I told my therapist a month or so ago that I'm happy to be in a place in life where I can let my mind go where it wants to go, letting myself lean into my ADHD with no shame. Such a good feeling.
That’s my happy state . It’s not always helpful when I have stuff to do. But I like having free time to do that . I recently discovered I have adhd , so it makes sense , I guess !
@@laubowiebass haha! Yeah, when I need to be productive it is a bit hard to "pull" myself out of my zone. And congrats on the ADHD discovery! I bet things make a whole lot more sense for you now! :)
Stuart, its always good to see you brother. I recently about a week ago left an ADHD Group, although I know very well I do have it, associating with the group and their thoughts made me realize that it was somehow normalizing the disadvantages that come with ADHD making me tolerant and ignorant towars all the things that I could about it, to learn to live with it. Another aspect related of Dopamine detox, I'd like tell, reduce consuming and increase creation, creativity. Consume less of Internet, fast food, social media, etc all the artificial toxic things that feed on you feeding them -less of that. Being ADHDrs we must be very sensitive and protectective of what we let in our minds by all visual or auditory senses. What we see, hear, etc. Because we cannot control our brains and our minds and stop our thoughts. Because to change the direction of our boat, if we cannot control the winds, we can control the sails. And by controlling the sails we can control the directions. If you wanna consume - consume all the natural things - consume nature, consume fresh air, consume the calming breeze, consume the beautiful sight of sunset, consume fruits and vegitables. The company of animals and birds and plant trees and consume the beauty and fragrance of the flowers. And Create - create more of Art, music, write journals, cook food and enjoy the process of creation. Create what your mind things and heart desires. Create what intrests you. There are two monsters constantly fighting within you- the good and the evil one - who wins ? The one whom you feed the most.
@@ADHDMastery that’s exactly why I left. They are filled with “woah is me” mentality and if you suggest otherwise or say anything positive you are accused of downplaying adhd problems and “toxic positivity”
I haven’t done a traditional dopamine detox but I have been focusing more on long form content instead of instant gratification short form content and that has helped. People really into the DD thing are all about no music while you do it, no food you like, no activities you enjoy. That’s stupid. Not watching UA-cam and only eating sugarless oats for 24 hours is not gonna magically change your life. Instead I have been listening to audiobooks(Harry Potter because I’ve always wanted to read them) instead of short UA-cam videos and just making that switch has done a lot for me.
I’m 68 years old tomorrow 1/31, and I have struggled/enjoyed with the energy of being ADHD my whole life. While in our 60’s, my sister (15 months older than me) said, “Dad always loved you more because he always took you with him”. I said, “Sis….dad always took me with him because I upset the household with my ADHD meltdowns.” We both laughed. But, that story was a side note to what I wanted to say…. . A couple of years ago, I found a book that has helped me so, so much with controlling the depression that comes with having ADHD. The book is called, LOST CONNECTIONS, by Johann Hari. And your video today is one explanation of depression with a lost connection with nature. I was feeling so, so low the other day with a depression that I couldn’t shake and I just felt the nagging pull to go outside, in my back yard, and lay on my back in the snow. Like I said…I’m 68 years old, it was 9° outside, in the dark and I wasn’t looking forward to facing those obstacles, but I did! I bundled up like an Eskimo and crunched through the snow in my back yard, laid down and looked at the stars. Talk about a dopamine high! I giggled and started rolling over and over on top of the crunchy, snowy ground. I connected with nature that night and felt alive and happy. (My arthritis didn’t like it, but hey…lol) Have a connected day and God bless. 💕
Video games have been a real killer for me. I have been recently diagnosed, finally at 29. It's been tough for me not being able to understand my behavior where i couldn't motivate myself for anything important in my life. At this point I just get rid of things which I impulsively go back to i.e. technology but Stuart is absolutely right here. We have replaced our source of dopamine from nature to screen and trust me the source of your dopamine really matters. A day itself in nature wouldnt just give you a dopamine boost but also will make you feel better when you realize that you were out the whole day and didnt get the urge to pull out your phone every minute
For a while now I’ve been struggling with this lately, you get so beaten down because “your adhd can just be solved by just stop stimulating your brain” it annoys me so much that it stops me from taking action to reduce screen time and instead getting trapped in a state of self loathing “you caused your issues and just try harder”
I was diagnosed with ADHD last year and went on medication. It's changed my life and I wish I could go without it. My ADHD symptoms are worse than the effects of the medication.
