"All human behaviour is driven by desire to escape discomfort" That hit deep

Adhd is my superpower. I embraced the chaos and learned how to decipher multiple streams of information at once. I was able to absorb massive amounts of knowledge early in life. I lost that as I get older but it was a massive boost. Now I organize to keep from getting lost. I tried pills when I was first diagnosed at 7 or 8. That was a disaster. Once I knew what it was I was facing I was able to build mechanisms in my head to help mitigate the negative attributes of adhd. Now I'm a workaholic but I'm in an industry I love so I devote a lot of time to it. Eventually I'd like to be an owner of my own venture but I've spent the last 20 years honing my craft.

I have Adult ADD and this video has already distracted my morning routine

Perfect definition of burn out. It explains the problem we are experiencing as teachers. We have highest expectations from so many outside entities ( government, administration, parents) many of which have no experience as teachers. They pile on and on and on. We no longer have agency or autonomy to do the job well. No one listens to the teachers say “this isn’t working”, “I don’t control that”, “I need control of this for students to progress”, “I don’t have resources for that” and more. We are told make it happen no matter what obstacles we put in your way. We get blamed by all entities when they think we are failing.

One super simple psychological 'trick' I used during University studies is to *pretend* I liked the subject, no matter how boring. To my own surprise that helped tremendously to motivate me to read the material and actively participate in classes, and I also started enjoying the subject itself - probably because many things turn out to be interesting once you know a bit more about it.

I've spent YEARS on self development books, courses, routines, coaches. Man I've given it my all and it only added more stress to my life. I don't think I was a great a great mum during those years. I only got diagnosed a year ago and the penny dropped. Knowing i have ADHD & Autism has allowed me to accept conventional methods may not work. It's ok if i find my own unique ways of getting things done. Getting rid of the belief that i was just plain stupid was liberating. Meds are helping me for now. I may choose not to take them down the line and find other ways to work with it. Or even better, embrace the strengths my ADHD gives me and focus on those rather than trying to live up to the neuro typical model of the world. "If you judge a fish by it's ability to climb, it will spend it's entire life thinking it's stupid' ~ Einstein

I don't know why but the things that this guy is saying is constantly making me tear up. It's exactly what I needed. The level of awareness and reflection you need, to look into the psychological changes in yourself whilst going through them, materialise them into words and then explain it to the world is extraordinary. Thank you for this truly.

As a 32 y/o man with ADHD diagnosed at 8 y/o who doesn't take medications, only supplements and nootropics. This conversation is GOLD. Last year my ADHD rised and made my productivity go down. I think it is because I started a business and I work solo in my office, "unsupervised" or "accompanied". I went to the psychiatrist, asking for medication, first of all in mexico we don't have Aderall, medications are on shortage maybe worldwide. I took Tradea for 3 or 4 months and I didn't like the effects. Dropped it. Now I take just nootropics, supplements, good nutrition, go to the psychotherapist and swim everyday early in the morning. I'm still strugging, but getting better.

Lots of bad habits will give adhd like symptoms, that doesn't mean you have adhd. People without adhd will never understand what it is like to actually have adhd and just talk rubbish based on no experience of living with it, Just their own nero typically mind that has occasional inattentive moments. I live my life as clean as possible to improve my symptoms that iv had since 4 years old, I still struggle daily because I have real diagnosed adhd.

I have quite severe ADHD with really poor, almost non existent executive function. I can not just organise my way out of it, believe me I have tried, and it does help, but there is a physical difference with my brain that is going to be there regardless of my daily routine. In conclusion I do think the advice given can be helpful but marketing it as a cure or alternative to treatment can be quite reckless without knowing peoples individual cases.

I'm going to sound a little bit rude, but I think he is the one that got ADHD wrong. ADHD is definitely not just about distraction (although it is part of it). Our inability to memorize names of people we deal everyday is not because we are trying to escape reality, nor the amount of accidents we have happen because we are trying to escape our reality. I was only diagnosed at 40 years old but I was 3 years old the 1st time I got stitches.... I have more than 50 now! At 3 years old I'm not trying to escape reality, like my 10 year old daughter wasn't trying to escape reality when she was playing and her head bumped into the wall so hard that people 1 floor bellow listen to it. It also doesn't explain our object permeance issue (away from sight away from mind), or does explain the hereditary part . It is because of people like him that people like me and my daughter have trouble being diagnosed. We need to stop seeing ADHD as a behaviour problem... It's not, it's way more and affects things like heat and cold perception, object location perception, memory, notion of time, and energy. A lot of us have sensory issues and emotional issues that are really similar to autism.... Do you also think Autism happens because the person wants to escape reality? Absurd isn't it? But here we are, still not being able to understand that there is a physical thing behind ADHD, and not even medication is going to change that.

