So, I have ADHD
Вставка
- Опубліковано 5 чер 2024
- Ok, so, I've been diagnosed with ADHD - or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Here I explain what that means - but also talk about the scandalous NHS waiting lists for ADHD diagnosis and treatment, and why this matters.
Please like, subscribe - and help keep the show on the road here: / owenjones84
Please like, subscribe - and help keep the show on the road here: www.patreon.com/owenjones84
Diagnosed with AuDHD last November. Welcome. Doesn't it answer many many questions though!? Difference was also noticed with me too. I'm also LGBTQIA+ so many things were noticed when I was a kiddo!
My son is 36 and has ADHD, despite being diagnosed he has to wait a year to be medicated, this is heartbreaking because he has addiction issues and his impulsively have proved to exacerbate this. I feel for him, this has a detrimental affect on his relationship with his children and services involved with his children due to his ex partners behaviour. As a parent I could scream. He needs to attend multiple meetings and is judged when he forgets. My hands are tied, my will to fight is hanging by a thread.
BTW: with a name like Owen Jones, am I correct in assuming that you have family ties to Wales?
Hi Owen,
How did you persuade your GP to put you forward for assessment or did you not need to since you went private?
Btw: You don't look 38.
I rarely agree fully with what you say but I follow right wing and left wing commentators to try and see both sides.Well done for such honesty and openess,exposing ourselves can be hard but hopefully theraputic.The GMB interview on water was I feel your best contribution to public debate you came across as calm and well informed which is not always the case .Well done Owen.
As a Clinical Psychologist I applaud you for bringing awareness to neurodiversity and the impact of chronic underfunding of the NHS, and specifically, mental health services, on people’s lives. All mental health conditions are under diagnosed primarily due to lack of provision of accessible services not due to lack of demand or need. Multi comorbidity is often the result leading to poorer clinical outcomes and ultimately costing more in terms of service provision in the long run. It’s a national disgrace!
This lack has been manufactured as a narrative to sell off further national assets, immediately after natural or man made turmoil.
Due diligence can easily discern whether the most recent dramas are natural or manufactured in origin.
Which unpacks Chomsky's "manufactured consent" with irrefutable clarity.
So, I assume you have arrived at the same place as I, when I state...
The UK government, alongside Public Health England deliberately exploited the pre existing mental health crisis as a strategy to protect the most vulnerable.
This is the elephant in the UK to me, and its sadly looming larger, with an unaccountable world health body on the cusp of claiming sovereignty over our health outcomes, while ignoring the root cause of poor lifestyle pressures.
@@ppo2424 Not everyone is able to be a conforming sheep.
As a reader of these comments occasionally I applaud you for your comment
It is 100% the same in Denmark. There is an unmet need for more public psychologists and general therapy forms and a holistic perspective on the human experience.
@@charismahornum-fries691 which all highlights a grand problem with capitalism
Don’t normally comment, but as an autistic person, solidarity Owen! Would love to see you explore the politics of disability and neurodivergence even more in your podcasts now! But keep enjoying your wonderful brain!
Here, here.
Whoops … hear, hear!
🙌🙌🙌
I've got both... so I Biden your call for solidarity! (Biden's clearly better than Trump and I'm not sure if 'trumping' anything will ever feel like being better or the best hehe)
But in all seriousness having patched up the digest most of my life its interesting when looking at your life through a new, ens makes a lot more sense and possible workarounds to predicable pitfalls are now no longer about personal failing.
WELCOME, from all of us.
Same @bruno37a as AuADHD I think I also did spot elements of it in Owen.
As a nurse working in community mental health, and in the NHS, can I say : please don't feel guilty Owen, for going private. It is your right, and your mental wellbeing comes first. I think we are experiencing the tip of the iceberg regarding ASD and ADHD symptoms and diagnosis in Adults at the moment
So true!
try reading insane medicine by Sami Timimi.
@@futures2247 🤥
@@futures2247no thanks, if you mean articles such as, The Scientism of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), he’s wedded to the flawed notion of IQ, and why wouldn’t he be given the location of his employment
I mean this in the nicest way possible but "not surprised". Welcome to the neurodivergent family :D ❤
I genuinely mean this in the nicest way possible (sarcasm genuinely not intended), but I don't understand why you are "not surprised"? Why is being super enthusiastic and animated about what you believe in suddenly a flag for ADHD? Personally (and I appreciate I don't speak for everyone) after watching / listening to Owen over the past so many years, him having ADHD never even crossed my mind.
I'm a clinical researcher in ADHD and related health consequences; thanks for drawing attention to the chronic failings of the government and health service in diagnosing and managing ADHD. It's sadly not an uncommon story that people end up paying for private assessments/treatment now out of desperation.