I stopped looking at Facebook sometime this past summer and my mental health has improved tremendously. I started taking an SDRI a few months later and it has helped me a lot in reducing the need to hop from one thing to the next just to keep my dopamine drip flowing. I'm not formally diagnosed so I'm not on stimulant medication, but I'm no stranger to it, and it just straight up stopped working to improve my focus, and just gave me a ton of energy to dump into distractions. Meditating every day helps me a ton. When I started I just let my mind wander and spent some time reflecting on *why* my mind was drawn to certain emotions or ideas. It helps me understand my mind a little bit better, and helps slow me down from falling into self-persecution cycles.
DOOOD! I was just telling my husband this. What if my brain just doesn't want to focus on this system, this direction or this way of thinking. Uggghhh this world. Lord Jesus help us 🙏
I'd love to live in an open outdoors space, but living in the middle of the city in a house without windows to the outside... well, 12 hours of screen time is expected. I'm in a point where my last resource is an extremists one; get off my phone COMPLETELY. This means selling my phone and getting one of those where you can only call and chat... It's not something everyone should do, specially if you NEED technology, but we should all at least try to use it less.
I think the fact that the detox makes you antsy is the reason we need to do it. From what I understand, we’re used to having unnaturally high dopamine levels because of social media and such, so when you cut it out it’s hard, because it’s similar to any other addiction. The detox I think is supposed to let your dopamine levels go back down to normal so you can enjoy simple things again without needing to be overstimulated. I did try it and I found myself becoming productive out of boredom. I still use UA-cam, which I need to get control over, but cutting out social media has been super helpful to me. It truly sucks your life away. I hope we can all make an effort to take our lives back. The next thing on my agenda is to get an alarm clock that won’t scare me awake, so I can stop using the alarm on my phone/iPad. That way I won’t be tempted to check notifications immediately upon waking
Also getting enough sleep every night helps worlds with energy levels motivation levels mental energy levels in fact sleep is the number one most important thing we as humans can do for our overall health all humans need enough sleep every night otherwise we cannot function to our own personal best
Highly recommend looking into a sunrise clock like Lumie or Phillips. Has helped me LOADS with getting on a good sleep/wake schedule, speaking as someone who also gets scared awake by normal alarm clocks.
Beautiful country Stuart! I have done a dopamine detox for a day and I liked it. Kind of lessened my dependency on my phone. I could probably benefit from a once a week detox day. Yes it's quiet and boring but I kinda liked it. My mother, in her 80s has never been into these devices and she's fine. 🙂
I would agree. The longest I went without looking at my phone in over a decade is 3 hours a week ago. And with adhd that especially is a huge feat! I will continue to practice improving my focus and one day I’ll be in complete control of my focus and attention!
I was bullied by a new manager who Gaslighted me enough to create an unknown level of anxiety and depression. This lead me to seek a diagnosis of ADHD in December 2020, at the age of 52. I had worked 34 years with my employer, until I had been the only person to be made redundant. I took myself off for 3 months at the end of last year to Africa, a small agricultural village in Ghana, volunteering at a school with small children. We didn't have running water, electric, or modern devices for entertainment. Everyday I felt a high level of energy created by Human to Human interaction. I was overwhelmed in a positive way, like a child in a sweetshop. Everyone I met became a friend instantly, not judging me but interacting. I did walk around the village everyday, introducing myself and learning. I helped in so many ways. Special times, Dopamine by the bucket load.
