Dr Tracy Marks, could being a Narcoleptic cause you to have ADD/ADHH issues? Btw, thank you so much for speaking on the possibility of not being able to break bad habits due to forgetting patterns.
YES! Exactly! It’s like I have a toddler inside my body screaming NO! I DON’T WANT TO! When I try to get things done that I don’t feel like doing. It’s frustrating.
Literally it impacts me so much in school :( I’m definitely an underachiever I know I can do so much more but my adhd definitely impacts everything I do and is a constant obstacle.
The beauty of having ADHD is that you don't need to remember if you're always late or unreliable. People all around you will constantly remind you of that.
As someone with severe ADHD, nothing makes me feel doomed to suck more than seeing all my limitations laid out so clearly. It feels like the odds are stacked against me from the start in everything I do and in every way I try to be a good adult. And the worst part is feeling like you're letting everybody down all the time, every time you lost track of time and start work late, every time you drop the ball and do none of the things on your to-do list, every time you should have done something but never got started. Because most of the time when people do that, it's seen as a moral failing or a failure of character - being too lazy or self-absorbed to care. But I DO care. I'm trying so hard. :'(
I agree. Something I think is important is to realize that we are expected to function in our societies the same way neurotypical people do. That doesn't work for us. We have to find ways to achieve our goals in ways that make sense to the way our brains are wired. Thankfully, we tend to excel at thinking outside of the box and finding those unconventional solutions. :D
@@sc8307 this is why the gig economy works best for me. I choose clients and projects that allow me to get through those periods without worrying about dropping the ball. I recently took a W2 position but they said as long as I attend meetings on time and meet project deadlines, they don't care when I work. Initially, I had to sacrifice lifestyle to achieve this flexibility. But I was eventually able to turn it into something that comfortably pays my bills with something leftover for savings/retirement, and entertainment. I wish I would have realized sooner that was what I needed to do work wise. I spent so much time feeling like a useless failure.
Executive dysfunction has basically ruined my career opportunities so far. Despite having the talent and the ambition required, I cannot get my brain to do the work necessary to finish projects. I also have depression, which exacerbates the issue further. When I was younger, even up until my mid 20s, I had the ability to use my procrastination as a tool (e.g. having that last-minute flash of inspiration that allowed me to finish projects or study for exams with very little time remaining until the deadline). These days, I find myself unable to do that, because the "fight or flight" response doesn't even kick in ... it's as if I'm numb.
I hear you. As I got older this happened. It helps to meditate in the morning and exercise or pray. If I do t do it in the morning the day duets go right.
Elizabeth Wilk you do all those 3 things? What if I can’t fall asleep before 4 am? Did you manage with meditation, exercise and pray? Are you taking meds?
No matter how it's explained, unmedicated ADHD all too often makes me feel like a damn child. I spent most of my life not knowing what was wrong with me, finally accepting that I wasn't meant to succeed at anything. When I do succeed I'm often left feeling exhausted rather than any sense of accomplishment. Not even a paycheck motivates me. Here's where it gets dangerous: having to show up for my routine oncology appointments. I swear, ADHD could easily be the death of me.
Same here - I don't understand how people can feel motivated about life and adult things. When I go through difficult tasks they feel like chores, and after the struggle of forcing me to do them or at least to try, there is no sense of accomplishment or satisfaction. I am only motivated by few specific pleasurable activities and feel the guilt of being unable to behave and do things like an adult.
Yes, I often have to be reminded to “celebrate” the success cuz I’m so exhausted or worried about the next task (ordeal). Giving myself kudos doesn’t even occur to me.
@@slandberg1958 I'm learning. I'm so used to things breaking apart if I touch them, I'm often too preoccupied with not failing that when I finally finish, I'm too exhausted to notice whether I've succeeded. By then, I usually just keep my expectations and my head low while expecting something to explode, and hoping nobody dies from it. That's why it's exhausting. Also, last time I was in therapy, ADHD wasn't considered a "real" thing. I was newly diagnosed, and I thought it was mostly BS.
@@MyLoVeLyMaN dude all of this. I’m a musician/novelist, and I can pour everything in those, but schoolwork is impossible for me to motivate myself for. When I actually get something done I have a ten second respite from school panic then revert to ground zero (spazzification)
I ended up in ICU hanging to a thread of life after my health declined steadily over a few years. The doctors said I would not make it and I was like "STFU, this is just how I do it!" I can laugh now but boy did I cut it close. That was 8 yrs ago but just recently I started back on the life saving medication after realizing I was doing the same thing again. Has skipped so many appointments for different reasons (didn't like my doctor either) prescriptions lapsed and 2 years went by. Now I have to deal with complications and compromised health and hope that I can get back to healthy without having done too much damage. I'm optimistic but sometimes that's just my lack of reality checking. If you don't already, maybe involve someone else in your medical schedule who will whip your ass as necessary or talk you through the things we forget to tell ourselves in those decision making moments. Regret sucks and health regrets are big ones.
I was severely traumatized years ago as a teenage, got diagnosed with ADHD. Spent my whole life fighting ADHD. I suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.
Congrats on your recovery. Most persons never realizes psilocybin can be used as a miracle medication to save lives. Years back i wrote an entire essay about psychedelics. they saved you from death bud, lets be honest here.
Hey mates! Can you help with the source? I suffer severe anxiety, panic and depression and I usually take prescription medicine, but they don't always help. Where can I find those psilocybin mushrooms? I'm really interested in treating my mental health without Rxs. I live in Australia don't know much about these. I'm so glad they helped you. I can't wait to get them too. Really need a reliable source 🙏
YES very sure of Dr.alishrooms. I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
100% agree I used to have Psychosis and paranoid thoughts like "people thinking about me talking about me etc. Very odd behavior after getting off Adderall from 7-16. Antidepressants at 18-29. 31 now. I took way to much, but took about 20g of Gold caps (Psilocybin containing mushroom) I analyzed my entire life. The emotions that came out helped me understand behavior etc more. Wont ever need to do it again because I'm happy and contempt forever, but I wish more people did this to alter their perception of reality. Would help with healing much trauma
When I was diagnosed with ADHD I realized that all the “qualities” I have are actually how I controlled the disease. I keep lists, over prepare for projects of any kind, always have a plan b, always are very punctual because I make it a mission. In between all these qualities, I procrastinate, retrace every step to see if I forgot something, and if I don’t leave my keys or my bank cards in the same place, I will spend a while looking for them because I have no recollection. I am also not good with names or dates, which is embarrassing when I meet someone I actually already met.