Especially if you're someone who moves around alot. I gave up trying to get treatment. Each time I move to a new health authority and ask for a referral to specialists, I am just stuck in the queue for assessment. Which mostly takes longer than I'm in the area for. And then because I have to go through assessment for something I already have on record as being diagnosed with, it's then more weeks or even months before I would see any treatment and work and life will most definitely have moved me on by then.
Now I mostly just do avoidance of people who make my life difficult. Which turns out to work fairly well for me!
Such an important thing to talk about, thank you for sharing Owen!
You're a wonderful person Owen. Don't ever change. You are inspiring and have a wonderful sense of humanity for others.
bless you x
That's very true
Don't care what you have, Owen, you're a great broadcaster & political analyst.
So just keep doing it.
Facts 💯
Appreciate the sharing of your personal experience and the humility of your approach to this challenge.
As others have said this isn't a surprise, I wish you well on your journey Owen.
Yes. I thought that too. His energy is off the scale and flip side, sharp focus is relatable. I don't like instructions, lists , numbers, time watching, it goes on and on.
But I can read three or four books a week simulta
Well done for sharing your diagnosis of ADHD. Hopefully it'll help people who may know people who could have ADHD. I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome in 2007. Proud of u owen 🏳️🌈
I'm still on an NHS waiting list for official diagnosis at age 50, but everything I've learned about it has eradicated all doubt that it's behind a lot of my experiences, and behaviours.
I’m awaiting adhd I’m actually Autistic
I am 51 and am pretty sure I have it. Have not got the bandwidth to get a formal diagnosis but just putting a name to the madness that is my brain has really helped.
My mum just got the diagnosis at 51. She went private but hoping to switch to nhs once the prescription is set up
well clearly the thing to do is to ignore your principles and pay for a diagnosis, if you can afford it.
Congratulations on your diagnosis! And thanks for coming out, again 😊
I got diagnosed yesterday at the age of 45. Very happy you shared, Owen!
I went to Dr last month re ADHD I think I have it he said it’ll take 3 years backlog to get me seen.
What happens when you get diagnosed? Is there magic meds to help us concentrate?
I also have ADHD, I'm glad you talking about it, I've known when I was at least 6 but I only started think about it last year when I was wondering why I kept forgetting things
Class act and top man Owen 💯, greetings from Ireland dude 🍀 🍀 🍀 💪
I'm not surprised either... I do think you generally use this challenge to your advantage in producing superior content! Cheers.
To achieve what you’ve done with your life is incredible Owen. Thank you for sharing this mate x
undeservedly sweet of you x
@@OwenJonesTalks Thanks Owen. I haven’t been diagnosed but many have told me that I may also have this condition. All the symptoms that you mentioned I’m very familiar with, cannot concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes, so disorganised, plus many have noticed as I have myself that in conversation I can often be talking about multiple topics simultaneously. I’ve suffered with depression in my life but have countered that condition through medication, therapy & physical exercises, but here you’ve mentioned symptoms that I’m all to familiar with, so thanks so much for addressing this. By the way, your work is always of a top quality.
What has this loony achieved?
You're still a lefty muppet, and if you are so keen on free speech, why do you censor everyone who doesn't agree with your soy drenched drivel?
I was diagnosed last year, aged 55. I’m glad you didn’t have to wait as long Owen. It explains so much. My life has been chaotic for as long as I remember and suddenly it all makes sense.
My son, who is now 34, was diagnosed with ADHD age 4 - it was a hard path to navigate, but ultimately meant that myself and my spouse had to put our heads together as to how to bring him up, given the challenges that we faced. We were lucky to get my son diagnosed at such an early age, as we had an American professor give my son a full day of testing - the NHS was in much better shape back then. We knew he was right when he asked us to conduct a simple experiment on my son. He told us to give him a small dose of Ritalin on a Saturday morning, just so that we could see the effect that it had on him. Absolutely transformative as far as we were concerned - he went from being the Tasmanian Devil (totally normal mode for him) to sitting and colouring in pictures for quite a period of time. It was probably the first time in years that myself and my wife had actually sat down and had a cup of tea and a chat together. I will stress that we only used it sparingly and only during a school day - we learnt how to engage him outside of school without resorting to the Ritalin. He asked to stop using Ritalin at about 14 and we agreed. It has been difficult for him, but he is now a well balanced person whom I am proud to call my son.
Same here. Ritalin was quite literally a life saver for our son. Totally changed his school career from struggling to easily coping.
We’ll see how long he wants to take Medikinet(Ritalin), but at the moment it is not something we even discuss - it is just part of the routine and we have yet to see any downsides.