Hi styart you have opened my eyes in all to do with adhd and other things , i take stratteria non stimlilants .!! am 51yrs ive just started taking these , i have just gone up to 60mg . outside is good i must admit . i like watching your videos
Hi Stuart, Borb here. I'm new to your channel and this is the first video of yours I watch (ergo, insta-sub). I 100% agree on everything you said: for me, diagnosis and medication were fundamental in the beginning of my journey, but I've now grown past this stage and am more in the acceptance phase, where, like you, I'm shaping my life *around* my ADHD and not vice versa. I also stopped taking meds. As an ex online gamer, I started going out in nature, hiking, meditating. And, as my area of expertise is population genetics, I knew that there must be a hidden, evolutionary benefit to whatever causes ADHD. So I started researching and researching and I finally found enough data to formulate the hypothesis that the ADHD brain is actually the original ancestral neurotype, and that a set of mutations which occurred around the time of the agricultural revolution some 12~15K years ago actually caused the brain to evolve into what is now considered the neurotypical brain. There's a lot more to this hypothesis, but I don't want to say too much as I plan on speaking about this in my channel hehe :P
Yes! I totally agree! Getting away from the screens on purpose every day is truly a gift to yourself and your overall health. Getting outside is even better, even if it's cold. As a Christian, I don't meditate, but rather, I read scriptures and pray. (But I also get very scatter-brained so I use prayer lists.) These things also make a huge impact on my ADHD struggles because I am able to give worry and anxiety over to a power higher than myself. 🙌 My faith also reminds me to do things decently and in order, which helps with my lack of executive function. Thank you for your video. You are a helpful and intentional distraction! Rest assured, we are all being "programmed" daily, but let's be sure to be careful who we allow to program us! 😉 🤔
I live so far north that when I go camping, tech isn't a thing. I sometimes use it for a clock or to read if i have to but camping there is so much always going on that I find it easier to disengage from phones.
"Watching hours and hours of TV doesn't cause ADHD, hours and hours of TV is a symptom of ADHD." Dr. Russell Barkley. I've never had a diagnosis for ADHD, but for reasons I won't go into, I know I'm going to have to at least try it. It's not going to make anything any worse. "If you remember to take your medication, on time, all the time, every time, your brain would work sufficiently well that you wouldn't need medication in the first place." - Kathleen G. Nadeau.
Hey Stu, thank you for all the great info you're putting out there. 🙏 Can you speak to CBD oil and/or other alternatives to the medication route? Much appreciated!
I have found many benefits of amino acids to help symptoms of adhd. Especially 5htp as a serotonin (calming, natural) creator. And Tyrosine which I’ve found as a more natural motivational creator than caffeine - which makes me very irritable when the benefits leave my system. These options are easily accessible additives to healthy living and easy on your pocket
I got rid of my cell phone smartphone years ago and switch to a plan ordinary flip phone. I'm in charge of it and I do not have to pay a bill plus it's cheaper.
anecdotal but I for sure noticed a difference after I got my first iPhone where its been more difficult to read a book ever since then. So difficult to stay with it more than a page or so
I did a dopamine detox but I don't think that it worked for me. What could work is a social media detox or making it much harder to access or stay on for extended time periods!
I did this kind of detox. I went upnorth in finland to cabin with no electricity, no signal, no people, nearest road 6km away. Stayed there for 7 nights and really enjoyed it and felt like my brain really reset it self and im alive again. It was like going back in time, back to caveman time, with no beeps, typing, registering or what so ever modern life stuff. This is going to be my ritual and thanks to my family for letting me do this annual reset.
I agree with you completely, I started wild camping last year, its a great way to get back to nature but also a way of focusing thoughts with minimal technology, I find myself busying myself with bits in camp but at the same time far more relaxed than being at home with a TV and all the creature comforts. Im really enjoying all your content, its been a great help and comfort to me... keep up the good work.
What you are advocating as getting out in nature is what I would call kinetic meditation. It's a good way for the ADHD brain to practice meditation because so many of us have difficulty remaining still whether our diagnosis is inattentive or hyperactive. The exercise and stimulation from being out in nature both naturally increase your dopamine levels as well. So quite the opposite, you're getting a dopamine boost not taking a break from it.
I tried a detox. Replaced my smartphone with a standard Nikia, etc. Didn't fully work. Sleeping earlier and having no tech one hour before bed worked but I've not managed to sustain it. I think you make a good point in that if we do this method, we find ourselves getting bored. Looking for a replacement is a much better alternative. Walking, biking, exercising, etc. I have personally noticed recently how much walking helps. Another great mental exercise to do is memory training. You can buy various books on it. Domonic O'Brien is a good author who also suffers from Dyslexia and ADHD. I find it can be a type of meditation.
Hello. This is very serendipitous… & a bit eerie. Not sure what the algorithm had to do with this. Though… I literally just made a whole UA-cam playlist for myself on Dr. Anna Lembke - a director at Stanford who was featured in Netflix’s “The Social Dilemma,” her bestselling book “Dopamine Nation,” & her findings on Dopamine addiction within societies that have all the pleasures one could want. No less than 10 mins after settling on my 2nd vid on said playlist - the adhd/tech addiction kicked in to clear my notifications, & I saw your vid. It’s a not so subtle sign.😅
Stuart, recently found your channel. Love the content and it helps motivate me as someone who didn't find out I had ADHD til I was in my 30's. One of the only times my brain seems to be able to quiet down is when I am out in nature. Nature is both peaceful and chaotic at the same time and I think that really helps.
