8 Ways to Make ADHD Your SUPERPOWER | Practical and Natural STRATEGIES

Summary

The video script features various individuals, including Evan Carmichael, Michael Phelps, and Ty Pennington, sharing their experiences with ADHD and offering strategies to cope and thrive. It emphasizes the importance of professional help, self-education, exercise, and healthy eating to manage ADHD symptoms. Personal stories highlight the potential for success despite ADHD, with advice on harnessing the condition as a 'superpower' for creativity and focus. The script encourages viewers to share their takeaways and create action plans for personal growth.

Takeaways

• 😌 **Self-Acceptance**: Embracing the reality of having ADHD and treating it with compassion rather than self-criticism can lead to a more positive self-image.
• 👩‍⚕️ **Professional Help**: Seeking professional guidance is crucial for understanding ADHD and developing effective strategies for managing its symptoms.
• 📚 **Education**: Reading books like 'Driven to Distraction' and 'Spark' can provide valuable insights into ADHD and its relationship with other aspects like exercise and mental health.
• 💊 **Medication**: For some, medication like Adderall can be a helpful tool in managing ADHD symptoms, particularly when used responsibly and under medical supervision.
• 🏃 **Exercise**: Regular physical activity can enhance focus and has a positive impact on ADHD symptoms, creating a window of increased productivity.
• 🥗 **Diet Matters**: Eating healthily and avoiding excessive carbohydrates, sugar, and alcohol can improve focus and reduce ADHD symptoms.
• 🤝 **Community Support**: Sharing experiences and seeking reassurance from supportive communities can alleviate feelings of isolation and self-doubt associated with ADHD.
• 🌟 **Harnessing Creativity**: Individuals with ADHD often possess a unique creativity and ability to hyperfocus, which can be channeled into productive outlets.
• 🔍 **Finding the Right Conditions**: Identifying and adapting to environments that cater to the needs of those with ADHD can significantly improve their ability to thrive.
• 🎯 **Focusing on Passion**: Concentrating on areas of interest can help manage ADHD symptoms, as passion can drive focus and engagement.
• 🚫 **Avoiding Self-Blame**: Recognizing ADHD as a neurological condition rather than a personal failing can reduce anxiety and depression associated with it.

Q & A

What is the favorite rule of the speaker in managing ADHD?

The favorite rule is 'never worry alone.'

How does the speaker describe the manifestation of ADHD in girls compared to boys?

ADHD in girls often looks different than in boys; girls tend to daydream, have a hard time following instructions, and are disorganized, rather than bouncing around in their chairs.

What impact did undiagnosed ADHD have on the speaker's mental health?

The undiagnosed ADHD led to anxiety and depression because the speaker was beating herself up for being disorganized and felt hopeless about getting things done.

How did getting an ADHD diagnosis at age 47 impact the speaker?

Getting diagnosed with ADHD at 47 was empowering for the speaker as it provided an explanation for her struggles and allowed her to have more compassion for herself.

What are some of the strategies the speaker uses to cope with ADHD?

The speaker uses professional help, education, medication (Adderall), exercise, and a healthy diet to manage her ADHD symptoms.

What is the significance of having a 'north star' according to Brendan Burchard?

Having a 'north star' or a larger purpose helps to keep focused and disciplined, especially when struggling with impulses and lack of focus.

How does Michael Phelps describe the impact of ADHD on his life?

Michael Phelps talks about how ADHD made him constantly bounce off the walls and struggle with sitting still, but learning to believe in himself and seek help has changed his life.

What advice does Dr. Ned Hallowell give for dealing with self-esteem issues related to ADHD?

Dr. Ned Hallowell suggests never worrying alone, appealing to reality, and getting reassurances from others to combat self-esteem issues.

How did Kerwin Ray turn his ADHD into a superpower?

Kerwin Ray focused on things he was passionate about and used his hyperactive energy to out-focus others, while also using meditation to control his focus.

What benefits does Dan Martel attribute to his ADHD?

Dan Martel mentions benefits like hyper-focus, creativity, and the ability to find solutions to challenges, viewing ADHD as a superpower.

How did Rick Green's ADHD diagnosis change his life?