Initiating actions is my biggest issue with ADHD. That description of just having a "mental block" is exactly what I ran into for years and years, where I could only do things under very high pressure. And without that pressure - I'm wasting so much energy just trying to get over that block; instead of actually doing what I'm supposed to do. Its just frustrating.
If you haven’t already seen it, How to ADHD has a good video explaining that. It’s the one where they talk about the “wall of awful”. I recommend checking it out. 🤍
Lie down and imagine that you no longer have to do it. Eg Imagine your house is perfectly clean, tidy and organised right now. Make it as real as possible , smell the soap and feel exactly as you feel when there is no work to do. I guarantee you, this works.
I really wish the name of this could be changed to something like executive disorder, because people seem to think it just means "you can't pay attention", making them think it's not even real
Agreed! And I have the Inattentive type... I'm not physically hyperactive, but my brain is, so I don't look like the "typical" ADHD person. My mind CONSTANTLY switches from thing to thing... it's exhausting. Don't even get me started on the memory problems...
I can pay attention and be hyper focussed on something that I really want to do or need to do if I'm feeling like cleaning but then the next day have 0 interest. I'm not allowed to clean the bathroom because it takes me hours when hyperfocussed. Every little tiny spec must go. Next day I don't care Ive shaved and left hair everywhere 😂
"Yesterday is forgotten and every day is just a new day". My lord, does this resonate with me. I keep telling people "hey, my memory is pretty bad... I can remember obscure stuff about hyperfixations from 10 years ago, but I cannot tell you what happened yesterday, or even 20 mins ago." I'm on the autism spectrum and both my GP and psychiatrists reckon I'm also afflicted with ADHD, so yay :( Why does everything have to be so damn hard D:
It seems like can be quite frustrating dealing with ADHD day to day. I'm just recently learning more about how ADHD affects people because my son and his dad has it. I have a new level of understanding for sure. God bless 🙏
@@MissPapion2U It can be a "quirk" for some, but debilitating (even through medication) for others. I seem to gravitate towards people with the same kinda "neural pathways" (i.e I always end up in a group of neurodivergent folk which is awesome), but wow have I heard some serious battles. My respect for your son and your partner. Be there for them and they will return the favour when you least expect it. God bless!
"Bad Memory" -- There are times I will even forget what part of the same room I was walking toward and why I was going in that direction. And yet I can recall childhood experiences or "useless trivia" with great accuracy. Long-term storage works fine, but short-term memory is like an Etch-a-Sketch -- a slight jostle, and POOF! gone. BTW: Is Etch-a-Sketch still around in this decade? I don't browse the toy aisle, so I wouldn't know if it has disappeared like the drawings you could make with it. Lol!
@@rebeccamay6420 “I can recall childhoof experiences or useless trivia” I have the same. Sometimes I still remember certain things someone said or happened, or a street I been like 25 years ago and other people look surprised and aak how the heck do you still know something like that . Most wasn’t important at all.
You managed to describe ADHD extremely well in under 7 minutes that everybody can understand easily. That’s something all the books I’ve read on the subject hasn’t done. Bravo! I also love your calm, rational, yet easy going attitude. I look forward to Part 2!
ADHD is the pathologizing of childhood, and I should add, the field of psychiatry is increasingly pathologizing normal human behavior while allowing the normalization of aberrant and pathological behavior. It is the weaponization of psychology and psychiatry and the lowering of the noble profession of medicine to a status no better than that of a snake oil salesman. The human species is not unique in that the young of the species have an exuberance of energy, rather this is a common trait shared by many thousands of species. Even an uneducated observer should be able to note this shared commonality in nature. The young of the species are usually highly active and very prone to engage in play behavior. We do not seem to find it aberrant in chimpanzees, dogs, cats, foxes, bears etc. though modern psychiatry with its slant towards the interest of the pharmaceutical industry increasingly pathologizes this behavior in human beings and emphasizes the "need" to drug the youth in order to "treat" this normal behavior. High energy levels in children is a normal finding and it should be treated as such while it is actually hypoactivity, low energy, and lethargy which is an abnormal finding. Again, this is not something that is new in the human species and in the past it was effectively dealt with by 1) having enough interspersed play time throughout the school day to allow young boys and girls to blow off the excess energy and be able to concentrate during their lessons and 2) making the lessons highly engaging to keep the attention and interests of the students. I suspect, though I do not have concrete proof, that the long-term impact of this early drugging is detrimental to the neural development of children. Regardless, it borders on child abuse to pathologize normal childhood behavior, treat it as a "mental illness," and drug a child in an effort to make them conform to un-human standards of behavior. It should also be noted that often the more brilliant and intelligent kids are restless and prone to act out if the pace of education does not suit their developmental needs. Under such conditions, rather than providing a gifted child with the proper pace and intellectual challenge they require for their academic development they are drugged and made to endure lessons which they find hopelessly boring to conform to the pace of other students. That constitutes the drugging of a child to conform to the needs of the teacher rather than actually addressing the individual child's needs.
@@annarold1709 'ADHD' isn't an issue, the structure of our industrial society is. There shouldn't be a need for us to 'fit' into an adults world, and what this person said about children in schooling is applicable to adults in society. Every aspect of our living is so unnatural and corrupts every aspect of life.
