Self loath is the worse part about this disorder - which starts to take place at such a young age sadly. I'm 22 and I have this disorder as well and it's still a daily struggle for me to pay attention and to interact with others. This was a great talk and very informative.
The disorder does not cause our problems society does. Because in school you are hyperactive or dont learn in a way that is normal you are looked at as some dummy or wierdo. I had this happen to me when i was very young and it caused years of problems and addictions. Its such a big problem because when we are young children we tend to blame ourselves and think its our fault when in fact its ignorance's fault. It has taken me years to figure out my ADHD and forgive both myself and the people i felt did not help me in that situation. Basically i feel you Kara. lol
@Kara__W self loath is being a problem to me too... but when it comes to the horizon i am always victorious... why!? cause i'm better than that... you see kara, adhd allowed me to realize that "i am the sky and clouds come and go"... so embrace the journey no matter the "clouds" that come along.
Always try to find your way back to self acceptance because your love for yourself is the most important thing in all of the world. Self loathing is a long painful road that loops back and forth. Loved the youtube video. Great message about changing your environment to work for you and providing acceptance towards those with this order to prevent them from self loathing and shame. Love is the answer!
Multitasking is key for me to focus. I have to be doing 2 things at one time. If I dont then my mind is gone and I get bored extremely fast so I will think about everything else in the world and might do some Impulse stuff
I just found out I have ADHD at 24 years old and could not help getting emotional watching this because it is true. I spent my life growing up suppressing the parts of me that were socially unacceptable in order to 'fit in' not realizing the harm that shame and self-judgement were doing in my life. Thank you for sharing as I continue my quest to educate myself on ADHD.
selena723421 As I too continue to learn about my brain and how it works I am finding it's so much easier to accept myself. At times yes the shame and frankly confusion is too much but I will forever choose to love my brain and how it operates. I know what works for me and I will embrace that. It's a gift and I'm grateful to be able to see the world as I do.
DX @ 54. Now 57. I’ve noticed the symptoms my whole life. Was DX with depression @ 20 @ personality disorder @ 40. Thought that’s what caused my racing thoughts, inability to finish projects, inattentiveness, ect was all about. And then I met an older woman (19 yrs older than myself) at church and we became best buds. She was telling me about her childhood & being DX @ 40 with ADHD & I was like...mouth hanging open the whole time. Thought OMGosh. That is me to a ‘T’! A trip to the dr and was DX with ADHD and mild dementia.
Great talk, actually one of the few about ADHD that makes sense. Yes at times it can feel like I have a handicap, and a disorder but that is simply because our society doesn't see what I and others with ADHD got in us. We shall change our behavior and take meds to fit in among the normal people. How sick isn't that? Following the norm is everything. And we all want to be like rest, like them. Them who says we are different, odd and don't fit in. Already in my early school-years, long before I knew I had ADHD, I put on a mask when together with others. Later on I adopted an alternate personality. The minute I step out of the door in the morning I begin to play my role as a normal person. When I come home in the evening, worn out from all my acting all day, I go back to being myself. The next day I do it all over again. The only time I'm truly myself is when at home or with close friends and family. Just because I want to fit in and don't want to hear that I shouldnt talk so loud or fast, or that my high energy is disturbing, and I don't want be rejected like I have been many times before, because of that my behavior doesn't follow the norm. Do I want to live like this for the rest of my life? No, of course not. But what other way is there when others start judging me the minute I open my mouth. The society certainly need to start to be more accepting and stop making people believe we all have to be the same and that only the "normal" people count.
I feel the same way, apart of me has always told myself I do this because the outside judgmental world doesn’t deserve my true self so the ones that see it truly mean the world to me so they see the full me
I so wish more teachers would educate themselves and watch videos like this. So many kids spending time in the office, instead of given the opportunity to thrive!
Education and diff ways of approaching things I think is what brought us humans to where we now are yet sadly now we try to bend all into and towards one way of thinking.
I completely agree! That’s just what I was thinking 🤔 I hate that the research and my personal experience prove medication is the first line of treatment and yet Doctors (at the VA anyway) treat patients like drug seekers like antidepressants and time management classes will help.
Yes I was a little turned off on the "adhd is not the only line of treatment", I know where this is going but in itself, I agree with the statement, but "adhd=superpower" made me stop watching. I love myself, I am mostly at peace with my adhd, and I love my meds. No superpowers anywhere.
@@zerotoleranceforstupidpeop4301 People try to relate with their "neurotypical" brains but they have no idea how it actually is. So they pretend they understand by applying how they experience things themselves and it creates stigmas from misunderstandings.
I was in my late 40s when I was diagnosed. What my diagnosis means to me is how understanding I must be of others who don't have this superpower. It's not their fault they don't have this amazing gift.
Thank you. Shame is not talked about enough, and is at the root of a lot of the pain i personally feel because of my ADHD. I can see it brewing in my son, and i've been struggling to work out ways to help him. Thank you again, this may be the seed that changes his life, and perhaps mine.
Such a beautiful talk. Really appreciate the mention of shame and how acceptance and understanding can help us become more authentic versions of ourselves. What a wonderful world that would be.
“Accepted norm”... we need neurotypical people to understand that neurodiversity helps to make the world a richer, better place! Great videos like this need to be shown to our educators who have much responsibility in the lives of all our young.
@ 7:00.... "the most painful and difficult parts of each person's story, (referencing people in her study), were not about dealing with the symptoms, but rather the feelings of...badness...incompetence, loneliness and shame they had about themselves. It seemed as though the stigma's they faced for not fitting into the traditional system, were more harmful to them than the disorder itself, (referring to ADHD/ADD)." Yep! Thanks Emily.
I can still remember making and finishing a week's worth of homework while playing movies on a loop in my laptop, and my friends shaking their head in amazement - oh, wait! That was yesterday!
It's also might harder for us to learn in a conventional school setting due to the fact that most public schools create a very distracting environment for students with ADHD to learn in.
Loved this speech and crying as I'm writing this ..schools need better communication with teachers to deal in a positive way with kids with the disorder. Good , patient, understanding teachers are rare.
