This video is essentially my love letter to the Bluey studio for their creation of the character Jack, and the amazing lengths they went to allow him to be such an amazing catalyst for representing these conditions. Also did you know that the original Austrailian version has a different line for Jack when explaining his problems? Its included in the video courtesy of Music Master (his page is in the description of this video), tell me if you hear it :) Become a Member: - PC: ua-cam.com/channels/DZNUb6vcwQT2G4qXz_VzUw.htmljoin - Mobile: www.patreon.com/TheUglyPugly?fan_landing=true Twitch Channel: www.twitch.tv/puglystreams My Bluey Twitter: twitter.com/HeelersFridge Looking to buy any PC games? Consider supporting me: www.fanatical.com/en?ref=pugly
The change from "There's something wrong with me!" To "There's something going on with me!" really changes the meaning of Jack's self perception and worth. I don't think it was a good change.
@@monotonehell I actually didn’t realize that line was changed. I watched Bluey on an online streaming platform, and didn’t notice the changes until I rewatched some episodes. I may have misremembered them as the original Australian versions- In my opinion, I don't think it's too much of a big change, but I can see your point. It seems like a more interesting way for a kid to respond that strikes the audience better as someone who has some, if not most of Jack's symptoms. /srs
Yeah, I agree with monotonehell. It borders on insulting when studios want to show a level of suffering, and then immediately minimize it, especially on the premise that they don't want to "influence" anyone. Like seriously?! It's too late to influence anyone, we already feel that way. Minimizing it and trying to be more "accurate" almost mocks the struggle to come to that way of thinking later. If there was any influencing to be done, it would be a much easier problem to overcome. "There's something wrong with me" is often the starting point, "there's something going on with me" takes much longer to get to.
@@101jir Honestly, yeah. Trying to minimize something serious that makes you come up with a conclusion like that sort of makes the entire premise of the episode a bit pointless.
It's important that Jack became a reoccurring character where he's accepted by the other kids. If he had been just a one time character, he would've been a token and hollow. Seeing him again and again is good representation.
Not only that but it makes the show more complex and something more than just another kid's show. If you look at other critically praised sitcoms and shows, most have side characters that are complex and develop over time.
Honestly my favorite thing about Bluey is how many characters reappear on a consistent basis. They’re never just one offs! (except the kid from turtleboy I guess, but he can always reappear)
@@zozocecpto be fair, dougie isnt a character who's in bluey or bingo's school and haven't even met the heelers. So the fact we didnt see him again makes sense. Althought i would defenitly love if the character would make an appearance in the future .
That little pause before Jack says “I don’t know” breaks my heart every time. I can’t count how many times I felt that exact emotion in that exact way before finally being diagnosed as adhd at 25
Damn at 25. I'm 23 and I have suspicions about it myself but don't want to go to the doctor because idk what the implications will be and what will change if I am diagnosed lol
felt that in my fucking soul. honestly made me cry. you know he's been asked that a thousand times already his whole life and absolutely no answer he can give is satisfactory. so you just say 'i dont know'.
@@UnitedStatesSpaceForce I got diagnosed at 42. It's worth it IMO. ADHD meds are incredibly effective, and even if you don't want to take medications, you can find ways to work *with* your unusual brain instead of fighting against it.
@@UnitedStatesSpaceForce I'm in my 30s and only now started talking with a therapist. It's helpful to explain to people at work why I do things differently. It's a measure of peace of mind, relating to others with ADHD and helping others understand why I'm the way I am :)
Honestly as a adult now who was diagnosed with ADHD at around Jack's age. I am happy to see more positive rep when it comes to ADHD in kids media. I honestly wished I had someone like Jack as a kid in the cartoons I watched.
I remember when I got diagnosed with ADHD in 1st grade, because they finally realized there's something wrong when I was failing, and suspended within the first month of school I love seeing positive rep for ADHD now
As a high functioning-autistic person I can find it relatable for Jack condition. I never noticed my autism when I was young until my mom had me diagnosed but I honestly don't see it as a disability to myself or any other person who have been diagnosed with either ADHD or Autism, I see them as different abilities. Mental enhancements, if you want to be technical or not. Other people don't see it but it depends on where, how or what that can encourage Autistic individuals or anyone who have ADHD. Like in Jack playing Army for example that is a positive way encourage ADHD. My positive way to show autism is writing comments on youtube and using the internet as both a way of life and a recreational method like playing video games or watching videos. Sure there are somethings I have to avoid saying, but from what I have experienced from 2002 to 2023, I learned that change doesn't mean bad and being different is a bad thing as long as you accept yourself for who you truly are. This should be a lesson for those who have doubt about their mental behavior, remember what have but take pride and courage on who you are. I know the world often change and things might be different than what we are used to, but it doesn't mean we should be afraid to embrace it.
I also think it’s very cute that they managed to show that a lot of neurodivergent folk find somebody & just _click,_ despite often not being able to socialize well. I know it’s not exclusive to us, but I do feel it’s either more common or something we latch onto much harder. Every once in a while, there’s just someone who makes you feel less alone. Because even if your family is supportive, being obviously different from them, like Jack seems to be, will be a slightly lonely existence.
I didn't know this was a thing, but now that you've mentioned, I recognize it immediately! I was diagnosed with ASD and ADD early in life and I've never had long-term friendships, never mind friend *groups* - at school I could work on projects with classmates, but I never, *never* bonded with any of my peers at any level of education. I was a huge teacher's pet, but of course that's no substitute. Then, a few years ago, then aged 21, I met my now-bestie at my neurodivergent-friendly workplace. There was an immediate click (even our team leads have commented on how quick it happened!) and we've been really close since! I worry sometimes that she'll get bored of me, she's quite the extrovert and has a bunch of other friends, but I have to get myself to believe that she really does care and won't just drop me - it's not just a reflection of my own poor self-esteem to think that might happen at any time, but an unfair assessment of a person I hold very dear and know to be trustworthy.
I'm autistic and I have a really good friend that has the same disorder but with their symptoms manifesting in completely different ways. But we're definitely people who click with each other dispute our very apparent differences. In school teachers were often confused why a loud, problematic student like me was friends with a quiet, mild student like my friend haha.
My husband has ADHD and a jack russell terrier. When I first watched the show, I told him there was a character with ADHD and to guess which breed it was. He guessed correctly at once.
I remember when I first watched this episode with my daughter and husband. It definitely got a good tear out him, and he rarely gets emotional about such things. He struggled with ADHD as a kid, growing up in a family that was generally uninformed about such conditions, only really having the language to describe it in adulthood.
37 year old woman here diagnosed with ADHD in the first grade, and Jack's episode made me cry, and what hit most was him knowing something is "wrong" with him, knowing he does things he can't seem to control/change, because it is such a frustration to this day that I KNOW I have these idiosyncrasies that get in my way, or that bother other people/make people judge me, but they always start happening without me realizing they are happening.
Something I’ll say to my adhd 4 yo son is “sweetie, I think you feel out of control and that probably feels yucky” I don’t know what else to say but I want him to know that it’s ok to feel that way, it has nothing to do with how lovable he is.
I hate it when I get really into something and I realize I've talked someone's head off for a good 5 minutes straight, shooting off words faster than a machine gun and I'm sitting there like "I'm so sorry I didn't realize I was getting bad man." Had too take medication too pass a course for work and I hated every second of it, everyone siad I was much better but I always felt off, not just with the symptoms but like I was being held down, like there was a fog around my brain.
@@mastertwitums3476interesting. I never felt that way, when taking medication, when I took the right amount. Though my mom made sure I never took too much, as she said I was weirdly calm then.
The way Jack says "I don't know" is exactly how I used to react to things. I'm autistic myself and have ADHD as well as OCD, so I often find myself feeling a bit sorrowful over what I can't do. I wish I'd had Jack and characters like him as a kid.
Hey, someone else with the trifecta. It is really nice seeing some good representation for a change. I really hope eventually there will be something like that for OCD too, because it's really misunderstood too.
@Feist Sorcerer Absolute facts, even my family members make "I'm so OCD about that" jokes. My mom has OCD and even she makes those comments. I just don't understand lol
I have autism, OCD, and ADHD as well! And 17 other disorders I always felt like I was in a different place no one else was in, which made me feel isolated and depressed I didn’t know what was wrong with me and people would say it was just my personality :/ but now I know it’s just my 20 disorders
Jack running to the chopper saying he can run because he's a Jack Russel just makes me cry ugly for a few minutes because he's so proud and had such a successful day
I have ADHD and while I was watching this with my little sister, I immediately recognized the ADHD representation from the beginning. Jack's behavior portrayed here is very similar to my own experiences when I was a little girl.
There was a mom in the library today who went up to another mom and asked if the little girl in pink was her daughter. She then said "my little girl is autistic and this is the first time in a very long time that someone wanted to play with her" and she burst into tears and they hugged. I hope they exchange numbers and get to have more play dates Edit: on a side note I was spanked every single day of my child hood and constantly told to behave and was yelled at a lot. I was diagnosed as ADHD and my parents had no idea how to handle it and rejected my diagnosis for my entire childhood. Even as an adult I've spent most of it unmedicated and struggling. I'm glad the narrative is changing and the approaches are changing.
That’s such a lovely story, I bet that made both of their day and I hope that she gets more chances like that. Im also sorry to hear your past regarding your parents, it always feels bad to hear people being treated in that way because of something they can’t control. I hope your life gets better with your struggle on this and your family are treating you better now
Same, I was already yelled at because I didn’t obey and couldn’t sit or stand still Because of my 20 disorders, people would see me as weird or ill, and it made me self conscious about myself, making me isolated and never socializing I had a painful childhood that affected me greatly It still surprises me to this day of how small actions caused by something we can’t control can cause so much trauma
I got diagnosed with ADHD because my parents thought something was wrong with me so they sent me to a psychologist. I was so happy to learn that nothing is wrong with me but my family forgot and didn't care that I had ADHD. The psychologist gave us a handbook for raising a child with ADHD and they did not read that and also they were doing every red flag in them. In the outside most of the people thinks me as a weirdo and I got bullied because of it years ago. In those times that I was getting bullied, 2 people in my class (they are not my friends) said that they admire me even tho I was getting bullied I was beign myself without caring what other people think of me. I think that was the only reason that I was able to grow a person because even tho my family, friends, teachers etc. think of me. I cried when I was typing this 😅😅 I love Bluey but it triggers my family trauma because I don't have one nowadays. I'm still gonna continue to watch it anyways.
@@Tsuki-ph1yu that is amazing how even though you get bullied, you stood out from everyone else. i have undiagnosed ADHD since my parents think nothing is wrong with me and my behavior is just "my personality" i barely have friends and everyone in my life judges me and thinks of me as a failure. but im glad i have 2 loyal friends that dont care about my flaws. as someone who had a terrible childhood, you are really lucky to be in that type of environment, even though it has some dents in it :)
For me, the worst part of ADHD is being so functional yet not. Like, I can process things fairly normally...just sometimes my brain decides it doesn't want to be here anymore and now I don't know what's going on.
And in some cases being over-functional, but only with niche tasks and within very short bursts of energy. I had a weird relationship with my previous job, where I could just suddenly be so hyper-productive and creative that it blows away my boss and my colleagues, and they give me lots of new tasks believing that I am the new star employee, only for me to enter the brain slumber for several months and fail absolutely every deadline. Everyone gets disappointed, but then after some time KABOOM, a new burst of energy and hyper-creativity that leaves everyone else in the dust, I get an award at work, and the cycle repeats, because flashes of creativity and productivity last for a few days and being a dysfunctional mess that is struggling to perform basic arithmetics and simple brain work lasts for months. That’s why I couldn’t finish my science university despite being “the mega-gifted child that was a walking wikipedia in elementary school”. Everyone sees my rare bursts of high performance and expects that I’m like that all of the time. But most of the time my brain just refuses to work even on a normal level. It confused the heck out of parents and it confuses the heck out of people who work with me.
@@Evergreen_Wizard The gifted kid thing is so real. My hyperfocuses and knowledge of my special interests have people without the same interests going "wow, it's impressive that you know all that!"/"you do this really well!", but the problem is how let down they feel when I can't just transplant that competency and interest to something *they* want me to focus on, even if it would *objectively* be to my benefit. I'd *love* to learn how to apply to jobs without crying during interviews or needing to bend the truth or downright *lie* to make myself more palatable to potential employers, but right now my brain space is occupied by thinking about how damn cool convergent evolution is! Yeah! Look at those funky animals from vastly disparate lineages taking on similar traits because the environment puts a specific kind of selective pressure on them!
@@tessabakker662 Aaaa! Convergent evolution is the coolest stuff! Did you know that keratinous beaks evolved more then 5 separate timed in dinosaurs? And hard-shelled eggs at least 3 times? Also mammals and their endless trunks. This is called parallelism, when certain lineages are predisposed to evolve the same feature over and over again in different taxa of the same big systematic group.
@@Evergreen_Wizard my biology teacher would get so excited whenever he talked about convergent evolution to us... all of us could practically SEE the stars in his eyes when anyone brought the topic up. I sincerely hope he's doing okay now. bless his soul, honestly.
The remembering fun thing, I can tell that I have adhd and I can't remember much in history, I don't find it fun, but I can remember a lot of science which I find really fun and exciting
I’m the same way. Math past basic algebra never “clicked” for me but history, science, literature did. I was lucky to have teachers like calypso who played into my strengths when I’d get down on myself about math. I was also lucky to have friends who would point out all the things I DID know when I’d start spiraling about what I didn’t know/had a hard time grasping. I loved this episode.
I used to feel guilty that I could only remember things that i am interested in. It made me feel like it was a choice but it never was, and it was really hard for other people to see that because on the outside it just looked like i was bratty. I have ADHD, i found out when i was 16. Although I'm surprised it wasn't caught sooner because it was really obvious and all of my friends had ADHD too, my parents thought I was copying them though.... My parents also thought I would be friends with the autistic kids because I felt bad for them.. NO 😟 i find them really fun to talk with!
I'm the same way. Though sometimes I get yelled for remembering a lot about certain things but with others stuff I'm almost oblivious. It's saddening to hear it said in that context like if I remember 1 thing, I should remember it all. It's not like that for me but they don't see it that way.
