finishing tasks but it’s good to know that i’m not alone. Just thank you. I didn’t know I needed that to be said to me.

watching this again got me thinking about how i was a "high functioning" adhder in my adolescence. i was a straight A student, i was involved in every extracurricular, i was into the arts - some might even say i peaked in high school. and i remember when i moved out and went to university, everything went downhill. i was fine, i was fine and then one day... i just wasn't. i was so mad at myself, so disappointed, and it felt like i was drowning in air. i barely scraped by university at this point and now that i've been medicated for almost a year now after fighting for literally years... i can say that you can only try so hard. you can only push yourself so far until you break. i was living in an abusive home and my survival instincts forced me to be a high performer, to have amazing memory where i can memorize every detail and now that i'm safe and away from that environment, i "lost" a lot of those skills. the point is : telling people to not seek treatment (whatever that means ... be it through meds, therapy, and/or both) is causing more detriment and harm to adhders because eventually we will break. eventually we will become catatonic and blame ourselves for every little failure whch can so easily snowball into this boulder that we keep trying to push but instead of pushing downhill or on flatland, we're pushing uphill.

Thank you all so much for your support on this video, I wasn't sure how it would be received and it's always scary to get raw like this. More than anything though I wanted people who needed to hear this, to be able to. Thank you for commenting and sharing!!! It makes such a difference!

I never knew how cloudy my mind was before being medicated. It seriously feels like unveiling your eyes and seeing the work in front of you for the first time.

This literally made me cry because I’ve tried so hard to not feel like I was depending on my medication. Thank you for making me feel less broken ♥️

6 years later, you are still helping people by sharing your struggles. Thank you for helping me!

Amen. I asked a doctor for meds and she freaked out, told me it was addictive, and took my meds bottle and walked out the room. I was begging for help, but she freaked out. I read my chart later and she wrote that I couldn't control my kids. Yes, the little one is wild but I just didn't have the mental capacity to keep up with him anymore that day. She shamed me when I was begging for help. She made me feel like an addict. I rarely take meds but I was in a place where I needed them. Instead, i was given antidepressants and sent on my way. Now, as I'm looking for a new doctor my initial conversation is "I have adhd and I'm looking for a new GP. I need someone who understands that adhd is a condition and who is willing to discuss that condition and write a prescription for medication when needed." It's infuriating that I have to preface an appoint with that.

Just got diagnosed today. I'm 42. I start my meds tomorrow morning. Feels like the first day of the rest of my life (or whatever that saying is)

I almost wanted to cry hearing you express everything I've felt and continue to battle. This channel is a blessing

🙏🏼 Thank you-currently being criticised for ‘drugging’ my daughter! Made me really think whether I was taking the ‘easier’ option. So thank you for this.💝 My daughter is 9 and on meds since 1 month and I know she’s more content already. Coming across this video and your site is brilliant. I’ve showed her the glitter bottle and she wants to help make it!😍❤️💝

I wish there was an ADHD simulator that would give normals just 2 minutes of my brain. I described it to a friend, once. I said, You know what it's like when you haven't had sleep, the lights are too bright, everything startles you, you know you are supposed to do something but all you can do is stare around you wondering what it was? Add a sugar and caffeine rush and a huge load of guilt about every single thing in your life. All of that, forever." All she could say was "Wow."

No meds? It’s a nightmare every time it happens to me. It’s almost impossible to get out of bed, let alone go to work and write code. Great video! People need to understand how difficult ADHD can be…

It’s been 8 years since I’ve been off my medications and I still struggle to figure it out. I literally just came across your channel and you have helped me out in so many ways. My wife didn’t fully understand the severity of my ADHD until I showed her your videos. It has gotten easier but there are still areas in my life that I still struggle dramatically in. I feel like meds or no meds it’s still something we will struggle with but together we can help each other just like your videos helped me and my marriage.

I spent two years trying to conquer this naturally. Vitamins, supplements nootropics, Very strict anti inflammatory diet, exercised every day, meditated, cold showers, making list, watching motivation videos, trying g to read books on it, and I finally accepted I need meds.

People really don't understand how much ADHD can hurt you, especially parents who wont accept their ADHD child and try to curb medicating them or try homeopathic remedies for it. I grew up through my teens without a diagnosis and the emotional and mental damage caused by the pressure of work versus the actual ability to do that work is long lasting. Got very depressed in school especially over my work, and I nearly dropped out of School, then College, and even University because I couldn't focus on my work. Finally got round to seeing a doctor before the end of University and was lucky enough to get a diagnosis. The medication makes things so much more streamlined, and i feel my heart breaking whenever i think back to a younger me who hated herself to the point of su*cidality and depression just because she couldn't do work "just like other kids". It's very hard and people just don't seem to realize that.