I had the chance to have a teacher that understood ADHD when I was 11. I will always remember a specific interaction we had in class. So a classmate makes a critic comment about me and how I wasnt listening. My professor replied that I did not have to use my full attention to follow and that I even had better grades than most.
I think I have ADHD, but I haven't told my parents yet. My sister has ADHD, Anxiety, insomnia, migraines, and a bunch of other things. So my mom always treats me like the functioning child. Don't get me wrong, she still loves my older sister. She just has this preconceived idea that I am the perfect one. She always says things like, "You're so smart. I can't believe that I gave birth to someone so smart." It makes me feel obligated to pretend to be normal instead of being honest.
Sophia R. I know I'm late replying but don't think that the ADHD changes being smart, I have a similar role in my family and the knowledge that I have ADHD has never affected that. If you have ADHD finding out about it doesn't change who you are.
Sophia R. ADHD people aren't stupid. They're incredibly brilliant. You should definitely talk to her about it. Also, neither you or your sister can help what you have. There's no need to be ashamed of any of it. ^_^ 💕
As someone with diagnosed ADHD, I never noticed anything was wrong with me, my family and people around me did. I'm also intelligent. All I can say is don't self diagnose, but if you suspect it ask your GP to refer you to a psychologist for a diagnostic assessment.
Hey Sophia , I can relate to a similar family condition . I th8nk ADHD guys are prone to this danger as we always try to prove it to our families. We must stop proving ourselves to others .
Those that see trough their own frustration to see us for who we are aside from the AD(H)D in this world are heroes. Parents, teachers, partners, we all need them to succeed and find happiness in live. We are not less, just different.
woah only at 0:40 and that is so accurate. spent literally more than 50% of my 3/4th grade school year in the deans office. I was lucky though and she was actually very understanding of my condition and felt bad I was punished so hard by the teachers for it. She let me learn when I wanted to and run around like a spaz and skate at school when i needed to and as a result my grades went up dramatically. She showed me compassion and allowed me to learn in ways I could. Thank you Ms. Lee, you took the time to understand me and listen to me when nobody else would. Still got the sick element jacket she gave me for christmas in 3rd grade almost 16 years ago lol.
I have achieved quite a bit but that seems to matter little when your job is constantly threatened: you are different than others, you have a tendency to speak your mind or impulsivity shows itself. It doesn't matter if you are speaking truth if it's not presented in a socially acceptable way. And so much about that presentation seems fake to me. My ADHD has been both a blessing and a curse at different times. My ADHD was a factor in child custody trial. I was charged for violating a protection order because i went into the yard of my former home to hug my then 4 year old son. (My doctor that prescribed my ADHD medication asked why I was so impulsive!?!-Time for a new doctor)I feel very fortunate to have had one friend who understood me and that is the difference between life and death. This talk hit home hard enough to make tears flow. It is so comforting when someone understands...sad it is so rare. Thank you.
I began crying bc I've struggled for so long / the shame feels like a lead weight. Although I'm "successful " with a Doctor of Pharmacy... it just seems to get harder to fit in, socialize if at all etc
brilliant I hope to catch up with more of her work, I'm a 50 year old who only made the breakthrough in self diagnosis this year, life seems to be like a jigsaw and watching the pieces fitting now.
I'm just learning this about myself and I'm glad to now know I'm not crazy but, now where do I go with you know,? it's a great feeling to know I'm not the only one with all this
One of the smartest ADHD TEDx, congrats. I do have ADHD, mild, diagnosed at 37. I do take medication, lightly, and only on certain days when I have certain tasks, not so creative, smart or dinamic. And it helps a lot. Any occuption or job will have some very interesting tasks - no medication needed, and some tasks which are more or less boring or have become boring in comparison with others. Even in architecture, advertising, movie making, software programming, etc. In order to be succesfull, you have to be able to do your not-so-interesting tasks as well or finish the damn projects. This is where medication helps (along with many small productivity tricks, environment, sleeping, sport, people, etc.). So, although I understand very well your point and it is very smart and valid, some may not - and may understand that medication is bad and not needed. That is false. But yes, medication is only a part of ADHD management, and choosing the right occupation is probably much more important than medication. But after doing that, medication might still be needed for achieving parts of the dutties. (or not - perhaps a satisfied EMT Driver or firefighter with ADHD would not need it. But as the competence level for an occupation increases, it will have some boring tedious paperwork to do. Even a CEO might have to do his expenses or taxes :-)) ).
@@mihai2303 I'm the same way! Sorry, quarantine has me searching for ways to be the best I can be in school, as I'm applying for grad school, and I know how my ADHD can prohibit me!
I can't watch this type of videos without feeling the urge of crying. This is hard for me because I know I present the symptoms and I WANT help, but my dad thinks that I just get distracted easily, that it is not a disease. My mom wants to study psychology but she can't even recognize that her child has ADD. Maybe they will understand if I get diagnosed.
I'm in the same boat, had this my whole life, and family just think I'm lazy and forgetful. At 33 I've finally managed to book an assessment this week, let's see how it goes, but I still don't think my family will get it! Hope you can get the help you need.x
Im now 59 & just getting diagnosed. Due to the co-morbidity of it ; my Ass4ssor beluev3s I have ADHD with Dyspraxia but she DID emphasise my strengths = a High level of English ability . This was a shock. In stating tgis here for children of genius parents/ even just functionning "normality"(whatever that is!!) My Dad was a teacher who progressed to teach Diplomats languages in the Foreign Office in London & my mother has NPD & is highly narcissistic and abusive. .. = 0 support from a mother. But I do feel, however, as an ex RGN nurse; I CAN & WILL use ALL this huge pain to help others & hopefully so they won't have to go thru what I did = bullying & Huge isolation from society. .
Most people have denial when it comes these matters. My parents also cannot admit it and believe instead that we all are being easily distracted.. And multitasking... The point is to embrace your self for what you are.. What other people think is their problem,not ours...