F A N T A S T I C video! You are inspiring 💚 Hiking, trekking, mountain biking in the Beauty of Nature are the best dopamine sources... true, healthy wellness. Anxiety attacks, depression, lack of focus, the neurological hell caused by abuse of technology (social media/internet/videogames addiction will bring you right there, as the brain reacts like that to restore the lost balace), which is so much worse if you have ADHD... simply fade away and disappear (!!!!) within few weeks (!!!!) of detox. I can guarantee with personal experience. By the way, gorgeous landscape. Love from Italy 💚
Good to see you posting again. You're the only channel that I reference for my adhd, and that has given me genuinely useful info. Night walks is a habit that I fell out of due to many situational changes, but I have just rounded out my camping/hiking gear to get back out there. Nightly walks are a challenge to myself based on where I live; I'm certainly jealous of the view you can just step out into whenever you want. Keep in touch with these short ones. Also what happened to the video you deleted about how to watch videos with adhd? I hadn't finished it yet (lol)
You might be interested: There's a book by Thomas Metzinger called The Ego Tunnel. It's philosophy of mind, and he quotes brain and cognitive sciences on what's attention and many other interesting findings. He also has a chapter on (what he refers to) 'the naturalistic shift'. In there he builds on his theory and takes a brief look at the attention robbers... The attention economy is horrible.
Try wim hof breathing techniques there isn't to many people that change your life or even your outlook but I can honestly say I feel great since I've been doing it I have adhd and I'm on medication an it helps... but wim hof methods...its hard to explain but I feel happier and more calm honestly give it ago
our brains are bombarded with images presented thru technology, it takes a lot of work for your brain to process those images, and a tired adhd brain is no good. therefore, i find it helps to limit the amount of images i expose my brain too, especially in regards to scrolling thru social media which i find incredibly draining. try substituting with the outdoors, the printed word, or movie (i find well-produced cohesive images are easier to consume)
I tend not to watch the news and anything that is going on the television to stress me you lucky not to take medication I been stuck on it for 3 years and I have tried to come of them but the withdrawal symptoms are terrible I do exercise every day which helps but at this day and age I don't know where my life is going 😢✌️
@@ADHDMastery could you make a video about it some time? i assumed for some reason you lived a little more isolated or something 🤔 thank you so much for replying btw! edited: small typo
I told my therapist a month or so ago that I'm happy to be in a place in life where I can let my mind go where it wants to go, letting myself lean into my ADHD with no shame. Such a good feeling.
sounds beautiful :)
@@theangusschmaloer it is. I don't know how long this will last, but I'm soaking it up for as long as I can. :)
That’s my happy state . It’s not always helpful when I have stuff to do. But I like having free time to do that . I recently discovered I have adhd , so it makes sense , I guess !
@@laubowiebass haha! Yeah, when I need to be productive it is a bit hard to "pull" myself out of my zone. And congrats on the ADHD discovery! I bet things make a whole lot more sense for you now! :)
yay. Staying true to yourself without damaging other people.
I went to the Himalayan mountains for a month and it felt like 10 years.
No TV, No radio, No phone, only Food, Water and Shelter.
Nice!
Did you become Hindu?
Stuart, its always good to see you brother.
I recently about a week ago left an ADHD Group, although I know very well I do have it, associating with the group and their thoughts made me realize that it was somehow normalizing the disadvantages that come with ADHD making me tolerant and ignorant towars all the things that I could about it, to learn to live with it.
Another aspect related of Dopamine detox, I'd like tell, reduce consuming and increase creation, creativity.
Consume less of Internet, fast food, social media, etc all the artificial toxic things that feed on you feeding them -less of that. Being ADHDrs we must be very sensitive and protectective of what we let in our minds by all visual or auditory senses. What we see, hear, etc. Because we cannot control our brains and our minds and stop our thoughts. Because to change the direction of our boat, if we cannot control the winds, we can control the sails. And by controlling the sails we can control the directions.