@@alanberkeley7282 I hate making assumptions, but you comment reads like the point of view of someone whose entire experience with the issue has been second hand and highly influenced by partisan media. I mean you start of with a completely irrelevant fact that children of all species are rambunctious and energetic, which apparently seems to be the entire premise to your argument that slanders doctors, parents, and the likely deserving to be slandered drug companies. Do you suffer from ADHD or ADD? Do you have a child with it? Have you read a book from beginning to end and actually recall even 1/4th of what you read? I'm honestly just trying to guage your personal experience with an issue you seem to not find credible as disease.
@@alanberkeley7282 I’m 57 and just diagnosed the medication works wonders, take your bias somewhere else, and Western medicine started as basically snake oil salesman, I would lay it all out for you with the history of medicine, but you’re not worth it. The other thing people with ADHD can do is be hyper focused for extraordinary amounts of time on tasks or topics like History that interest us, my only regret is that I didn’t know sooner, the depression I had and excessive anxiety is virtually gone with the ADHD medication. So Take your uninformed opinion somewhere else. I have been working and never been fired since I was 15. I even became a Teacher of adults in Vocational education up until Diploma level. I have lived away from home since I was 18, I first traveled alone to the other side of the planet when I was 18 for 6 months by myself, I never been arrested, I have owned 4 properties living in my 4th now. I have a list of qualifications including an Honours Degree, in 2020 to pass the time in lockdown I studied online to Teach English as a second language, but in my experience people learning English often have 2-5 other languages. Native English speaker’s very few of us learn another one, but I learnt another language by studying it in that country. I have lived in two other countries on other ends of the planet beside my home country, I have traveled extensively my whole life, Ilive simply so I can travel. I learnt how to wash my own clothes and take care of myself as a child, because both my parents worked, I have performed in 5 countries around the world. You have no clue about how inventive and how much harder we work to retain information, we are everywhere in all walks of society. So take yourself offline and read a book.
I have ADHD and my short term memory is so bad that before I was diagnosed, I thought I might have early onset Alzheimer's or something similar. It's a really frightening thing to have your brain escape your control and fail you, to be painfully aware of it happening, but still be completely powerless about it. My ADHD is well compensated and scaffolded for the most part, but short term memory is by far the most crippling thing for me. It's not just about having a calendar and reminders in my phone, it's about holding information long enough to perform a simple mental task like basic math or even remembering my point all the way through pronouncing a sentence. When I write, everything stays under my eyes permanently, so I can articulate my thoughts and still seem like a decently intelligent person, but I feel less and less able to speak coherently because I keep forgetting what I was saying or answering to... when that happens, I can only hope the poor person trying to follow me will kindly repeat it for me... for the umpteenth time... and not everyone knows I have ADHD. Some repeat for me, some don't, some mock me, some roll their eyes, some assume I don't actually try or care and resent me... It's subtle, but it's like a thousand small humiliations throughout my day. And I'm powerless. I was initially hoping to get a medical appointment this spring and ask to try ADHD medication, but with the current pandemic situation... I kinda want to leave the doctors to those who need them more urgently, so to speak. I consider myself lucky that remote work makes for more written communication and no more stress about getting ready and commuting to work in time in the morning, I manage much much better these days... but whenever things start to settle, and/or when I eventually have to go back to the office, I'd really like to get some help.
Wow I’ve watch all the videos and gone through a million comment and never eat one so fitting. The memory aspect is scary. Something I forgot my thought mid sentence. Or call someone by the wrong name constantly. Or call them Scott even though I know their name is John. I thought I was losing my memory or some early dementia
Same it’s happened to me - nobody really addresses the memory aspects. . I can’t do math in my head bc I can’t hold the numbers in my mind. . Sometimes a word will escape me and I remember it later. It’s daunting - meditation helps and breathing or closing my eyes and focusing on the numbers or words. I’ve learn my brain is accelerated or my thoughts. I need to slow down and that’s how I can do math or articulate well. Meditation and exercise help tremendously as well. When am desperate caffeine can do wonders for my procrastination issue or even formulating sentences. Of course I have anxiety as well so I have to go easy on the caffeine. With all of these issues I managed to speak almost four languages but I am terrible in math and don’t test well - just the thought of being tested gives me anxiety. I guess the reason for that is because of all the math test I failed.
@@Charlett2013 Interesting. Can you share some link where I can read more about that? I do get my sight checked yearly. I am farsighted, it's a sneaky issue because your eye can compensate it and you think you see fine but it's strenuous and if you don't routinely check, you only find out when the headaches start... awfully reminiscent of well compensated ADHD :P
I didn't know short-term memory was related to ADHD... I was diagnosed with it after a head injury from a bike accident, and the doctor said the head injury was the cause of short-term memory. Now reading so many comments describing exactly what happens to me, I'm in doubt if it's from the ADHD.
My executive function was so broken I spent six hours needing to get up and get water and couldn't make myself get up and get some. That was the point I got help. Diagnosed with severe ADHD and the meds changed my life. I can suddenly just think of something and then just get up and do it, just like that. I am 45 and in my whole life I have never been able to just think and do, everything I ever did needed mental motivating.
Hi, are the meds still working well for you? I’m 26 and recently diagnosed. I’m a bit worried about medication but I would probably benefit because I have gone literally days without eating because of my ADHD.
@@Laurap01 oh it is even better now, after that initial impact, and my brain started to regulate well constantly, all sorts of stuff got better, I have even had two periods with no emotional upheaval after a lifetime of pmdd levels of dysregulation my entire life. I have learned a lot about the RSD side of adhd, we have severe emotional dysregulation to dysphoric levels sometimes, and the meds fixed it for me.
@@Laurap01 and that may be comorbid autism, the eating, I do that where my sensory overwhelm is so high my brain wont let me eat. If you get a tin of ensure and keep it handy, you wont get sick from not eating
The meds for me almost ruined my physical health. I found out that the meds made me feel fuller in the stomach making me not one to eat as much. So my parents took me off of the meds, and I eat significantly more and gained a healthy weight.
I have never had so many 'aha moments' back to back than while watching your videos of ADHD. I never knew that my procrastination and poor planning or time sense were part of a poorly functioning frontal cortex. Things make more sense now. Thank you so much for making this information easily accessible for us.