I don’t have ADHD, but I can relate. I hate Chinese a LOT and tend to forget things easily, yet if it comes to fandoms/games I like or my interest, I can remember a lot of small details
As somone who suffers from ADHD, and possibly autism, the first time i watched the episode Army it immediately resinated with me. I already felt a bit seen and emotional by the end, but the final blow that really got me was when Jacks mom said "wow that was a lot of detail". Even to this day as an adult I find myself going into "too much" detail when talking about things or when asking about things. Also the issues with memory is unfortantly too real. I long since accepted ill never be able to remember certain things, atleast not at will. Things like lyrics to my fav songs or clebertires were always hard for me growing up and made connecting with ppl harder. The info is in my brain, i know it is, but I cant always access it when I want to.
I also suffer from the same thing. I wish there was more people like me I knew in real life. I feel alone and like the only one sometimes… I’m happy when it’s positively represented in media like this cause I have such a low self esteem. But I’m really trying to work on it. I hope I meet more people like me
@@tararosabelle7368 We're out there. Though, I'm sure there's quite a few who, dont Want to be out there. Social interaction is hard and scary, and very draining. Hiding away from the world could be a reason you havent found someone in person. On top of that, "masking" yourself to hide in public is another common trait. Atleast it is with autism, which I have. "Masking" is like putting on a personality to fit in. Changing the way you talk, act, or interact with other people. All in the desire to be accepted. Its not you, not the real you. But it feels like you have to put yourself away so you can Be with this person. Cause maybe they wont Like the real you. I've gotten a lot better at letting the real me through, but I still mask all the time. Its hard to make it out in the real world for people like us, but its possible. The best thing you can do is recognize what is going on with you, and try to work With it... Lol, well there's me going into a lot of uneccesary detail, sorry about that
As someone who has an ADHD/ASD diagnosis I say without shame that this fictional cartoon dog made a 24 year old woman absolutely break down sobbing. My first introduction to him was a clip a friend of mine sent to me. It was of him and his little brother sitting in the car. Jack’s dad was reminding him over and over to sit still and asking him whether or not he’d forgotten things, of which he had forgotten them or he couldn’t remember. He was kicking his legs, looking out the window, humming. Finally, his younger sibling asked him why he couldn’t behave, to which he looked upset and answered that he didn’t know. I am the oldest sibling in my family, with two completely neurotypical younger siblings. This scene, this one scene, was literally like watching my childhood play out before my eyes. That experience was REAL. I was Jack, and that little baby dog in the car seat scolding him WAS my younger siblings. That scene was every single day of my life from the ages of 3 to 16 (which was when I got my diagnosis). Never in my LIFE have I had THAT kind of experience watching a cartoon. I’ve related to characters before sure. I’ve also cried watching cartoons before. But never have I seen a character who was THAT spot on to how I was as a kid. The only other scene I can think of was the one in Finding Dory when she apologized to her parents for having a bad memory and they forgave her and told her they were proud of her anyways. I can only imagine how I may have felt if I had seen this character as a kid. Representation is so important.
"Frustration from a sudden change in plans." YES! I had never had a way of describing my feelings regarding when this happened to me but it's so nice to hear it said. I've got ADHD and it can be genuinely debilitating. This episode made me feel so seen. I wish something like Bluey, especially this episode, was around when I was a kid.
As I have said in discussion with my mother about other neurodivergent representation (as well as my various "This character is neurodivergent" head canons for various media), while overdiagnosis IS a thing in real life, there is no such thing as too much quality representation of neurodivergence and I ADORE Jack as an example of what happens when a child with neurodivergence finds an environment where they are given the support and tools they need to excel and thrive. And one thing I appreciate with Jack is that even the characters who aren't precisely part of his friend group (such as Bluey and Coco) do treat him with kindness and respect because they see him as a peer who simply is different and different isn't bad.
Honestly overdiagnosis is a myth in my opinion. *Mis*diagnosis, yes. But overdiagnosis is like saying headaches are over-diagnosed. No, there’s just a lot of headaches.
Overdiagnosis is NOT a thing. What's happening is that there's more up-to-date research on how these conditions present in adults, and in women and girls, and the internet allows people to find resources and join communities that lead them in the right direction on their diagnostic journey. People having the ability to recognize their symptoms and finally have answers for the things that never made sense before is not a bad thing. People finally having the resources to go to their doctors and say they think they may be autistic and/or have ADHD is not a bad thing. People finally understanding why their brain works the way it does and why they react certain ways to certain things is not a bad thing. People discovering coping strategies that improve their day to day lives is not a bad thing. People getting treatment for the things that have plagued them their entire lives is not a bad thing. Please do not gatekeep people's neurological conditions. You do not know them. Overdiagnosis is not real.
@@BubblyBlackbird I meant overdiagnosis from the professional side or the side of "give me a quick fix so I don't have to bother with this kid/individual". The kind that makes an assumption about what an individual needs that may not be accurate. I realize I have absolutely no right to tell someone how they should handle their diagnosis or well-being. What works for me may not work for someone else and I respect that. Everyone needs access to the resources to be their best selves and live their best lives; this should just be something that is made by their decisions and for their benefit, not for the sake of making them more palatable to those around them while causing them mental or emotional harm due to feeling that they need to apologize for existing instead of being taught how to find the accommodations they need. No offense was meant but I heartily apologize that offense was caused.
When I was younger, I didn't know about ADHD or Autism, so when people acted differently, they were just acting different because that's them. I miss those times, they were simpler. I love that there is more representation for this in media, it's really awesome when it's good.
I'm not going to lie. I've never felt so bothered that I went undiagnosed with my ADHD till early adulthood. But seeing Jack say "Something's wrong with me" near damn made me tear up. I remember being isolated, I remember expressing too much of myself and scaring away other kids. At that moment, I really just wanted to reach out to Jack and give him a hug like I wish someone did for me. DAMNIT THIS IS A KID'S SHOW.
As an adult with ADHD, when Jack's dad go lost I went 'Oh, that's where he gets it from'. Because I have to use GPS the first dozen times I go anywhere and if for some reason I don't have to go to that place for a few months there is a chance I will forget and have to start with the GPS again.
I think it's also important to note Calypsos own role in the Army episode as being able to recognize Jack's personality and needs and know how to help him/pair him with the right person that might be able to. It's certainly important for adults to be able to recognize children like Jack and be aware of the avenues to help, without necessarily coddling or forcing them into a direction which could counteract their own self development. Also super looking forward to the Mackenzie episode! Certainly one of my personal favorite characters. Still waiting for D+ to add the rest of Season 3 😪
Ya know I had someone else point out the calypso thing on a previous video but I totally forgot to even mention it in this one. I think the subtle way they use calypso in that instance is really special and is very clever. I wish Disney had all the episodes too since it would be more convenient to view so hopefully we get that soon haha :)
I watch Bluey with my 2 year old Godson. I was diagnosed ADHD in 1997. His mother showed me this episode cause she was so excited to show me representation of this kind. I have tears in my eyes watching your video essay. Thank you for even covering Rejection Sensitivity. Im 30 now and I still fight the voice in my head telling me there is something wrong with me.
I’m really moved to hear your family was able to use the show to support you with the positive representation shown within this episode. It feels amazing to hear the video also resonated with you in the way it did, thank you very much for making my night. I’m wishing you the best with your self journey in regards to your feelings of having something wrong with you, I assure you that you’re okay 💙
I love how Jack displays the balance of the pros and cons of ADHD or being on the spectrum. Most of the representations I’ve seen feel like they lean more towards one side or the other but Jack is like the perfect balance. I love that because I personally don’t view my ADHD or neurodivergency in general as strictly bad or strictly good. Like most things in life it has its pros and cons. Jack does have his flaws but he also has his strong points. The writers of Bluey managed to balance out the pros and cons REALLY well. I love Jack and this analysis of him it really made me think about my own ADHD through my life.
I loved this episode. My younger brother and I have ADHD. Instead of taking medicine for it, my mother and school system had us do different activities and learning methods. This worked wonders for us. My brother is now a US Marine(went right after graduation), and I am currently in college for Accounting and business. Despite my ADHD, I’ve taught myself to focus on these numbers without making any mistakes. Sometimes you wouldn’t notice people have these mental conditions unless they tell you. As we grow, we train ourselves and find where we belong. In the end, we’re not so different than people without developmental conditions. We just learn differently or need more time.
Do you think that is masking? Since it's always a constant conscious effort to focus on the numbers. Can you elaborate on the methodologies that you used to study and learn maths? I'm tutoring maths to a teen who I think may have adhd. I try to not tutor him for more than one hour straight, and even then distractions happen often. I try to not punish him when he is starting to talk to me about random things, but after a few minutes I try and try to stop the conversation until he eventually agrees to continue the tutoring. He dislikes maths, and in spite of being in middle school he only knows how to add, subtract and multiply small integer numbers. Idk what to do
I have ADHD that wasn't diagnosed until I was in graduate school, and the way Jack says, "There's something wrong with me," reflects how I felt before my diagnosis. I'd often describe myself as a lazy person with 1000 bad habits I couldn't kick, especially when I was in undergrad and didn't have my parents providing structure anymore, but now I'm learning that a lot of those "bad habits" were symptoms of my ADHD.
Absolutely could tell you nearly paragraph by paragraph recounting of any book I was reading but couldn't tell you what people learned today because I was too aware of the fact I didn't remember school days til 2 days after they happen. Also interacting with other kids was traumatic because of my own intense situational anxiety so honestly 20 percent the time I traumatized myself with catastrophic thinking.
You only get something this accurate by having a writer with experience. That goes for so much of the things the show depicts. These writers are just spreading the message of “you’re not alone, it’s normal for the group you’re in to feel this way, and you still have hope.” They’re legends.
I really love Jack. When I first saw the episode, I related to him so much that it encouraged me to get tested. I have reflected on my whole childhood, and I'm really starting to understand myself. I had no idea that I had autism, and it's only because of Jack that I'm starting to feel more comfortable about this new information. I've only known about me having the condition for 4 days, and it really worried and confused me at first. I guess now I know why I've always felt so different and uncomfortable around others my age
I really wish that i can get tested soon since by my own research i may have both, but since im so young it may take a loong while till i get to that point, but this ep def gave me more determination on getting a proper answear by a proffesional, one day...
I go to the school that Bluey is inspired by and I'm good friends with Joe Brumm (the creator) and there are soooo many kids with different learning disabilities like ADHD, so he has experience being around these kids and creating an incredible representation of them that they can look up to
Wow!! That’s incredible you know and are friends with Joe. I’m happy to hear you are going to a school similar to blueys, being able to focus and express your creative side is very valuable and is something I feel like I myself would have benefited from due to my own personal childhood experiences. Thanks for sharing that, I think that’s so cool
I generally object to the phrase "there's nothing wrong with you". I have ADHD. There absolutely is something wrong with the way my brain functions and it creates problems when I have to do a lot of dull detail oriented tasks. I understand that this is sort of official clinical verbage, but sometimes I think it would be better to say "yes, you do have a problem, but it's okay to have a problem". When I was told "there's nothing wrong with you", I kind of found it patronizing. I just kept thinking to myself "then why am I taking medication if nothing's wrong?"
Very intriguing perspective, I appreciate you explaining how you feel about the phrase, I know some people find comfort in feeling accepted and validated on their symptoms so that’s why I personally use that phrase however I understand and respect your perspective due to the positive spin you put into confronting someone’s feelings on their “problem”. I can imagine for certain individuals it would feel uplifting to not disregard that fact so thank you for sharing that
There is nothing wrong with you. Society is what is wrong. We have evolved culturally faster than we have evolved physically and psychologically. 200 years ago we weren't telling children to sit down at a desk for 8 hours and then repeat everything back or else they were defective. Society is wrong not you.
Also agree that ADHD is a problem and even with a positive spin it is debilitating I have to pretend to be something I’m not when I’m working and at the end of each day I’m mentally exhausted. Still a long way to acceptance but I understand the sentiment of being told “there’s nothing wrong with you.” I had heard that so much before during and after medication by multiple role models. I look forward to a day where school systems and the general public view it as a problem, but that’s okay and it would mean so much if the world could adjust for people like but that’s not reality can only hope and push for change.
I cringe at any of the words the use valid in any way because of the internet but saying “there is nothing wrong with you” is incredibly invalidating. “There’s nothing wrong with you” My adhd makes all monotonous tasks an incredibly challenging thing to do “There’s nothing wrong with you” Sometimes I’m compelled to move around even when I am sick “There’s nothing wrong with you” I have literally forgotten that I had to do the basic function of going to the bathroom because I got distracted There is something wrong with my brain and telling me that there is not just because I can focus and remember the stuff of interest to me is a insulting lie. I remember thinking watching the army episode that the kid is going to face the same issues that he does outside of that game once it stops and it will be just as frustrating as before. It would be so much better if it was “there’s nothing shameful with having such problems” because there is something wrong with my brain but there is not a shameful thing about it.
Growing up with ADHD in the 90s, nobody understood anything about it and always treated me as if I was dumb. It was infuriating and disheartening to know that you aren't those things, but people only seem to see you when you CAN'T do something rather than focusing on the things you CAN do. Not to mention the complete lack of help from anyone and sometimes borderline or outright abuse directed towards me because they didn't know how to "control" me. I still have horrible memories of my first grade teacher absolutely terrorizing me because of this and having nobody stand up for me or even believe what I was saying because I was "the crazy kid" who they thought wanted to make trouble for everyone. Nobody ever listened to me. Side note: I wasn't one of those kids that MAYBE had ADHD. I was like...textbook case of almost every symptom full blown at all times. My parents didn't know what to do with me most of the time and I was getting yelled at on a daily basis for doing SOMETHING wrong or acting inappropriately. I wasn't TRYING to act like a maniac all the time and forget everything and not listen, it was...just the way I was. Sadly, at the time, all anyone knew was medication, and despite trying all of the available ones at the time, not a single one worked for me. It doesnt go away. I still struggle a lot with feelings of inadequacy in everything I do, and still have issues with concentrating and with following directions properly. I'm much more aware of it now and have developed ways of coping, but it's something that I never really grew out of. Its still incredibly difficult to motivate myself to do anything unless its something I specifically have an interest in doing, which has gotten in the way of school/work for years. I also still struggle immensely with building relationships, whether they be with friends or co workers or even romantically. I'm very much alone and I don't really know how to change that. But, c'est la vie. It's cool to see that shows like Bluey actually go into these things in a way that is easy to understand for both kids and adults. I feel like if this had existed when I was little, my experiences would have been vastly different.