EXCELLENT Presentation! "If you judge a fish by its ability to ride a bicycle, ..." Perfect! And I really appreciate the "SUPERPOWER" description. Thanks for the Talk!
it's funny how normal people see people with ADHD as someone with a problem yet these people are super successful at things like fast paced videogames. Problem is education system doesn't allo us to cultivate our amazingness!!!
Does anyone else find it a miracle that she has ADHD and does not digress or go off topic and stays consistent in her tone and walking pace? I could NEVER. :(
Utterly amazing. I was lost before the realization of traits brutally (for me) laid out here. Maybe ADHD kids can readily see a better direction due to being afflicted with 40 points of view at once. Doesn’t perhaps finish the homework but perhaps can see where the homework’s direction goes wrong. Tough being told your brilliant but you must master the basics of an exercise which isn’t the focus of the ADHD mind anymore than the master of the basics can see what needs to be done or change as a result of looking to close on the basics. Lovely video and very very understood. Please keep educating the world as to why we need diff brains and diff perspectives to any problem. Both views are always needed to guide progress xx
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It really helps to know that I'm not alone and someone out there understands what I, we ADHDers go thru, especially when we went through life not knowing what it was.
you could say that yeah. Would have made my youth a lot easier finding out about it not at age 21 but way earlier, haahha. Ah well, c'est la vie and I'm smiling
I think the most ADHD reaction to this video was what I had: feeling this was the exact thing I needed to hear when I watched it, while wanting to stop the video and doing literally anything else 😂
A lot of ted talkers with Adhd acting like it's a "superpower" only talking about successful people with adhd. It is not a gift, its crippling debilitating and in today's society has no use at all as were not living in the hunter gatherer age. I'm 33 and still haven't seen through any goals I set for myself. Any major ones I suppose. Adhd set my up for failure in this world. Yeah I'm creative but never had the drive to follow through with anything. Never had sustained motivation.
Problem is the society, critical thinking, outside the box, crisis management, that is all good traits of ADHD if they are oriented in the right way, problem is school is made to build factory workers, not innovators, entrepreneurs, etc. ADHD helps pushing tech and science, ADHD does not need to adapt to society, society has to put ADHD to better use!
I was diagnosed with Adhd young but couldn't take the medication because it was bad for my liver. I was a straight a student till I was high school dropout. I didn't like seeing the same people every day. I'd ditch and go mess with strangers all day. I always felt like it was a superpower. I'm a jack of all trades master of none. The only downside is people don't understand me and I barely get them. I go through about 5 jobs a year but finally settled on my own house cleaning business. Remedial tasks help me shut off and create. I was just getting ready to go play some open mics and socialize right before this virus happened.
Great Talk - I understand how i am and why i chose to do what i do a little bit better. Nice to know that we are more "normal" then previously thought. Perhaps her study will become a book of strategy's for ADHD people to use without medication. I have embraced my learning/Behavior differences and do not think of them as a disorder
One of the best talks I heard about ADHD. The Highlight for me is the cases you shared from your Research ADHD and Success. Where can I read more on about your Research on ADHD and Success?
So many success stories include the “I had one teacher who cared/noticed/helped/accommodated/liked me”. I had one a bit like that at 10. Then I left that school.
After having gone 42 years before receiving an ADHD diagnosis and treatment through medication, I have become a HUGE proponent of Adderall. It gives me the mental resources to leverage my ADHD in life. Adderall is like adding a steering wheel to a vehicle that previously did not have one. In combination with therapy and management techniques, I can finally thrive.
as amazing as these are its making me depressed because i know my weird is never going to make its mark. ill never be in the right environment to do what i know my brain craves.
I'm a lifelong software engineering architect and manager, and I too can juggle tasks, seemingly working on multiple, complex tasks at the same time, sometimes with literally a dozen apps and 50 browser windows open. But, it's hard to remember my mother's birthday. LOL. I have also struggled with self-loathing my whole life, and it was not until my recent ADHD diagnosis in my early 50s where any of this made sense.
I'm sorry you got me for a full 10 minutes, then I got focused on why having the word GLITCH on the screen while asked (at the same time) if Syracuse meaning NY State or Sicily's Capital which also reminded me that my Italian is getting rusted, then I noticed you don't have an echo and wrapped up your presentation by being ok to be the Zebras of the world [having the Madagascar cartoon image in my mind talking] yeah welcome to supra focused thinking!
I have ADHD and multitasking is NOT easy. We should focus at one thing at a time. She probably hiperfocused her dissertation but had no clue what was going on in the series.
LKBeatbox yes, but the series was a way to hyperfocus on the dissertation. That’s the whole point. Without the series, it’s be impossible to focus on the paper
I'm confused and doubt she has ADHD or not, because ADHD isn't just about hyperactivity, it's just one symptom, it doesn't mean she has ADHD, as an ADHD sufferer and you also know that ADHD is the biggest problem in FOCUS. ADHD but he can multitask very easily while us with ADHD are very easily distracted, I started to question whether she really has ADHD or not
"Children are not jars that we must fill in but spring water that needs to run free"I love this quote from Maria montessori.the problem in this school system that we've created and that we believe in,is that the children are formated to behave like obedient little soldiers,sit down, don't move,be quiet,learn by heart not very practical things or skillful things....children are just full of life,are hungry for knowledge and have a great imagination.all these traits are suppressed in the classroom....sadly....
I was just thinking that 😮 Honestly we would be great. Tribal living should be normalised as it is the best way to live and we all would do well. I mean it. Hope we could be friends. 🙏
Never had troubles with discipline.. Well, OK, yes, I talked back to teachers, but since I was sort of the best kid in the class |(math, physics, languages, drawing, sometimes sports (swimming and shooting)) I got no trouble for it. Mostly. Now I sit a work hours after the official work time is over. Because now at last I can work - everyone is gone, no noise, no unneeded distractions, and I can put music I like (or videos like this one for background), open windows if I want. Sometimes I wonder, how much productivity and thus money is lost every day because of idiotic open office planning?