Rick Green's ADHD diagnosis provided clarity for his life-long struggles, allowing him to better understand himself and find appropriate treatments.

What challenges did Ty Pennington face in school due to ADHD?

Ty Pennington faced constant trouble for running around the classroom, jumping from windowsills, and not finishing classwork, which affected his academic and social life.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of talking about mental health issues?

Talking about mental health issues helps remove stigma, allows for proper support and treatment, and helps individuals manage their conditions effectively.

How does ADHD affect family dynamics according to the speaker's son?

The speaker's son notes that ADHD impacts the entire family, and dealing with it together and talking about it helps manage its effects on family relationships.

Outlines

00:00

🤓 Overcoming ADHD: Embracing Neurodiversity and Success

This paragraph introduces the video's theme of managing ADHD as an adult. It emphasizes that intelligence and success do not preclude ADHD struggles. The speaker shares personal experiences, including being misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression before correctly identifying with ADHD at 47. The paragraph discusses the importance of professional help, education, medication when necessary, and lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise to cope with ADHD symptoms. It also touches on the hyperfocus aspect of ADHD and how it can be harnessed positively.

05:02

🌟 Self-Compassion and the Power of Belief in ADHD Management

The second paragraph discusses the psychological impact of ADHD, including self-esteem issues and imposter syndrome. It highlights the importance of self-love and having a 'north star' or mission to stay focused and disciplined. The paragraph features insights from various individuals, including Michael Phelps, who shares his experience as an Olympic champion with ADHD. The summary underscores the value of believing in oneself, seeking help, and using humor to cope with self-esteem issues associated with ADHD.

10:02

🔥 Transforming ADHD into a Superpower Through Passion and Focus

This paragraph explores the concept of turning ADHD into a superpower by focusing on one's passions and interests. It includes personal stories of individuals with ADHD who have found success by channeling their energy into activities they love, such as entrepreneurship and creativity. The speaker discusses the benefits of meditation, exercise, and energy management as strategies to control ADHD symptoms and harness the condition's potential for high focus and creativity.

15:03

🎬 The Late Diagnosis of ADHD and Its Impact on Life and Career

The fourth paragraph delves into the experiences of individuals who received an ADHD diagnosis later in life, highlighting the relief and clarity that comes with understanding one's condition. It discusses the challenges of not knowing about ADHD earlier, which can lead to struggles in various aspects of life, including relationships and career. The paragraph also touches on the genetic component of ADHD and the importance of finding the right conditions to thrive despite the condition.

20:04

🏗️ Channeling ADHD Energy into Creative Outlets and Life Improvement

The final paragraph shares the story of a person with ADHD who learned to channel their energy into building and creating, which helped manage their symptoms. It discusses the journey from childhood struggles with ADHD to understanding the condition's impact on personal and social life. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of talking about mental health issues, including ADHD, and the transformative power of receiving a diagnosis and treatment in adulthood.

🗣️ The Importance of Open Dialogue on Mental Health and ADHD

In the last paragraph, the focus shifts to the broader issue of mental health, advocating for open conversations about personal struggles, including ADHD and other conditions. It stresses the need to destigmatize mental health discussions and compares the care for mental health to that of dental health. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for viewers to share their takeaways and plans for the following week, encouraging a proactive approach to mental well-being.

Keywords

💡ADHD

ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. In the video, ADHD is the central theme, as various individuals share their personal experiences and strategies for coping with the condition. For example, the script mentions that girls with ADHD might be undiagnosed due to different manifestations compared to boys, leading to anxiety and depression.

💡Professional Help

Professional help refers to seeking assistance from experts such as doctors or therapists who specialize in ADHD. The video emphasizes the importance of professional help for understanding and managing ADHD symptoms. It is mentioned as a strategy used by one of the speakers who found it extraordinarily helpful in understanding her mind's workings and the coping strategies to set herself up for success.

💡Imposter Syndrome

Imposter Syndrome is a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as a 'fraud'. In the context of the video, Dr. Ned Hallowell discusses how individuals with ADHD, even after achieving success, may still grapple with self-esteem issues and imposter syndrome, highlighting the need for support and reassurance.