I started to watch this and got distracted by the comments…. Oh well..

Would be fascinating to watch Steve interview 2 guests at the same time, with oppositing opinions/ research

My problem with this interview is his lack of addressing chronic mental health issues like depression alongside trauma caused by grief and other catastrophic life events. His demeanor reminded me of Sheryl Sanberg when she came out with Lean In and told women it was their responsibility to fight to be successful. Years later, her husband died and she realized she was unable to function the same way at work. Then she released a book called Option B about how to navigate life after these circumstances. She later said she took back some of what she said in her first book as it was coming from a person who hadn’t endure the pain she was currently experiencing. These conversations have a lot of nuance to them. While I think it’s great to give advice on building better skills to overcome procrastination, not addressing real issues that the majority of people are dealing with is pretty reckless. We have a mental health crisis in this country and an epidemic of loneliness. This advice will work the best only if you are a healthy moderately functioning person. The lightheartedness and smiling while discussing devastating issues for many people comes across very cold to those needing help. It can create a horrid cycle of shame because it puts people all in the same boat when we all vary widely depending on what has happened to us and the environment we were born into.

Who else got distracted while watching this?

What happens when you have done everything right and then get an untreated injury and extensive gaslighting that produces 5 years of stress and trauma. Then you are diagnosed with a autoimmune disease that literally makes working out or even working impossible along with changing my diet, I don’t drink or smoke and spend 3/4 of my in bed. I worked out until I just couldn’t anymore. I have done everything. I was an example of exposure therapy and it just made it worse. I am working on intermittent fasting, take ice baths and weaning myself off as much meds as possible with the help of my doctor. I have change my diet and cutting out sugar and processed food, altho I have always ate relatively healthy and worked out 4-6x week. But the progress has been negligible. This disease has taken all the things I loved away from me. I love your channel and your podcasts are great but so far, it just breaks my heart because I just don’t see how I can change something that won’t allow me to do the things that would actually help me. Working on Marissa Peers meditation now. 🤞

Please get Russell A Barkley (PHD) on the show - I’m fed up hearing nonsense from people who have assumed they know what it is- it’s a physical disability (albeit in the brain but visible via scanning) with cognitive symptoms. Some of us try so hard to get through every day and then hear an opinion that hits like telling a deaf person they’re not trying hard enough to hear. Brutal.

ADHD is a gift and a curse at the same time, constantly struggling heavily to stick at a job you don’t like/aren’t interested in, the morning depression and the instant switch of moods. It gets under my skins when people generalise it like it’s just one small thing like not being able to focus (which is a stereotype) in itself. Or when people belittle it and look past it like it doesn’t actually affect our day to day lives.

I have ADHD & was prescribed concerta. I have Finally Started organizing & cleaning my room while listening to this Is podcast. I have not taken my medication in 2 days. So I appreciate a different perspective & mindset to help me analyze, focus & accomplish this small task that I have procrastinated on.

Andrew Hueberman and Nir Eyal need to have a chat... As someone with ADHD, I would watch every second! 💯👀🧠👁👁

The hardest part of anything is starting. Nothing is ever as bad as we make out in our heads prior to the experience we are freaking out about. ❤

I propose the next DOAC dinner be made up of 20 viewers who've been diagnosed with ADHD, Steven, this guy, and a highly qualified ADHD expert - a real one. If you could get all 20 there on time, and keep them at the table, THIS would be the ADHD conversation many would like to see 👍

I sense that his brief statement about ADHD might lead people to underestimate the complexity of this neurodiversity. Especially for people who are not familiar with it. ADHD isn’t about distraction. Attention-deficit isn’t interchangeable with distraction. When a person with ADHD naturally hyper-focuses on something that interests her/him, anything else, e.g., time, body-awareness would often become oblivious. Or otherwise, if the person has to endure an activity unstimulating, it would be very challenging for the person to stay in focus. And this is not just once a while thing, but all the time, throughout the person’s life. A person with ADHD often see connections in things that people are unaware of, or think several steps ahead, which can also hinder her/him from taking actions or jump in to actions. So having ADHD is a bless and a curse. A person with ADHD can achieve excellence on things they are passionate about or failed miserably to meet the other’s expectations. To identify with the neurodivergence after proper diagnosis isn’t playing victim but rather living a better life through sharing and learning from each other.