Ellen Lucy, I am social awkward too. I’m learning that, like a lot of other people, which is now recognized in women, I have what used to be called Asperger’s, now part of the autism spectrum. ADHD is often a trait. Learning about all this has helped me a lot!
@@denise2304 Yes they are often co-morbid disorders, disorders that often occur together, and there is even the trifecta of ADHD, ASD, and OCD. I am socially awkward too. I was diagnosed with ADHD and OCD as a child but knew there was something else too that must explain my very social awkwardness. As you said, there is now more recognition of women with it so after much research and study have realized that I meet the criteria for high-functioning ASD (Asperger's) too with the new DSM-V, It turns out I was tested for ASD as a kid but was just one criterion off severity-wise to be diagnosed at the time. But learning that it very often occur together with ADHD helped me figure it out and I was able to learn more and found ways help myself. A great book is by Temple Grandin, a very famous woman with ASD and a huge advocate who gives many talks, is "Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships" it's a great how-to guide for social interactions and it changed my life.
@@denise2304 have you tried drama classes they are awesome for becoming more confident it teaches you how to socialise in a scripted way and with practice it becomes more natural
i wish i had heard this growing up. i would gave felt more confidence and probably done better in school doing it in a way that works for me. instead of how i was told to do it, a way that worked against me.
My mother legit said "Well, if most people have adhd, then society should be seeing adhd as normal." Wanted to kick in her teeth when she said "you're not different or out casted for having mental illness." She says this when my class is months ahead of me because I'm too slow to grasp concepts well. Or the looks I get when I do "act" adhd. Playing with my hair non-stop, cleaning my nails with my mouth, pulling out my hair, non-stop movement, disturbing the class by accident, distracted, being annoying, ect. Adhd may be common but it's not common enough for people to consider you normal, especially when the ugliest parts come out.
I can't help but notice that people who didn't have someone to help them deal with ADHD didn't make it to the TED Talks.. So far every ADHD person on TED Talk has been talking about the help they received from someone who was able to support them..
Self loath is the worse part about this disorder - which starts to take place at such a young age sadly. I'm 22 and I have this disorder as well and it's still a daily struggle for me to pay attention and to interact with others. This was a great talk and very informative.
The disorder does not cause our problems society does. Because in school you are hyperactive or dont learn in a way that is normal you are looked at as some dummy or wierdo. I had this happen to me when i was very young and it caused years of problems and addictions. Its such a big problem because when we are young children we tend to blame ourselves and think its our fault when in fact its ignorance's fault. It has taken me years to figure out my ADHD and forgive both myself and the people i felt did not help me in that situation. Basically i feel you Kara. lol
I'm also 22 and now discovering i have adhd although i had obvious signs ever since i was a child
@Kara__W self loath is being a problem to me too... but when it comes to the horizon i am always victorious... why!? cause i'm better than that... you see kara, adhd allowed me to realize that "i am the sky and clouds come and go"... so embrace the journey no matter the "clouds" that come along.
Always try to find your way back to self acceptance because your love for yourself is the most important thing in all of the world. Self loathing is a long painful road that loops back and forth.
Loved the youtube video. Great message about changing your environment to work for you and providing acceptance towards those with this order to prevent them from self loathing and shame. Love is the answer!
Multitasking is key for me to focus. I have to be doing 2 things at one time. If I dont then my mind is gone and I get bored extremely fast so I will think about everything else in the world and might do some Impulse stuff
Not ashamed to say this talk literally brought me to tears. Thank you.
Same timmy 👍
Me too, that's one of the symptoms.
I just found out I have ADHD at 24 years old and could not help getting emotional watching this because it is true. I spent my life growing up suppressing the parts of me that were socially unacceptable in order to 'fit in' not realizing the harm that shame and self-judgement were doing in my life. Thank you for sharing as I continue my quest to educate myself on ADHD.
selena723421 As I too continue to learn about my brain and how it works I am finding it's so much easier to accept myself. At times yes the shame and frankly confusion is too much but I will forever choose to love my brain and how it operates. I know what works for me and I will embrace that. It's a gift and I'm grateful to be able to see the world as I do.
selena723421 same but I'm 23
I'm 22 and now discovering i have adhd amd feeling the same
Try getting diagnosed at 60 after 20 years of being treated for depression.. I had deep grief for months, but as add would have it; is always now..!
DX @ 54. Now 57. I’ve noticed the symptoms my whole life. Was DX with depression @ 20 @ personality disorder @ 40. Thought that’s what caused my racing thoughts, inability to finish projects, inattentiveness, ect was all about. And then I met an older woman (19 yrs older than myself) at church and we became best buds. She was telling me about her childhood & being DX @ 40 with ADHD & I was like...mouth hanging open the whole time. Thought OMGosh. That is me to a ‘T’! A trip to the dr and was DX with ADHD and mild dementia.
Great talk, actually one of the few about ADHD that makes sense.
Yes at times it can feel like I have a handicap, and a disorder but that is simply because our society doesn't see what I and others with ADHD got in us.
We shall change our behavior and take meds to fit in among the normal people. How sick isn't that?
Following the norm is everything. And we all want to be like rest, like them. Them who says we are different, odd and don't fit in.
Already in my early school-years, long before I knew I had ADHD, I put on a mask when together with others. Later on I adopted an alternate personality. The minute I step out of the door in the morning I begin to play my role as a normal person. When I come home in the evening, worn out from all my acting all day, I go back to being myself. The next day I do it all over again. The only time I'm truly myself is when at home or with close friends and family. Just because I want to fit in and don't want to hear that I shouldnt talk so loud or fast, or that my high energy is disturbing, and I don't want be rejected like I have been many times before, because of that my behavior doesn't follow the norm.
Do I want to live like this for the rest of my life? No, of course not.
But what other way is there when others start judging me the minute I open my mouth.
The society certainly need to start to be more accepting and stop making people believe we all have to be the same and that only the "normal" people count.
We shall change our behavior and take meds to fit in among the normal people. How sick {is} that!? I AGREE!! Thank you for this, Katarina!