I don’t know how to put this without sounding weird. But we, the ADHD community love you. Because you stand for us and support us by making these videos. I can’t tell you how much being able to relate to someone even if its through the internet can make me feel. Thank you for helping us feel like we’re not alone. And also for helping us to not feel bad when we take medication or seek mental help. We love you! We support you and thank you so much. Thank you thank you.

Thanks for this. It is really easy to feel alone with my condition as an adult. It is nice to know that someone feels the exact same way when they don’t take their medicine and they are aware enough to make a video about it. It’s very validating

As a mental health professional (who has ADHD), I can't thank you enough for making these videos. Not only have they been SUPER HELPFUL for my clients who have been diagnosed with ADHD, but they've been incredibly helpful for me too. So, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Just diagnosed at 36. It all makes sense to me now. I was so frustrated because everyone seems to have a sense of how to put things in order and make them happen. Me I struggled TREMENDOUSLY with that. I always had notes scattered all over the place of passwords, goals that change by the second, books that I was gonna supposedly read etc. Just got put on a low dose of stimulant medication and I can tell the difference im less impulsive, can plan and stay on task in a way that I never could. Your channel is one of the very best out here on adhd hands down. There is a lot of garbage content floating around you tube on adhd. Now that Im medicated Im finding my strengths and working on those to have a better life for myself and family. Hats off to you and a big thanks for sharing your brain with other brains 😀👊

Just yesterday I was like "I have learned so many strategies, I can do this homework without meds! It's just one page." Ended up with three sentences after four hours and a complete meltdown. It is so frustrating to feel like depending on medication, but your videos do remind me that it's okay and help me feel a little less like a failure🌸 thank you

I was hesitant to try a medication but once I did the difference was such a gift. I became aware during my work that first day that I was making connections with ease, felt more relaxed and my progress that day was markedly different than usual. I also felt a bit cheated once getting a glimpse of what life without ADHD might be like.

Crying in my room because it’s so rare to hear this. Most of my loved ones don’t want me on meds and it’s nice to feel supported

Just wanted to say that the fact that you do jump cuts and are constantly moving to new places on the screen makes it significantly easier to focus on! Well done, very informative!

Thank you so much for making me feel i'm not alone, and for helping me understand its ok to have ADHD and its okay to take medication. I cry a lot with your videos, but they are good tears, tears of forgiveness. My sincerest and most heartfelt thanks for everything you conquer to be able to make these videos. Congratulations, what you make is beautiful in every way.

Just even the fact that you tried proves that you are brave, courageous, and truly amazing. I am honestly so proud of you for even giving the thought of trying. I found your channel while trying to learn to focus (I don’t have ADHD but because of other mental illness I have attention difficulties) and your channel helped so much keep up the good work and don’t stop.

So yeah, this made me cry. Probably because I'm already depressed and having issues anyway, but your videos always hit so close to home.

I have a million words, but none of them feel right. "Thank you" is a good start. Hearing and seeing my thoughts reflected in your words truly helps. Staying medicated can be such a chore. Feeling that defeated reliance on a drug in order to function, is daunting. Trying to live without and having to come crawling back is demeaning. Seeing your issues in your children and knowing that they too will be condemned to a life of medication feels damning. But hearing from a strong community, and watching videos like these, is helpful. So... thank you.

You’re videos have given me the confidence to take my meds seriously, and for the first time in my 30+ years, I had my first fully productive week… and I own two profitable companies… it was a really big deal. What it took to get me here almost killed me, and to think what I might accomplish with a balanced mind… thank you.

This was so validating. It was on my RU-vid suggested for so long and I didn't watch it because I was so scared this video was going to say "I learned coping strategies and no longer needed them!" and feel like I know ALL the strategies and still hit a brick wall when I try to sit down and focus on something important, but not fun even if it is urgent sometimes.

"if you still need meds as an adult, there's something wrong with you", yeah, there is. it's called ADHD! that's what's wrong!

i felt the same today from 9am to 5 pm. i went to my college. reserved a room for myself so i wouldnt be distracted by others. and i ended up crying, being angry at myself and anythibg and everyone around me. feeling compeltely useless and not being able to finish this little essay. everythibg around me was perfect a Nice clean desk. water,my laptop. no phone. no internet. and i just couldnt do it. it feels horrible and more horrible qhen you thibk about it. i spent the whole day and nothibg. nothingbhappened. i recently had to leave my project because i wasnt trying hard enough... would they see my ADD as an excuse? my classmates talk about me not having the discipline to work through the essays...some even about my lack of motivation... today i had one of the worst days again. thanks for making the video and posting it today. exactly when i needed it. seriously thanks...aaaand i might be even about to cry...so..