His description of burnout happening from a position of high expectations with low sense of control hit me in my soul! I’m an addiction counselor in a grant funded facility. The pace is RELENTLESS. I absolutely love & believe in what I do… but I feel the strain psychologically & emotionally, more because of those combined factors & had never put that together. I actually tested up when his words hit me. It’s the hopelessness of it. It’s what I go to work to help others deal w/ every day & yet my workplace & work load produces it in me.

Every single study has shown that ADHD is heavily under diagnosed, especially in Adults. Around 70% of adult's with the condition don't know they have it.

I love the distraction discussion. I’m a writer and even during this interview I admitted to myself that when I distract myself during my writing time, it’s to distract from my fear of failing at writing. Wow what a great interview!

Regret was 100% the motivator in the journey to overcoming my adhd identity. And it's wild how subliminal distraction is!

As someone who works with kids in primary school everyday this episode on being Indistractable was GOLD! I got so much out of it and for the first time, started taking notes, something I should do for every episode here! (I’m a long time subscriber)… What struck me most, and there were a few things, was the quote: a mistake repeated more than once is a decision”… wow! I’ll be thinking on that point for a long time! Then the discussion on Burnout was super interesting… it really hit home… I’m a private music teacher, have been for 38 years, and I love my job… but, I’ve felt like quitting so often lately as I’m sick of asking kids to practice at home each week, but, due to “ distractions” they more often than not, don’t practice… it drives me crazy.. and it’s definitely got worse over the last 10 to 15 years..!…this conversation taught me that I’m feeling burnt out not from over work, but from having high expectations of my students, but no control of whether they do or do not practice at home. 😳😱 total light bulb moment! So, it seems my only option to coping with this dilemma, besides giving the parents this book about navigating distractions is to lower my expectations…. But then I feel like I’m compromising my values-in multiple ways… it’s a tricky problem and one thousands of teachers of all kinds have to deal with… every day … any teachers out there who can relate!?..❤️❤️.

I have ADD. Currently procrastinating with this podcast.

He’s got a point for everyone else….but NOT people struggling with ADHD.

00:00 Avoiding distraction is the key to not living with regret. 05:21 Distraction is an action we take, not something that happens to us. 15:13 Mastering internal triggers and making time for traction are key to high performance. 19:57 Compartmentalize distractions with worry time and finish time boxes 28:33 Prevent distraction with pacts 33:33 Discipline is not a limited resource, but a belief that it is can limit willpower. 42:45 Schedule time for self-care, relationships, and work 47:23 Time blocking can improve productivity and relationships 57:19 Believing in agency and control improves well-being 1:02:18 Smart regulation needed for tech companies 1:11:47 Trauma is neutral, it's how we interpret it that matters. 1:16:40 Confidence comes from reframing triggers through exposure therapy. 1:26:55 Over-diagnosis of ADHD is a concern due to trivialization and potential benefits to certain industries. 1:31:46 Building an indestructible workplace requires psychological safety and a forum to talk about problems. Crafted by Merlin AI.

what i’ve learned from life is that no matter how amazing/influential a person is, their reality/biases will always inform their prescribed solutions. You can see that Stephen struggles with the concept of ADHD because he doesn’t believe in it- point blank. And i’m so aware of using labels as crutches but what’s just as dangerous is dismissing the realities of other people.

If you are concerned about neurotypical people fooling doctors into prescribing stimulant medication, then keep this topic the focus of the discussion. If you're concerned that there is not enough guidance for doctors to diagnose ADHD appropriately, raising awareness to this issue would be of benefit. If you are asked about psychological disorders of which you have limited knowledge (as evidenced by the opinions about dopamine, chemical imbalance and "undiagnosis" - comparing it to a broken bone), an appropriate response would be to say "This topic is out of my scope so it's probably best that I don't comment". The reason some viewers have reacted strongly to the ADHD topic of this podcast is because people with ADHD are already struggling to cope with the symptoms of ADHD and the stigma of seeking help - which comes in the form of a diagnosis and possible medication. They do not need the wider community, armed with the opinion and misinformation in this podcast, to second-guess their diagnosis and to be looked upon as a drug-seeking layabout who is taking the "easy way" out. These medications are no walk in the park and they are only given when a person presents to a specialist due to an inability to regulate themselves. The diagnostic process, while not ideal in respect to being foolproof, is the only one currently available. No blood test or brain imaging results are approved for diagnosing ADHD, but neither are there for autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety and depression.