I feel the same way, apart of me has always told myself I do this because the outside judgmental world doesn’t deserve my true self so the ones that see it truly mean the world to me so they see the full me
Gabor mate wrote a great book called"the myth of normal",
This is a must watch video for both teachers and parents!
And people with ADHD, too, cuz that seems to be a lot of the people who actually watch this video (hi, I have ADHD).
I so wish more teachers would educate themselves and watch videos like this. So many kids spending time in the office, instead of given the opportunity to thrive!
it should be a requirement to be educated on it
Education and diff ways of approaching things I think is what brought us humans to where we now are yet sadly now we try to bend all into and towards one way of thinking.
TheLearningStation - Kids Songs and Nursery Rhymes yes, and adults with add as well. It’s not just children.
Don't feel guilty if you need medication to function. We don't have to be superheroes with "superpowers'. This pressure adds to the stigma.
I completely agree! That’s just what I was thinking 🤔 I hate that the research and my personal experience prove medication is the first line of treatment and yet Doctors (at the VA anyway) treat patients like drug seekers like antidepressants and time management classes will help.
Yes I was a little turned off on the "adhd is not the only line of treatment", I know where this is going but in itself, I agree with the statement, but "adhd=superpower" made me stop watching. I love myself, I am mostly at peace with my adhd, and I love my meds. No superpowers anywhere.
@@MrShark-no3bq so they'd prescribe antidepressants instead of ridilin
She actually mentioned that everyone cannot live medication-free. And that it doesn’t always feel like a super power.
U know what I hate is bc people think that ur just using ADHD as a excuse when they don’t know it effects everything like literally everything
People believe their opinions to be true regardless. It's easier for them to judge than to do any actual research. It's annoying to say the least.
@@zerotoleranceforstupidpeop4301 People try to relate with their "neurotypical" brains but they have no idea how it actually is. So they pretend they understand by applying how they experience things themselves and it creates stigmas from misunderstandings.
One hates those short-aware assholes
I was in my late 40s when I was diagnosed. What my diagnosis means to me is how understanding I must be of others who don't have this superpower. It's not their fault they don't have this amazing gift.
Thank you. Shame is not talked about enough, and is at the root of a lot of the pain i personally feel because of my ADHD. I can see it brewing in my son, and i've been struggling to work out ways to help him. Thank you again, this may be the seed that changes his life, and perhaps mine.
Such a beautiful talk. Really appreciate the mention of shame and how acceptance and understanding can help us become more authentic versions of ourselves. What a wonderful world that would be.
“Accepted norm”... we need neurotypical people to understand that neurodiversity helps to make the world a richer, better place! Great videos like this need to be shown to our educators who have much responsibility in the lives of all our young.
this made me tear up when she talked about the teacher that cared
@ 7:00.... "the most painful and difficult parts of each person's story, (referencing people in her study), were not about dealing with the symptoms, but rather the feelings of...badness...incompetence, loneliness and shame they had about themselves. It seemed as though the stigma's they faced for not fitting into the traditional system, were more harmful to them than the disorder itself, (referring to ADHD/ADD)." Yep! Thanks Emily.
one of the most emotional TED talks i’ve ever seen. thank you for speaking up for folks with ADHD.
I can still remember making and finishing a week's worth of homework while playing movies on a loop in my laptop, and my friends shaking their head in amazement - oh, wait! That was yesterday!
I love this video! A must for parents, teachers, and kids with ADHD! The difference a few people can make in the lives of an ADHD child is AMAZING.
The difference just one person can make is amazing.
It's also might harder for us to learn in a conventional school setting due to the fact that most public schools create a very distracting environment for students with ADHD to learn in.
Loved this speech and crying as I'm writing this ..schools need better communication with teachers to deal in a positive way with kids with the disorder. Good , patient, understanding teachers are rare.
STRUGGLING WITH ADHD ISNT EASY BUT VIDEOS LIKE THIS HELP THANK YOU!!!
I had the chance to have a teacher that understood ADHD when I was 11. I will always remember a specific interaction we had in class. So a classmate makes a critic comment about me and how I wasnt listening. My professor replied that I did not have to use my full attention to follow and that I even had better grades than most.
wow, helpful for me to hear your sharing of this at this moment - thank you.
how many people with adhd started to scroll through video
Damn thats me:)
fuckkkkkkkk
hahaha
Grweg Ergergrr I scrolled the comments.
well i just got busted there
I think I have ADHD, but I haven't told my parents yet. My sister has ADHD, Anxiety, insomnia, migraines, and a bunch of other things. So my mom always treats me like the functioning child. Don't get me wrong, she still loves my older sister. She just has this preconceived idea that I am the perfect one. She always says things like, "You're so smart. I can't believe that I gave birth to someone so smart." It makes me feel obligated to pretend to be normal instead of being honest.
Sophia R. I know I'm late replying but don't think that the ADHD changes being smart, I have a similar role in my family and the knowledge that I have ADHD has never affected that. If you have ADHD finding out about it doesn't change who you are.
Sophia R. ADHD people aren't stupid. They're incredibly brilliant. You should definitely talk to her about it. Also, neither you or your sister can help what you have. There's no need to be ashamed of any of it. ^_^ 💕
As someone with diagnosed ADHD, I never noticed anything was wrong with me, my family and people around me did. I'm also intelligent. All I can say is don't self diagnose, but if you suspect it ask your GP to refer you to a psychologist for a diagnostic assessment.
Hey Sophia , I can relate to a similar family condition . I th8nk ADHD guys are prone to this danger as we always try to prove it to our families.
We must stop proving ourselves to others .
My boyfriend has ADHD. He also came from a very poor neighborhood, but that didn't stop him graduating with his engineering class.
Those that see trough their own frustration to see us for who we are aside from the AD(H)D in this world are heroes. Parents, teachers, partners, we all need them to succeed and find happiness in live. We are not less, just different.
You must be a trump supporter 😱😕👮👀
1:40 "It feels safer to think of oneself as bad in a good world than it does to face the injustice and unpredictability of the world as is"
This.