If you wanna consume - consume all the natural things - consume nature, consume fresh air, consume the calming breeze, consume the beautiful sight of sunset, consume fruits and vegitables. The company of animals and birds and plant trees and consume the beauty and fragrance of the flowers.
And Create - create more of Art, music, write journals, cook food and enjoy the process of creation. Create what your mind things and heart desires. Create what intrests you.
There are two monsters constantly fighting within you- the good and the evil one - who wins ? The one whom you feed the most.
This is super helpful 👏
I left the adhd group for the exact same reason!
I've observed that alot of these groups have a self-pitying energy that I don't like.
I'm ready to leave some of these groups. So many blame things on ADHD that isn't ADHD.
@@ADHDMastery that’s exactly why I left. They are filled with “woah is me” mentality and if you suggest otherwise or say anything positive you are accused of downplaying adhd problems and “toxic positivity”
I haven’t done a traditional dopamine detox but I have been focusing more on long form content instead of instant gratification short form content and that has helped. People really into the DD thing are all about no music while you do it, no food you like, no activities you enjoy. That’s stupid. Not watching UA-cam and only eating sugarless oats for 24 hours is not gonna magically change your life. Instead I have been listening to audiobooks(Harry Potter because I’ve always wanted to read them) instead of short UA-cam videos and just making that switch has done a lot for me.
I’m 68 years old tomorrow 1/31, and I have struggled/enjoyed with the energy of being ADHD my whole life. While in our 60’s, my sister (15 months older than me) said, “Dad always loved you more because he always took you with him”. I said, “Sis….dad always took me with him because I upset the household with my ADHD meltdowns.” We both laughed. But, that story was a side note to what I wanted to say…. .
A couple of years ago, I found a book that has helped me so, so much with controlling the depression that comes with having ADHD. The book is called, LOST CONNECTIONS, by Johann Hari. And your video today is one explanation of depression with a lost connection with nature. I was feeling so, so low the other day with a depression that I couldn’t shake and I just felt the nagging pull to go outside, in my back yard, and lay on my back in the snow. Like I said…I’m 68 years old, it was 9° outside, in the dark and I wasn’t looking forward to facing those obstacles, but I did! I bundled up like an Eskimo and crunched through the snow in my back yard, laid down and looked at the stars. Talk about a dopamine high! I giggled and started rolling over and over on top of the crunchy, snowy ground. I connected with nature that night and felt alive and happy. (My arthritis didn’t like it, but hey…lol)
Have a connected day and God bless. 💕
Loved reading your story. Seeing people of all ages with adhd gives me inspiration and hope! (40 adhd/asd)
Thank you for sharing your story !
Yay.
Video games have been a real killer for me. I have been recently diagnosed, finally at 29. It's been tough for me not being able to understand my behavior where i couldn't motivate myself for anything important in my life. At this point I just get rid of things which I impulsively go back to i.e. technology but Stuart is absolutely right here. We have replaced our source of dopamine from nature to screen and trust me the source of your dopamine really matters. A day itself in nature wouldnt just give you a dopamine boost but also will make you feel better when you realize that you were out the whole day and didnt get the urge to pull out your phone every minute
yeah.
What about all the stress because of the greed of modern leaders?
Just focus on what you can control
For a while now I’ve been struggling with this lately, you get so beaten down because “your adhd can just be solved by just stop stimulating your brain” it annoys me so much that it stops me from taking action to reduce screen time and instead getting trapped in a state of self loathing “you caused your issues and just try harder”
I was diagnosed with ADHD last year and went on medication. It's changed my life and I wish I could go without it. My ADHD symptoms are worse than the effects of the medication.
What do you mean?? My English is not good because English is not my native language
Age??
I stopped looking at Facebook sometime this past summer and my mental health has improved tremendously. I started taking an SDRI a few months later and it has helped me a lot in reducing the need to hop from one thing to the next just to keep my dopamine drip flowing. I'm not formally diagnosed so I'm not on stimulant medication, but I'm no stranger to it, and it just straight up stopped working to improve my focus, and just gave me a ton of energy to dump into distractions. Meditating every day helps me a ton. When I started I just let my mind wander and spent some time reflecting on *why* my mind was drawn to certain emotions or ideas. It helps me understand my mind a little bit better, and helps slow me down from falling into self-persecution cycles.
Nature and walking is seriously the only thing that quiets my mind. I need it daily to function.