💡Medication

Medication is a treatment approach for ADHD that involves using drugs to manage symptoms. The script includes personal accounts of using Adderall, a medication commonly prescribed for ADHD, to improve focus. It is presented as a tool that can be life-saving for some individuals, but also cautions against abuse and emphasizes the importance of proper usage under medical guidance.

💡Exercise

Exercise is highlighted in the video as a beneficial activity for individuals with ADHD due to its positive impact on focus and mental clarity. It is mentioned that engaging in physical activity can create a window of enhanced focus, making it a valuable strategy for managing ADHD symptoms.

💡Passion

Passion is a strong emotional connection to a particular subject or activity. The video suggests that focusing on one's passions can help channel the energy associated with ADHD into productive outlets. Kerwin Rae shares his experience of using his ADHD to hyper-focus on multiple projects at once, turning it into a superpower.

💡Self-Esteem

Self-esteem refers to the overall subjective appraisal of one's own worth. The script discusses how individuals with ADHD often struggle with self-esteem issues and the importance of addressing these concerns to prevent negative impacts on mental health and success.

💡Neurological Condition

A neurological condition is a disorder of the nervous system, which can affect the brain, spinal cord, or nerves. In the video, ADHD is referred to as a neurological condition, emphasizing the need for understanding and compassion towards individuals with this diagnosis, rather than self-blame or negative self-perception.

💡Energy Management

Energy management involves structuring one's day to optimize productivity and well-being. Dan Martel talks about using energy management techniques to get the most out of the day, acknowledging the unique way his brain is wired due to ADHD and adapting his routine accordingly.

💡Hyperfocus

Hyperfocus is an intense concentration on a single task or activity, often associated with ADHD. The video mentions how some individuals with ADHD can hyperfocus in environments with noise and distractions, using this ability as a strength in their work and creative processes.

💡Channeling Energy

Channeling energy refers to the act of redirecting one's energy towards positive and productive activities. Ty Pennington shares his experience of channeling his ADHD energy into building things, which helped him cope with his symptoms and find success in his career.

Highlights

ADHD can coexist with intelligence and success, yet still cause significant struggles.

The importance of seeking professional help for managing ADHD.

ADHD in girls often presents differently, leading to underdiagnosis and related issues like anxiety and depression.

Self-compassion and understanding as crucial components in coping with ADHD.

The positive effects of ADHD include enhanced creativity and hyperfocus under certain conditions.

Exercise can significantly improve focus for individuals with ADHD.

The role of diet in managing ADHD symptoms and its impact on focus.

The significance of self-love and avoiding self-judgment in personal breakthroughs.

The power of having a 'north star' or mission to maintain focus and discipline.

Michael Phelps shares his personal journey with ADHD and the importance of believing in oneself.

The impact of ADHD on self-esteem and the benefits of not worrying alone.

Kerwin Rae emphasizes focusing on passions as a strategy for managing ADHD.

Dan Martel discusses turning ADHD into a superpower through understanding and leveraging unique abilities.

The benefits of meditation for enhancing focus and managing ADHD symptoms.

Rick Green's experience with late ADHD diagnosis and the transformative effect of understanding the condition.

Ty Pennington's childhood struggles with ADHD and finding solace in creative outlets.

The importance of discussing mental health openly to reduce stigma and foster understanding.

The collective family impact of ADHD and the benefits of communal support and discussion.