Important to remember, this isn't being diagnosed with a new thing, this is a new window to help understand the way you are and have always been! 🙂
Thank you Owen. I’m 29, female and only diagnosed this year. I have had quite crippling anxiety issues my entire life which have held me back in so many ways. I had treatments and years of therapy but nothing seemed to really kick it, despite improvement.
The psychiatrist who performed my ADHD assessment said something I will never forget:
“Perhaps you’ve struggled a lot more with your anxiety because you were constantly being told you were forgetful, disorganised and unreliable. Spending your life masking and trying to behave like someone you’re not.”
Finding out has been… quite life changing. But I am outraged. If I’d have been diagnosed, I may have been saved years of struggle, and even suicidalily at points because I felt so hopeless.
Despite all this, I am lucky. I am intelligent and high functioning… but I would not wish my experience on anyone.
This simply cannot continue, missed diagnosis can RUIN people’s lives.
That explains why you’re such a tenacious, brilliant debater! I was diagnosed at the age of 45, which explained a lot. The diagnosis was actually a relief, it absolved me of a lot the guilt that I carried. ADHD can be a superpower if you learn how to live with it. It’s a struggle, everyday but I don’t think I would change my brain, if I had the chance. I graduated from university, had professional success and am happily married, for 15 years now (my wife is a saint for putting up with me). I recommend taking supplements, in addition to your medication (I take Aderall). Omega-3, Vitamin D and Magnesium are all beneficial in assisting critical brain functions.
I loved the way the first step in getting an adult ADHD diagnosis is a collection of forms. Yeah, that'll work. I'll get right on that now.
Not to downplay the ways in which this is difficult for you, but perhaps this is one of your superpowers. Could it be that this way of doing things has helped you to be so nimble when you're interviewed on television? I'm in awe of how well you always do. No mean feat. In any case, we all love you exactly as you are.
Since being diagnosed and in therapy it’s amazing how clearly my fellow divergents stand out. I now assume truly brilliant folks like you are.
I can sniff 'em out like a fart in a car 🤣
@@notgarybrown😂😅😂
I got diagnosed last year too and completely changed the way I saw myself and has since made me a lot more comfortable in my own skin. Thank you for sharing!
As a fellow ADHDer, please let me offer my congratulations xx
🙌🙌🙌
I join you in congratulating Owen
Same....
read Insane Medicine by Sami Timimi - and Adhd Is Not An Illness And Ritalin Is Not A Cure: A Comprehensive Rebuttal Of The (Alleged) Scientific Consensus (Paperback)
Yaakov Ophir
@@futures2247😏
Just started my own journey for an autism diagnosis and on the waiting list for assessment. Been told I will be waiting for years. Struggled my whole life wondering what was wrong with me and following my son's diagnosis it finally clicked. I'm 44 now. Been masking for so long I don't think I even know who the real me is any more.
I'm really sorry to hear that, it must be very tuff. Keep battering you are brilliant.
It is such a delight to hear about this from you Owen!
Along with being neurodivergent myself, I’m also a PhD student researching assistive technology for neurodivergent learning and it great fun to see my research and life frame popping up here.
I think your comment on developing a package of interventions and strategies for mitigating the weaknesses and amplifying the strengths of those with ADHD is really worth emphasising.
Particularly the idea of things like meds always being the servant and not the master.
Cheers,
Alisdair
Soooo weird! I literally got diagnosed with ADHD yesterday. What strange timing to see you posted this today. Thanks for sharing, it's nice to get visibility of the fact that people our age get this diagnosis. I wasn't surprised by my diagnosis in the slightest but I do have a kind of "what now?" feeling.
So do I! Brave of you to share this. I also was diagnosed late in life, by my GP, because all three of my children have it. Life changing for me to be on medication. It makes me feel "normal", and I am able to think and remember properly. That being said, adhd coaching or therapy is very helpful, especially at first. Thank you for sharing this, as I'm sure it will help someone.
My son was diagnosed with ADHD last year, he read every thing out to me concerning the indications and we both concluded I was worse than him. He also has OCD and is struggling big time through his history and politics degree. I have had what I call a pre diagnosis test over the phone and am waiting since February to see someone. They said it would take at least 4 months ( I live in South London ) and I`m still waiting. I am also 61. Interestingly I still have 3 school reports from 74, 75 and 76 and they are quite indicative of my behaviour as a kid. Don`t forget that ADHD can be hereditary. All the best Owen.
Look at what you’ve achieved so far! Knowledge really is power. Can’t wait to read your next book.
Thanks for sharing Owen. I was diagnosed as autistic at 42 and have been waiting for ADHD diagnosis for two years. Always try and use my tiny platform to try and make things easier for my two AuDHD daughters by breaking up a few barriers, but when someone with a genuine voice and reach such as yourself does it I am always delighted. Solidarity to you as a fellow neurodivergent! Glad to have your sprinkle of magic on our side!