ADHD: We are freaks and superhero's at the same time. ADHD is a blessing and a curse at the same time.
Facts
ADHD is a blessing because of what it is and a curse because of what society typically makes it out to be.
We’re super freaks 😙😉
So is life in genrtal
name one positive thing. i'll wait.
As I watched, I wished my son's Kindergarten teacher had seen this. Then, she might have seen what she really had in her class. Bravo, Ms. Anhalt!
Laurie Storey-Manseau teachers that teach don't know how to teach.
Why don't regular schools recognize that they are creating a "disorder" by not being adaptable to the needs of their students?
Maybe you can send her the link, it might help her to understand for future children she is teaching...
Terrific talk! Every teacher in our district should watch this! I love the idea of a wild untamed zebra in all of us! Perfect metaphor!
woah only at 0:40 and that is so accurate. spent literally more than 50% of my 3/4th grade school year in the deans office. I was lucky though and she was actually very understanding of my condition and felt bad I was punished so hard by the teachers for it. She let me learn when I wanted to and run around like a spaz and skate at school when i needed to and as a result my grades went up dramatically. She showed me compassion and allowed me to learn in ways I could. Thank you Ms. Lee, you took the time to understand me and listen to me when nobody else would. Still got the sick element jacket she gave me for christmas in 3rd grade almost 16 years ago lol.
I have achieved quite a bit but that seems to matter little when your job is constantly threatened: you are different than others, you have a tendency to speak your mind or impulsivity shows itself. It doesn't matter if you are speaking truth if it's not presented in a socially acceptable way. And so much about that presentation seems fake to me.
My ADHD has been both a blessing and a curse at different times. My ADHD was a factor in child custody trial. I was charged for violating a protection order because i went into the yard of my former home to hug my then 4 year old son. (My doctor that prescribed my ADHD medication asked why I was so impulsive!?!-Time for a new doctor)I feel very fortunate to have had one friend who understood me and that is the difference between life and death.
This talk hit home hard enough to make tears flow. It is so comforting when someone understands...sad it is so rare. Thank you.
I began crying bc I've struggled for so long / the shame feels like a lead weight. Although I'm "successful " with a Doctor of Pharmacy... it just seems to get harder to fit in, socialize if at all etc
I find myself in tears watching this. Thank you for sharing your research findings with us and for such an encouraging & beautiful delivery.
brilliant I hope to catch up with more of her work, I'm a 50 year old who only made the breakthrough in self diagnosis this year, life seems to be like a jigsaw and watching the pieces fitting now.
I'm just learning this about myself and I'm glad to now know I'm not crazy but, now where do I go with you know,? it's a great feeling to know I'm not the only one with all this
One of the smartest ADHD TEDx, congrats. I do have ADHD, mild, diagnosed at 37. I do take medication, lightly, and only on certain days when I have certain tasks, not so creative, smart or dinamic. And it helps a lot.
Any occuption or job will have some very interesting tasks - no medication needed, and some tasks which are more or less boring or have become boring in comparison with others.
Even in architecture, advertising, movie making, software programming, etc. In order to be succesfull, you have to be able to do your not-so-interesting tasks as well or finish the damn projects. This is where medication helps (along with many small productivity tricks, environment, sleeping, sport, people, etc.).
So, although I understand very well your point and it is very smart and valid, some may not - and may understand that medication is bad and not needed. That is false. But yes, medication is only a part of ADHD management, and choosing the right occupation is probably much more important than medication. But after doing that, medication might still be needed for achieving parts of the dutties. (or not - perhaps a satisfied EMT Driver or firefighter with ADHD would not need it. But as the competence level for an occupation increases, it will have some boring tedious paperwork to do. Even a CEO might have to do his expenses or taxes :-)) ).
Interesting. I'm going to see how I fare as a counselor, I'm going to school for it, so I don't I want to make it the best.
Update - not taking meds anymore, but as I'm said I'm a mild ADHD type, and can focus on tasks which I find interesting and when I'm motivated.
@@mihai2303 I'm the same way! Sorry, quarantine has me searching for ways to be the best I can be in school, as I'm applying for grad school, and I know how my ADHD can prohibit me!
much love out there to anyone trying to figure out whats going on with themselves or a loved one
I can't watch this type of videos without feeling the urge of crying. This is hard for me because I know I present the symptoms and I WANT help, but my dad thinks that I just get distracted easily, that it is not a disease. My mom wants to study psychology but she can't even recognize that her child has ADD. Maybe they will understand if I get diagnosed.
I'm in the same boat, had this my whole life, and family just think I'm lazy and forgetful. At 33 I've finally managed to book an assessment this week, let's see how it goes, but I still don't think my family will get it! Hope you can get the help you need.x
@@Sam-jh3xh How did your assessment go? Were you diagnosed with it?
how it go
Im now 59 & just getting diagnosed. Due to the co-morbidity of it ; my Ass4ssor beluev3s I have ADHD with Dyspraxia but she DID emphasise my strengths
= a High level of English ability .
This was a shock. In stating tgis here for children of genius parents/ even just functionning "normality"(whatever that is!!)
My Dad was a teacher who progressed to teach Diplomats languages in the Foreign Office in London & my mother has NPD & is highly narcissistic and abusive. ..
= 0 support from a mother.
But I do feel, however, as an ex RGN nurse; I CAN & WILL use ALL this huge pain to help others & hopefully so they won't have to go thru what I did = bullying & Huge isolation from society.
.
Most people have denial when it comes these matters. My parents also cannot admit it and believe instead that we all are being easily distracted.. And multitasking... The point is to embrace your self for what you are.. What other people think is their problem,not ours...
EXCELLENT Presentation!
"If you judge a fish by its ability to ride a bicycle, ..." Perfect!
And I really appreciate the "SUPERPOWER" description.
Thanks for the Talk!
The quote she meant was "if you judge a fish by it's ability to climb a tree..."
it's funny how normal people see people with ADHD as someone with a problem yet these people are super successful at things like fast paced videogames. Problem is education system doesn't allo us to cultivate our amazingness!!!