Transcripts

yes you can be smart and successful

and still struggle with add just like i

do

my favorite rule is never worry alone

with the hyperactive component of adhd

you can focus on things for i can out

focus any mother

any person in the room wanna be happy

build a life not just a business

hey it's evan carmichael and this

channel was created to help you overcome

the number one challenge that is holding

you back

a lack of belief in yourself you watch

these videos because you

know there's something more inside you

too you've got michael jordan level

genius at

something so today let's live your best

believe life and learn how to make adhd

your superpower enjoy

okay let's kick it off with rule number

one get professional help with mel

robbins

yes you can be smart and successful and

still struggle with add just like i do

for a very long time the american

psychiatric association defined the

standards for add based on how it

manifested in little boys

and when girls have add in adhd it looks

really different they're not bouncing

around in their chair

they're daydreaming they're having a

hard time following instructions

and they're really disorganized and what

happens is a lot of girls

go undiagnosed and then that spirals

into

anxiety and depression why well because

if you have add

and you're not successful with treating

it or you don't have strategies to cope

with it

you tend to start to beat yourself up

you stand to start to make yourself

wrong for being so disorganized you tend

to start to feel

a little hopeless over your ability to

get things done

and that spirals and that's exactly what

happened for me you see i was diagnosed

with anxiety

when i was 21 years old boom

right there in that lost generation of

women we missed the diagnosis of add

in me instead it turned into anxiety and

depression and that became the primary

thing that i struggled with

now meanwhile the add was underneath

there untreated the entire

time when i got diagnosed at the age of

47 with add

it was so surprising and so empowering

because

i finally had a way to explain

something about the way that my mind

works that made a hell of a lot of sense

i also found the compassion that i

needed for myself

so that i could stop beating myself up

and actually just accept the fact that i

have a neurological

condition that makes me disorganized

forgetful

easily distracted and sometimes

scattered now what are the positive

effects well

i have a lot more humanity for myself

and i laugh at myself when i walk in the

kitchen and see that the faucet is still

running because i forgot to turn it off

instead of making myself wrong what ways

has it held me back

i think it's the source of my anxiety

that i suffered with for a very long

time there are plenty of projects that i

was

never able to finish in college or

law school or in jobs what are the

strategies that i use to cope with it

well number one

you gotta go see a professional so

having a doctor to talk

to about add has been extraordinarily

helpful

in understanding the way that my mind

works

and the strategies that i should be

using in order to set myself up for

success

get yourself educated after you talk to

a professional

so i love ned hollowell's book driven to

distraction i love john ratey's book

about spark and the connection between

exercise and add and depression and

anxiety

so get yourself educated i take adderall

not every day

not all the time i will for example take

it if i'm

on an airplane and i'm going to fly

across country and i have four hours in

a seat and i want to focus and get a lot

of work done i'll take it in that

instance

if i have a deadline and i'm finding

that it's hard for me to

focus i might take it then but that has

worked

really well for me i know a lot of

people abuse it i don't happen to be one

of those people that abuse it but

it has been a real life saver the other

thing that has

helped me a lot with add is exercise so

i noticed that right after i exercise

i typically have a two to three hour

window where i'm much more focused than

i normally

am and finally i notice a big connection

between my gut

and my add so i am a extremely healthy

eater because when i tend

to carbo-load or eat and mainline ice

cream or drink a ton of booze

what ends up happening is i get more

distracted

less focused and it has a negative

impact

on the add condition that i struggle

with

rule number two don't be hard on

yourself with brendan burchard

so when you see a sea of people from 40

countries raise their hand and go

oh i too have focus and discipline it's

hard for me

i want you to feel good about that i

want you to go oh man i'm

really hard on myself no breakthrough is

going to come from more judgment

no breakthrough more judgment

what the breakthrough is going to come

from is another level

of self-love and demand

now many of us in our lives who's ever

had

a sudden demand placed on you and you

kicked for like weeks

now keep your hand high if you are also

one prone to

lack of discipline and focus but you

still kick

that was necessity that's demand

we need something bigger than our

impulses

to keep us focused we need something

bigger than how we

to keep us disciplined when we talk

about service

we talk about dreams we talk about

mission the truth of that really is

we need that north star to get us out of

our funks

we need that north star to get us out of

bed

we need that north star and a connection

to it

to organize ourselves i don't think we

have to solve

i have a focus problem because you know