💜 As a fellow AuDHDer of a similar age, I just wanted to drop in here and give you a series of positive hand-gesture emojis! 🙌👏👊
Somehow it took me until I was 33 to realise both that I was autistic and had ADHD, despite struggling with mental health in the form of depression and anxiety since I was 17 (and which I now know pretty much all has roots in struggles related to my neurodivergence), AND doing a degree in psychology… I read back in the journal entries I made when I was about 22 and it’s mind-blowing/hilarious/frustrating (all at once) to see how close I came to a much earlier self-diagnosis, based on my knowledge of how different neurotransmitters worked and the impact of deficiencies… I had it nailed down to theorising I had a deficiency of dopamine/norepinephrine and therefore needed the respective reuptake inhibitors to exist as per the SSRIs that were common… my dudes, I was describing Adderall/Ritalin! 🤦🏻♀️😂 (though side note, I’ve since learned that Ritalin (and its friends) does absolutely nothing to retune the frequency of my brain signal, and just turns up the volume on ALL THE NOISE and makes me even more of a total disaster 🙈)
I also went private for my ADHD assessment and diagnosis - it was very evident to me and everyone around me that it was a thing, and I was really struggling in both my relationships and professional life at the time, and didn’t see how I could go on for 2 more years on the NHS waiting list without any kind of certainty or possibility of treatment (the long term relationship ultimately crumbled about a year later despite the diagnosis and treatment (with his financial assistance, incidentally), and despite attempted couples therapy; which is one of the biggest regrets of my life… but we’re still close, and it’s darkly funny to me now that he’s been recently diagnosed with inattentive-form ADHD, given the effect and impact that my own neurodiversity ended up having on our relationship as a point of friction)
My autism diagnosis is still technically an informal one - it seemed a lot more approachable to get an ADHD assessment than an autism one, and given that was also the avenue with most potential treatments, that’s where I focused my energies. But the consultant psychiatrist who did my assessment (and whose treatment/treatment supervision I’m still under 7 years later) was very clear that I had elements of other neurodivergences that had an interaction with the ADHD; specifically autism and OCD (I don’t think I’d meet all the criteria for a standalone diagnosis of the latter, but when rolled up together it all seems very clearly to be different facets of the same kind of underlying “thing”), and his official diagnosis report for the ADHD assessment was very clear he had no doubt I was also autistic.
(turns out, and I had no knowledge of this until I talked to my mum about it much later, but when I was a very little kid, even as a girl in the 80s in Cornwall, I was suspected of being autistic, and had an assessment with a psychologist… my parents at the time worried about marking me out as “different” from a social impact perspective, and limiting my life potential by putting me in that particular box; and out of fear, the unknown, and of trying to do the best for me, they decided it would be better not to go down that route of “difference”… I totally understand and respect that decision of theirs, which they came to after careful consideration with my wellbeing in mind, and I think they might not be wrong about where things stood at that time in that place… but boy, do I sometimes wonder how things might have been with taking a different route!)
This has been your overly long and detailed personal anecdotal comment (hello impulsivity), brought to you by being perpetually tired because my flat is an oven and I can’t cope with the heat, and in these situations my augmented neurotransmitters are really fighting a losing battle!
Solidarity and magic sprinkles all round 💖✨
oh my not another duped person = read Insane Medicine by Sami Timimi - and Adhd Is Not An Illness And Ritalin Is Not A Cure: A Comprehensive Rebuttal Of The (Alleged) Scientific Consensus (Paperback)
Yaakov Ophir
@@futures2247 Nobody thinks ADHD is an illness therefore a cure is unnecessary. Not sure what you're getting at.
@@matttimothy3641 that individual is a plonker. Research demonstrates ADHD is a genetic neuro developmental disorder connected to a lack of dopamine receptors. Sometimes can be linked to trauma and environmental factors. Some people find meds extremely effective others not so much. However to dismiss years of research is ignorant and dangerous
Youve probably given a lot of strengh to others in saying this Owen. Thanks for all your videos, your truly amazing!
Welcome to the club. They used to drug the heck out of us back in the 80’s.
We love your "special thing", regardless if it's ADHD, a quirk of nature or it's just you. As to difficulty of diagnosis, unfortunately it's not just this that's hard. Many things, like fibromyalgia that I have are also difficult. It took breaking down in the doctors screaming it wasn't all in my head to be referred to the hospital, obviously nhs. Anyway, well done you 😘
It's more like this...
You need your ADHD to be seen, by yourself and then competent medical authorities.