I hear you. But at 38 it's not over. Also, some children and young adults really struggle with the side effects of meds. You could have been one of those people. I have some adult patients (35+) who took a break from meds for years because of the side effects, and restarted middle age and did better.
It's never late,take the required therapy and you are still lucky to get diagnosed as there are huge number of people with some mental issues and don't get right diagnosis
I’m 63 and was just diagnosed. Having a hard time finding meds. and understanding how they might help me. I’m also trying to figure out how to live and feel satisfied, because I have many things I’m interested in... I just move from topic to topic. I’m retired & my house is messier than it ever was when I was raising my family. I’m grieving for the adhd behaviors that affected relationships, etc. and I’m recognizing my creativity and ability to see things differently with new appreciation. Isolating because of covid makes it much worse. But, I’m learning more about it and getting help. I just have to keep trying.
I feel the same way. I'm 36. I have never been tested, or even been in therapy. I spent nearly half of my life span in isolation. I have no life skills. I need help, but I can't pursue help. Someone has to notice me and help me get help. But i isolate and I don't communicate my needs, so it doesn't happen. I just wait and wait, and think some day someone will notice and help me. I'm very scared. I don't want to become a weird old man hermit. I think I would die before it got to that.
This is slightly off topic, but you’ll never guess where I’m watching your video today. I’m in a locked psych unit. They took my clothes but they have let us have our cell phones because of the whole no visitors/covid thing. Things fell off the rails and they have to jiggle my meds around a bit. Thank god for wifi! I’m so glad I didn’t miss an episode. A friendly face in this scaaaary place.
Being someone who doesn't speak much, I really admire the way Dr Marks can speak without repetition and seemingly without notes. That is a skill I would love to have.
I’m 50 years old and am pretty sure I have ADHD. It would explain everything in my life I have learned how to navigate around this but still have been unable to achieve any of my dreams in life - I’m in a perpetual cycle of starting and analyzing options and creating a back up plan - and now I’m like 50 and feel like how could so much time have gone by so fast. Literally I feel like I always have more time to do something - even though I’m at this age - I still think there is always tomorrow. I’ve been working on some things for 10 years and I can see how this is my problem. I have undiagnosed ADHD. How do I get to someone so I can get some help and not spend the remainder of my life in this circle of incompleteness? It’s very frustrating and I’m super embarrassed by it.
I was just diagnosed with adhd combination add at the age of 25. Now that I’m medicated, it has helped me monitor my behavior and how long it takes me to do stuff. I keep track of all of this and plan my week ahead of time. Sometimes I don’t follow through with certain tasks because I spent too much time on one. I also realized that it’s hard for me to complete 3 different tasks a day. So I limited it to 2 and have a day where I just don’t do anything. I get up on time and don’t go back to sleep. I take shorter naps and I’ve been turning in my homework in time! Even though it takes me a whole day to to an assignment that most people can get done in 3 or 4 hours. And this just reminded me to ask for more time on assignment lol.
That’s awesome! I always just kind of procrastinated by doing different tasks I needed and wondered why I did so badly when I had 5 or 6 tasks to do in a day
The most challenging parts ADHD brought to me were short term memory problems and the difficulty to organize or control attention. The short term memory issue was like I intended to do one thing, excited about it but I would forget it in just few seconds...
I've seen quite a few videos on ADHD and executive function, but this one definitely seems to describe my situation the best. I recognized everything except not remembering a pattern of being late (or did I just forget - I honestly have no idea). One thing in particular struck me - working memory. Even as a child (in the 1980s), I had a hard time with simple math. I get the processes, and can certainly do it on paper, but performing any math on two double-digit numbers in my head is nearly impossible - while I'm trying to carry the one, the column I'm carrying the one from just disappears from my mind. I literally forget the numbers I'm trying to add while I'm doing it. Not planning out homework time and often just not doing homework at all didn't help my situation, and my math teachers largely gave up on me as just being lazy. The perception of ADHD from those without it is largely the same (that we're lazy), and it has adversely affected my entire life. I'm nearly 50, and I still feel it every day. I've only recently started Adderall, and the jury is still out as to if it's helping me.
Working memory is the big one for me as well... dates (when things happened), names, where things are, keeping that mental check list intact... i have such a frustratingly bad memory for so many important facets of day to day life... but the one thing I've always excelled at was math. I am incredibly pattern oriented, a strong objective thinker. I was pushed into advanced math and science classes by my teachers and was thankfully able to make a career out of these strengths despite this disorder's comings. I say all this not to brag, but it's just so interesting that ADHD can manifest so differently from person to person. It's no wonder that it is generally unrecognized by society.
@@dallenatatana8613 interesting, dr russel barkley has quite a different take on this. I think once it comes to types it's maily a matter of definitions
Emotional Regulation is a huge factor people don’t talk about much... (much bigger level of negative emotional response or unpleasant feelings towards the task being avoided... until it becomes an albatross and causes severe avoidance, which then becomes a habit that spreads into other tasks) I just found your channel and hope you will have a video on this. Your descriptions here are touching on a lot of other behaviour patterns that grow out of that. Thank you.
Dr Marks this was SO helpful! I sit through classes or lectures and am typically engaged or at least quiet. I was not hard to control or super impulsive as a child. I’m good at listening to others (while silently daydreaming). I feel like my ADHD symptoms aren’t as visible as many others - but looking at patterns of past behavior using this as a framework creates a clear picture of functional limitations. I feel like I can’t sense time. Some mornings getting ready for work is a perfect and quick process. Other days it’s as if time has been spread up and it takes me forever! Working on a big project is impossible because I never seem to break it up in reasonable chunks. I’m rather poor at anticipating things, what some might consider very intuitive - so I’ve learned to overdue EVERYTHING with exorbitant detail. Whether it’s a medicine kit in my purse with just about everything to developing insanely complex systems just to keep track of needed documentation. It feels very frustrating. Like everyone else has the keys to being a responsible adult and I’m constantly grasping around frantically just to stay one step behind.