Does anyone else find it a miracle that she has ADHD and does not digress or go off topic and stays consistent in her tone and walking pace? I could NEVER. :(
Actually with practice and systems in place that work for you you can learn to do it. This just might take longer
"Remember that kid who was just shouting out awnsers and never race the hand"....✋🏻
Utterly amazing. I was lost before the realization of traits brutally (for me) laid out here. Maybe ADHD kids can readily see a better direction due to being afflicted with 40 points of view at once. Doesn’t perhaps finish the homework but perhaps can see where the homework’s direction goes wrong. Tough being told your brilliant but you must master the basics of an exercise which isn’t the focus of the ADHD mind anymore than the master of the basics can see what needs to be done or change as a result of looking to close on the basics. Lovely video and very very understood. Please keep educating the world as to why we need diff brains and diff perspectives to any problem. Both views are always needed to guide progress xx
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It really helps to know that I'm not alone and someone out there understands what I, we ADHDers go thru, especially when we went through life not knowing what it was.
you could say that yeah. Would have made my youth a lot easier finding out about it not at age 21 but way earlier, haahha. Ah well, c'est la vie and I'm smiling
@@OnePieceOfRedSun I’m waiting for answers at 40 so there is always time to turn things around and live the life you’re destined to live
I think the most ADHD reaction to this video was what I had:
feeling this was the exact thing I needed to hear when I watched it, while wanting to stop the video and doing literally anything else 😂
A lot of ted talkers with Adhd acting like it's a "superpower" only talking about successful people with adhd. It is not a gift, its crippling debilitating and in today's society has no use at all as were not living in the hunter gatherer age. I'm 33 and still haven't seen through any goals I set for myself. Any major ones I suppose. Adhd set my up for failure in this world. Yeah I'm creative but never had the drive to follow through with anything. Never had sustained motivation.
did you tried concerta pills?
It's possible, don't give up! Like really really possible. Mindset is important.
@@bikeaddict6437 yeah but they usualy don't work after years of using them.
Problem is the society, critical thinking, outside the box, crisis management, that is all good traits of ADHD if they are oriented in the right way, problem is school is made to build factory workers, not innovators, entrepreneurs, etc.
ADHD helps pushing tech and science, ADHD does not need to adapt to society, society has to put ADHD to better use!
@@rudiservo "ADHD does not need to adapt to society, society needs to put ADHD to better use." I love that, you're so right.
I was diagnosed with Adhd young but couldn't take the medication because it was bad for my liver. I was a straight a student till I was high school dropout. I didn't like seeing the same people every day. I'd ditch and go mess with strangers all day. I always felt like it was a superpower. I'm a jack of all trades master of none. The only downside is people don't understand me and I barely get them. I go through about 5 jobs a year but finally settled on my own house cleaning business. Remedial tasks help me shut off and create. I was just getting ready to go play some open mics and socialize right before this virus happened.
Loved this video. Explains ADHD perfectly.
Remember that kid who was just shouting out answers and never race the hand ❤️ this is my whole childhood 😄
This hit so close to home for me. Thank you!
Great Talk - I understand how i am and why i chose to do what i do a little bit better. Nice to know that we are more "normal" then previously thought.
Perhaps her study will become a book of strategy's for ADHD people to use without medication. I have embraced my learning/Behavior differences and do not think of them as a disorder
I recommend checking out Rick Green and Jessica from How to ADHD on UA-cam for information they’re great
A lot of things about my ADHD make a lot more sense now
Brought me to tears....Beautifully said!
One of the best talks I heard about ADHD. The Highlight for me is the cases you shared from your Research ADHD and Success. Where can I read more on about your Research on ADHD and Success?
So many success stories include the “I had one teacher who cared/noticed/helped/accommodated/liked me”. I had one a bit like that at 10. Then I left that school.
great talk!! explained it well and this goes for so many other situations where people get put down for their differences.
This is a great discussion and talk regarding how to utilize what most view as a flaw as an apparent strength. Amazing talk!!
I paused the damn video three times to browse the internet. I did finish though. ;)
After having gone 42 years before receiving an ADHD diagnosis and treatment through medication, I have become a HUGE proponent of Adderall. It gives me the mental resources to leverage my ADHD in life. Adderall is like adding a steering wheel to a vehicle that previously did not have one. In combination with therapy and management techniques, I can finally thrive.
as amazing as these are its making me depressed because i know my weird is never going to make its mark. ill never be in the right environment to do what i know my brain craves.
Just how we raised out two "ADHD" kids. Both have done great without any stimulants; though it wasn't always fun, it was the right way to go.
Kindly share the strategy used to help your kids so others could benefit and be motivated
thank you for the talk. it's really resonated with me.
how can I ever thank you for that? wow, I should have been interviewed to your phd
She is talking about something she knows a lot about and is interested in. Plus, i bet she has practiced this many times.
"I've read the whole book, doing a chapter at a time doesn't work for me"
Feeling seen AF, the tl;dr story of my life.
I have adhd and social anxiety so its such a fun combo
Jaiden I do too. It's so much fun, isn't it?
Jaiden Martinez haha recently got diagnosed with the same
Hey at least we all view it with some sarcastic humor😁
Same
I understand how this feels my family nor teachers gave me the patience but my best friend does
Okay so I watched this around when it came out, and I came back to it again and like more than half way through I remembered I aldready have seen it.
I'm a lifelong software engineering architect and manager, and I too can juggle tasks, seemingly working on multiple, complex tasks at the same time, sometimes with literally a dozen apps and 50 browser windows open. But, it's hard to remember my mother's birthday. LOL. I have also struggled with self-loathing my whole life, and it was not until my recent ADHD diagnosis in my early 50s where any of this made sense.
im at the 9:10 and my mind drifted off like 30 times already, now imagine that at school -.-
Yeah i have the same only my mom says its normal-__-
It's the photographer, beeping away.