I was diagnosed with adhd in 2021. And even with meds I struggle a lot but without it's even worse. It makes me so incredibly frustrated to not be able to do simple tasks without taking medication. I feel like a lot of us struggle with the isolation of having adhd as an adult and I'm glad we have online platforms where our stories are shared and we can feel validated. Thank you for making this video!

You have and still are a ray of sunshine in my quest to finding what works for me. I've been diagnosed with ADHD 16 yrs ago and went off meds a year after being diagnosed as a teen. Now, nearing 30 I've decided to go back to taking meds after years of scrambling around trying to manage without and boy, I really needed this video. So thank you. Thank you so so much for your kind, wise and compassionate words

this made me cry..... i don't take medication because i do not have enough money to be buying it.... but i feel this everyday, i am in college and i can tell you i cry so much because i can not concentrate and i try so hard and i felt like no one understood that feeling.... everyone judges me and tell me i do not try hard enough but man i really do.

I watch this video every time I feel ashamed for taking my meds. Thank you.

Your videos have helped me to understand a lot about myself and my childhood in the 1970's. ADHD didn't seem to be talked about back then, i never heard of it until 5 or 10 years ago. I remember hearing the word "hyperactive" being used to describe me. My parents especially my dad had no understanding and I feel he was quite vile towards me at times. I felt as though I was paralysed by fear of him. I think that is why i became totally estranged from him as an adult even when he was on his deathbed. I didnt want anyone to tell him i was there. I remember seeing a child psychologist and I never knew why. So many things are becoming clear. I am in such a confused and mixed up state when i think back and try to make sense of everything. .

I needed to see this! The stigma is real!!!😟 Everyone needs to hear this. Thank you so much!!!💗

Go Jessica! She's brave AF

I recently started taking Adderall after nearly two decades of living in denial of the way my brain works. These past months have been some of the happiest and most productive of my life, and when you started talking about how you felt without them, I broke into tears. I'm still crying while writing this. You described me exactly, and although it wasn't so long ago that I felt that same frustration, it feels like I'm a completely different person now. I've been saying this whole time that it felt like my brain but on glasses, and hearing someone else say it just hit home. I'm not sure you'll ever even read this, but this just meant a lot to me, and I wanted to say a heartfelt, genuine, fully-focused thank you to you for solidifying the thoughts in my head that this is better, and that I shouldn't be ashamed of myself like I was for so many years.

You are great.spot on for alot of what you say. I have been having a great experience with adhd meds for the last couple weeks. 38 years of self soothing and substance abuse has run its course. I am finding the meds im on have changed my entire outlook on life and can finally act on my best intentions. Thinking"clearly" for the first time in my life is amazing. Finally at home in my brain.

I'm so glad I've stumbled across your channel. I don't sit on RU-vid and watch video after video, but when they pop up in my notifications, whether old or new I love to watch. It's been so helpful to understand others because in return I've learned so much more about myself.

This literally hit me in the gut. I felt like a drug addict taking my meds because other people kept saying it’s no different then being on hard drugs. Bad bad bad mistake. I fell off the deep end. Depression etc. I went two weeks and lost it, so I completely understand how you felt. Not to mention the crash for the first 4 days.

It's an awful feeling, when you notice your ADHD meds are running out.

Absolutely loved your Ted x lecture. Was very emotional for me as I can relate. I’m a 51 year old male that’s been misdiagnosed my whole life. Until one certain Dr that prescribed one certain medication and made a difference day one. 😁 im so happy for what the future holds. Appreciate your videos 🙏🏼🙌

Thanks for bringing this up. I've recently confirmed my self-diagnosis with a psychologist after a 3 session-long questionnaire (due to my adhd babbling of course). She didn't mention meds, but coaching. Today I had an exhausting day due to task switching and lack of preparation, which means improvising last minute. Then, remembering urgent stuff that needs to be done before EOD. Sometimes work is a piece of cake, but other times it's such a chore... The i get home and see everything I've been procrastinating. And it's mostly because of how my brain works. So I'm now thinking it's really exhausting, and maybe if I took meds my life would just be easier.