As someone who started watching Bluey, and learned they had ADHD around the same time, seeing Jack was such a delight. I instantly recognized what he was going through, as my kids and husband also have it. I’m so glad that so many kinds of neurodivergence are represented nowadays, it feels nice to see it treated so kindly, and with such love. 💖
Rusty's immediate validation of what Jack CAN do after he runs through all the skills he has trouble with in school made me cry. As an ADHD Brain myself, the focus put on what I did wrong in classroom settings far outweighed what short bursts of praise I got for doing something right, usually only those subjects my mind glomed onto. You really do start to internalize those types of comments and use them yourself. I'm glad positive feedback is being pushed more in teacher education these days, but the system really doesn't give you much room to break from the lock-step style of old. If you don't get it right away, you still fall behind a lot, and falling behind tends to frustrate teachers. ND kids can read that, which chips at our self-esteem too.
One thing I also like about Explorers is that Jack's dad, who is only picking Jack up for the second time, has already forgotten where his school is. And apparently, this is an ongoing issue for him in remembering where to go, since as Lulu says "He just puts the SatNav on and zones out". Plus, his anxiety peaks when trying to figure out where Jack is that it becomes essentially a life-or-death situation for him, when he's usually extremely careful. It definitely comes across that Jack's dad is neurodivergent, which again makes sense as ADHD/Autism are EXTREMELY hereditary.
Ya know it’s certainly something I’ve noticed as well and it’s actually something I wanna cover soonish so it’s really cool to see this comment since I was thinking of it recently. Thank you buddy for the comment, literally perfect timing haha 💙😊
As someone who's struggled with being on the spectrum throughout my whole life. Jack and Chloe's Dad are the best representations of people on the spectrum. And I love them both for it.
I’m a civilian that works for the military. The number of people that I work with that have ADHD (myself included), and could also be Autistic, is amazing. Some people need that rigorous structure to function normally.
As someone who's under assessment for ADHD at the age of 29, my sister recommended Army for me to watch... What really hit me was how his dad reacted after finding out he forgot his hat. No exasperated sigh, no "Oh c'mon, I reminded you so many times!", no mocking... Just a laugh and a shrug. As someone who's spent his life forgetting everything and making constant stupid little mistakes, that actually hit me real hard in the throat in a way I never expected something that simple to. God bless Studio Ludo
I saw this episode shortly after getting fired from the most prestigious job I've ever held, precisely because I forgot everything, couldn't sit still, and couldn't follow instructions. And I'm sitting there, watching this episode with tears rolling down my cheeks, sobbing, "that puppy is me, I'm the puppy!"
The way you describe Jack "running into Rusty" seems to trivialize the fact that Calypso, in her wisdom, purposely directed Jack to play with Rusty. She knew it would be a good fit between the 2 kids, and a positive 1st day experience for Jack.
Yes that’s true, calypso was an amazing orchestrator in their bond first forming I completely agree, I’ve noticed that as well. I appreciate the feedback on that, I’ll choose to use different words next time to make sure to capitalize our mutual feelings on how calypso helped jack being guided to Rusty I think it’s possible I was caught up in focusing on jack when writing the script that I choose to purposely avoid talking about other subtle things found within the episodes. But once again I really appreciate you taking the time to tell me that buddy :)
I love Jack so much!! He is such a great side character and the studio did a phenomenal job at getting so much about being ADHD/Autistic right. As a person who went through childhood undiagnosed with these conditions, it was so refreshing to see Jack not only be accepted for these quirks, but also be a little aware of them! As well as these quirks not being labeled as bad right off the bat. One thing/character I wanted to bring awareness to to was Jack’s sister, Lula. When she said to Jack “Why can’t you do as you’re told?” It felt very reminiscent of this other kids would say to me when I was younger. Now, I don’t think Lula really meant to hurt Jack with that statement, but I do think she might have picked it up from other adults around her, like maybe a family member or maybe even a teacher. It definitely sounds like something an adult who does not understand Neurodivergent kids would say to one, which could have lead to the decision for Jack to switch schools. Just something to think about.
As someone with ADHD and autism who wasn’t diagnosed until their teenage years, army made me cry. It beautifully illustrated exactly what I needed as a young kid. It made me and my struggles feel so seen.
Along with Jack, I also believe Bingo has some form of hyper fixation on space (most notably from Sleepytime). She can recall properties of planets such as some not being fully solid and some being liquid and gas, etc. and the fact that she also feels the different temperatures of the sun and Pluto. I’m pretty sure someone her age wouldn’t know so much on space if she didn’t have a great interest in Space
Jack having inattentive adhd is such good representation! Unfortunately, I've had multiple sclerosis since I was 15, and the lesions developed in the right areas of my brain to also give me adult onset ADHD. Let's just say that it makes it difficult to maintain a job and a girlfriend. I wish I had a Rusty growing up :)
Jack is definitely one of the most relatable characters in the show. He struggles with things but can be amazing in a nurturing environment that doesn’t look down on him for his disability. I think Lulu wasn’t inherently being mean. Rather, the implication is she’s probably copying what a lot of teachers have either said to his parents or straight up to his face and Jack has become deeply self-conscious of his flaws, which makes him feel horrible about himself. Dusty however, is a very kind kid. He gives Jack a safe environment where he’s actually happy and can freely express himself without judgement. I‘m really glad he’s not a one-off character. Too many shows discard potentially great characters for the sake of a “message”. He may have his own life where he does his own thing, but there’s no denying he’s definitely left an impact on the characters and the fans. I hope we see more of him in the future.
I've lived most of my childhood not knowing about my ADHD/Autism. Or at least I think so. If I did, I had very little understanding of it. I wish I had someone like Jack in my life that dealt with similar struggles like I did when I was younger because like Jack, I always thought there was something wrong with me constantly. So. Seeing this episode made me think of my childhood struggles and ADHD/autism insecurities that I haven't thought about in a long time and it made me cry a little. I give all applause to the Bluey team for representing ADHD/Autistic kids perfectly without making them seem entirely flawed in the head. I'm just finishing season 3 of the show rn, but I will always have a bigger smile on my face when I Jack in any episode :)
The Army episode broke my heart, it makes me angry how they treat Jack, especially when his little brother in the car tells him why don't you listen to dad, and Jack looks disconcerted, and doesn't understand why it happens to him. What a good character Rusty is, he has been authentic with Jack from the first moment he meets him, and there is a phrase that goes very unnoticed, when he is in the tree house he says to him: What was happening to your school? Instead of saying, What happened to you at the other school? Giving us the impression that Rusty does not understand why he changed schools, since he sees Jack as having a lot of potential and he is very good, and because he did not see anything wrong with him. I empathize a lot with Jack, because people are not aware that people with ADHD do not do it on purpose. Jack's father has been a little unconscious in letting his son feel bad for not remembering, and letting his sister pick on him about it, and making him understand that he has a different neurological condition, and we have to help you.
As a woman with early diagnosised adhd and later diagnosed autism, seeing a character this well shown in a show like this makes me so happy. No one yells at him, there isnt any overblown focus on his issues, and since he's in a low grade, it makes sense if he hadn't been diagnosed yet. He's another puppy in the show and he's great.
As someone with diagnosed adhd and undiagnosed autism (I’m not currently able to be diagnosed because of my current life position), I literally cry every single time I hear the “I don’t know” line in the car ride. Every time someone says, “Just stop staring at the wall and get ready”, “Stop freaking out it isn’t a big deal”, or my personal favorite “Just do it” all I can say is that I’m trying my best or that I don know why I’m like this, (especially when I was younger and was convinced there was something wrong with me) but they don’t understand that I’m not being lazy or overeating. And how my neurodivergence was dealt with as a kid has shown up later in life as being terrified to talk about my interests, I was even homeschooled most of my life because of my family moving a lot and my struggles with “procrastinating” my schoolwork. I guess when I see this silly little dog with a lot of the same struggles as little me and seeing him succeed is therapeutic in a way, heals my inner child as a lot of Bluey fans say.
Do you have any website/channel that has a lot of info on autism? I've been noticing recently that while i fit a lot in ADHD i know deep down that is isn't the only thing i have, my problem trying to understand guidance/jokes a lot of the time, me feeling isolated, different, than the rest of the kids on my school, even of my own family, the struggle to keep in-contact with friends i deeply care about, and recently since being friends with a girl with autism, i've realized that i had a lot in common with autism too, but sadly a lot of the info is divided on multiple websites/channels so it's kinda hard to find since it is a very unique topic
@@DUCK.aka.Red.on.Twitter My advice would be to look at experiences of multiple autistic people and not just a list of symptoms on the CDC website. Which you should still do, just don't take a list of symptoms at face value. Remember it's a spectrum and every autistic person is different, so your friend could be completely different from someone else. I've been doing research for over 6 months so I've forgotten most of the videos but this is one of the most recent ones I watched. ua-cam.com/video/i3Vy2BPmMS4/v-deo.html Keep in mind that Illymation is self diagnosed and the video is mostly entertainment but it's still a good video. Fun fact I also could not wear jeans until seventh grade, it was so bad when I was younger that I would scream and cry until I was eventually forced into them. Oh also you aren't crazy. I had almost the exact same experience, except instead of relating to an autistic friend I related to an autistic coded mutant ninja turtle. I was watching the 2018 tmnt and related to Donatello (the purple one) a lot, and then realized that 90% of the things I related to him about... were symptoms of autism, so I started doing research on how to write an autistic character, which turned into general autism research, which turned into me doing research for myself. 7-8 months later and here I am. Long story short listen to multiple autistic experiences, look for articles about autism in teens and adults, talk to a close family member or friend about it, if possible get a professional diagnosis, and do not under any circumstances donate or get information from autism speaks.
@@banananananananananananana. Thank you so much for all of the advice, i'll definetly try to take your advice and hopefully keep searching since i've only been researching ASD for this last 2 months, at least i already knew that ASD is very different to multiple people, also yeah i still hate to wear jeans lol
Jack's dad clearly has ADHD. (As an adhd dad who struggles being on time to pick up my adhd kid at school, and needs navigation for some places I've been to I felt seen!)
Jack represents me perfectly. I always renember what I find interesting or fun, and forget everything else subconsciously. I suspect myself of having both ADHD and autism, due to all the symptoms.
I have ADHD with problems of forgetting things and sitting still. I was diagnosed when I was young. The Jack episode made me really connect with him cuz I got his problems. I do remember some things, just sometimes not the important ones. Bluey is a nice show.
I hate having ADHD tbh, I was talking to someone and really enveloped into our conversation and all of the sudden I go “Oh look! A plane!” Or something to that extent, then I just go back into the conversation. Kinda like a dog going “Squirrel!” for a few moments and then going straight back to the task at hand.
I don't watch Bluey but the way you described the episode left me in tears. I'm Autistic and was late diagnosed (2010-2103; I don't remember exactly when due to having severe dissociative amnesia). I was diagnosed Asperger's so it had to be before 2013 when the DSM-5 changed everything to just Autism Spectrum Disorder. For a long time. I ignored my diagnosis. Due to the stigma surrounding Autism, I felt ashamed of the label. I tried to hide it under a rug. However, I eventually started investigating Autism and what it _means_ to be Autistic by going into the Actually Autistic space and it opened up a new whole level of me understanding myself. I now embrace the label as a part of my identity. My neurology makes me who I am. Life is often really difficult as an Autistic person, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I feel like my Autism makes me the writer I am. I feel like I wouldn't be the same person I am if I weren't Autistic. Writing is very much my main special interest and has been for an astonishing _22 years._ Writing is _life_ for me.
Buddy I gotta say hearing your self discovery as well as self acceptance was really impactful, I’m really happy for you. Self acceptance is very difficult for a lot of individuals and it was an emotional read for me with the way you worded everything, keep on doing you buddy💙
@@Pugly Yeah, it's been quite the process. I feel like my dojo has helped me with that a lot. I study ninjutsu and I've been there since 2016. It's not just a strip-mall dojo where you learn self-defense. A _lot_ of emphasis is placed on mindset and exploring yourself and interacting with the world in a more meaningful, thoughtful, mindful way. It's helped me out in ways I cannot even begin to describe. I feel like accepting my diagnosis was a big part of that. I'm aware of my limits because of my martial art. I've learned how to identify them and work _with_ them. I'm still overcoming being in my own head a lot, but that's anybody with anything. Plus, when I learn my limits, I try to push past them in a healthy, meaningful way. My journey has been long and hard, but it's been so worth it.
I would say he's more adhd hyperactive presenting or maybe combined (most common) type but also has two learning disabilities such as dyslexia and dyscalculia (I have dyscalculia and dysgraphia), on a side note THIS CHARACTER IS SO GODDAMN ADORABLE he's just living his life like most us adhd babies confused and wondering why certain things don't work for us as they do others.
Not only is this a great character, this show is great because it emphasizes alternatives to regular public education. We are failing kids all of the time because we want them to fit in a neat little box, and if they don’t, as this little guy already thinks of himself “something is wrong with me” children are shamed for being different and learning in different ways.
Jack immediately reminded me of my sister, who has diagnosed ADHD. I was always the one tattling when she couldn't sit still. Wishing I knew then that people with this condition just need help to direct their energy into something positive and/or productive instead of just blaming them for being uncontrollably hyper. She is doing well, happily married, and working a job that she enjoys putting all that energy into.
I think what really gets me is when asked about why he can't do as he's told jack says "I don't know" Which is a very common feeling for neurodivergent kids that KNOW they're different but don't know why, either because they're undiagnosed or because they had their diagnosis hidden from them.
This is so important. I never tell people that I have adhd, I only describe it a numerological disorder because of the stigma. I thought there was something wrong with me my entire life. That I was the problem. That I was not trying hard enough. The thing that it makes it all the more tragic is I was diagnosed when I was 7, but my family didn't think it was real.
i was diagnosed with autism as a kid, (coincidentally I'm also called Jack) it's part of the reason I watch shows like bluey as an adult who's 22 in a few days, I was just like Jack as a kid, I always kicked my feet sitting before they could reach the floor, I can remember what my day was about I just can't talk about it, in fact i had selective mutism ever since i was 12 and didn't speak in full sentences with anyone except my friends who all stayed up in a special needs class for lunch because we all had neurodevelopmental conditions, I contemplated getting a computer to speak what I type because I can type just fine this comment is proof, i just have dysplasia? i forgot what its called i can barely speak basically unless i really focus, it does make me good at acting though and ive got an acting degree under my belt best 2 years of my life
I've been alienated by my own "friends" for having ADHD, people looked down at me and chose to not try to socialize with me cause I always looked quiet and reserved in big areas with a ton of people. I hope this brings people that get to learn that people will look over people who aren't mentally their age.