Listen, I am one of these adults who have recently been diagnosed with ADHD, but… I’ve been diagnosed on the basis that the ADHD is actually a pathology of symptoms caused by a primary problem, which is untreated undiagnosed C-PTSD due to traumas in my childhood 🤯 I am taking medications whilst I undertake trauma-based psychotherapy and EDMR. Like Doc said that our internal distractions, our feelings, are just our brains looking for distractions reduce our discomfort, that’s also what ADHD is for me… my baby brain reducing my pain by escaping into dreaming and dopamine seeking.

Wow, Mr. Nir Eyal begins by speaking about regret! I have thankfully gotten rid of (almost) all regret that I had carried along with me for most of my life. Regret was a ball and chain around my neck, constantly dragging me down, draining my physical and emotional energy, and it stressed my entire system to breaking point. The problem was, I never even knew that I was suffering from long-term regret in the first place! I just felt awful without knowing why. Since the day that I decided to really let go of my regrets, I have felt liberated - reborn even. If you are reading this, and you perhaps suffer from regret in a big way, I hope sincerely that you too may find a way to eliminate regret, and reboot your life.

I can't believe that I got all this information for free. Thank you for impacting the world in a positive way that makes us better each day. Lots of love from Kenya 🇰🇪

it is scary how heated it is the comment section! Now, i really want to hear someone on the other side of this discussion, someone like a psychiatrist who specializes on ADHD, and their insight on this topic.

This podcast came out at such an important time for me. I am overhwelmed by my workload everyday and by working in a remote setting for a Startup, it comes at no surprise. What resonated with me is prioritization and aligning my workload with my boss's. This is so key and I am thankful to have learnt this.

30 seconds in with this man, and I learned more / more resonated with me than 90% of content I see.

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 🧠 Understanding internal triggers is crucial for conquering distraction. 05:14 🔄 Distraction isn't just external; it's also driven by internal triggers. 08:02 📝 Writing down the sensations before distraction helps gain control. 10:52 🤖 Reframing internal triggers as a source of power, not hindrance. 17:31 ⏰ Scheduling time for worry allows you to manage distractions more effectively. 19:40 🕒 Using the 10-minute rule to delay gratification helps establish control over distractions and impulse control issues. 20:10 💼 Schedule time later in the day for "worry time" to address distracting thoughts and worries, allowing the brain to relax. 22:34 🔥 Finish your allocated time box, even if it means sitting there with hands on the keyboard, to overcome the initial boredom and resistance. 23:16 🚫 External triggers can be hacked back by creating friction and using visual cues to communicate your focus, such as a "Do Not Disturb" sign on your monitor. 30:05 💡 Preventing distractions with "pacts": effort pacts (adding friction), price pacts (imposing costs), and identity pacts (aligning with your desired self-image). 38:41 🧠 The discomfort associated with pursuing a task affects motivation and discipline. 39:34 🕹️ Enjoying an activity makes it easier to get into a state of flow. 41:10 🎯 To become indistractable, focus on tasks you don't enjoy but need to do. 45:18 🗓️ Create a time-boxed calendar based on your values to prioritize tasks. 53:40 🤝 Scheduling quality time in relationships helps maintain connection and prioritizes loved ones. 59:14 🧠 Internal vs. external locus of control: People with internal locus of control believe they affect change, leading to better well-being. 01:00:09 🚀 Mindset affects actions: Believing in agency and control leads to healthier lives, even in challenging circumstances. 01:02:59 📱 Responsibility in technology use: While companies design engaging products, personal responsibility and agency are crucial. 01:05:19 🧪 Goblins of trauma: Traumatic experiences can either limit or propel individuals; reframing discomfort is important. 01:12:46 🧭 Facing discomfort: Overcoming pain or discomfort requires exposure therapy, both physiologically and psychologically. Confidence and growth stem from facing challenges. 01:19:06 🧠 Confidence can be built by reframing triggers and adopting a new perspective. 01:19:48 👩‍⚕️ The concept of a brain chemical imbalance is a misconception in the public, not accepted in the Psychology Community. 01:20:42 💊 Skills should be prioritized over pills for treating ADHD; medication can have side effects and should be the last resort. 01:26:13 🤝 ADHD should be seen as treatable, not an identity; focus on skills and functional improvement rather than reliance on medication. 01:37:31 🏢 Indestructible workplaces are built on psychological safety, providing forums to discuss problems, and having management exemplify focused work-life balance. Made with HARPA AI