@@manifest.on.sumo2024 The person in the video is listing things that could be a sign of adhd, if you really feel like you have something go to a licensed psychiatric, don't just label yourself with a possible placeabo disease
Being able to organize even the most basic things in life is just not there. It's as if I was born missing that gene. When I first learned about executive function skills I identified immediately with not having them. I've never been on medication because I was born with the addiction gene, but I'm so sick and tired of screwing everything up, I'm willing to try taking medication. However, I do realize there's no pill that will magically make me organized. Why aren't there classes for getting organized for people with ADHD? In spite of all this, I actually talented and smart af.
Hi Tracy, I can relate to your experiences. You mentioned having difficulty with organizing. While I can be great at organizing, I'm not so great at maintaining it. I learned a lot about how some people organize differently, and I'm trying to implement some organizing ideas from the RU-vid channel "Clutterbug." I hope learning your Clutterbug Type can help you too. 🤗
Try cognitive behavioral therapy; also 12 step programs use this and it’s essentially free so you are good to go”qualify.” AA (for alcoholics) and AlAnon (for those with family or friends who are alcoholics) are both CBT type programs. If you have health insurance you could also find mental healthcare providers for said therapy. Good luck 🍀 ❤
I'm almost crying. this is what I suffer. self help ans goal coaching never helped, they never understand I have these issues. I'm so validated thank you so much
Hi Dr. Marks, I want to thank you for your educational videos. They turn to be really life-changing for me. In Russia, where I live, ADHD is not diagnosed and treated for adults. Stimulants like Ritalin or Aderall are prohibited substances in our country. But this is not, the point. The point is, that I finally can understand what the core of my problems is. I'm now 37, and all my life I thought of myself as defective person who can not do, what other people do easily. I studied, and I work, but it is always a struggle. Just to do normal things - come on time, meet the deadline, keep several things in mind. I can concentrate for a period of time, but then, as soon as I'm tired, I lose control, and I'm late again, and the work isn't ready on time again. This happens all the time. Sometimes I just want to cry, why am I so unlucky. Other people do such things without any problem. Your videos helped me to understand how my brain works, and I started addressing my issues, finding ways to help myself. It works! My life becomes better, as well as my self-esteem. I'm amazed, how knowledge of how things work can help. Thank you again.
This is the same in my country, it is really discouraging but it is really a relief to think it is not a personality defect, but just how your brain works. How are you dealing with it without medication? I am thinking of looking for a therapist that could maybe help me but I'm not sure where to start.
I have theory based on Dr. Mate's research. And I'm wondering, Did Russian Dr.'s advise mothers Not to hold their crying Infants like here in U.S. I think it was maliciously done.
In my country people with ADHD are taken to Labor camp for reeducation and if they fail in Labor camp they are executed for being a burden to the state.
I wonder if these problems were recognized in pre-industrial societies? It seems like a lot of these issues like ADHD only became problematic due to the excessive demands of a modern , industrial economic system.
Partly true, on the other hand if you couldn't hold a job down 500 years ago your options were suicide, begging or crime, none of which have great odds for life expectancy and passing on your genes! So people with ADHD probably got weeded out of the gene pool to a much greater extent than today.
It is not all bad, they might have skills such as hyper focus, resilience, creativity, conversational skills, spontaneity, energy, empathy, risk taker, and humor, so see there are good things about diversity too!
@@MsRita2014 this is a neurodevelopmental problem that people are born with even if the symptoms don’t fully manifest or become a problem until adulthood. Other things can impair your attention and executive function later in life but we wouldn’t call that attention problem ADHD.
I have adhd and I have NONE of these issues. It's important to create a career and life where your ADHD is a super power. Like interior house painting, a job in sales where we can run our mouth all day. Going from person to person pitching ideas can be an adrenaline rush for us.
I'm a theatre artist and university professor. I love the semester system because just when I'm getting tired of teaching a class, it's over. And when I direct plays, I can push through to the end, but then they run the show and I can go home. I agree that it's important to find work that suits our brains.
This explains why I got fired from my last desk job. It required me to do all of the things you listed. But my ADHD brain just couldn't do them the way my employer wanted me to. I honestly didn't know what executive functioning meant until I saw this video. I appreciate your concise explanation.
Hi Kris. No I don’t teach in an academic setting. There’s a lot of red tape and politics associated with that. This is my teaching experience and I really enjoy it.
@@DrTraceyMarks Good answer Dr. Marks. My husband was a teacher and often commented on the politics of the job and being frustrated with administration - even at the fifth grade level. Fifth grade!
Literally every new topic I was like… Yup that’s me😂 I am on medication and I also work with a therapist. Anytime my actions affect somebody else I never disregard their feelings. I always feel awful and I’d really do try to change my behavior. But like you said every day is a new day so I definitely have my tape on repeat. My time management is awful I get distracted by the most random things such as getting ready for work and knowing I should be leaving my house and standing there maybe adding more accessories to my outfit and then telling myself that I need to leave and then turning Around and touching up my make up or looking in the mirror 50 times to make sure I’m all right with how I look. I have been on medication for about a year now and I feel like it has helped definitely with my focus on tasks and not what I call being flaky at work. Time management with having to be somewhereOr impulsive shopping is my problem that I still need to work on
I’ve been incredibly successful despite my ADHD. Then I fell 70 feet off a cliff, and was in a coma for over three months (I had a severe TBI). Now it’s a lot harder to manage, but I’m still trying and succeeding-at least in part! But the severity of my injury may actually be helping. I can’t hike anymore, so I’m not distracted by thoughts of climbing up mountains.