DOOOD! I was just telling my husband this. What if my brain just doesn't want to focus on this system, this direction or this way of thinking. Uggghhh this world. Lord Jesus help us 🙏
I'd love to live in an open outdoors space, but living in the middle of the city in a house without windows to the outside... well, 12 hours of screen time is expected.
I'm in a point where my last resource is an extremists one; get off my phone COMPLETELY.
This means selling my phone and getting one of those where you can only call and chat... It's not something everyone should do, specially if you NEED technology, but we should all at least try to use it less.
I think the fact that the detox makes you antsy is the reason we need to do it. From what I understand, we’re used to having unnaturally high dopamine levels because of social media and such, so when you cut it out it’s hard, because it’s similar to any other addiction. The detox I think is supposed to let your dopamine levels go back down to normal so you can enjoy simple things again without needing to be overstimulated. I did try it and I found myself becoming productive out of boredom. I still use UA-cam, which I need to get control over, but cutting out social media has been super helpful to me. It truly sucks your life away. I hope we can all make an effort to take our lives back.
The next thing on my agenda is to get an alarm clock that won’t scare me awake, so I can stop using the alarm on my phone/iPad. That way I won’t be tempted to check notifications immediately upon waking
Exactly
Also getting enough sleep every night helps worlds with energy levels motivation levels mental energy levels in fact sleep is the number one most important thing we as humans can do for our overall health all humans need enough sleep every night otherwise we cannot function to our own personal best
Highly recommend looking into a sunrise clock like Lumie or Phillips. Has helped me LOADS with getting on a good sleep/wake schedule, speaking as someone who also gets scared awake by normal alarm clocks.
@@ivy-vlt tysm for the suggestion!
Self diagnosed 3 months ago. Meds are definitely working. Still mind boggling how stimulants calm me down. Yes meditation definitely, working on it.
if you're self medicated, how did you get your meds?
@@tea8053 NIT self medicated. Self diagnosed. Later Therapist diagnosed me as ADHD. My GP prescribes my meds.
NOT self medicated.
@@beewise439 i meant self diagnosed SORRY TYPO LMAO !!!
@@tea8053 Hilarious stuff 🙏
Beautiful country Stuart! I have done a dopamine detox for a day and I liked it. Kind of lessened my dependency on my phone. I could probably benefit from a once a week detox day. Yes it's quiet and boring but I kinda liked it. My mother, in her 80s has never been into these devices and she's fine. 🙂
Walking is a man's best medicine - Hippocrates.
I would agree. The longest I went without looking at my phone in over a decade is 3 hours a week ago. And with adhd that especially is a huge feat! I will continue to practice improving my focus and one day I’ll be in complete control of my focus and attention!
I was bullied by a new manager who Gaslighted me enough to create an unknown level of anxiety and depression. This lead me to seek a diagnosis of ADHD in December 2020, at the age of 52.
I had worked 34 years with my employer, until I had been the only person to be made redundant.
I took myself off for 3 months at the end of last year to Africa, a small agricultural village in Ghana, volunteering at a school with small children. We didn't have running water, electric, or modern devices for entertainment.
Everyday I felt a high level of energy created by Human to Human interaction. I was overwhelmed in a positive way, like a child in a sweetshop. Everyone I met became a friend instantly, not judging me but interacting. I did walk around the village everyday, introducing myself and learning. I helped in so many ways. Special times, Dopamine by the bucket load.
10 hours the longest I have gone without looking at electronics. And that was when I was working. I would work 10-hour shifts.
I think that's why I used to romanticize the past so much. I just want simplicity more than anything.
Wow what an awesome landscape. Thanks for the good message. Peace
"Petty trials and tribulations."😂😂😂
One word Balance between the two.
I got rid of my smartphone years ago and switch to a plan ordinary flip phone. I'm in charge of it and I do not have to pay a bill plus it's cheaper.
Tech-nolog-y = To take knowledge
Meditation helped me alot. Even if the mind wanders, doesn't matter. Long term it does make a difference. There is no bad meditation.
Hi styart you have opened my eyes in all to do with adhd and other things , i take stratteria non stimlilants .!! am 51yrs ive just started taking these , i have just gone up to 60mg . outside is good i must admit . i like watching your videos
Hi Stuart, Borb here. I'm new to your channel and this is the first video of yours I watch (ergo, insta-sub). I 100% agree on everything you said: for me, diagnosis and medication were fundamental in the beginning of my journey, but I've now grown past this stage and am more in the acceptance phase, where, like you, I'm shaping my life *around* my ADHD and not vice versa. I also stopped taking meds. As an ex online gamer, I started going out in nature, hiking, meditating.