The segments on trauma and ADHD should be cut or at least not be the focus of the title. He's clearly not an expert on those, made especially obvious at his non-nonchalant comment about exposure therapy. The good parts about habits and distractions follow many concepts of stoicism and I like many of his points there.

Adhd tip if anyone else struggles with getting up grumpy /pain no matter how much sleep you get. - set one alarm 2 hours before it’s time to get up. Tricks brain into thinking I’m getting to sleep in. Do I have one at 5am and one at 7 and back up one for 730 and 735 then getting ready alarms every 5-10 minutes till 820- I mix the times to help brain not get used to 10 minute increments. I do label them for hard days like “put shoes on” “leave” “leave now” etc

I’m late to this episode but when you were talking about burnout it dawned on me why so many nurses, I’m a nurse, were depressed during covid and in general our population deal with higher levels depression, anxiety and burnout more than other fields. The expectations on nurses is extremely high. “The most trusted profession” we are in charge of life, and more often than not, we can control the outcome. despite all our efforts, sometimes our patients die, or get sicker, and we are in the room for it all. Man this hit home. Thanks.

This podcast completely changed my life. I look forward to every episode, every single one is interesting and does not bore me at all. This is probably the only podcast that does not make me also scroll on my phone while listening because it is so interesting! Thank you!

I have always asked my boss to prioritize my work when I'm handed more than they realize. Managers love this, they feel flattered that you're coming to them, and they don't have to hear someone coming to complain. The work has to be done, and understanding that is big to them. It's also a time to shine because you get to show everything you do. In the past my manager took some of that work themselves after seeing everything I do and have been capable of and ask me how I got so much done 😂

On ADHD: Your broken bone analogy and addiction analogy is ridiculous. A broken bone is an injury that can heal. An addiction is a habit that can be broken. ADHD is a developmental condition. Just like dyslexia, autism etc, it is not something you can cure. You can form habits and take medication that can make life easier, but there is no getting rid of it. And your “losing your keys” point is also missing the point. Yes, everybody loses their keys at some point. But when you lose things chronically to the point of financial struggles, you’ve now got a problem. In simpler terms, we all pee, but when you pee 40 times a day, you might have a problem that needs checking. You make some fair points, such as the danger of overdiagnosing (though comparing US to EU is ridiculous - the UK has such abysmal mental healthcare that we’re seriously underdiagnosing patients) and wanting to push skills over pills is admirable. I think kids with ADHD should be pushed into high intensity physical hobbies to redirect their energy and use meds as a last resort. But overall your views are the narrow minded thoughts of somebody who has clearly never struggled with a disorder. I would never wish it upon you, but I would also ask that you refrain from commenting on things you can’t empathise with, fully understand, or have a expertise in. Writing a book on how to use post-it’s does not make you a psychiatrist, unfortunately.

Thank you for this interview. This was by far the most implemtable/useful / great interviews so far! He speaks so structured and so well backed up with science.... It's unbelievable ❤

9 minutes in and I’m already in awe. I love these podcasts and information from people who throw out, rewrite, or redefine the traditional text books. Thank you.

I was intrigued to watch but then seeing that this 'expert' is actually not trained in adhd and does not have adhd. Just another inexperienced person with opinions being presented as facts. Undoubtedly some are helpful but the overall tone is disappointing. If anyone is interested, the youtube channel, how to adhd is great, she has adhd herself and regularly hosts actual experts.

When it comes to social media being a distraction, KZfaq is my main one because of how it’s connected to my personal life of learning. I’ve learned about 90% of what I’ve learned in the past two years all from KZfaq alone. And it continues to be the main source of my “self education.” But a lot of the time, it went from using KZfaq deliberately as a education tool to becoming a form of entertainment. Even while still watching all the educational content I would normally consume. What this video has taught me is how I need to be more deliberate and intentional on how I use KZfaq or any other social media for that matter. Instead of waking up and going straight into listening to a podcast that I’m most likely not even fully engaged into, setting a focus time for that will break the entertainment aspect of it and allow me to actually focus on what I’m watching and learning.