I feel very demoralised with being diagnosed with ADD since half a year ago (I am 29).. Not to mention the complex PTSD I carried from 9 y/o, which no wonder crippled my learning ability. And having parents to help challenge me and push me to extend my "challengers stamina" was.. inexistent.. The C-PTSD unraveled throughout my teenage years. World of Warcraft was a great way for me to cope with the anxieties and depressions I carried. But family relations were also stacking up its effects, and depression was barely ever absent. Any attempts at school and studying is short-lived.. When I was in a healthier place, I had the change to take my drivers license, it motivated me so much to get it. I was so close to the finish line the first attempt at my license, but a depression hit (relationship change) and it took me 4 years to take my studying to the finish line. I'm at an odd place where I can't separate when to put blame on myself, my childhood, or my ADD.. When it comes to big challenges that require time-windows and pro-longed consistency.. i'm at a loss.. What's the point of trying.. cus it's so fickle.. all the time..
My wife has a big challenge when it comes to executive function. She has a black book in which she writes different tasks she needs to do for the day. She reviews the book at the end of the day so she can be ready for the next day. Most days, she remembers to write and review her notes in the black book. Also, she can immediately forget where her keys are, so she has attached her key ring and card wallet pouch to a Tile, which has helped TREMENDOUSLY. She is stationed in another state, too, so I am not there to help her, first-hand. I definitely love the Walmart app, because I add groceries and review them with her and she picks a time and day to pick everything up. To make a long story short, thank you for posting this. I shared this video with her, too. 💜
In my mind, this information was presented in a no-nonsense, matter of fact type of way. And that appealed to me, so my attention span stayed "tuned in" longer and I am left feeling just blown away by it. So many unexplained things over the years, now reveal themselves. Wow. Thank you Dr. Tracey.
From India..My son..28..taking ADD medicines for the past 6 months...having mild depression and anxiety..got hit on the back of the head as infant..but Drs.have not taken it seriously as the possible reason for his present condition..no visible damage or injury since then...he is diagnosed with having problems with executive function as EEG suggested frontal brain abnormalities...whether he can continue medication for a longer period ..or whether one more EEG will show improved results...please suggest remedies..@@DrTraceyMarks
When I hear Dr. Marks talk about these executive function issues, I get a flash of illumination, as I see the patterns of my own behaviors, that have persisted and plagued me since childhood. But I never would have thought of it as ADHD, as I was always led to believe that the defining characteristics of people with ADHD was that they were “hyper” or “fidgety” “couldn’t sit still/pay attention in class,” etc, and I never displayed any of that behavior.
How have I not heard about your channel until now?! You present information in such a concise, clear, and unbiased way, you are honestly like a breath of fresh air.
This is crazy. You nailed it!! I shared this like crazy. I’ve always felt having adhd was a curse. Made me hate myself due to many times that I fall short or not keeping up with everyone else. As well as arguments with my wife. Following you for sure. 🙏🏽
Did anyone else speed up the video to focus on she was saying? She was talking really slow and that was all I could focus on. Speeding the video up actually made it seem like the "normal" or natural speed. In turn made it much easier for me to focus, process and understand what she was saying.
K-Alkali-Metal 19 oh my gosh. I played the video, decided to scroll through other videos, and then when I’m like oh I should focus on this video. Then BOOM. Scrolling through the comments 🤦🏻♀️ my bad bwahaha
I taught a group of kids with various diagnosis - I really recognise my students with adhd in your presentations. Even though they really struggled in school, they made themselves and me really proud - of themselves! Reintegrating them (and the others) into standard education was one of the most giving experiences in my work life! It was a lot of challenges, frustrations, trials and errors, but also fun, epiphanies, happiness - and successes! All the kids, now young adults, have a very special place in my heart! Watching this brought me back in time and made me feel all warm and fuzzy! 🥰 Thank you!
Thank you for this series, my daughter has adhd and every traditional medication that we have tried has not worked for her, either they have had significant adverse side affects or they didn’t have enough positive effects to warrant their continued use. I’m always wanting to learn more ways to manage adhd without medication and you are such a wealth of knowledge I’m confident that these videos will be a great resource for us and many others.
Thanks so much area. I hope you find a workable solution for your daughter. The medication side effect issue is huge and becomes a big problem for a lot of children. For what it’s worth, I see many adults who were introduced to medications as children but didn’t take them very long. They managed well enough without them but later on restarted stimulants with a better effect.
I hoep my parents were like you. It makes me hopeful that there are parents there that are sensitive to their children's mental and emotional well-being.👏👏💞
Lived in Europe and one country suggest giving kids dark chocolate or tea, cofee - in others words a little caffeine. I gave my son green tea - that was in Europe and it worked.
My husband has ADHD and he does not take medication. It is so hard living with him. I am easily frustrated and I really wish he would get some help. 😩😭
I'm sorry you're having to deal with that. I'm married to man who latched on to me because he lacks motivation and energy to barely even change a lightbulb. Unbeknownst to him, what I have in energy and motivation, I lack in executive function skills, so now it's up to me to sink or swim for both of us. I resent that so much. I'm on my way to getting better, though.
The sense of time in ADHD is living through fragments and to always have the feeling that time passed you by so quickly and were not able to make the decision that you should have at the moment.
I am so grateful for this information. I have severe issues with procrastination and have difficulty functioning day to day. I didn't always have these problems. I am an intelligent woman and could multitask with the best of them. I worked for the Superior and Supreme Courts in NJ and I was a Paralegal in Wyoming. My problems developed due to physical and psychological abuse, including blows to the head, by my ex-husband for a little over 2 decades. My children and I got away from him 14 years ago but I have been stuck. I had severe PTSD, depression and horrible anxiety. I am getting better but it is taking way too long. One issue I have is that even while reading a book, watching videos or during conversations my mind wanders, which means I have to re-read or re-watch things. Luckily I can laugh about my issues, for example when I'm speaking and something comes out wrong I joke about it by saying "I'm smart, really I am!" I believe my positive attitude will be helpful in my continuous recovery. I hope watching your videos will help me progress faster. I deeply appreciate you sharing this content. Blessings to all in love and light. 🙏🏼💜🙏🏼💙🙏🏼💚🙏🏼🧡🙏🏼💛🙏🏼
I was diagnosed with ADHD in my 20s. I've never had anyone work with me on managing it, or even going into any detail about how ADHD can affect me. I was first prescribed Strattera (IIRC) but it made me sick as snot. I was switched to Vyvanse for a few months because of the vomiting. Vyvanse helped me in a lot of ways, but due to a combination of poor insurance coverage and a very strong reaction to it I stopped taking it. I went unmedicated about 5 more years. I had a new doctor and ADHD came up when filling out my history. That sparked a conversation about what my experience had been so he suggested Adderall. He said that I wasn't the first to tell him that Vyvanse was just too much. A coworker I had that has ADHD also told me he had been on Vyvanse and it was "like Adderall on steroids". I'm definitely better about things taking Adderall. I'm still not good at "adulting" though. It really sucks that despite my efforts to find counseling to learn to deal with my ADHD I am forced to resort to learning from the internet. This channel is labeled by RU-vid as being from a medical professional, but most aren't. It's likely that others have the credentials and just don't want to go through the verification process, but who knows for sure. I'm probably preaching to the choir, but trying to make new habits and break bad ones is pretty tough without any outside accountability.