I wish I'd had a character like Jack when I was younger. I could never remember things or sit still and I felt really different. He's an amazing character
I love this 😍 my two year old son was just diagnosed with autism and I’m overwhelmed. I worry about his future happiness now that I know he is not neurotypical. We have always loved Bluey, but now I love it even more (and I think he will too) with this character that represents ADHD/autism in such a wonderful way.
I don’t know if this’ll help, but I’m 21 and didn’t know I was autistic growing up. My little sister did get diagnosed and I’m pretty sure our baby brother is too. Not knowing why people acted the way they did made socializing in school difficult, but I was generally able to find other kids who liked me as I was. I don’t mask it very well, since I didn’t really care enough about what other people thought of me to learn how until high school. I’m in college now and the point I was trying to reach is, it’ll be a bit tough sometimes, but your son can be just as happy as anyone else. The way he communicates will be different from his neurotypical peers, but he’ll be able to find people who will understand that.
One important thing to keep in mind, that you’ll definitely need to help him with: Autistics get stereotyped as “missing social cues,” but the real problem is inauthentic or conflicting social cues. Like, we can easily pick up that someone is upset or excited or whatever, but when their words or actions directly contradict that, we get confused. Or we end up triggering a whole mess because we reacted based on the non-verbal cues but not what was actually said, and that made someone upset. Small talk is also a major source of frustration because it’s hard to engage in that sort of conversation because it’s so…superficial. It’s difficult for us to actually care about it enough to keep up with it. But we can talk for hours about completely random topics!
@@jnnfr5 It’s one of those things that I don’t think most non-Autistics even realize they’re doing, because for them it’s totally normal for your words/actions to not match how you’re actually feeling. But Autistic and ADHD people do notice that mismatch and it causes a lot of anxiety and frustration trying to figure out which part we’re supposed to be reacting to. ETA: Though Autistic people do thrive on rituals, so if you present stuff like small talk as a script that’s traditionally followed, it’s a lot easier for an Autistic child to keep up with (though an ADHD child would continue getting frustrated).
It is always a treat when Jack reappears in the show after seeing his brilliant characterization in Army. He even got a whole 'nother episode focused on him and his family. It shows the writers really like this character. Everything about Jack is well executed, especially the way he's able to break his own expectations when playing "army" with Rusty. People with attention deficit related disorders aren't INCAPABLE of paying attention, sitting still and the like, they're just incapable of applying those skills in a lot of normal everyday life compared to normal folks. They're only able to do it in very specific situations that really grab their interest. Unfortunately a lot of normal people misunderstand this as simply being lazy and selfish, only able to care about things YOU care about (the problem is, this isn't necessarily true. There are a lot of things we care about that we still fail to devote our attention to. It is a source of constant agony.).
4:30 is a really nice small detail. every time i eat, i have to sniff my food. maybe not always that closely, but i always sniff it. as someone diagnosed at 18, im really happy Jack can show parents how these behaviors appear in children and what they may mean. my mom had never heard of autism/adhd so she had no idea why i did what i did. one teacher told her i might have one of the things and she immediately googled it, looked at the symptoms, and realized a good chunk of her family is like that. i think it made it easier for her to learn how to deal with me
Oh wow! I never really considered that detail as more than just a dog behavior but you are absolutely correct, I don’t see any other character in the show doing that particular action for food so I think it was a detail intentionally included to showcase that symptom. Good catch buddy, that’s actually mind blowing. I’m really happy hearing that your teacher spent the time to learn about that topic and even was able to use that to better her interactions with you and possibly her family as well :)
Honestly everytime I see the episode army or think about it too much, I nearly cry because of so many emotions. I'm so glad that kids today are starting to get the representation, acceptance, and basic understanding of themselves and others I wish I could have gotten as a child. Also I love how all the parents are just so amazing.
I like that there is more rep for ADHD and austism, as a person who has austism im glad there is more shows that show and teach about these issues! Especially kid shows as it teaches them at a young age that your not different, your just special in your own way, that its not something to be ashamed of, bully someone for, or ignore or leave someone who has it, they just function differently and need extra help from time to time, as someone like I said has trouble remembering anything or sitting still, or doing anything im told, I give a thumbs up for more rep like this!
I also read Chloe's dad as being neurodivergent to some degree, with his difficulty grasping how his daughter expected him to play in a more abstract game, stating he actually felt a bit hurt at being judged for struggling with the game, and his solution being to go and find marine biology facts to adapt his style of play, resulting in a game that's more fun for everyone, while still being grounded in some concrete facts. Plus having a fish tank built into his home feels like his initial "rigid" approach to playing could just stem from a love of sea creatures and trying to be accurate to what he knows about them.
When this episode showed on screen I was so relieved to see the acceptance. It was lovely the way they handled the subject. I resonate with Jack and it makes me so happy to see him being added to Bluey. As a little kid no one tried to work with me and no one saw the positives in my Neurotypical self. It’s nice the little ones now have shows like this.. I wish a lot of us had that.
as a 26 year old who lived with undiagnosed ADHD all my childhood, feeling so left out all the time, always being seen as “smart he but cannot apply himself”, always getting in trouble for never sitting still or “not listening” when someone was talking to me, i felt like a little part of me was healed seeing this little Jack Russell being included and seen and not getting in trouble for something he cant help. The creators of this show did so well without falling into horrible stereotypes.
I hope he gets more episodes as he is a positive form and a nice way to say "I am differnt but it's ok" I whish there were more cartoons like these 20 years ago, and the fact he gives an insight to how they might think about himself while others may have a differnt view of him
I have both adhd and autism When I watched Army I had almost started crying because because how much I was able to relate to Jack Then when I watched Explorers and I loved it even more then I did before It makes me so happy to see someone thats like me
Just the "I don't know" when his sibling asks why he can't just do what he's told... you can tell he wants to but doesn't understand why he is different. I was diagnosed with adhd at about his age too and I'm a girl so there wasn't alot of girls diagnosed at the time because of the criteria so it was hard feeling like a "naughty" kid or stupid. Having representation like him is so important because it's realistic.... so many characters who are portrayed with adhd are the harmful stereotype of a guy who is manicly hyperactive and annoying... when that's not really what it is.
Jack's space hyperfixation, limited social skills, and basically the entirety of the army episode are exactly why I see myself in him. These were struggles I went through a lot as a kid, but they were never never taken seriously. His confusion as to why he functions differently is something a lot of neurodivergent kids have experienced, and Rusty being his 'main' friend something I've done myself. Jack really is important.
Bro I haven't even gotten past the intro and I'm already in tears. Jack as a character means so much to me as someone with ADHD and is possibly autistic. I wish I had a character like Jack to look to when I was young. I felt so alone all the time and I didn't understand why for so long. I thought there was something wrong with me. Bluey is such a wonderful show
I love how Bluey displayed the affects for a kid with ADHD/autism, they didn’t show a kid being a “Super genius” kid who can calculate super fast or knows how to re-power the school’s electricity, and they say the dumbest thing like “iTs NoT A dISaBiLiTy ItS a sUpEr biLiTy🤓☝️” Looking at you dhar mann😒 Like he says that people with Disabilities are good because they help you win chess, get high test scores, and get a million followers on tiktok. Like what about the fact that they are good people? He doesn’t even consider that most important part. Bluey on the other hand, shows how someone, anyone with ADHD/autism is just someone who needs just a bit more help and a few more pointers to help them in life, and that is the best way to talk about a person with a disability. They should show how even tho they are different, they are still good people, and should be expected for who they are. They don’t have to be the first person on mars, or the person to find the cure for cancer, if they come into this world to make people happier than they were before… then you will always be a great person and have your own place in this world, and to the people in it 😇
I just started watching Bluey and your video popped up. I haven't seen the Army episode yet. But I'm so glad Jack is a good representation of someone with ADHD. I've struggled so much to understand why I do things the way I do. I was diagnosed with it at Jack's age. I was put on meds, which made me not feel like myself. I would often wonder what was wrong with me, especially when I got older and took myself off the medication. And due to some things in life, I decided to look into ADHD again. The knowledge that is out there has helped me understand myself better and verbalize some of my problems/ triggers. Honestly this was a big help to help explain it a bit more to my husband. I was crying while watching your video. It's so nice to be understood and not feel like something is wrong with me. Thank you
I have autism and have been misunderstood all of my life and even mistreated. I always felt there was something going on with me, something that even Jack states. Seeing his resemblance towards neurodiversity warms my heart to the core.
ive had very severe adhd since i was 8, im now 18 and seeing bluey have one of the best reps for adhd makes me so happy. its so wonderful and makes me and probably so many other people loved!!!
The Army episode makes me burst into tears every single time. I was always confused as a kid as to why I struggled with things that came easy to others. I felt like something was wrong with me. This episode made me realize after all those years there was never anything wrong.. I just didn’t understand. I didn’t understand I had a way of living life that was a bit different, but still normal. I felt so seen.
I’m in the middle of getting diagnosed with ADHD and seeing a character have it, showing alot of what I’m handling at the moment didn’t make me feel alone
I was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 17, and it was because of me struggling to cope with studying. I changed schools because of it, and I have a few hobbies that I'm passionate about. When I do those hobbies, I seem like I am completely fine. But when it comes to studying, nothing seems to work in my brain, and it's incredibly frustrating. When I stumbled across this video, I didn't know this show nor this character, so I didn't know what to expect. But hot damn, I have never seen myself in a character more than today. Thank you my guy, for bringing me this well edited and executed video :D I love it (and probably will come back to it whenever I feel unvalidated or under the weather haha)
The AJR Song put in your short “The Good Part” I love that song!! Love this episode along with these two duos Rusty & Jack great friends reminds me along with my friend! ❤😭
As someone who has grown up with Autism, Jack really resonates with me as someone who acts the way he does even in my adulthoof nowadays(19). I just love how it depicts the condition so well and how Jack easily identifies his own problems, which i often recognize alot. The way they use Rusty to help give Jack confidence in the activites he enlists while playing army and having Jack peform tasks which he doubts himself in doing but does them well shows that just because you have a condition which can differentiate an individual from others doesnt mean they can never accomplish anything simple. Jack is amazing and i love him!!!!
it's really amazing to see cartoons having actual & quality representation of ADHD/autism i grew up with only being diagnosed with ADHD; but i could never seem to truly connect with most of my peers; it wasn't until i was 22 that i was diagnosed with both autism & ADHD- [ i'm 26 now ] & it just kind of made some questions & fears of myself & how i act be quelled i always questioned on if something was " wrong " & it was just nice to finally have some tangible explanation of why i was different ? i guess my parents just thought i was lazy or mentally challenged; despite me bringing home excellent grades for years- just because i didn't know how to talk or act with people- forgot things all the time, ect. ive gotten better at communicating in these decades- but still i have a habit of coming off the wrong way- especially if a fixation is brought up- then i just kind of blurt out information anyway- enough rambling; thanks for a wonderful video on this because i knew nothing of bluey & might look into the series after this !
So I have ADHD, and I just cried while watching this episode. Im 26, Born and raised in South Africa, so my folks didn't spare the rod whenever I 'misbehaved' and I grew up struggling with trying to explain that I just couldn't help it! No matter how hard I tried or focused, I would always fidget, forget, struggle in school and all around just 'be a bad kid' It brings me so much joy to know that the world is getting better
The character "Jack" definitely reminds me of the MLP character "Fluttershy" who is my favourite character. Like Jack Russell, like Fluttershy, they both have their own weaknesses, but they learnt to make good use of their true strengths with the help of their brave and courageous friend (Rusty/ Rainbow Dash).
I can relate Jack in a few ways but I never been diagnosed with ADHD but I do see why people also believe that Jack may have Autism, which is something I have. He’s such a great character and he doesn’t shy about what he’s feeling. And he’s not like any other character with a flaw where they make fun of or just put the audience to shame like making them incapable for anything. Jack can do many things that he believes he can’t and we see that through playing with Rusty in Army. For me, it is pretty hard for me to focus on what I need to do, and I get distracted most of the time. But I don’t have any bad memory but I can still see his struggles and he even questions himself if there’s something wrong with him. Jack is an amazing character that people with an incapable abilities to do anything and work their way through it. And his friendship with Rusty is so adorable and I love how close they get at the first day. And Rusty also helps Jack out by giving him some simple tasks that people in the army can do for real life and he nails it perfectly! As someone who has Autism, I can say that he’s the best in this show!
This video is essentially my love letter to the Bluey studio for their creation of the character Jack, and the amazing lengths they went to allow him to be such an amazing catalyst for representing these conditions. Also did you know that the original Austrailian version has a different line for Jack when explaining his problems? Its included in the video courtesy of Music Master (his page is in the description of this video), tell me if you hear it :)
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The change from "There's something wrong with me!" To "There's something going on with me!" really changes the meaning of Jack's self perception and worth. I don't think it was a good change.
@@monotonehell I actually didn’t realize that line was changed. I watched Bluey on an online streaming platform, and didn’t notice the changes until I rewatched some episodes. I may have misremembered them as the original Australian versions-
In my opinion, I don't think it's too much of a big change, but I can see your point. It seems like a more interesting way for a kid to respond that strikes the audience better as someone who has some, if not most of Jack's symptoms. /srs
Another fantastic video!!!! 💖
Yeah, I agree with monotonehell. It borders on insulting when studios want to show a level of suffering, and then immediately minimize it, especially on the premise that they don't want to "influence" anyone. Like seriously?! It's too late to influence anyone, we already feel that way. Minimizing it and trying to be more "accurate" almost mocks the struggle to come to that way of thinking later.
If there was any influencing to be done, it would be a much easier problem to overcome.
"There's something wrong with me" is often the starting point, "there's something going on with me" takes much longer to get to.
@@101jir Honestly, yeah. Trying to minimize something serious that makes you come up with a conclusion like that sort of makes the entire premise of the episode a bit pointless.
It's important that Jack became a reoccurring character where he's accepted by the other kids. If he had been just a one time character, he would've been a token and hollow. Seeing him again and again is good representation.
Not only that but it makes the show more complex and something more than just another kid's show. If you look at other critically praised sitcoms and shows, most have side characters that are complex and develop over time.
Honestly my favorite thing about Bluey is how many characters reappear on a consistent basis. They’re never just one offs! (except the kid from turtleboy I guess, but he can always reappear)
@@zozocecpto be fair, dougie isnt a character who's in bluey or bingo's school and haven't even met the heelers. So the fact we didnt see him again makes sense.