You have to jump through a labrinth of hoops to see it, and for it to get seen.
And it's made you a reeeeally bad hoop jumper, and you get lost in labrinths.
There's no help for bad hoop jumpers, or maps...
...or hoops
😵😵💫😀
I’ve just been diagnosed with Combined Type ADHD at the age of 39, so I’m right where you are right now. Thanks for using your platform to promote. Just in talking about my diagnosis in my own much smaller circle of influence has lead to some friends and acquaintances getting a diagnosis, so I’m sure you’ll help far more with your reach!
Owen, you are a very sweet, honest young man. Always enjoy listening. I wish you well with your bright future ❤
This is one of the most interesting - and potentially useful/explanatory - things I've ever seen on UA-cam. Thank you so much for taking the time to make the video and explain some of the symptoms. Bells chimed. Thank you again.
Still a fantastic reporter Owen, well done for speaking up and sharing. These conditions need reflecting on, have some myself.
I'm autistic. My brother is ADHD but hasn't bee officially diagnosed. But was placed in a residential school when he was a kid because mainstream schools deemed his behavour as unmanageable. I was also not in mainstream education for similar reasons. I have a couple of Autistic friends that have a duel diagnosis of Autism/ADHD. You're right the diagnosis of ADHD does seem to lag a little behind. Presently I work alongside services in a consultancy role talking about reasonable adjustments that can be made for people on the Autism spectrum in work place and elsewhere. Thanks for sharing.
@@abitmorerational I think there is a lot of crossover with both Autism and ADHD as they share a few similar traits. The ability to hyperfocus when a subject catches our interest is one of a few things. That said I'm no expert. This is just something have observed based on my experiences.
@@IanCullen (NIH:) 50 to 70% of people with autism also present with comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
@@TomBeardshaw Thanks. That kind of confirms my suspicions. Especially given that I know a few people on the spectrum who are seeking an ADHD diagnosis.
All the best Owen... Different ,special and a bloody great talent!! Thanks for sharing.
100%
Absolute respect, Owen! As a female born in the times when such things were never considered, I’ve always been aware of, yet unable to explain, my love of daydreaming, extremely enquiring mind, frequent over-excitedness and diabolical inability to plan and arrive anywhere on time! Hence I salute you and solidarity ✊🏼
Thank you for talking about this Owen. I felt you so much when you said you often wondered about the missed potential. I was diagnosed with ADHD and dyspraxia during my second year of uni 6 years ago after my lecturer noticed I was struggling and sent me for an assessment. The diagnosis did make sense and put a lot of puzzle pieces in place for a lot in my life. I will always wonder 'what could have been'' if was diagnosed earlier and had more support in place.
My son is dx with Dyspraxia and ADHD his meds have been so helpful. He is 19
I am 43 and just been officially diagnosed with ADHD. Welcome to the team Owen! ❤
Love your channel and think you’re a great chap- this is an important conversation to have, thanks Owen❣️
Thank you for posting this! This will help a lot of people
Congratulations on your diagnosis, and welcome to the Neurodivergent community!! I know so many NDers through activism - there's a lot of us out there, probably many more than you expect.
I tried to get an ADHD diagnosis (in Ireland) about 10 years ago. I was given the name of the (only) specialist in Ireland, who would do diagnostic consultations for free, as it was entirely impossible to get diagnosed as an adult through public health. However, i have other, much more visible impairments, and the psychiatrist thought he could "cure" my undiagnosed chronic pain condition. He recommended a 5 month residential drug rehab to come off my pain meds, which would have been at a religious-run institute. It is still nearly impossible to get any addiction therapy here that isn't run by religious groups.
This one psychiatrist gaslit me, didn't diagnose what I had come to him to diagnose, and broke me. He was entirely wrong. I have since had my chronic pain condition diagnosed as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which I had to go private to diagnose because no-one in our public health system has the expertise, and kept misdiagnosing and undermedicating me. So coming off my *effective* pain medication would have simply been agony, and I probably wouldn't have survived. I also now realise that I have the Autism & ADHD combo. Not that I can afford the private assessment that is still the only route for adults here, and being cis-female, my presentations are not text-book. I am self-diagnosed, because members of the ND community have been so vocal and so generous with their experiences that hearing their stories just made sense of my brain for the first time. There is also a huge overlap in the ND community and gender non-conforming people. There even seems to me, anecdotally, to be a huge overlap between autism and EDS, though EDS is so misunderstood and underdiagnosed that I despair of any actual studies or concrete data being produced.
In short, if you are not a cis-het white male, you are far more likely to be underdiagnosed, incorrectly medicated (have been on anti-depressants my whole adult life), and flat-out disbelieved.