Still in mid podcast but truly enjoying and appreciating it. I always enjoy how Steven brings hus personal quuestions, which I can relate to in ny own life, to each person he interviews. This one is having a positive impact bc I usually can't, or don't, identify what I am feeling which led to the distraction..

i love how the box under the video has the topics, when i rewatch the podcast it is made so easy to go back to a certain part of the interview .

Funny thing about any advice against procrastination is that people suffering from it find it very hard to make those changes in the first place - they'd rather do it later, even if they realize they will never do it anyway. Or they know they won't be able to keep up with it anyway so they won't try. And.. most people have tried. Several times. At some point, you realize ok, this is how the world works for me, I have to adjust my expectations and realize what I can and cannot do. No amount of "break any habit"-advice will never help.

The ADHD test ‘ he was referring to is the online Mickey Mouse test not the actual test or the test which some practitioners are making an absolute mint on. The actual test is very comprehensive. It is chemical and sometimes caused by trauma and also quite often co-morbid with autism. If you have met some someone who has it, it will quite often when untreated be coupled with addiction from self medicating. I agree it is being over diagnosed from people who would like to profit. But it is a real thing and it is not a scheduling issue or a discipline issue. They don’t need any more shame around not being able to prioritise, turn up on time, or the reverse be over productive for an extended amount of time. Also ADHD is not about being distracted that is a reductive statement.

He states that for some people there is an absolute need for medications, he’s pointing out that there is an over prescription of medications for children / people who have skill deficits. He seems to be placing a focus on working towards building skills, especially in children, so they can self regulate their time, emotions, needs before resorting to the harsh medications that can and do have repercussions which lead to other problems. Highly insightful interview.

I found your channel 2 days ago. Loved it. Quickly went through like 20 episodes. This one is my favorite. I'm leaving this comment here hoping that one day it's gonna be something that we'll talk about. Thank you so much for bringing this much value. And yes. I watched to the last second.

Trauma isn’t just feelings. 1:11:10. Trauma is what happens to you in the long term of the traumatic event or repeated events.

The dopamine hypothesis regarding ADHD has not been debunked. This hypothesis has been exrremely robust despite decades of research. Further, ADHD/ADD is chronically under diagnosed, especially in school aged girls and women. It is one thing to critique the criteria published in the DSM V TR and how a physician may use this to make a diagnosis. It is another thing entirely to dismiss the findings of neurological research or to say that these findings have been debunked when they have not. This author has some interesting things to say regarding the behavioural aspects of inattention. He could have said these things without casting shade on members of the audience who genuinely suffer from these conditions. We still have a lot to learn about ADHD, but on these points that were mentioned, we have not 'got ADHD wrong.'

Everything he says is triggering but accurate. If you are triggered, you aren't taking responsibility for your own life. We all have trauma, myself included. I was triggered by his words, but I feel motivated to change my life. Truth always hurts. 🔥❤️

My problem is I have too much going on; I often become overwhelmed when EVERYTHING is a priority. I put on my own oxygen mask first, so to speak, to the dismay of a few very important in my life. This podcast is very helpful❤️

In other cultures, you don’t have to schedule time for your friends and time for your family--you just HAVE and naturally spend time doing nurturing, fun things with humans!🤗

The "high expectation/low control" really hit home for me. I have experienced this in two jobs - as a Customer Service team leader in Tesco and as a Customer Service broadband telephone helpline operator for TalkTalk. As an ex Nurse, the customer help aspect was very important to me...and I foolishly assumed, because of the job descriptions...that it would be important to my employers too, Wrong. They asked for, and expected, predetermined successful outcomes while simultaneously making those outcomes almost unobtainable by the systems they had in place. For a long time, I felt I was failing and was burning out until I realized their business model and then I left. Soul destroying. I still (ten years later) get PTSD if I walk into any Tesco super market.