Althought i would defenitly love if the character would make an appearance in the future .
Well said, Am That Is!
@@waterbat95 I understood that reference!
That little pause before Jack says “I don’t know” breaks my heart every time. I can’t count how many times I felt that exact emotion in that exact way before finally being diagnosed as adhd at 25
Damn at 25. I'm 23 and I have suspicions about it myself but don't want to go to the doctor because idk what the implications will be and what will change if I am diagnosed lol
felt that in my fucking soul. honestly made me cry. you know he's been asked that a thousand times already his whole life and absolutely no answer he can give is satisfactory. so you just say 'i dont know'.
@@UnitedStatesSpaceForce I got diagnosed at 42. It's worth it IMO. ADHD meds are incredibly effective, and even if you don't want to take medications, you can find ways to work *with* your unusual brain instead of fighting against it.
@@UnitedStatesSpaceForce I'm in my 30s and only now started talking with a therapist. It's helpful to explain to people at work why I do things differently. It's a measure of peace of mind, relating to others with ADHD and helping others understand why I'm the way I am :)
I got my iADHD diagnosis at 27, weeks before my 28th birthday. 🎉Never too late to figure out why.
Honestly as a adult now who was diagnosed with ADHD at around Jack's age. I am happy to see more positive rep when it comes to ADHD in kids media. I honestly wished I had someone like Jack as a kid in the cartoons I watched.
exactly! Jack's parents don't understand much about his condition which makes it more relatable (at least for me).
I remember when I got diagnosed with ADHD in 1st grade, because they finally realized there's something wrong when I was failing, and suspended within the first month of school
I love seeing positive rep for ADHD now
Me too 😀
Same I have adhd and autism he’s relatable when I got clinically diagnosed when I was younger.
As a high functioning-autistic person I can find it relatable for Jack condition. I never noticed my autism when I was young until my mom had me diagnosed but I honestly don't see it as a disability to myself or any other person who have been diagnosed with either ADHD or Autism, I see them as different abilities. Mental enhancements, if you want to be technical or not. Other people don't see it but it depends on where, how or what that can encourage Autistic individuals or anyone who have ADHD. Like in Jack playing Army for example that is a positive way encourage ADHD. My positive way to show autism is writing comments on youtube and using the internet as both a way of life and a recreational method like playing video games or watching videos. Sure there are somethings I have to avoid saying, but from what I have experienced from 2002 to 2023, I learned that change doesn't mean bad and being different is a bad thing as long as you accept yourself for who you truly are. This should be a lesson for those who have doubt about their mental behavior, remember what have but take pride and courage on who you are. I know the world often change and things might be different than what we are used to, but it doesn't mean we should be afraid to embrace it.
I also think it’s very cute that they managed to show that a lot of neurodivergent folk find somebody & just _click,_ despite often not being able to socialize well.
I know it’s not exclusive to us, but I do feel it’s either more common or something we latch onto much harder.
Every once in a while, there’s just someone who makes you feel less alone. Because even if your family is supportive, being obviously different from them, like Jack seems to be, will be a slightly lonely existence.
I didn't know this was a thing, but now that you've mentioned, I recognize it immediately! I was diagnosed with ASD and ADD early in life and I've never had long-term friendships, never mind friend *groups* - at school I could work on projects with classmates, but I never, *never* bonded with any of my peers at any level of education. I was a huge teacher's pet, but of course that's no substitute.
Then, a few years ago, then aged 21, I met my now-bestie at my neurodivergent-friendly workplace. There was an immediate click (even our team leads have commented on how quick it happened!) and we've been really close since! I worry sometimes that she'll get bored of me, she's quite the extrovert and has a bunch of other friends, but I have to get myself to believe that she really does care and won't just drop me - it's not just a reflection of my own poor self-esteem to think that might happen at any time, but an unfair assessment of a person I hold very dear and know to be trustworthy.
I'm autistic and I have a really good friend that has the same disorder but with their symptoms manifesting in completely different ways. But we're definitely people who click with each other dispute our very apparent differences. In school teachers were often confused why a loud, problematic student like me was friends with a quiet, mild student like my friend haha.
My husband has ADHD and a jack russell terrier. When I first watched the show, I told him there was a character with ADHD and to guess which breed it was. He guessed correctly at once.
I misread has as was 😭😭 like some princess and the frog thing where he was cursed to be a jack russell terrier before becoming human again
I relate, I have had jack russells my whole life and have adhd. I was super excited to find out the character with adhd was a jack russell lol
I don’t think anyone who’s has any contact with Jack Russells would be surprised by this decision in the slightest lol
@@Muggins1046When I found out a Jack Russel was the character w/ ADHD I was like ah no wonder lmao
That's so cuteee
I remember when I first watched this episode with my daughter and husband. It definitely got a good tear out him, and he rarely gets emotional about such things. He struggled with ADHD as a kid, growing up in a family that was generally uninformed about such conditions, only really having the language to describe it in adulthood.
Oh yeah its a real tearjerker to see such an amazing change in understanding. It assures you people are trying to learn now
I'm happy your husband and family can see adhd representation in these cartoons it makes me so happy too!
37 year old woman here diagnosed with ADHD in the first grade, and Jack's episode made me cry, and what hit most was him knowing something is "wrong" with him, knowing he does things he can't seem to control/change, because it is such a frustration to this day that I KNOW I have these idiosyncrasies that get in my way, or that bother other people/make people judge me, but they always start happening without me realizing they are happening.
Same, I've known there was something wrong since I was 7 years old, wasn't diagnosed with ADHD, OCD, and GAD until I was 22.
Something I’ll say to my adhd 4 yo son is “sweetie, I think you feel out of control and that probably feels yucky” I don’t know what else to say but I want him to know that it’s ok to feel that way, it has nothing to do with how lovable he is.
I hate it when I get really into something and I realize I've talked someone's head off for a good 5 minutes straight, shooting off words faster than a machine gun and I'm sitting there like "I'm so sorry I didn't realize I was getting bad man." Had too take medication too pass a course for work and I hated every second of it, everyone siad I was much better but I always felt off, not just with the symptoms but like I was being held down, like there was a fog around my brain.
Exactly my story down to being 37!
@@mastertwitums3476interesting. I never felt that way, when taking medication, when I took the right amount. Though my mom made sure I never took too much, as she said I was weirdly calm then.
The way Jack says "I don't know" is exactly how I used to react to things. I'm autistic myself and have ADHD as well as OCD, so I often find myself feeling a bit sorrowful over what I can't do. I wish I'd had Jack and characters like him as a kid.
Hey, someone else with the trifecta. It is really nice seeing some good representation for a change. I really hope eventually there will be something like that for OCD too, because it's really misunderstood too.
@Feist Sorcerer Absolute facts, even my family members make "I'm so OCD about that" jokes. My mom has OCD and even she makes those comments. I just don't understand lol
Well don’t because I do
I have autism, OCD, and ADHD as well!
And 17 other disorders
I always felt like I was in a different place no one else was in, which made me feel isolated and depressed
I didn’t know what was wrong with me and people would say it was just my personality :/ but now I know it’s just my 20 disorders
The terms "i forgot" and "i don't know" were said SO many times in my childhood, i couldnt even count them all
Jack running to the chopper saying he can run because he's a Jack Russel just makes me cry ugly for a few minutes because he's so proud and had such a successful day
I have ADHD and while I was watching this with my little sister, I immediately recognized the ADHD representation from the beginning. Jack's behavior portrayed here is very similar to my own experiences when I was a little girl.
There was a mom in the library today who went up to another mom and asked if the little girl in pink was her daughter. She then said "my little girl is autistic and this is the first time in a very long time that someone wanted to play with her" and she burst into tears and they hugged. I hope they exchange numbers and get to have more play dates
Edit: on a side note I was spanked every single day of my child hood and constantly told to behave and was yelled at a lot. I was diagnosed as ADHD and my parents had no idea how to handle it and rejected my diagnosis for my entire childhood. Even as an adult I've spent most of it unmedicated and struggling. I'm glad the narrative is changing and the approaches are changing.
That’s such a lovely story, I bet that made both of their day and I hope that she gets more chances like that. Im also sorry to hear your past regarding your parents, it always feels bad to hear people being treated in that way because of something they can’t control. I hope your life gets better with your struggle on this and your family are treating you better now
Same, I was already yelled at because I didn’t obey and couldn’t sit or stand still
Because of my 20 disorders, people would see me as weird or ill, and it made me self conscious about myself, making me isolated and never socializing
I had a painful childhood that affected me greatly
It still surprises me to this day of how small actions caused by something we can’t control can cause so much trauma
I got diagnosed with ADHD because my parents thought something was wrong with me so they sent me to a psychologist. I was so happy to learn that nothing is wrong with me but my family forgot and didn't care that I had ADHD. The psychologist gave us a handbook for raising a child with ADHD and they did not read that and also they were doing every red flag in them. In the outside most of the people thinks me as a weirdo and I got bullied because of it years ago. In those times that I was getting bullied, 2 people in my class (they are not my friends) said that they admire me even tho I was getting bullied I was beign myself without caring what other people think of me. I think that was the only reason that I was able to grow a person because even tho my family, friends, teachers etc. think of me. I cried when I was typing this 😅😅 I love Bluey but it triggers my family trauma because I don't have one nowadays. I'm still gonna continue to watch it anyways.
@@Tsuki-ph1yu that is amazing how even though you get bullied, you stood out from everyone else. i have undiagnosed ADHD since my parents think nothing is wrong with me and my behavior is just "my personality" i barely have friends and everyone in my life judges me and thinks of me as a failure. but im glad i have 2 loyal friends that dont care about my flaws. as someone who had a terrible childhood, you are really lucky to be in that type of environment, even though it has some dents in it :)
@@the_cap64 I hope someday you'll be in the position where you can live your life without distress, acting on your desires🙂
For me, the worst part of ADHD is being so functional yet not. Like, I can process things fairly normally...just sometimes my brain decides it doesn't want to be here anymore and now I don't know what's going on.
i have never related to a comment so hard before and honestly it's a nice feeling
And in some cases being over-functional, but only with niche tasks and within very short bursts of energy. I had a weird relationship with my previous job, where I could just suddenly be so hyper-productive and creative that it blows away my boss and my colleagues, and they give me lots of new tasks believing that I am the new star employee, only for me to enter the brain slumber for several months and fail absolutely every deadline. Everyone gets disappointed, but then after some time KABOOM, a new burst of energy and hyper-creativity that leaves everyone else in the dust, I get an award at work, and the cycle repeats, because flashes of creativity and productivity last for a few days and being a dysfunctional mess that is struggling to perform basic arithmetics and simple brain work lasts for months.
That’s why I couldn’t finish my science university despite being “the mega-gifted child that was a walking wikipedia in elementary school”. Everyone sees my rare bursts of high performance and expects that I’m like that all of the time. But most of the time my brain just refuses to work even on a normal level. It confused the heck out of parents and it confuses the heck out of people who work with me.
@@Evergreen_Wizard The gifted kid thing is so real. My hyperfocuses and knowledge of my special interests have people without the same interests going "wow, it's impressive that you know all that!"/"you do this really well!", but the problem is how let down they feel when I can't just transplant that competency and interest to something *they* want me to focus on, even if it would *objectively* be to my benefit.
I'd *love* to learn how to apply to jobs without crying during interviews or needing to bend the truth or downright *lie* to make myself more palatable to potential employers, but right now my brain space is occupied by thinking about how damn cool convergent evolution is! Yeah! Look at those funky animals from vastly disparate lineages taking on similar traits because the environment puts a specific kind of selective pressure on them!
@@tessabakker662 Aaaa! Convergent evolution is the coolest stuff! Did you know that keratinous beaks evolved more then 5 separate timed in dinosaurs? And hard-shelled eggs at least 3 times? Also mammals and their endless trunks. This is called parallelism, when certain lineages are predisposed to evolve the same feature over and over again in different taxa of the same big systematic group.
@@Evergreen_Wizard my biology teacher would get so excited whenever he talked about convergent evolution to us... all of us could practically SEE the stars in his eyes when anyone brought the topic up. I sincerely hope he's doing okay now. bless his soul, honestly.
The remembering fun thing, I can tell that I have adhd and I can't remember much in history, I don't find it fun, but I can remember a lot of science which I find really fun and exciting
I’m the same way. Math past basic algebra never “clicked” for me but history, science, literature did. I was lucky to have teachers like calypso who played into my strengths when I’d get down on myself about math. I was also lucky to have friends who would point out all the things I DID know when I’d start spiraling about what I didn’t know/had a hard time grasping. I loved this episode.
I used to feel guilty that I could only remember things that i am interested in. It made me feel like it was a choice but it never was, and it was really hard for other people to see that because on the outside it just looked like i was bratty. I have ADHD, i found out when i was 16. Although I'm surprised it wasn't caught sooner because it was really obvious and all of my friends had ADHD too, my parents thought I was copying them though.... My parents also thought I would be friends with the autistic kids because I felt bad for them.. NO 😟 i find them really fun to talk with!
I'm the same way. Though sometimes I get yelled for remembering a lot about certain things but with others stuff I'm almost oblivious. It's saddening to hear it said in that context like if I remember 1 thing, I should remember it all. It's not like that for me but they don't see it that way.
Finally I found someone who dislikes history too yayy
I don’t have ADHD, but I can relate. I hate Chinese a LOT and tend to forget things easily, yet if it comes to fandoms/games I like or my interest, I can remember a lot of small details
As somone who suffers from ADHD, and possibly autism, the first time i watched the episode Army it immediately resinated with me. I already felt a bit seen and emotional by the end, but the final blow that really got me was when Jacks mom said "wow that was a lot of detail". Even to this day as an adult I find myself going into "too much" detail when talking about things or when asking about things. Also the issues with memory is unfortantly too real. I long since accepted ill never be able to remember certain things, atleast not at will. Things like lyrics to my fav songs or clebertires were always hard for me growing up and made connecting with ppl harder. The info is in my brain, i know it is, but I cant always access it when I want to.