I'm hopeful that in your explorations and reflections arising from your diagnosis you can start to understand the social / political model of disability better, and start to understand why every socialist needs to be anti-ableist. Sending much love and waving a party flag - welcome to the club!
I was referred by my GP to Psychiatry UK for a formal ADHD diagnosis as I fitted the basic set of criteria. That was over a year ago now, but sadly I haven’t finished the shed load of online forms that Psychiatry UK require because, low and behold, I’m too disorganised and keep putting off complicated tasks! Thanks for sharing this as I feel a renewed motivation to finish those forms needed to get me on a waiting list for an appointment! L
Maybe get some support for this. This is important.
Felt such solidarity with you just seeing you move around during interviews and panel discussions. Glad you found answers and welcome to the ADHD family!
Thanks Owen, thanks for being so open and bringing attention to an area of mental health where it is difficult to get help. And no you have not been self-indulgent. When people such as yourself speak out about life's difficulties it helps others a lot. all the best
I was diagnosed as autistic when I was 60 , an ADHD dignosis was inconclusive. It gave me a greater understanding of me as a person and my relationship with others. It was a bit of a slap in the face. Unlike autism, ADHD can be medicated
As someone with ADHD I didn't know you didn't know you have it 😂. Thank you for being open about it, love to you and yours ❤
As a person with ADHD myself, I’ve always kind of felt such a vibe when watching you. Congrats on the knowledge - it explains soooo much of one’s being.
Hello Owen, it is great you got a diagnosis and great you are sharing. 🌻
I think there are a lot of us undiagnosed. Personally I am in my fifties and see no point in getting diagnosed now. I have all the symptoms of ADHD and autism and manage it with high doses of caffeine. I am certain it caused me to severely under achieve but hey its too late now. Thanks for your video, it just adds to a comforting "it's not just me' feeling.
I'm 39 and got diagnosed when I was 12, before the NHS was doing diagnosis. At that time there were two clinics in the UK that could diagnose and treat ADHD, both private. As a girl, I had the inattentive type, and I'm pretty sure I only got diagnosed because my younger brother had by that time a pretty solid record of beating people up at school, and my grandparents (who paid) decided to spring for a twofer. Before 2013 you couldn't be diagnosed with both ADHD and autism, and the notes from my appointment show they didn't exactly know which side of the line to put me on, but I think I'm glad they decided on ADHD as at least that comes with pretty solid medication options. I'm also pretty sure that being a girl diagnosed with autism in the 90's would've sucked even harder than ADHD did.
Also, about a decade ago, Laurie Penny, who I did some assistant work for, recommended that I contact you and offer to help you out as well. You never got back to me, and this video confirms my suspicions as to why! Welcome to the ND family, dude!
You lying, I was diagnosed when I was a kid im 32 and was diagnosed around the exact same time as you claim...there wasn't only 2 places to diagnose ADHD that is a complete lie..
@@DystopiaFound Really? That's what my parents told me at the time, but maybe that's only the ones they could find. I'm so glad there were more places back then than I thought! Thank you for letting me know
@@fearlessknits1 yeah the UK is a big place and has loads of doctors and psychiatrist that diagnose
You are a gem owen. Love hugs respect and so proud of you opening ghe discussion
Love you bro. I'm Autistic and so is my son. It is important to embrace your differences whatever they are. I for one appreciate you using your platform to highlight neuro divergence. Best wishes & thank you. ❤
all these successful people with adhd, i can't understand it, it rules my life and makes everything so difficult
I got diagnosed autistic at 41 (feb this year). It was a weird thing to try to get my head around, but I suppose like ADHD, at least you know why you are the way you are. I find it very comforting :)
Hi Owen, best wishes to you. It's kind of you to share such a personal health issue with us, your viewers. You aren't self-indulging at all, but giving others in a similar position a lot of motivation.
Thanks for this video Owen. My twin and I are also on the waiting list for a diagnosis. Videos like this really help while I am waiting. They give me a language and a confidence to talk about my experience of life, as well as minor relief from feeling uniquely incapable of executing basic life skills involving organisation. I so hope your treatment goes well and would be interesting in hearing about it in a future video.
I'm 41 and only just discovered the symptoms of ADHD at the beginning of this year. Having picked my jaw up off the floor I was equal parts distraught, furious and relived. distraught that I know feel I've wasted 40 years of my life in a struggle with my own brain just thinking I was lazy and didn't have any willpower. Furious that despite being known to several mental health professionals and being in education till i was 30 not one single professional ever noticed. Relived that I'm not just a lazy useless slacker and I genuinely have issues that I can know recognise and overcome. Having discussed it with my GP 4 months ago I'm still waiting for a referral to simply get ON a waiting list never mind get a diagnosis. Don't suppose you fancy lending me a few bob to go private? XD
Your life has never been a waste of time. You are not a waste of time. You didn't know. Now you do. You also need to find out of the dunking yourself in the head. It hurts and does not help.