what i bet your focus problem is one

reason your clients think this guy's

pretty creative

i bet you come up with a lot of

different solutions and tools and

frameworks that help people

oh yeah oh yeah like you're good at some

weird

that's a wonderful thing

now what we just have to do is have that

why that that thing that's going to

organize you

all right my friend evan carmichael's

book listen humans are built to serve

some people are built to serve the world

others

want to serve the 25 people closest to

them but in either case humans are built

to serve so if you're not happy right

now

it's because you're not serving enough

you got to pick up this book because

it's so inspiring to remind you that

we're all here to contribute

to make a difference to make an impact

and this is your field guide for that

rule number three believe in yourself

with michael phelps

what's up guys i'm michael phelps uh i'm

an olympic champion

and i have adhd

growing up i i was somebody who was

always constantly bouncing off the wall

i could never sit still

if i could go back in time and tell my

younger self something i would tell him

to

to believe what's in his heart and

never ever give up you know that's

something that that i've lived with my

whole entire life

and will continue to live with it's been

something that's changed my life

since the beginning you know i think you

know i think the biggest thing for me

once i

found that it was okay to talk to

somebody and and and

seek help um i think that's something

that that has changed my life forever

and and now i'm able to live

life to its fullest um we had kids

who you know we were all in the same

class and teachers would treat them

differently than they would treat me

um i had a teacher tell me that i would

never amount to anything and i would

never be successful

so it was a challenge and it was a

struggle but for me it was something i'm

thankful happened

and and i'm thankful that i am how i am

uh

i look at myself every day and i'm so so

proud and so happy of of

who i am and who i've been able to

become rule number four

never worry alone with dr ned hallowell

there is a lot of self-esteem and doubt

issues that seem to come with adhd and

even once you do start becoming

successful there's the imposter syndrome

that goes along with it how do you deal

with that

well my my favorite rule is never worry

alone

you know so my wife can tell you you

know i i wrestle with self-esteem issues

all the time

my wife knows all of she could

practically alphabetize them you know

and i think it's just part of adhd for

whatever reason and we can speculate as

to why

and so i i make light of it and that's

another way of dealing with it i also

look at reality you know i've done good

things and

and most people with adhd have done good

things so you you want to always appeal

to reality because we do have a terrible

tendency to dwell on

the negative and and overlook the

positive the book i wrote about worry i

began with the

opening scene where i was giving a

lecture grand rounds at harvard medical

school

and at the end of the presentation i got

a standing ovation

but there was one woman in the back of

the room who was scowling

and when i got home my wife said how did

it go and i said well there was this

woman at the back of the room who was

scowling

well she was wise enough to know to ask

them well how about the rest of the room

and i said oh they gave me a standing

ovation but what i dwelled on was that

one woman scowling at me so

we 80 years we lose perspective and we

often dwell on the negatives and that's

why i always say never worry alone you

know do some reality testing you want to

worry with the right people of course

but

you want to have the supports around you

where you can be real and be honest and

and get the kind of reassurances that we

really do need

rule number five focus on your passion

with kerwin

ray obviously super intelligent but then

school take it

but yeah i found it that's interesting

because i failed every subject

that's what i was getting every subject

from year 1 to year 12 i failed

what what that was you were diagnosed

with animals

at the age of seven and what when you

were diagnosed you were labeled as well

weren't you i was

labeled learning disabled i was always

told that i didn't learn like everyone

else and

i was a problem child in the classroom

and as a result

you know that affected every other

aspect and area of my life but very

unconsciously until my mid-20s

and as i said i started i read my first

book at age 23

and i'd never be able to read more than

a page or two because i didn't forget

what was on a page and

then the first time i actually read a

book that i was actually interested in i

remembered it

and that's what i've learnt with adhd

you know adhd to me gives me an untapped

amount of energy you've got to focus on

multiple projects at one time

but it also brings with an understanding

i've got a hyper sensitivity to boredom

yes and so for me you know someone with

adhd they're very sensitive to things

that they're not interested and they

will check out very quickly and they'll

become disruptive

whereas for me the key was actually

focusing on the things that i'm most

passionate about

and then with the hyperactive component

of adhd

you can focus on things for i can out

focus any mother

any person in the room so you really

have harnessed it as a superpower what

has been your way to

control those focus elements the biggest

the biggest thing i've used to control

when it comes to focus is meditation you