And, as my area of expertise is population genetics, I knew that there must be a hidden, evolutionary benefit to whatever causes ADHD.
So I started researching and researching and I finally found enough data to formulate the hypothesis that the ADHD brain is actually the original ancestral neurotype, and that a set of mutations which occurred around the time of the agricultural revolution some 12~15K years ago actually caused the brain to evolve into what is now considered the neurotypical brain. There's a lot more to this hypothesis, but I don't want to say too much as I plan on speaking about this in my channel hehe :P
Yes! I totally agree! Getting away from the screens on purpose every day is truly a gift to yourself and your overall health. Getting outside is even better, even if it's cold. As a Christian, I don't meditate, but rather, I read scriptures and pray. (But I also get very scatter-brained so I use prayer lists.) These things also make a huge impact on my ADHD struggles because I am able to give worry and anxiety over to a power higher than myself. 🙌 My faith also reminds me to do things decently and in order, which helps with my lack of executive function.
Thank you for your video. You are a helpful and intentional distraction! Rest assured, we are all being "programmed" daily, but let's be sure to be careful who we allow to program us! 😉 🤔
I live so far north that when I go camping, tech isn't a thing. I sometimes use it for a clock or to read if i have to but camping there is so much always going on that I find it easier to disengage from phones.
Thanks for the video, I am considering a dopamine detox. Even just small moments are beneficial such as turning my phone on silent for a few hours 🙂
"Watching hours and hours of TV doesn't cause ADHD, hours and hours of TV is a symptom of ADHD."
Dr. Russell Barkley.
I've never had a diagnosis for ADHD, but for reasons I won't go into, I know I'm going to have to at least try it.
It's not going to make anything any worse.
"If you remember to take your medication, on time, all the time, every time, your brain would work sufficiently well that you wouldn't need medication in the first place."
- Kathleen G. Nadeau.
Hey Stu, thank you for all the great info you're putting out there. 🙏 Can you speak to CBD oil and/or other alternatives to the medication route? Much appreciated!
He's got a video on that already actually
Not really worth the money IMO. The stuff that has any noticeable benefit is £100±
I have found many benefits of amino acids to help symptoms of adhd. Especially 5htp as a serotonin (calming, natural) creator. And Tyrosine which I’ve found as a more natural motivational creator than caffeine - which makes me very irritable when the benefits leave my system. These options are easily accessible additives to healthy living and easy on your pocket
I got rid of my cell phone smartphone years ago and switch to a plan ordinary flip phone. I'm in charge of it and I do not have to pay a bill plus it's cheaper.
anecdotal but I for sure noticed a difference after I got my first iPhone where its been more difficult to read a book ever since then. So difficult to stay with it more than a page or so
I did a dopamine detox but I don't think that it worked for me. What could work is a social media detox or making it much harder to access or stay on for extended time periods!
I did this kind of detox.
I went upnorth in finland to cabin with no electricity, no signal, no people, nearest road 6km away.
Stayed there for 7 nights and really enjoyed it and felt like my brain really reset it self and im alive again.
It was like going back in time, back to caveman time, with no beeps, typing, registering or what so ever modern life stuff.
This is going to be my ritual and thanks to my family for letting me do this annual reset.
My favourite ADHD channel ❤️
I agree with you completely, I started wild camping last year, its a great way to get back to nature but also a way of focusing thoughts with minimal technology, I find myself busying myself with bits in camp but at the same time far more relaxed than being at home with a TV and all the creature comforts. Im really enjoying all your content, its been a great help and comfort to me... keep up the good work.
Absolutely yes unfortunately
What you are advocating as getting out in nature is what I would call kinetic meditation. It's a good way for the ADHD brain to practice meditation because so many of us have difficulty remaining still whether our diagnosis is inattentive or hyperactive.
The exercise and stimulation from being out in nature both naturally increase your dopamine levels as well. So quite the opposite, you're getting a dopamine boost not taking a break from it.