This is a nice beginning to breaking down and placing a name on multiple difficulties I have been facing. I was diagnosed with ADHD last year and it was quite interesting to experience this as an adult. I can stop asking why I am so different? Or what is wrong with me? The answer is... It simply is. This is how my body formed and grew, I am different because I am. I pleasantly seek out information to better understand the diagnosis, myself, and how I view the world. Thank you!
Oh gawd getting started... i started doing the stuff i find hardest to get started on and continue, first thing in the morning because i'm at my most energetic then. After that it's a wing and a prayer.
Thank you very much for making this series of video's. I am disabled because of my ADHD. I've always known that executive function is one of the main issues with people who have ADHD. But I have never actually looked into it until just now. I look forward to watching the rest of this series of videos and learning more about how cognitive behavioral therapy can help me improve my executive function and manage my ADHD without medication even though I will never stop taking my medication because without it I am useless. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Getting your everyday frustrations on this scale described back to you is a feeling that I can't describe. I'm basically crying because you're able to put in coherent sentences what has been tormenting me for so long. If behaviors like these are left to rot, they can outright undo your sense of self. The feeling of "moving slow" because everything seems to be so much harder than it seems to be for others, has gnawed for so long, it shifted your world view. This "blocker" you described about initiating tasks had resisted me so hard, at some point I was completely cramped up, broke down, pulling my hair, sobbing why I can't "just do it" or do things that seem to be easy for other people. Anyways, thank you so much for doing this, I can't even begin to describe the value of this video and its compact description format.
I have ADD. Sometimes when I watch this lady I feel teary eyed cause she is naming everything that I'm going through. But I'm taking medicine 💊, the highest dose, a 30mg Adderall and a 10mg in the afternoon. And I'm still having these problems. It's like the medicine 💊 don't even work. Her video with the set a timer ⏲️ when I'm working on a task does help me. If I don't get distracted. As I watch and listen to her, I'm wondering 🤔, how does she knows what we go through, if she don't have it? Cause she is hitting everything right on the nose.
Adderall made me worse. I would never suggest this but opioids are the only thing that I was productive on. Now I just need to find an alternative because I went thru hell beating that addiction.
As a layperson, I find your channel to be invaluable. It is helpful to have some insight into the many myriad and complex personality disturbances which afflict so many. Thank you for doing what you do.
thank you so much for this video ❤️ so many people think that adhd is just "ooo shiny thing distraction haha" when it really impacts every single aspect of my life, and getting distracted is only one symptom (plus, personally, it's not even my most inhibiting symptom). i'm going to share this with my friends and family so they hopefully understand a little more :)
Hi dr Tracey Marks. I am impressed about how you generously share knowledge to us freely. I am a 30 years old woman working at an Engineering industry. My career growth have been slow due to the symptoms mentioned above. I have been very smart in high school but tracing back I found out that I had a poor concentration. That has been evident where my rating on concentration have been poor. I was taking my time to read things at home to be able to catch up. Tracing back on my fathers side, my granny and grand father were both mentally impaired and did not even get education because of their condition. My father was smart but in high school his mind went shut. I am asking how do I get checkups?
My mother has never bothered to understand what ADHD is and how it affects me. She believes all I need to do is put some extra effort in to get things done. Constantly says I’m lazy and am not trying even tho I am. It’s making my existence seem darker and darker and I think when she says I am not trying hard enough I am my symptoms get even worse.
Thank you so much for creating this content. It is enormously helpful. You explain things clearly and in a way that cuts through the emotional baggage that many of us with ADHD attach to our symptoms. I was diagnosed as a full-on adult (43-44 years old) so I have a lot of that emotional baggage from having navigated the world for so long with undiagnosed ADHD. In hindsight, since being diagnosed, I've been able to identify and understand the various coping mechanisms that I just kind of figured out over the years to keep me from losing important things (my keys, my phone, my jacket, etc.): fail-safe organization, like installing a hook for my keys right inside my front door where I'll see it and just always automatically put my keys there; being a high-mileage runner (the exercise gets the "fidget energy" out of my muscles, which helps my brain to focus); drinking coffee (hello, OTC stimulant); etc. It's helpful to develop my understanding of why these different mechanisms work, so I can more easily invent new ones as needed. Your videos help so much with a) understanding the source of the struggle; and b) learning about the behavioral treatment methods and why they work. (One of the weed fields I get lost in sometimes is needing to understand *how* and *why* things work. I can't just trust someone's word *that* a particular thing will work.) Anyway, there's my long winded way of saying "thank you." Of course this material also helps me to understand what went wrong at particular points in my life, how my ADHD symptoms clashed with the projects and tasks I needed to accomplish.