You say you have been IN EDUCATION for 40 years which i assume means you are a teacher/ lecturer not an eternal student yet you use terms like LAZY SLACKER ... it saddens me to think you have used terms like that in the EDUCATIONAL SETTING
stop being so self critical and you may become less judgemental of your students
LOVE to you ...
@@jimfletcher4520 ok, so
1) I said I was in education till I was 30. That's how long it took me to get a degree. Ended up with a 1st but I kept jumping around subjects coz I kept losing interest.
2) I am not a teacher.
3) Thanks for assuming I'd be mean to kids. 😡
I APPOLOGISE genuinely ...I too have ADHD .. And it's interesting how I interpreted what I read in a different way you intended
I was diagnosed in 2005 .. I have had NO HELP despite repeated requests ... read and watch u tube but remember ADHD IS NOT PSYCHIATRIC ITS NEUROLOGICAL
so find neurologists NOT naturopath s
BEST wishes
We must all broadcast and receive on some sort of unconscious ADHD frequency that helps us find each other, because I swear almost every person I follow sooner or later gets diagnosed with/reveals that they have ADHD.
Congrats!
I spoke to a friend about this and apparently ADHD people tend to be friends with other ADHD people (probably coz they are the only ones that can keep up! 🤣) Not only that, not sure if this is true or not but apparently we tend to favour areas geographically too.
Congratulations! I mean that sincerely as a diagnosis is always better than a mystery even when it means a journey of discovering more to make sense of it all. Recently a few friends have been diagnosed with this and suggested I look into it too, I feel that if it is the case it’s not my main issue and not a disability for me, I am seeking therapy for the main issues but it could help make sense of some things. Keep on keeping on Owen it’s all part of the magic xx
Thank you for sharing this. I've struggled for years you're amazing for getting through your degree.
Also you don’t look like 38, I’d give you 25
bless you x
Owen you are a perfect role model in that it shows you can have this processing issue and still be an intelligent and productive person. Thank you for sharing this and many best wishes in the journey ahead
A great video Owen. it's a delicate subject to address and I got diagnosed late in life after struggling with the same symptoms. It helped a lot to know as it had been crippling at times. I am glad to know what it is these days as I now know how to manage it a bit better. May the force be with you fellow Jedi!
Hi Owen, thanks for sharing your news with us and I have to say what a warm and lovely community the neurodiversity community are - welcome!!!! Hugs
Hi Owen, well done you for your latest video. My daughter is 32 and has just received the same diagnosis. I think the main thing for her was that she understood better why she is what she is. I spent 3 months with her over Xmas as she lives in Australia, and we were able to remember certain times when her behaviour was different and not acceptable, mainly at school and now know the reason why. The biggest thing is we laughed a lot, and I can honestly say it has not held her back. She has been given strategies like yourself and feels much better now because of her awareness and can live with it.
Welcome to the club. Thanks for making this video and raising awareness.
You do a wonderful job and come acrioss so passionate and clear in your talks. Thank you for sharing. You will have helped so many people by your openness. Youare well respected and even more so now knowing how brave you've been managing with no help over your years and didnt let it get in the way of you doing this fantastic work on you tube telling us clearly how things are really what they are. I hope you'll get more peace in yourself but don't change as your are respected and loved for iwho you are 👍👏🙏
Big support and kudos to you Owen for being brave enough to let us all know 🙏
Welcome to the club mate really impressed with everything you have accomplished
A million thoughts a minute,yet you articulate each one, you're amazing
Great video, thanks for raising this. I only discovered i had ADHD a few years ago aged 58 and suddenly so many things became clearer to me. The impulsive behaviour (offending people quite unintentionally), addiction and hyperfocusing/not focusing at all depending on how interesting i found things and people. Overall a diagnosis leeds to greater self understanding and compassion for others. One thing you didn't mention is that a huge proportion of the prison population has undiagnosed ADHD. Think how much unnecessary pain and chaos there is out there because of lack of diagnosis and treatment.
I take medication and it really helps but as you say, one needs to add other forms of treatment. Meditation helps, and exercise.
I wish you the best of luck with your treatment and discuss for raising the profile of this much misunderstood condition.
This was the video I needed today. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing Owen. I’m over a decade older than you, undiagnosed and suspect I tick every box too. Every time I hear of an inspirational person with the condition it makes me fear a diagnosis less…and maybe feel a little excited about untapped potential.