I tried a detox. Replaced my smartphone with a standard Nikia, etc. Didn't fully work. Sleeping earlier and having no tech one hour before bed worked but I've not managed to sustain it. I think you make a good point in that if we do this method, we find ourselves getting bored. Looking for a replacement is a much better alternative. Walking, biking, exercising, etc. I have personally noticed recently how much walking helps. Another great mental exercise to do is memory training. You can buy various books on it. Domonic O'Brien is a good author who also suffers from Dyslexia and ADHD. I find it can be a type of meditation.
Me: “Okay, pay attention.”
My brain: “Is he in Llandudno???”
I was!
@@ADHDMastery haha, my brain was right! Beautiful place
Hello. This is very serendipitous… & a bit eerie. Not sure what the algorithm had to do with this. Though… I literally just made a whole UA-cam playlist for myself on Dr. Anna Lembke - a director at Stanford who was featured in Netflix’s “The Social Dilemma,” her bestselling book “Dopamine Nation,” & her findings on Dopamine addiction within societies that have all the pleasures one could want.
No less than 10 mins after settling on my 2nd vid on said playlist - the adhd/tech addiction kicked in to clear my notifications, & I saw your vid. It’s a not so subtle sign.😅
Helpful distraction indeed :D
Stuart, recently found your channel. Love the content and it helps motivate me as someone who didn't find out I had ADHD til I was in my 30's.
One of the only times my brain seems to be able to quiet down is when I am out in nature. Nature is both peaceful and chaotic at the same time and I think that really helps.
Hell i lost my train of thought she’s
F A N T A S T I C video! You are inspiring 💚 Hiking, trekking, mountain biking in the Beauty of Nature are the best dopamine sources... true, healthy wellness. Anxiety attacks, depression, lack of focus, the neurological hell caused by abuse of technology (social media/internet/videogames addiction will bring you right there, as the brain reacts like that to restore the lost balace), which is so much worse if you have ADHD... simply fade away and disappear (!!!!) within few weeks (!!!!) of detox. I can guarantee with personal experience. By the way, gorgeous landscape. Love from Italy 💚
Great video. Is that an ancient wall or just some stack of rocks?
Pretty sure it's an ancient wall
Looking well buddy 😃
Your videos are great 👍 btw is that Corwen by any chance?
Good to see you posting again. You're the only channel that I reference for my adhd, and that has given me genuinely useful info. Night walks is a habit that I fell out of due to many situational changes, but I have just rounded out my camping/hiking gear to get back out there. Nightly walks are a challenge to myself based on where I live; I'm certainly jealous of the view you can just step out into whenever you want. Keep in touch with these short ones. Also what happened to the video you deleted about how to watch videos with adhd? I hadn't finished it yet (lol)
Thanks man! The video got too much criticism for being too slow the point.. Fair. Lesson learned not to waffle too much. 😅
dopamine detox is a dumb oxymoronic term. dopamine is natural. It is what you do with your time that matters. dopamine is along for the ride!
You might be interested: There's a book by Thomas Metzinger called The Ego Tunnel. It's philosophy of mind, and he quotes brain and cognitive sciences on what's attention and many other interesting findings.
He also has a chapter on (what he refers to) 'the naturalistic shift'. In there he builds on his theory and takes a brief look at the attention robbers... The attention economy is horrible.
Try wim hof breathing techniques there isn't to many people that change your life or even your outlook but I can honestly say I feel great since I've been doing it I have adhd and I'm on medication an it helps... but wim hof methods...its hard to explain but I feel happier and more calm honestly give it ago
our brains are bombarded with images presented thru technology, it takes a lot of work for your brain to process those images, and a tired adhd brain is no good. therefore, i find it helps to limit the amount of images i expose my brain too, especially in regards to scrolling thru social media which i find incredibly draining. try substituting with the outdoors, the printed word, or movie (i find well-produced cohesive images are easier to consume)
I tend not to watch the news and anything that is going on the television to stress me you lucky not to take medication I been stuck on it for 3 years and I have tried to come of them but the withdrawal symptoms are terrible I do exercise every day which helps but at this day and age I don't know where my life is going 😢✌️
Yeah the news is an anxiety haven.
You are extremely attractive!
how did you create alife where you dont need to pay much attention?
At the time, single and worked 4 days a week as a cleaner. Those were simple times.
@@ADHDMastery could you make a video about it some time? i assumed for some reason you lived a little more isolated or something 🤔 thank you so much for replying btw!
edited: small typo
What feelings of medication do u not like?. Ive heard ppl say it changed their life for the better and swear by it.
He said it caused him sleep problems