I stopped taking my medication over ten years ago when I was still in high school. I was asked if I really wanted to stop, and I did, but not because it didn't help me - they helped me so much, but I didn't want to feel like the medication was the only reason I was able to function. Since then I've graduated high school, gotten my undergraduate degree, and working on my Masters, but I feel like maybe I should take them again. It was so hard to function without them, and I have been able to function without them, but it is so hard, and the battle to get my mind to focus on what I need done before it becomes a time crunch ... the medication helped me so much, and I don't need to prove anything to myself on this anymore

I cried watching this ❤️ I struggle with everything you’re talking about and it feels like such a sigh of relief knowing there’s a community of people who feel the same way. I never knew what people meant by “you are not alone” until now.

It’s so relieving that I’m not alone about these feeling. Thank you so much for what you do for myself and others

The minute she mentioned that she was ashamed I started crying. Seriously opened the flood gates for me.

I’m on it too. It sucks when you have to admit to yourself you need a pill to get through the day. I cannot function properly without it.

When I'm off my meds I'm either falling asleep on the spot and staring at a wall for half an hour or I'm very hyper and people ask if I'm high or drunk because I'm grabbing things, endlessly babbling and stumbling around.

I'M SO GLAD YOU DID THIS! My brother in law (around 60) has been on meds for years. Suddenly his new doctor wanted him off. He hasn't coped nearly as well ever since. WHY do doctors do this? Regardless, I'm glad you're out here advocating... Advocating... You should advocate for all of us! You were so well spoken in your speech. Imagine how much you could change the perception to doctors!

You channel is like a cold glass of crystal clear water. I appreciate 🙏 your messages including this emotional heartfelt message. Thank you!

Anyone else hate it when people hate it when people say ADHD is just a made up excuse? 'Cause, I sure do!

Every time I go off meds I always wonder if my accomplishments are because I did it or the meds did it. Thank you for this. Just subscribed after seeing your TED talk.

❤️❤️❤️❤️I teared up when you did, after you took a pill. You are helping so many, please keep posting.

Thanks for all the hard work you put into your videos about ADHD. I'm just now at 30 realising that I likely have ADHD, and I've found your videos really helpful to better understanding this condition.

I’ve gone my entire life without ADHD medication, and now I think I’m at that tipping point where I need it! For the past few years, I’ve been getting the same effects of ADHD meds through self medication with marijuana, kratom, and nicotine, but each come with their plethora of side effects and often leave me worse off when they wear off. After experimenting with my girlfriend’s low dose of Adderall (taking the 15 mg in the morning, or taking only half of one at mid-day-1:00 etc) its like all the gears begin to turn all at once! Don’t ever feel bad for it, it is one of the most helpful things I’ve ever seen!

I'm currently bawling my eyes out. I've been off my meds for over a week now because my doctor's appointments didn't line up to get my refill on time. I have barely been able to work (I work from home), I cried instead of going to soccer because I was too anxious about being tired, I've been eating like crazy, afraid to drive, getting grumpy with my kids, obsessively cleaning, and feeling guilty because I really just want to sleep until my appointment ...this comment is also taking me 10 mins longer than it should. You do great work Jessica. The stigma alone makes it hard to talk about why I'm struggling because people just dont seem to understand. Anyways...longwinded... Thank you doing what you do! :)

This was such a welcome video today. I realized that my family doesn't support my diagnosis (so I didn't even tell them about my kids). I have just started meds and feel such shame about it. I've coped for so long with lists and calendars and then lists/calendars for every child. And alarms on my phone and on my calendars at home and work so I don't forget everyone's care. I could kiss the person who diagnosed me. I wanted to cry the 1st day I took medication and was able to just think about 1 thing instead of 10 at once. And I avoided this for my children for so long, but I knew something was up. And as they got older and demands became more 'demanding' everything got worse. So I don't ask for anyone else's blessing on how I manage my family. But it can be lonely...so Thank you so much for your post.

I was diagnosed with ADHD last week and have just started on medication. It's been helping me tremendously, but I have had that feeling that maybe I shouldn't be taking this "easy way out". It's such a huge change after being used to struggling and somehow I felt I didn't deserve it to be eased. This video really helped me reassure myself that it's okay. Thank you ❤️

Getting medicated changed my life! I'll never forget the first time I took them; driving to my first class that year, and feeling like I knew I had everything in my backpack I needed, and I knew where my list for my classes were. Just the assurance of knowing I didn't forget anything important made me almost cry with joy.