know

meditation is about essentially like

focusing the mind whether it be on a

mantra

or sensation or or breath to a point

where you

ultimately build an attention span rule

number six

turn it into a superpower with dan

martel some of the benefits

uh that i believe i've had is you know i

have the power to hyper focus

you know some people find it weird but i

do my best work in

airports coffee shops where there's a

lot of noise and distraction i don't

know if you do this but

i can't even work without having

background music on and sometimes that's

tv

you know for a long time when we had

this thing in canada called much music

i used to play music videos all the time

and not that i was listening to the

songs

i was just doing it as a as as kind of

like

this background white noise anyways

hyper focus when i when i bite into

something when i

decide to do something i go super deep

super aggressive

uh it's amazing the other benefit is

creativity i feel that

you know when i'm i'm with the team and

we're brainstorming different product

ideas

i just feel like my brain's able to kind

of look at different patterns and

connect things that

other people don't always see and i

always just thought it was maybe just

who i was but

i felt like as i met more creative

people more people that

on the surface you think that have add

they have this same

ability this this belief that you know

that whatever the problem or the

challenge is they're going gonna find a

solution and

that's why i believe that it is my

superpower and that a lot of people

might be on medication i believe you

need treatment you know

but i think there's a huge disconnect

between

medication and treatment i'm not an

expert i'm not a doctor but

read the books educate yourself you know

i do really simple things like

meditate in the morning to reset my mind

work out in the morning to kind of reset

my body and my energy levels

and i also do a thing called energy

management which i did a video on

recently

which talks about how i structure the

tasks and activities i do in my day

to really get the most out of it knowing

that this is the way my brain's wired

i've never looked at it as a disability

if anything i've

as i mentioned i think it's a it's a

super power it's an enhancement it's

it's who i am and i want everybody to

live who they are

rule number seven find the right

conditions with rick green

when did you know you had adhd um

i got the diagnosis around the year 2000

that was my y2k disaster but it was also

it was a relief it was like

this everything makes sense and so i was

able to go this is why i've written

700 episodes of radio and television

skit comedy

and finish one screenplay and i took all

the other screenplays and went

not gonna do those um what happened then

was i got such resistance from people

around me

what are you talking about you're

successful you're on national television

you have adhd

it's like richard branson owns an

airline he's got adhd

so i was so dismissed and kind of

humiliated and angry it stewed and

eventually with

a friend of mine patrick mckenna who

plays harold on the red green show

co-star he uh he decided i talked to him

very quickly because he's impulsive what

the heck

into doing a documentary about him

actually getting diagnosed his wife

who's not adhd was

alarmed and then went along with it and

it's been seen by another five or six

million people and

emails come in all the time so he just

saved my life my child is starting to

have a

dream they could have a life well let me

pick up on that because he was an adult

when he got diagnosed

as were you yeah i was 47. i thought

this was the kind of thing that you got

diagnosed when you were a kid

not in your case though no and in fact

for adults it's mine was the classic

your kid's diagnosed your kids suddenly

gifted

sprite suddenly struggling they do

analysis you know

testing they suggest adhd i'm a dad i'm

responsible let me see the list

what's wrong with this this is oh this

is this is and then everything makes

sense suddenly you realize why you're

really good at starting stuff not

finishing why you have so much on the go

why you tune out and you start to as i

start to learn especially about the

drd 4.7 the first gene that was

identified

thanks to some work done partly done

here at the university of toronto but

mostly

university of california irvine that was

the first gene that was identified

suspect gene

and then i went and i could look at my

dad i look at my grandfather who was on

the vaudeville stage

my dad stood wrestled his change and

keys as he watched tv

change channels go upstairs read a book

come back the light went on

yeah and he's in sales it was a perfect

job he's insurance talking to people

they want perfect job

and i'm in the perfect job so when you

find the right conditions you can soar

but if you don't know what's going on

and you're tuning out when your own

child is pouring their heart out from

you

you don't think i wonder if i'm low on

norepinephrine and dopamine you think

i'm a bad father i'm a really so the

relief

the anger the why didn't i know sooner

it's a

huge toxic mix we're dealing with on our

website on totally add people who've got

the diagnosis in their 70s they get the

diagnosis

they start treatment suddenly six months

later the house is clean

all the clutter's gone they're back

finishing courses the kids are coming

over because they can stand being around

they can listen they don't interrupt

and then they go oh my god life-changing