I also suffer from the same thing. I wish there was more people like me I knew in real life. I feel alone and like the only one sometimes… I’m happy when it’s positively represented in media like this cause I have such a low self esteem. But I’m really trying to work on it. I hope I meet more people like me
@@tararosabelle7368 We're out there. Though, I'm sure there's quite a few who, dont Want to be out there. Social interaction is hard and scary, and very draining. Hiding away from the world could be a reason you havent found someone in person. On top of that, "masking" yourself to hide in public is another common trait. Atleast it is with autism, which I have. "Masking" is like putting on a personality to fit in. Changing the way you talk, act, or interact with other people. All in the desire to be accepted. Its not you, not the real you. But it feels like you have to put yourself away so you can Be with this person. Cause maybe they wont Like the real you. I've gotten a lot better at letting the real me through, but I still mask all the time. Its hard to make it out in the real world for people like us, but its possible. The best thing you can do is recognize what is going on with you, and try to work With it... Lol, well there's me going into a lot of uneccesary detail, sorry about that
As someone who has an ADHD/ASD diagnosis I say without shame that this fictional cartoon dog made a 24 year old woman absolutely break down sobbing.
My first introduction to him was a clip a friend of mine sent to me. It was of him and his little brother sitting in the car. Jack’s dad was reminding him over and over to sit still and asking him whether or not he’d forgotten things, of which he had forgotten them or he couldn’t remember. He was kicking his legs, looking out the window, humming. Finally, his younger sibling asked him why he couldn’t behave, to which he looked upset and answered that he didn’t know.
I am the oldest sibling in my family, with two completely neurotypical younger siblings.
This scene, this one scene, was literally like watching my childhood play out before my eyes. That experience was REAL. I was Jack, and that little baby dog in the car seat scolding him WAS my younger siblings. That scene was every single day of my life from the ages of 3 to 16 (which was when I got my diagnosis).
Never in my LIFE have I had THAT kind of experience watching a cartoon. I’ve related to characters before sure. I’ve also cried watching cartoons before. But never have I seen a character who was THAT spot on to how I was as a kid. The only other scene I can think of was the one in Finding Dory when she apologized to her parents for having a bad memory and they forgave her and told her they were proud of her anyways.
I can only imagine how I may have felt if I had seen this character as a kid. Representation is so important.
I cry every time
"Frustration from a sudden change in plans." YES! I had never had a way of describing my feelings regarding when this happened to me but it's so nice to hear it said. I've got ADHD and it can be genuinely debilitating.
This episode made me feel so seen. I wish something like Bluey, especially this episode, was around when I was a kid.
As I have said in discussion with my mother about other neurodivergent representation (as well as my various "This character is neurodivergent" head canons for various media), while overdiagnosis IS a thing in real life, there is no such thing as too much quality representation of neurodivergence and I ADORE Jack as an example of what happens when a child with neurodivergence finds an environment where they are given the support and tools they need to excel and thrive.
And one thing I appreciate with Jack is that even the characters who aren't precisely part of his friend group (such as Bluey and Coco) do treat him with kindness and respect because they see him as a peer who simply is different and different isn't bad.
Honestly overdiagnosis is a myth in my opinion. *Mis*diagnosis, yes. But overdiagnosis is like saying headaches are over-diagnosed. No, there’s just a lot of headaches.
Overdiagnosis is NOT a thing. What's happening is that there's more up-to-date research on how these conditions present in adults, and in women and girls, and the internet allows people to find resources and join communities that lead them in the right direction on their diagnostic journey.
People having the ability to recognize their symptoms and finally have answers for the things that never made sense before is not a bad thing. People finally having the resources to go to their doctors and say they think they may be autistic and/or have ADHD is not a bad thing. People finally understanding why their brain works the way it does and why they react certain ways to certain things is not a bad thing. People discovering coping strategies that improve their day to day lives is not a bad thing. People getting treatment for the things that have plagued them their entire lives is not a bad thing.
Please do not gatekeep people's neurological conditions. You do not know them. Overdiagnosis is not real.
@@BubblyBlackbird I meant overdiagnosis from the professional side or the side of "give me a quick fix so I don't have to bother with this kid/individual". The kind that makes an assumption about what an individual needs that may not be accurate.
I realize I have absolutely no right to tell someone how they should handle their diagnosis or well-being. What works for me may not work for someone else and I respect that. Everyone needs access to the resources to be their best selves and live their best lives; this should just be something that is made by their decisions and for their benefit, not for the sake of making them more palatable to those around them while causing them mental or emotional harm due to feeling that they need to apologize for existing instead of being taught how to find the accommodations they need.
No offense was meant but I heartily apologize that offense was caused.
When I was younger, I didn't know about ADHD or Autism, so when people acted differently, they were just acting different because that's them. I miss those times, they were simpler.
I love that there is more representation for this in media, it's really awesome when it's good.
I'm not going to lie. I've never felt so bothered that I went undiagnosed with my ADHD till early adulthood. But seeing Jack say "Something's wrong with me" near damn made me tear up. I remember being isolated, I remember expressing too much of myself and scaring away other kids. At that moment, I really just wanted to reach out to Jack and give him a hug like I wish someone did for me.
DAMNIT THIS IS A KID'S SHOW.
As an adult with ADHD, when Jack's dad go lost I went 'Oh, that's where he gets it from'. Because I have to use GPS the first dozen times I go anywhere and if for some reason I don't have to go to that place for a few months there is a chance I will forget and have to start with the GPS again.
I think it's also important to note Calypsos own role in the Army episode as being able to recognize Jack's personality and needs and know how to help him/pair him with the right person that might be able to. It's certainly important for adults to be able to recognize children like Jack and be aware of the avenues to help, without necessarily coddling or forcing them into a direction which could counteract their own self development.
Also super looking forward to the Mackenzie episode! Certainly one of my personal favorite characters. Still waiting for D+ to add the rest of Season 3 😪
Ya know I had someone else point out the calypso thing on a previous video but I totally forgot to even mention it in this one. I think the subtle way they use calypso in that instance is really special and is very clever.
I wish Disney had all the episodes too since it would be more convenient to view so hopefully we get that soon haha :)
I watch Bluey with my 2 year old Godson. I was diagnosed ADHD in 1997. His mother showed me this episode cause she was so excited to show me representation of this kind. I have tears in my eyes watching your video essay. Thank you for even covering Rejection Sensitivity. Im 30 now and I still fight the voice in my head telling me there is something wrong with me.
I’m really moved to hear your family was able to use the show to support you with the positive representation shown within this episode. It feels amazing to hear the video also resonated with you in the way it did, thank you very much for making my night. I’m wishing you the best with your self journey in regards to your feelings of having something wrong with you, I assure you that you’re okay 💙
🫂 there might be something different about you, but that doesn't make you any less important or lovable than anyone else (i hope you see this reply!)
I love how Jack displays the balance of the pros and cons of ADHD or being on the spectrum. Most of the representations I’ve seen feel like they lean more towards one side or the other but Jack is like the perfect balance. I love that because I personally don’t view my ADHD or neurodivergency in general as strictly bad or strictly good. Like most things in life it has its pros and cons. Jack does have his flaws but he also has his strong points. The writers of Bluey managed to balance out the pros and cons REALLY well. I love Jack and this analysis of him it really made me think about my own ADHD through my life.
I loved this episode. My younger brother and I have ADHD. Instead of taking medicine for it, my mother and school system had us do different activities and learning methods. This worked wonders for us. My brother is now a US Marine(went right after graduation), and I am currently in college for Accounting and business. Despite my ADHD, I’ve taught myself to focus on these numbers without making any mistakes. Sometimes you wouldn’t notice people have these mental conditions unless they tell you. As we grow, we train ourselves and find where we belong. In the end, we’re not so different than people without developmental conditions. We just learn differently or need more time.
🎉
Do you think that is masking? Since it's always a constant conscious effort to focus on the numbers.
Can you elaborate on the methodologies that you used to study and learn maths? I'm tutoring maths to a teen who I think may have adhd.
I try to not tutor him for more than one hour straight, and even then distractions happen often. I try to not punish him when he is starting to talk to me about random things, but after a few minutes I try and try to stop the conversation until he eventually agrees to continue the tutoring. He dislikes maths, and in spite of being in middle school he only knows how to add, subtract and multiply small integer numbers. Idk what to do
I have ADHD that wasn't diagnosed until I was in graduate school, and the way Jack says, "There's something wrong with me," reflects how I felt before my diagnosis. I'd often describe myself as a lazy person with 1000 bad habits I couldn't kick, especially when I was in undergrad and didn't have my parents providing structure anymore, but now I'm learning that a lot of those "bad habits" were symptoms of my ADHD.
Me too ! I was in college. Getting out of my parents comfort and structure and my Bad habits became a handicap
Jack is basically me as a kid. I couldn't sit still or pay attention...
and I knew the difference between an asteroid and a meteor.
Absolutely could tell you nearly paragraph by paragraph recounting of any book I was reading but couldn't tell you what people learned today because I was too aware of the fact I didn't remember school days til 2 days after they happen. Also interacting with other kids was traumatic because of my own intense situational anxiety so honestly 20 percent the time I traumatized myself with catastrophic thinking.
Same, Adhd Space kid
You only get something this accurate by having a writer with experience. That goes for so much of the things the show depicts. These writers are just spreading the message of “you’re not alone, it’s normal for the group you’re in to feel this way, and you still have hope.” They’re legends.
I really love Jack. When I first saw the episode, I related to him so much that it encouraged me to get tested. I have reflected on my whole childhood, and I'm really starting to understand myself. I had no idea that I had autism, and it's only because of Jack that I'm starting to feel more comfortable about this new information. I've only known about me having the condition for 4 days, and it really worried and confused me at first. I guess now I know why I've always felt so different and uncomfortable around others my age
It’s funny cuz I saw that episode when I was in the midst of testing. I literally had the appointment that gave a diagnosis the next day.
I really wish that i can get tested soon since by my own research i may have both, but since im so young it may take a loong while till i get to that point, but this ep def gave me more determination on getting a proper answear by a proffesional, one day...
I go to the school that Bluey is inspired by and I'm good friends with Joe Brumm (the creator) and there are soooo many kids with different learning disabilities like ADHD, so he has experience being around these kids and creating an incredible representation of them that they can look up to
Wow!! That’s incredible you know and are friends with Joe. I’m happy to hear you are going to a school similar to blueys, being able to focus and express your creative side is very valuable and is something I feel like I myself would have benefited from due to my own personal childhood experiences. Thanks for sharing that, I think that’s so cool
Press X to doubt
I generally object to the phrase "there's nothing wrong with you". I have ADHD. There absolutely is something wrong with the way my brain functions and it creates problems when I have to do a lot of dull detail oriented tasks. I understand that this is sort of official clinical verbage, but sometimes I think it would be better to say "yes, you do have a problem, but it's okay to have a problem". When I was told "there's nothing wrong with you", I kind of found it patronizing. I just kept thinking to myself "then why am I taking medication if nothing's wrong?"
Very intriguing perspective, I appreciate you explaining how you feel about the phrase, I know some people find comfort in feeling accepted and validated on their symptoms so that’s why I personally use that phrase however I understand and respect your perspective due to the positive spin you put into confronting someone’s feelings on their “problem”. I can imagine for certain individuals it would feel uplifting to not disregard that fact so thank you for sharing that
There is nothing wrong with you. Society is what is wrong. We have evolved culturally faster than we have evolved physically and psychologically. 200 years ago we weren't telling children to sit down at a desk for 8 hours and then repeat everything back or else they were defective. Society is wrong not you.
I agree to that sentiment i have people try to correct me when i say my autism with a flaw and its teeth gratingly annoying.
Also agree that ADHD is a problem and even with a positive spin it is debilitating I have to pretend to be something I’m not when I’m working and at the end of each day I’m mentally exhausted. Still a long way to acceptance but I understand the sentiment of being told “there’s nothing wrong with you.” I had heard that so much before during and after medication by multiple role models. I look forward to a day where school systems and the general public view it as a problem, but that’s okay and it would mean so much if the world could adjust for people like but that’s not reality can only hope and push for change.
I cringe at any of the words the use valid in any way because of the internet but saying “there is nothing wrong with you” is incredibly invalidating.
“There’s nothing wrong with you”
My adhd makes all monotonous tasks an incredibly challenging thing to do
“There’s nothing wrong with you”
Sometimes I’m compelled to move around even when I am sick
“There’s nothing wrong with you”
I have literally forgotten that I had to do the basic function of going to the bathroom because I got distracted
There is something wrong with my brain and telling me that there is not just because I can focus and remember the stuff of interest to me is a insulting lie. I remember thinking watching the army episode that the kid is going to face the same issues that he does outside of that game once it stops and it will be just as frustrating as before.
It would be so much better if it was “there’s nothing shameful with having such problems” because there is something wrong with my brain but there is not a shameful thing about it.
Growing up with ADHD in the 90s, nobody understood anything about it and always treated me as if I was dumb. It was infuriating and disheartening to know that you aren't those things, but people only seem to see you when you CAN'T do something rather than focusing on the things you CAN do. Not to mention the complete lack of help from anyone and sometimes borderline or outright abuse directed towards me because they didn't know how to "control" me. I still have horrible memories of my first grade teacher absolutely terrorizing me because of this and having nobody stand up for me or even believe what I was saying because I was "the crazy kid" who they thought wanted to make trouble for everyone. Nobody ever listened to me.
Side note: I wasn't one of those kids that MAYBE had ADHD. I was like...textbook case of almost every symptom full blown at all times. My parents didn't know what to do with me most of the time and I was getting yelled at on a daily basis for doing SOMETHING wrong or acting inappropriately. I wasn't TRYING to act like a maniac all the time and forget everything and not listen, it was...just the way I was. Sadly, at the time, all anyone knew was medication, and despite trying all of the available ones at the time, not a single one worked for me.
It doesnt go away. I still struggle a lot with feelings of inadequacy in everything I do, and still have issues with concentrating and with following directions properly. I'm much more aware of it now and have developed ways of coping, but it's something that I never really grew out of. Its still incredibly difficult to motivate myself to do anything unless its something I specifically have an interest in doing, which has gotten in the way of school/work for years. I also still struggle immensely with building relationships, whether they be with friends or co workers or even romantically. I'm very much alone and I don't really know how to change that. But, c'est la vie.
It's cool to see that shows like Bluey actually go into these things in a way that is easy to understand for both kids and adults. I feel like if this had existed when I was little, my experiences would have been vastly different.
As someone who started watching Bluey, and learned they had ADHD around the same time, seeing Jack was such a delight. I instantly recognized what he was going through, as my kids and husband also have it. I’m so glad that so many kinds of neurodivergence are represented nowadays, it feels nice to see it treated so kindly, and with such love. 💖
Rusty's immediate validation of what Jack CAN do after he runs through all the skills he has trouble with in school made me cry.