Thank you for your input.. As a member of the ADHD “Club” I have been taking medication for almost 15 years. I have never abused it. The dosage stays the same. I still have to focus on exercise and intentional practices such as meditation to function properly. I do not understand (& I have never understood) why the popular narrative is to damn medication. I would be horrified if a person with diabetes did not take their insulin. I am very aware that an approach to a brain disorder (or physical disorder) must be holistic. I embrace the holistic approach. I resent the shame that comes with NEEDING a MEDICATION because people who do not need the same med abuse it. I have zero need to abuse the meds I take. They are an amazing part of the ARSENAL I utilize in order to properly function. I cannot therapies ADHD away through CBT. I wish that were the case. Perhaps ADHD is not being taken seriously as a brain disorder? Half the people I meet abusing amphetamines are diagnosable ADHD and they are self medicating. They never got a chance to find their homeostasis. They will not get that chance now that they have broken the “seal” of what the difference between a medication and drug abuse is. Very sad thing to see. My point is that I do not agree with the stigma that comes with medication among emerging adults and adults. I understand the brain is still growing with children and so any type of medication should be taken seriously (due to how that may interfere with development). However, if a true ADHD person could CBT their way out of these challenges, that would have happened a LONG time ago. I love your content. I respect you. I just wanted to offer my perspective on how it comes across when a professional addressing a brain disorder gives tips on “mind over matter” behavior. EVERY ADHD person that I know WISHES they could “behave” their way out of the various conundrums we get ourselves into. There IS A PLACE for behavioral therapy (don’t get me wrong). But medication should not be dismissed.
If only I had this video before my third ADHD diagnosis! It’s ten years since the first one and my second year of consistent medication and daily meditation. Both have significantly helped me but I still struggle daily and even worse with all the financial pressure we are in now. You have described the conundrums with executive functioning fantastically. Thank you for your work.
Oh my goodness you have helped me greatly. 52yo and dx about a year ago, still trying to understand how to maneuver through menopause with ADHD. Your explanations help me understand this journey. My skills I developed through life aren't working anymore. Thanks again.
You are not alone, friend! I'm 52, diagnosed at 48 with Inattentive type, and menopausal also. Medication and TotallyADD website and RU-vid videos helped me a great deal!
Thank you for breaking that down. Confirming what I already knew makes me feel less alone. The older I get in this state, the more I isolate. My family even caters to it. Hell, they're out at the movies while I avoid doing things like the plague.
I know this is sort of an overused joke that "you get distracted halfway through the video", but I legitimately clicked away this video to look up how Icelandic surnames work… :>
I know I have adhd subset inattentive+ combined, was diagnosed when younger took meds for a short while then went off it, struggled in college, struggle at work now I'm seriously considering getting diagnosed again. My life's getting to be exhausting without help.
I just came to say THANK YOU! I feel so seen I could cry. I knew I had executive functioning issues because I have Cerebral Palsy and it has been mentioned in school but I never understood what that really meant. Now, I do! Thank you! Will be watching more! Idk how I've made it this far in life without knowing and comprehending exactly how it's manifested for me. But, more importantly, how to manage it. Thank you so much!
the sentence: '' its not just planning a pat, its the ability to anticipate how long things will take...'' trigger me so hard. like, i started a job (well, volunteering to see if i can learn it from my mentor) where i am expected to do a lot of planning and assessing how long something will take because we have to make schedules - and holy shit ! it make my stomach hurt everytime my mentor asks me this question because in my world it could be anything between and hour and 5 days. i have no concept of time in this way... just thinking about it makes me wanna crawl in a hole and die.
I've been a subscriber for a few months. Thank you so much for this video. I have had a stroke on the ride side of my brain, which has effected my executive function abilities. I try to explain this to others, but you have made it clear and easy for anyone understand. Follow through and completion of my tasks is troublesome, but I know I will eventually get that under control again. Peace and blessings to you. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🌹
Me: Oooh, new video. * starts watching * Dr. Marks: * starts talking about trouble prioritising and initiating tasks * Me: * Realises I should stop putting off today's office work for later * well, damn.
I couldn't express in words if I tried how helpful this video was to me. Thank you so much for doing this. I am getting my bachelor's degree in psychology in the fall. I have a passion for it and I believe it's somewhat because of my own mental health. That's how helpful this is.
I've learned so much about ADHD in two of your videos than I have in many others. You're so clear and easy yo understand. I can't wait to keep watching more of your videos. I'm not diagnosed with ADHD, but I have a huge feeling I might have it. Everything you said resonates with my life. I'm looking forward to the day when I can feel normal. I'm hopeful.
I have ADHD and when I was a child I was given Ritalin. This medication helped me immensely .I could pay attention in class and would become more focused. but I was embarrassed by a teacher who asked me in the middle of the class if I was on my medication,and I made the worst decision of my life after that. I went home and dumped the whole bottle out in the toilet and never took it again. well needless to say it all went down hill after that. I wish I could get that medicine back because I still struggle with ADHD.
I really love your channel. I struggled with add ( I say add instead of adhd because the hyper-activity aspect of my mental condition was only present for a short period of time in my life) it’s mostly my struggle to focus, organize, stay on task, and grasp simple things that take a normal person a short period to master. For example I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was 23, my friends all got theirs when they were 16-17. I learn something new every time I watch this and gain some insight on myself
Having ADHD, I know I have all of these symptoms and know how to manage...if it was just me. Working with others who have a sloppy and unorganized way to do work, if they don't meet me half way I find it less stressful to give up and not bother...older and don't care to bring on unneeded stress when people around you don't at minimum meet you half way.
FINALLY! someone who can explain what is, or isn’t, going on in my head! I feel like sending this video to everyone I know so they will understand me better. I live in a very rural area, so there is no mental health care available. Im not sure where to even go for help…
This is a hellish existence between the executive function and the lack of consistent motivation. Why is it so hard to find a therapist to help address these things as opposed to talk therapy?
Thank you very much for preserving a high quantity of high quality videos! I do not suffer from any mental health issues (as I know of!!) but your videos are very interesting and fun to watch! Thanks!
Thank God I found your channel. I've never been able to explain to a therapist what was going on and they usually seemed annoyed when I'd try to explain these things but in a different way. Thanks so much. I wish you were in my city, I'd schedule today.
No worries there, life with Covid needed to be addressed.....so glad that you did segments on it. I hope you have a Happy Mother’s Day and get a chance to relax.