yeah but what if i'd known sooner

i wouldn't have gone through three

marriages and four bankruptcies and and

it's heartbreaking just for the record

you're not referring to yourself when

you say all this i've been through one

divorce and my finances are still a mess

i have a woman

a wife who does miracles for me and rule

number eight the last one before a very

special bonus clip

is channel your energy with ty

pennington

when i was in elementary school my

mother received countless phone calls

from my teachers

the principal's office and even my

guidance counselor because i was

constantly

in trouble for something whether it was

running around the classroom

jumping from the windowsill or just not

finishing my class work it seemed

as though i could never really

consistently work to my potential

my teachers pretty much insisted i was

bright but i just couldn't sit still

i couldn't control my impulsive

behaviors or concentrate long enough to

complete tasks

or even listen to simple instructions

now my mother a graduate student in

child psychology at the time

sensed that something wasn't right but

things really hit home when she was

asked

to analyze the most poorly behaved

student in my school and the principal

sent me well she made an appointment to

have me evaluated by a doctor who

confirmed that i had attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder otherwise known

adhd

however she did not inform me of the

doctor's diagnosis at the time

and as a child i didn't know that i had

adhd and was not treated for it

but i learned to cope with the symptoms

by channeling my energy into my passion

which is building things

the bigger the better now while these

creative outlets helped me control my

hyperactive and impulsive behaviors

i still had trouble focusing and

finishing things that i really wasn't

interested in

now getting through high school was a

struggle academically as well socially

uh it wasn't until i dropped out of my

first year college that i think my

mother realized

how much adhd was impacting me and how

it caused other people in my life to

have a negative opinion of me

so she sat me down and told me i had

adhd and suggested that i talked to my

doctor

well hearing that i had adhd really kind

of hit home everything started to make

sense to me my impulsive behaviors

my relationship or lack thereof and my

lack of focus and organization

now i've got a very special bonus clip

that i think you're gonna enjoy

but before that it's time for the

question of the day

i wanna know what was your single

biggest takeaway from this video

and your plan of action for the next

week when you get motivated

inspired you have a 35 chance of

following through but when you get

motivated inspired and you create a plan

of action

you have a over 90 chance of following

through and when you share with other

people

it jumps to 95 chance your likelihood of

following through and so i want that to

be you

from this video we don't just watch

videos here believe nation we do

something we take action

so i want to know your single biggest

takeaway from this video

and your plan of action for the next

week leave it down in the comments below

because

i want to celebrate you you've been part

of this campaign for a couple of years

now why is this so important to you

because it's important to talk for about

everything talking is the answer

it really is to every problem there is

you know if you have a problem you say

let's talk about it

and mental health is probably

the most pervasive

issue that anybody has and you don't

have to have ocd or adhd or

anxiety or depression like me and family

members have but

you just have to be human and the thing

is there's a stigma

about you know sharing your weakness or

your inability

to function and getting help about it i

believe that we should take care of our

mental health like we take care of our

dental health and i've listened to

people ad nauseam tell me about their

retainer and their root canal and how

they're taking care of their teeth but

what about how you're dealing

each and every day with whatever issue

you're dealing with well i'm very

comfortable with my discomfort

so i'm as uncomfortable talking about

that as i am

about my uh i don't have a retainer you

know

no i uh uh do you did you have one not

now

but mine's gold mine's built in i can't

get rid of it you have a built-in

retainer what do we do in canada now

are you serious i don't know i mean i

have one

[Music]

you say that now are you comfortable

talking about it well

i'm so used to it now but this help yes

and you went and got help right

and talking about it is the retainer for

our minds

growing up with him i got to see

everything that he's dealt with

and going through and as well as myself

um

i think that it does get passed down uh

and it's blaming me is what he's doing

yeah so it's his fault that i also have

add and anxiety and all that stuff but

it is something that affects me and i

think

that one thing that people don't talk

about is the effects of family as a

whole

even if only one member has that so i

think it's good that we

are doing this together because we've

had to deal with it together as a family

and we talk about it and we talk

[Music]

if you want to know why dyslexia can be

your advantage check out the video right

there next to me i think you'll enjoy it

continue to believe and i'll see you

there i never felt like a victim i think

in movies really helped me

kind of save me from shame take this

obstacle and make it the reason

to have a big life