As an ADHD Brain myself, the focus put on what I did wrong in classroom settings far outweighed what short bursts of praise I got for doing something right, usually only those subjects my mind glomed onto.
You really do start to internalize those types of comments and use them yourself. I'm glad positive feedback is being pushed more in teacher education these days, but the system really doesn't give you much room to break from the lock-step style of old. If you don't get it right away, you still fall behind a lot, and falling behind tends to frustrate teachers. ND kids can read that, which chips at our self-esteem too.
One thing I also like about Explorers is that Jack's dad, who is only picking Jack up for the second time, has already forgotten where his school is. And apparently, this is an ongoing issue for him in remembering where to go, since as Lulu says "He just puts the SatNav on and zones out". Plus, his anxiety peaks when trying to figure out where Jack is that it becomes essentially a life-or-death situation for him, when he's usually extremely careful. It definitely comes across that Jack's dad is neurodivergent, which again makes sense as ADHD/Autism are EXTREMELY hereditary.
Ya know it’s certainly something I’ve noticed as well and it’s actually something I wanna cover soonish so it’s really cool to see this comment since I was thinking of it recently. Thank you buddy for the comment, literally perfect timing haha 💙😊
As someone who's struggled with being on the spectrum throughout my whole life. Jack and Chloe's Dad are the best representations of people on the spectrum. And I love them both for it.
“Why can’t you do as you’re told?”
“. . . I don’t know.”
🥺 My sweet boy
I’m a civilian that works for the military. The number of people that I work with that have ADHD (myself included), and could also be Autistic, is amazing. Some people need that rigorous structure to function normally.
As someone who's under assessment for ADHD at the age of 29, my sister recommended Army for me to watch... What really hit me was how his dad reacted after finding out he forgot his hat. No exasperated sigh, no "Oh c'mon, I reminded you so many times!", no mocking... Just a laugh and a shrug.
As someone who's spent his life forgetting everything and making constant stupid little mistakes, that actually hit me real hard in the throat in a way I never expected something that simple to.
God bless Studio Ludo
I saw this episode shortly after getting fired from the most prestigious job I've ever held, precisely because I forgot everything, couldn't sit still, and couldn't follow instructions.
And I'm sitting there, watching this episode with tears rolling down my cheeks, sobbing, "that puppy is me, I'm the puppy!"
The way you describe Jack "running into Rusty" seems to trivialize the fact that Calypso, in her wisdom, purposely directed Jack to play with Rusty. She knew it would be a good fit between the 2 kids, and a positive 1st day experience for Jack.
Yes that’s true, calypso was an amazing orchestrator in their bond first forming I completely agree, I’ve noticed that as well. I appreciate the feedback on that, I’ll choose to use different words next time to make sure to capitalize our mutual feelings on how calypso helped jack being guided to Rusty
I think it’s possible I was caught up in focusing on jack when writing the script that I choose to purposely avoid talking about other subtle things found within the episodes. But once again I really appreciate you taking the time to tell me that buddy :)
@@Pugly : no problem. thank you for being so open to feedback.
I love Jack so much!! He is such a great side character and the studio did a phenomenal job at getting so much about being ADHD/Autistic right. As a person who went through childhood undiagnosed with these conditions, it was so refreshing to see Jack not only be accepted for these quirks, but also be a little aware of them! As well as these quirks not being labeled as bad right off the bat.
One thing/character I wanted to bring awareness to to was Jack’s sister, Lula. When she said to Jack “Why can’t you do as you’re told?” It felt very reminiscent of this other kids would say to me when I was younger. Now, I don’t think Lula really meant to hurt Jack with that statement, but I do think she might have picked it up from other adults around her, like maybe a family member or maybe even a teacher. It definitely sounds like something an adult who does not understand Neurodivergent kids would say to one, which could have lead to the decision for Jack to switch schools. Just something to think about.
As someone with ADHD and autism who wasn’t diagnosed until their teenage years, army made me cry. It beautifully illustrated exactly what I needed as a young kid. It made me and my struggles feel so seen.
Along with Jack, I also believe Bingo has some form of hyper fixation on space (most notably from Sleepytime). She can recall properties of planets such as some not being fully solid and some being liquid and gas, etc. and the fact that she also feels the different temperatures of the sun and Pluto. I’m pretty sure someone her age wouldn’t know so much on space if she didn’t have a great interest in Space
Jack having inattentive adhd is such good representation!
Unfortunately, I've had multiple sclerosis since I was 15, and the lesions developed in the right areas of my brain to also give me adult onset ADHD.
Let's just say that it makes it difficult to maintain a job and a girlfriend.
I wish I had a Rusty growing up :)
but he also is hyperactive he is probaly combinied type adhd
There’s no such thing as adult onset ADHD! The lesions in your brain caused something else presenting like ADHD!
Jack is definitely one of the most relatable characters in the show. He struggles with things but can be amazing in a nurturing environment that doesn’t look down on him for his disability.
I think Lulu wasn’t inherently being mean. Rather, the implication is she’s probably copying what a lot of teachers have either said to his parents or straight up to his face and Jack has become deeply self-conscious of his flaws, which makes him feel horrible about himself.
Dusty however, is a very kind kid. He gives Jack a safe environment where he’s actually happy and can freely express himself without judgement.
I‘m really glad he’s not a one-off character. Too many shows discard potentially great characters for the sake of a “message”. He may have his own life where he does his own thing, but there’s no denying he’s definitely left an impact on the characters and the fans. I hope we see more of him in the future.
I've lived most of my childhood not knowing about my ADHD/Autism. Or at least I think so. If I did, I had very little understanding of it. I wish I had someone like Jack in my life that dealt with similar struggles like I did when I was younger because like Jack, I always thought there was something wrong with me constantly.
So. Seeing this episode made me think of my childhood struggles and ADHD/autism insecurities that I haven't thought about in a long time and it made me cry a little. I give all applause to the Bluey team for representing ADHD/Autistic kids perfectly without making them seem entirely flawed in the head. I'm just finishing season 3 of the show rn, but I will always have a bigger smile on my face when I Jack in any episode :)
The Army episode broke my heart, it makes me angry how they treat Jack, especially when his little brother in the car tells him why don't you listen to dad, and Jack looks disconcerted, and doesn't understand why it happens to him.
What a good character Rusty is, he has been authentic with Jack from the first moment he meets him, and there is a phrase that goes very unnoticed, when he is in the tree house he says to him: What was happening to your school? Instead of saying, What happened to you at the other school? Giving us the impression that Rusty does not understand why he changed schools, since he sees Jack as having a lot of potential and he is very good, and because he did not see anything wrong with him.
I empathize a lot with Jack, because people are not aware that people with ADHD do not do it on purpose.
Jack's father has been a little unconscious in letting his son feel bad for not remembering, and letting his sister pick on him about it, and making him understand that he has a different neurological condition, and we have to help you.
As a woman with early diagnosised adhd and later diagnosed autism, seeing a character this well shown in a show like this makes me so happy. No one yells at him, there isnt any overblown focus on his issues, and since he's in a low grade, it makes sense if he hadn't been diagnosed yet. He's another puppy in the show and he's great.
I totally agree, I just love how careful they were with the character in such a positive and supportive light 💙😊
I live how for children even if they aren't diagnosed yet, they can see Jack and say, "Hey! I'm like Jack and Jack is awesome!"
As someone with diagnosed adhd and undiagnosed autism (I’m not currently able to be diagnosed because of my current life position), I literally cry every single time I hear the “I don’t know” line in the car ride. Every time someone says, “Just stop staring at the wall and get ready”, “Stop freaking out it isn’t a big deal”, or my personal favorite “Just do it” all I can say is that I’m trying my best or that I don know why I’m like this, (especially when I was younger and was convinced there was something wrong with me) but they don’t understand that I’m not being lazy or overeating. And how my neurodivergence was dealt with as a kid has shown up later in life as being terrified to talk about my interests, I was even homeschooled most of my life because of my family moving a lot and my struggles with “procrastinating” my schoolwork. I guess when I see this silly little dog with a lot of the same struggles as little me and seeing him succeed is therapeutic in a way, heals my inner child as a lot of Bluey fans say.
Do you have any website/channel that has a lot of info on autism? I've been noticing recently that while i fit a lot in ADHD i know deep down that is isn't the only thing i have, my problem trying to understand guidance/jokes a lot of the time, me feeling isolated, different, than the rest of the kids on my school, even of my own family, the struggle to keep in-contact with friends i deeply care about, and recently since being friends with a girl with autism, i've realized that i had a lot in common with autism too, but sadly a lot of the info is divided on multiple websites/channels so it's kinda hard to find since it is a very unique topic
@@DUCK.aka.Red.on.Twitter
My advice would be to look at experiences of multiple autistic people and not just a list of symptoms on the CDC website. Which you should still do, just don't take a list of symptoms at face value. Remember it's a spectrum and every autistic person is different, so your friend could be completely different from someone else.
I've been doing research for over 6 months so I've forgotten most of the videos but this is one of the most recent ones I watched. ua-cam.com/video/i3Vy2BPmMS4/v-deo.html Keep in mind that Illymation is self diagnosed and the video is mostly entertainment but it's still a good video. Fun fact I also could not wear jeans until seventh grade, it was so bad when I was younger that I would scream and cry until I was eventually forced into them.
Oh also you aren't crazy. I had almost the exact same experience, except instead of relating to an autistic friend I related to an autistic coded mutant ninja turtle.
I was watching the 2018 tmnt and related to Donatello (the purple one) a lot, and then realized that 90% of the things I related to him about... were symptoms of autism, so I started doing research on how to write an autistic character, which turned into general autism research, which turned into me doing research for myself. 7-8 months later and here I am.
Long story short listen to multiple autistic experiences, look for articles about autism in teens and adults, talk to a close family member or friend about it, if possible get a professional diagnosis, and do not under any circumstances donate or get information from autism speaks.
@@banananananananananananana.
Thank you so much for all of the advice, i'll definetly try to take your advice and hopefully keep searching since i've only been researching ASD for this last 2 months, at least i already knew that ASD is very different to multiple people, also yeah i still hate to wear jeans lol
Jack's dad clearly has ADHD. (As an adhd dad who struggles being on time to pick up my adhd kid at school, and needs navigation for some places I've been to I felt seen!)
Jack represents me perfectly. I always renember what I find interesting or fun, and forget everything else subconsciously. I suspect myself of having both ADHD and autism, due to all the symptoms.
I have ADHD with problems of forgetting things and sitting still. I was diagnosed when I was young. The Jack episode made me really connect with him cuz I got his problems. I do remember some things, just sometimes not the important ones.
Bluey is a nice show.
I hate having ADHD tbh, I was talking to someone and really enveloped into our conversation and all of the sudden I go “Oh look! A plane!” Or something to that extent, then I just go back into the conversation.
Kinda like a dog going “Squirrel!” for a few moments and then going straight back to the task at hand.
I don't watch Bluey but the way you described the episode left me in tears. I'm Autistic and was late diagnosed (2010-2103; I don't remember exactly when due to having severe dissociative amnesia). I was diagnosed Asperger's so it had to be before 2013 when the DSM-5 changed everything to just Autism Spectrum Disorder. For a long time. I ignored my diagnosis. Due to the stigma surrounding Autism, I felt ashamed of the label. I tried to hide it under a rug.
However, I eventually started investigating Autism and what it _means_ to be Autistic by going into the Actually Autistic space and it opened up a new whole level of me understanding myself. I now embrace the label as a part of my identity. My neurology makes me who I am. Life is often really difficult as an Autistic person, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I feel like my Autism makes me the writer I am. I feel like I wouldn't be the same person I am if I weren't Autistic. Writing is very much my main special interest and has been for an astonishing _22 years._ Writing is _life_ for me.
Buddy I gotta say hearing your self discovery as well as self acceptance was really impactful, I’m really happy for you. Self acceptance is very difficult for a lot of individuals and it was an emotional read for me with the way you worded everything, keep on doing you buddy💙
@@Pugly Yeah, it's been quite the process. I feel like my dojo has helped me with that a lot. I study ninjutsu and I've been there since 2016. It's not just a strip-mall dojo where you learn self-defense. A _lot_ of emphasis is placed on mindset and exploring yourself and interacting with the world in a more meaningful, thoughtful, mindful way. It's helped me out in ways I cannot even begin to describe.
I feel like accepting my diagnosis was a big part of that. I'm aware of my limits because of my martial art. I've learned how to identify them and work _with_ them. I'm still overcoming being in my own head a lot, but that's anybody with anything. Plus, when I learn my limits, I try to push past them in a healthy, meaningful way.
My journey has been long and hard, but it's been so worth it.
I also love rusty so much, he’s such a good friend with no judgement of Jack while also pushing him to improve with a fun game
I would say he's more adhd hyperactive presenting or maybe combined (most common) type but also has two learning disabilities such as dyslexia and dyscalculia (I have dyscalculia and dysgraphia), on a side note THIS CHARACTER IS SO GODDAMN ADORABLE he's just living his life like most us adhd babies confused and wondering why certain things don't work for us as they do others.
I think he has combined type because he is forgetful and can't sit still since he forgetful he also shows signs of intenviness
@@michalelkin-bronner13 never heard of intenviness
@@isaiahminott intentive I mean
@@michalelkin-bronner13 oh, sorry but yeah id say more combined type this show is great for kids today
The thing about types is you can go from one to another, you can cycle through all of the in the course of a week
Not only is this a great character, this show is great because it emphasizes alternatives to regular public education. We are failing kids all of the time because we want them to fit in a neat little box, and if they don’t, as this little guy already thinks of himself “something is wrong with me” children are shamed for being different and learning in different ways.
Jack immediately reminded me of my sister, who has diagnosed ADHD. I was always the one tattling when she couldn't sit still. Wishing I knew then that people with this condition just need help to direct their energy into something positive and/or productive instead of just blaming them for being uncontrollably hyper. She is doing well, happily married, and working a job that she enjoys putting all that energy into.
I think what really gets me is when asked about why he can't do as he's told jack says "I don't know"
Which is a very common feeling for neurodivergent kids that KNOW they're different but don't know why, either because they're undiagnosed or because they had their diagnosis hidden from them.
I’m autistic and my brother is ADHD, and Jack plays both roles perfectly.
This is so important. I never tell people that I have adhd, I only describe it a numerological disorder because of the stigma.
I thought there was something wrong with me my entire life. That I was the problem. That I was not trying hard enough.