I here you. I was diagnosed at 45 and put on meds,now I'm 72. persistence

I am 38 next week.. and the last few years got progressively worse to the point I am due an ADHD assessment 1st March. I know the cloudy mind you speak of... and the rest of the BS that goes with it... thanks for these channels, I now have a better understanding of ADHD instead of being like 99% of the world that thinks ADHD is just unruly kids...

I was prescribed ADHD meds as a kid. My mom took them away, and refused to let me continue taking them. I recently got re-diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, and will take those meds. Your video inspired me. Respect ✊

This made me cry for sure. The shame I feel and how I've been made to feel like I'm a "druggie" or something and i need help or rehab because I cant do life without it.

Yes yes yes, this! As a fellow ADHDer, I thought I was the only one. I went without meds for only 3.5 days, but I completely lost grip on my planning, to-do list, daily structure and such from the first day without them. And the worst thing of all was that my motivation to do anything went out the window. I felt so lost without without my meds, but I beat myself up over it, thinking that "I should be able to function without them", and that I am just weak and should (wo)man up. That some people say ADHD is not real anyway. Well I guess....I really don't function great without my meds. Or at least not as well as when I do take my meds. I got my meds again today and just took my first dose of the day. I feel so much better now, and calmer too. There's no shame in taking meds! I'm so grateful I have them. I'm trying not to think too much about the fact that some people say ADHD isn't real and that some people compare methylphenidate and other ADHD meds (stimulants) to the white powdery drug that I shall not name here because I'm not sure if that's allowed. Anyway... I have a to-do list to attack, so that's what I'm going to do now. Thank you Jessica for your awesome video's! Not only are they very educative and fun to watch, they also make me feel less alone. And that truly lifts my heart. So thanks a million 😊 Greetings from the Netherlands; Laura

I really needed to see this today, thank you for uploading your experience! I'm always told about alternatives but people never ask if I've tried it already and more often then not I have... Then I'm not trying hard enough I'm just lazy 🙄

I really, reaaally cant express how much I ve been touch by you.

This broke my heart and healed it all at once. Thank you.

This is the first time I’ve ever thought about taking adhd meds... thank you for being so honest you might have changed my future

THANK YOU!!! I wish I could share this EVERYWHERE. I needed to hear this.

For someone with ADHD you sure are good at stringing your thoughts together and presenting an unbroken, logical and organized talk for 5 minutes straight! - I wish I could do that without having to constantly 'reach' for thoughts in a conversation.

I love that you can always visually see her emotions and hear it in her voice, and I always have the same feelings, often tearing up at the exact same thoughts. It's so comforting to know alot of us have the same struggles and fears.

This video just made me cry, and I wasn't even already feeling emotional. I have always felt so alone in this and so misunderstood. I have been feeling very "incompetent" lately trying to finish grad school. I just had like an hour hyper-focus session watching your videos when I should have been writing my thesis, but it was worth it. Thank you Jessica, you are an inspiration.

Thank you for posting this. You have no idea how much this helps

this is one of the best channels in youtube thank you for changing my life for the better

It's so refreshing to hear for once that it's okay to take adhd meds.

This made me tear up. I get so tired of hearing about how bad my medications are for me and that I just need to practice more alternate treatment options.

You’re my new hero. I’m beyond grateful.

Thank you so much for this episode and for your empathy ❤️

Damn I needed to hear this. All my ADHD life I’ve been told that medication wasn’t the right thing to do or the best route when I really felt that it helped- and those words always came from people who never understood ADHD 🤷🏽‍♀️

This is your best video in a long time. It is truthful and necessary. Too many RU-vid videos focus on alternatives to stimulant medication, and very few relate how they can actually help. I know that I need my own medication and can sympathize with your predicament. I find that I have to consume a large dose of caffeine to compensate if I forget to take it. Incidentally, drug plans should be a high priority. Also, it never gets any easier to cope as you age.

along with medication, i joined my local yoga studio to support my mental health journey and improve the symptoms of adhd. One of the statements in their manifesto is "meditate, don't medicate" which left me feeling invalidated a bit deflated. Your video inspired me to email the company and request a change, because if I felt this way, no doubt there were other adhd-ers (and other neurodivergents!) that felt this way too. thank you thank you thank you jess. you have helped me and so many others with your incredibly honest videos

thank you for making this video. I was just diagnosed with ADHD today and I told my sister about it who is against the label, medication and using adhd as an excuse. I was excited about getting on the path to recovery and after that conversation i felt really down. then i found this video. thank you so much it really meant a lot to me. i have 2 weeks before i can get my hands on medication and I'm going to keep doing my research during that time.