Have you gone to top right hand corner of screen click on it and adjust speed of video faster or slower as you like
Never diagnosed. Definitely "living" with it. Barely scraping by. No success at anything. Jack of all trades master of none.
Life is easier with medication. I wish I had it sooner.
the double-edged sword!! (made a collage of photos i took the past day or so and wrote a paragraph into my journal while watching this lol)
I'm sorry you got me for a full 10 minutes, then I got focused on why having the word GLITCH on the screen while asked (at the same time) if Syracuse meaning NY State or Sicily's Capital which also reminded me that my Italian is getting rusted, then I noticed you don't have an echo and wrapped up your presentation by being ok to be the Zebras of the world [having the Madagascar cartoon image in my mind talking] yeah welcome to supra focused thinking!
I need to watch this more often
Beautifully said! Thank you!
I just recently started with the opening cabinets and drawers and forgetting to shut them. Thank you to my husband.
I have ADHD and multitasking is NOT easy. We should focus at one thing at a time. She probably hiperfocused her dissertation but had no clue what was going on in the series.
LKBeatbox yes, but the series was a way to hyperfocus on the dissertation. That’s the whole point. Without the series, it’s be impossible to focus on the paper
I'm confused and doubt she has ADHD or not, because ADHD isn't just about hyperactivity, it's just one symptom, it doesn't mean she has ADHD, as an ADHD sufferer and you also know that ADHD is the biggest problem in FOCUS. ADHD but he can multitask very easily while us with ADHD are very easily distracted, I started to question whether she really has ADHD or not
@@gatetsusama1034 exactly
"Children are not jars that we must fill in but spring water that needs to run free"I love this quote from Maria montessori.the problem in this school system that we've created and that we believe in,is that the children are formated to behave like obedient little soldiers,sit down, don't move,be quiet,learn by heart not very practical things or skillful things....children are just full of life,are hungry for knowledge and have a great imagination.all these traits are suppressed in the classroom....sadly....
Thank you so much for your beautiful words of encouragement❤️☀️🙏
Excellent talk! Great job!
We need someone to create an ADHD village. I wanna see what it'd look like.
I was just thinking that 😮
Honestly we would be great.
Tribal living should be normalised as it is the best way to live and we all would do well.
I mean it.
Hope we could be friends. 🙏
I watched this from the end backwards, pausing and rewinding as I missed things because I was also surfing the web.
Thank you for making me feel less isolated!
Never had troubles with discipline.. Well, OK, yes, I talked back to teachers, but since I was sort of the best kid in the class |(math, physics, languages, drawing, sometimes sports (swimming and shooting)) I got no trouble for it. Mostly.
Now I sit a work hours after the official work time is over. Because now at last I can work - everyone is gone, no noise, no unneeded distractions, and I can put music I like (or videos like this one for background), open windows if I want. Sometimes I wonder, how much productivity and thus money is lost every day because of idiotic open office planning?
yeah I'm all of those but in addition I'm completely socially awkward
practice helps.
Ellen Lucy feel yah
Ellen Lucy, I am social awkward too. I’m learning that, like a lot of other people, which is now recognized in women, I have what used to be called Asperger’s, now part of the autism spectrum. ADHD is often a trait. Learning about all this has helped me a lot!
@@denise2304 Yes they are often co-morbid disorders, disorders that often occur together, and there is even the trifecta of ADHD, ASD, and OCD. I am socially awkward too. I was diagnosed with ADHD and OCD as a child but knew there was something else too that must explain my very social awkwardness. As you said, there is now more recognition of women with it so after much research and study have realized that I meet the criteria for high-functioning ASD (Asperger's) too with the new DSM-V, It turns out I was tested for ASD as a kid but was just one criterion off severity-wise to be diagnosed at the time. But learning that it very often occur together with ADHD helped me figure it out and I was able to learn more and found ways help myself. A great book is by Temple Grandin, a very famous woman with ASD and a huge advocate who gives many talks, is "Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships" it's a great how-to guide for social interactions and it changed my life.
@@denise2304 have you tried drama classes they are awesome for becoming more confident it teaches you how to socialise in a scripted way and with practice it becomes more natural
Reading the comments while the video is playing...
i want to do a ted talk one day...
Who's listening to this for background noise to focus on other tasks?
damn is this chick a figment of my constantly distracted but friggin fabulous imagination? this is amazing. VIVA LA ZEBRA!!!!!!!!!!
i wish i had heard this growing up. i would gave felt more confidence and probably done better in school doing it in a way that works for me. instead of how i was told to do it, a way that worked against me.
Mrs.T sounds amazing ☺️
"...the societal stigma can be more harmful than the trait itself..."
How true!
Much respect for miss T ❤
Really connected with this. Great vid!
I really needed to hear this
Am I the only one watching, yelling "Talk faster!"?
Dan Klass you can always go in & change the speed in the settings.
hahahaha it is good for no English speakers
Most of the ADHD speakers talk too fast, so maybe someone told her to be more conscious about it...
I literally skipped the video
this is pure pain for ADHD people jajajajajaj
"Beauty in
the abnormal" :)
It’s not abnormal it’s just different
My mother legit said "Well, if most people have adhd, then society should be seeing adhd as normal." Wanted to kick in her teeth when she said "you're not different or out casted for having mental illness."
She says this when my class is months ahead of me because I'm too slow to grasp concepts well. Or the looks I get when I do "act" adhd. Playing with my hair non-stop, cleaning my nails with my mouth, pulling out my hair, non-stop movement, disturbing the class by accident, distracted, being annoying, ect.
Adhd may be common but it's not common enough for people to consider you normal, especially when the ugliest parts come out.
This is beautiful. thank you!!!
I can't help but notice that people who didn't have someone to help them deal with ADHD didn't make it to the TED Talks.. So far every ADHD person on TED Talk has been talking about the help they received from someone who was able to support them..
I literally can’t start and finish a video without scrolling though the comments because of all the distractions and my need to not be bored 🤦🏽♀️😂
Im anxious to start watching it!
This is wonderful. Thank you.
My 8 year old daughter does gymnastic to focus and she's the most efficient!