The thing that it makes it all the more tragic is I was diagnosed when I was 7, but my family didn't think it was real.
i was diagnosed with autism as a kid, (coincidentally I'm also called Jack) it's part of the reason I watch shows like bluey as an adult who's 22 in a few days, I was just like Jack as a kid, I always kicked my feet sitting before they could reach the floor, I can remember what my day was about I just can't talk about it, in fact i had selective mutism ever since i was 12 and didn't speak in full sentences with anyone except my friends who all stayed up in a special needs class for lunch because we all had neurodevelopmental conditions, I contemplated getting a computer to speak what I type because I can type just fine this comment is proof, i just have dysplasia? i forgot what its called i can barely speak basically unless i really focus, it does make me good at acting though and ive got an acting degree under my belt best 2 years of my life
I've been alienated by my own "friends" for having ADHD, people looked down at me and chose to not try to socialize with me cause I always looked quiet and reserved in big areas with a ton of people. I hope this brings people that get to learn that people will look over people who aren't mentally their age.
I wish I'd had a character like Jack when I was younger. I could never remember things or sit still and I felt really different. He's an amazing character
I love this 😍 my two year old son was just diagnosed with autism and I’m overwhelmed. I worry about his future happiness now that I know he is not neurotypical. We have always loved Bluey, but now I love it even more (and I think he will too) with this character that represents ADHD/autism in such a wonderful way.
I don’t know if this’ll help, but I’m 21 and didn’t know I was autistic growing up. My little sister did get diagnosed and I’m pretty sure our baby brother is too. Not knowing why people acted the way they did made socializing in school difficult, but I was generally able to find other kids who liked me as I was. I don’t mask it very well, since I didn’t really care enough about what other people thought of me to learn how until high school. I’m in college now and the point I was trying to reach is, it’ll be a bit tough sometimes, but your son can be just as happy as anyone else. The way he communicates will be different from his neurotypical peers, but he’ll be able to find people who will understand that.
@@grimdarkartist9176 thank you for sharing this with me and congrats and good luck on working towards your degree 👍🏻❤️
One important thing to keep in mind, that you’ll definitely need to help him with: Autistics get stereotyped as “missing social cues,” but the real problem is inauthentic or conflicting social cues.
Like, we can easily pick up that someone is upset or excited or whatever, but when their words or actions directly contradict that, we get confused. Or we end up triggering a whole mess because we reacted based on the non-verbal cues but not what was actually said, and that made someone upset.
Small talk is also a major source of frustration because it’s hard to engage in that sort of conversation because it’s so…superficial. It’s difficult for us to actually care about it enough to keep up with it. But we can talk for hours about completely random topics!
@@rekkariley652 thanks for information, I truly appreciate it 😊 I’ll keep that in mind as he gets older.
@@jnnfr5 It’s one of those things that I don’t think most non-Autistics even realize they’re doing, because for them it’s totally normal for your words/actions to not match how you’re actually feeling. But Autistic and ADHD people do notice that mismatch and it causes a lot of anxiety and frustration trying to figure out which part we’re supposed to be reacting to.
ETA: Though Autistic people do thrive on rituals, so if you present stuff like small talk as a script that’s traditionally followed, it’s a lot easier for an Autistic child to keep up with (though an ADHD child would continue getting frustrated).
It is always a treat when Jack reappears in the show after seeing his brilliant characterization in Army. He even got a whole 'nother episode focused on him and his family. It shows the writers really like this character.
Everything about Jack is well executed, especially the way he's able to break his own expectations when playing "army" with Rusty. People with attention deficit related disorders aren't INCAPABLE of paying attention, sitting still and the like, they're just incapable of applying those skills in a lot of normal everyday life compared to normal folks. They're only able to do it in very specific situations that really grab their interest. Unfortunately a lot of normal people misunderstand this as simply being lazy and selfish, only able to care about things YOU care about (the problem is, this isn't necessarily true. There are a lot of things we care about that we still fail to devote our attention to. It is a source of constant agony.).
4:30 is a really nice small detail. every time i eat, i have to sniff my food. maybe not always that closely, but i always sniff it.
as someone diagnosed at 18, im really happy Jack can show parents how these behaviors appear in children and what they may mean. my mom had never heard of autism/adhd so she had no idea why i did what i did. one teacher told her i might have one of the things and she immediately googled it, looked at the symptoms, and realized a good chunk of her family is like that. i think it made it easier for her to learn how to deal with me
Oh wow! I never really considered that detail as more than just a dog behavior but you are absolutely correct, I don’t see any other character in the show doing that particular action for food so I think it was a detail intentionally included to showcase that symptom. Good catch buddy, that’s actually mind blowing.
I’m really happy hearing that your teacher spent the time to learn about that topic and even was able to use that to better her interactions with you and possibly her family as well :)
@@Pugly it was my mom who did extra research. that teacher was already great to me ❤ i do miss elementary school lol
Honestly everytime I see the episode army or think about it too much, I nearly cry because of so many emotions. I'm so glad that kids today are starting to get the representation, acceptance, and basic understanding of themselves and others I wish I could have gotten as a child.
Also I love how all the parents are just so amazing.
I like that there is more rep for ADHD and austism, as a person who has austism im glad there is more shows that show and teach about these issues! Especially kid shows as it teaches them at a young age that your not different, your just special in your own way, that its not something to be ashamed of, bully someone for, or ignore or leave someone who has it, they just function differently and need extra help from time to time, as someone like I said has trouble remembering anything or sitting still, or doing anything im told, I give a thumbs up for more rep like this!
I also read Chloe's dad as being neurodivergent to some degree, with his difficulty grasping how his daughter expected him to play in a more abstract game, stating he actually felt a bit hurt at being judged for struggling with the game, and his solution being to go and find marine biology facts to adapt his style of play, resulting in a game that's more fun for everyone, while still being grounded in some concrete facts. Plus having a fish tank built into his home feels like his initial "rigid" approach to playing could just stem from a love of sea creatures and trying to be accurate to what he knows about them.
It makes me tear up a bit to see such amazing representation for an issue so close to my heart. This show really is a masterpiece.
I have severe ADHD and that episode about Jack definitely made me cry. It's so good.
When this episode showed on screen I was so relieved to see the acceptance. It was lovely the way they handled the subject. I resonate with Jack and it makes me so happy to see him being added to Bluey. As a little kid no one tried to work with me and no one saw the positives in my Neurotypical self. It’s nice the little ones now have shows like this.. I wish a lot of us had that.
as a 26 year old who lived with undiagnosed ADHD all my childhood, feeling so left out all the time, always being seen as “smart he but cannot apply himself”, always getting in trouble for never sitting still or “not listening” when someone was talking to me, i felt like a little part of me was healed seeing this little Jack Russell being included and seen and not getting in trouble for something he cant help. The creators of this show did so well without falling into horrible stereotypes.
I hope he gets more episodes as he is a positive form and a nice way to say "I am differnt but it's ok" I whish there were more cartoons like these 20 years ago, and the fact he gives an insight to how they might think about himself while others may have a differnt view of him
I have both adhd and autism
When I watched Army I had almost started crying because because how much I was able to relate to Jack
Then when I watched Explorers and I loved it even more then I did before
It makes me so happy to see someone thats like me
Just the "I don't know" when his sibling asks why he can't just do what he's told... you can tell he wants to but doesn't understand why he is different. I was diagnosed with adhd at about his age too and I'm a girl so there wasn't alot of girls diagnosed at the time because of the criteria so it was hard feeling like a "naughty" kid or stupid. Having representation like him is so important because it's realistic.... so many characters who are portrayed with adhd are the harmful stereotype of a guy who is manicly hyperactive and annoying... when that's not really what it is.
honestly i just love how they make jack a relatable character so others can see how much common they have in the character
Jack's space hyperfixation, limited social skills, and basically the entirety of the army episode are exactly why I see myself in him. These were struggles I went through a lot as a kid, but they were never never taken seriously. His confusion as to why he functions differently is something a lot of neurodivergent kids have experienced, and Rusty being his 'main' friend something I've done myself. Jack really is important.
Bro I haven't even gotten past the intro and I'm already in tears. Jack as a character means so much to me as someone with ADHD and is possibly autistic. I wish I had a character like Jack to look to when I was young. I felt so alone all the time and I didn't understand why for so long. I thought there was something wrong with me. Bluey is such a wonderful show
Jack is my fav. I am autistic and have ADHD too
I hv those too
I love how Bluey displayed the affects for a kid with ADHD/autism, they didn’t show a kid being a “Super genius” kid who can calculate super fast or knows how to re-power the school’s electricity, and they say the dumbest thing like “iTs NoT A dISaBiLiTy ItS a sUpEr biLiTy🤓☝️”
Looking at you dhar mann😒
Like he says that people with Disabilities are good because they help you win chess, get high test scores, and get a million followers on tiktok.
Like what about the fact that they are good people? He doesn’t even consider that most important part.
Bluey on the other hand, shows how someone, anyone with ADHD/autism is just someone who needs just a bit more help and a few more pointers to help them in life, and that is the best way to talk about a person with a disability. They should show how even tho they are different, they are still good people, and should be expected for who they are. They don’t have to be the first person on mars, or the person to find the cure for cancer, if they come into this world to make people happier than they were before…
then you will always be a great person and have your own place in this world, and to the people in it 😇
This is the kind of positivity that I actually accept, I saw a lot of sh** lately.
Thank you for your comment.
As a person who has a brother with autism, I feel for this ❤️
I dont get why people say this show is healing their inner child
*starts crying at Jack saying there is something wrong with him*
Welp
I just started watching Bluey and your video popped up. I haven't seen the Army episode yet. But I'm so glad Jack is a good representation of someone with ADHD. I've struggled so much to understand why I do things the way I do. I was diagnosed with it at Jack's age. I was put on meds, which made me not feel like myself. I would often wonder what was wrong with me, especially when I got older and took myself off the medication. And due to some things in life, I decided to look into ADHD again. The knowledge that is out there has helped me understand myself better and verbalize some of my problems/ triggers. Honestly this was a big help to help explain it a bit more to my husband. I was crying while watching your video. It's so nice to be understood and not feel like something is wrong with me. Thank you
"If i like it, i remember all of it, if i dont,.it never happened" was a werid thing to try and explain to my family
I have autism and have been misunderstood all of my life and even mistreated. I always felt there was something going on with me, something that even Jack states. Seeing his resemblance towards neurodiversity warms my heart to the core.
Army does make me cry as someone with ADHD it hits so hard
ive had very severe adhd since i was 8, im now 18 and seeing bluey have one of the best reps for adhd makes me so happy. its so wonderful and makes me and probably so many other people loved!!!
The Army episode makes me burst into tears every single time. I was always confused as a kid as to why I struggled with things that came easy to others. I felt like something was wrong with me. This episode made me realize after all those years there was never anything wrong.. I just didn’t understand. I didn’t understand I had a way of living life that was a bit different, but still normal. I felt so seen.
I’m in the middle of getting diagnosed with ADHD and seeing a character have it, showing alot of what I’m handling at the moment didn’t make me feel alone
So, I have adhd, and when I saw this episode I could not stop crying. I have never felt so heard or represented in any media.
I was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 17, and it was because of me struggling to cope with studying. I changed schools because of it, and I have a few hobbies that I'm passionate about.
When I do those hobbies, I seem like I am completely fine. But when it comes to studying, nothing seems to work in my brain, and it's incredibly frustrating.
When I stumbled across this video, I didn't know this show nor this character, so I didn't know what to expect. But hot damn, I have never seen myself in a character more than today.
Thank you my guy, for bringing me this well edited and executed video :D I love it (and probably will come back to it whenever I feel unvalidated or under the weather haha)
The AJR Song put in your short “The Good Part” I love that song!! Love this episode along with these two duos Rusty & Jack great friends reminds me along with my friend! ❤😭
As someone who has grown up with Autism, Jack really resonates with me as someone who acts the way he does even in my adulthoof nowadays(19).
I just love how it depicts the condition so well and how Jack easily identifies his own problems, which i often recognize alot.
The way they use Rusty to help give Jack confidence in the activites he enlists while playing army and having Jack peform tasks which he doubts himself in doing but does them well shows that just because you have a condition which can differentiate an individual from others doesnt mean they can never accomplish anything simple.
Jack is amazing and i love him!!!!
it's really amazing to see cartoons having actual & quality representation of ADHD/autism
i grew up with only being diagnosed with ADHD; but i could never seem to truly connect with most of my peers; it wasn't until i was 22 that i was diagnosed with both autism & ADHD- [ i'm 26 now ]
& it just kind of made some questions & fears of myself & how i act be quelled
i always questioned on if something was " wrong " & it was just nice to finally have some tangible explanation of why i was different ? i guess
my parents just thought i was lazy or mentally challenged; despite me bringing home excellent grades for years- just because i didn't know how to talk or act with people- forgot things all the time, ect.
ive gotten better at communicating in these decades- but still i have a habit of coming off the wrong way- especially if a fixation is brought up- then i just kind of blurt out information
anyway- enough rambling; thanks for a wonderful video on this because i knew nothing of bluey & might look into the series after this !
So I have ADHD, and I just cried while watching this episode. Im 26, Born and raised in South Africa, so my folks didn't spare the rod whenever I 'misbehaved' and I grew up struggling with trying to explain that I just couldn't help it! No matter how hard I tried or focused, I would always fidget, forget, struggle in school and all around just 'be a bad kid'
It brings me so much joy to know that the world is getting better
The character "Jack" definitely reminds me of the MLP character "Fluttershy" who is my favourite character. Like Jack Russell, like Fluttershy, they both have their own weaknesses, but they learnt to make good use of their true strengths with the help of their brave and courageous friend (Rusty/ Rainbow Dash).
I can relate Jack in a few ways but I never been diagnosed with ADHD but I do see why people also believe that Jack may have Autism, which is something I have. He’s such a great character and he doesn’t shy about what he’s feeling. And he’s not like any other character with a flaw where they make fun of or just put the audience to shame like making them incapable for anything. Jack can do many things that he believes he can’t and we see that through playing with Rusty in Army. For me, it is pretty hard for me to focus on what I need to do, and I get distracted most of the time. But I don’t have any bad memory but I can still see his struggles and he even questions himself if there’s something wrong with him. Jack is an amazing character that people with an incapable abilities to do anything and work their way through it. And his friendship with Rusty is so adorable and I love how close they get at the first day. And Rusty also helps Jack out by giving him some simple tasks that people in the army can do for real life and he nails it perfectly! As someone who has Autism, I can say that he’s the best in this show!