Universal positivity keeps us going Owen and everyone love colin ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤
Congratulations / well done for getting the diagnosis, it’s a big deal! My best friend got diagnosed 3 years ago aged 34 and it has transformed her life, the meds made a massive difference in day to day focus/ concentration and practical stuff, and the learning helped her (well us) understand her adhd strengths. Her brain works in very creative ways and I have learnt so much going through the process with her (i did some of those forms!). Very best wishes for the next steps, hopefully helps you a lot 🙏
Thank you so much for sharing your diagnosis. I got diagnosed in my late 30s with combined ADHD. I know the weird mixture of feelings that you must be feeling. It’s tough to unpack your childhood and think of all of the missed opportunities you would have had if you got support when you needed it. ADHD impacts your work, your relationships and your confidence, so I’m so happy you have clarity on how you can navigate challenges in the future. If you ever need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out. And once again thank you so much for using your platform to speak out about this condition. All the best. 😊
Thanks for sharing Owen, a really interesting video. I don't always agree 100% with you but you are a wonderful human being and I have learnt so much from your videos. If you need to tackle this for your own sake, more strength to you, but don't change too much, your humanity and compassion are an inspiration.
Thank you for this, Owen. After finding answers to the mysteries of our brains, the need of a prompt diagnosis and treatment is essential to avoid more pain and frustration. I'm on the waiting list for an NHS assessment and feeling I've already wasted too much time in life. I would consider going private if I knew where to go... Please, keep sharing your journey!
Best wishes to you Owen. Your description is just like my adult son. He finally got round to seeing GP, was sent a link to questionnaires to fill in within 5 days. Needless to say the link had expired by the time he thought about doing it. Makes me wonder if its another way to ration resources. Giving someone 5 days to do something, knowing they will probably not meet the deadline because of the symptoms they need help with!
Thanks for helping to raise awareness.
Bless your heart Owen. I hope you keep sharing your story
Thanks for talking about this, I’m also 38 and have been on a waiting list for over a year now. Everything you mentioned here resonated with me so much. I’ve found myself baffled by adult life in general my whole life and generally feeling like a failure. Got misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression but no matter what I did nothing really helped. I’m hoping to get an appointment soon but we’ll see! ❤
Brilliant video Owen!
I love your little special sprinkle of something. In fact, when I come to think of it, I think that is why I am listening to your videos.
Can I just say a massive thank you for this, Owen!
Thank you so, so much for sharing this Owen and huge congrats on the diagnosis! I got diagnosed at the end of last year (through Psychiatry UK under NHS Right to Choose), and had to wait 6 months to start treatment owing to long waiting lists. It was a hugely difficult and frustrating time, knowing I had an issue that could be treated quite straightforwardly but not being able to access treatment. Hoping you will share more ADHD-related content soon 🤞
First time ever comment but love your content and was diagnosed myself with ADHD last week after a two year wait on NHS. It comes as a relief after guessing I had it for years and many struggles in relationships and work. There are many positive features of being ADHD also, I feel it gives me creative superpowers(I am a musician), despite day to day tasks being more difficult than a neurotypical person. Despite your book taking years to write I'm sure the ADHD had a mostly positive effect on it's content! Please don't feel guilty for using a private clinic, you need to take care of yourself in order to help others! Thank you Owen for doing what you do! It is inspiring!
I love the way you explained it Owen. All those things you've said seem to resonate with me. I have been meaning to get a diagnosis for ages but it might be a bit late for me now as I'm 67 years old. It made me laugh when you talked about people giving you directions,I know exactly what you mean.
Welcome to the club Owen! For my own neurodiversity (and my job) I've been researching different perspectives to the deficit model. ADHD brains process information in different ways, we are drawn to higher-order stimuli, our behaviour is driven more by emotion than reason/logic, and we have an interest-base nervous system. I'm a big believer in acknowledging the difference, not measuring ourselves against a neurotypicals and finding ourselves wanting. Great video! In Bristol the local NHS clinic is a 5 year wait too for assessment and titration. I've found meds super helpful, they really help with that restless, don't know what to do with myself feeling.
Congratulations! All best to you, Owen.
Thank you so so much for talking about this, I was diagnosed as an adult as autistic and with ADHD about two years ago. My university paid for my private diagnosis for ADHD. Also, I've done some journalism (unpublished) collecting people's experiences with the waiting times through journo-requests. It would be great to speak to you if you'd be happy to. But also, just thank you so much for speaking out about this and raising awareness.
Very happy for you getting your diagnosis, it's a massive step. I had a bout of therapy recently for depression and anxiety, and was told at the end that I should ask to be referred for an ADHD assessment (~two year waiting list around Nottingham apparently), but like you said, I've been too ADHD to get round to it yet!