That was a great corroboration of the worldview I've subconsicously built throughout my life. That said, being diagnosed in my 30's with ADHD did help me to seek specific *types* of solutions to problems I wasn't overcoming on my own. I'm SO glad I wasn't diagnosed as a kid, because I never had an excuse to fail or give up at anything: in fact, I wasn't allowed by my parents to give up, ever. Addiction can be very physical and literal, the way someone recently commented, but there are an infinite range of things to "be addicted to," and very, very few of those things are truly physically addictive, and more a result of not taking responsibility for our actions. Again, I have ADHD and I can see in my own life how everything is a response to discomfort, and how success is always beyond discomfort.

There are points in this podcast which are great food for thought about taking responsibility for our own behaviour. However there are some quite glaring points where Nir demonstrates some very narrow thinking about neurodiversity and the vulnerability of certain groups of people. For example he doesn’t suggest that people with mental disabilities such as LD might be a group that need to be protected from social media. ADHD is quite often coupled with other diagnostic conditions such as autism, brain injury etc. In essence his analysis is mainly focused on people fortunate to be genuinely neurotypical but might be inclined to victimise or create excuses for themselves. That has some value but I think some people listening to this might be quite unfairly upset about parts of his message.

I really wish you would interview someone who IS an expert in ADHD, like Russell Barkley. Gabor Mate is NOT an expert in ADHD… he’s never done any primary research into ADHD. This guy, too, is not an expert in ADHD. The global community incidence is estimated by WHO as about 5% of the population. So if the US has 10% diagnosed and Europe 1%, it’s obvious that the US may be over diagnosing and the Eu under diagnosing. “Skills before Pills” is an poorly informed slogan. They used to do this, and only prescribe if the Skills training was not working. In 80% of cases, it didn’t work. That’s why medication is a front line treatment… for a neuro chemical defecit. “Jumping straight to the pills” is the effective treatment based on 30-40 years research. It’s not that “not enough dopamine is produced”, it’s overactive dopamine transport cells, which remove the dopamine from the neuron synapses. “Undiagnosed plan” - What the hell is this guy in about - its a genetic lifelong disorder in 80% of cases. Just because this guy doesn’t believe it’s lifelong, doesn’t make it so. PLEASE GET BETTER INFORMATION STEPHEN. ASK A BLOODY EXPERT - ITS THE MOST RESEARCHED PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER THERE IS - ASK SOMEONE WHO KNOWS. PLEASE STOP GETTING NON-EXPERTS COMMENTING ON ADHD - YOU ARE SPREADING MISINFORMATION. Russell Barkley would be the best choice… look him up.

A much needed conversation! This podcast relieved so many of my open questions about flow, procrastination, and willpower!

ADHD is more than just being distracted.

Thank you so much for bringing this to us! I have also been "diagnosed" with ADHD, and had been trying to learn tips and tactics to help with the symptoms. This interview was an answer to prayer and more!!!! I have moved forward more emboldened and sure of my choices, handling situations way more calmly. I am so glad to have a different point of view on attention, AND tools to use going forward. Also, I had no idea I was living with victim mentality relating to this subject until it was called out so clearly on this episode! It has been so liberating ever since. Also just as liberating was his explanation of distraction and traction. Him saying he didn't care if you played video games or scrolled social media so long as you had originally planned on it was and eye opener. Implementing just the basics has already been a game changer. Thank you, again, for bringing this information to us.

I love your podcast! I've only listened to a few episodes and I've learnt an incredible amount. What I particularly like is the interview format and the focus on the tips that are really applicable. This episode is one of the best! Please keep up the good work. Greetings from Germany

Over the course of years I have been in a number of workshops where exercises were presented in which the participants did a simple repetitive exercise over and over again. At first the boredom was aweful and there was fidgeting and yawning and sleepiness and anger and we kept going and going and then there was a breakthrough into a state some might consider ecstatic . What I gained from that is the personal insight that boredom is the most devious last ditch trick of my mind. Now for me boredom is last step before a shift into a new mental state.

It's amazing how he briefly touched on such an important topic right towards the end, the topic of religion, which came up for me right at the beginning of this episode. I've been thinking lately how this is the one subject that hasn't really been explored on this podcast and how amazing it would be to hear Steven speak to certain guests on the subject of religion and bring on people specifically to talk about it. I think this would make for some extremely interesting conversations. I agree with everything Nir Eyal had to say about missing out on important values that religion has to offer. I also enjoyed this episode much more than I thought I would. Thanks always Steven!

This is a big component of many types of meditation. Emotions/feelings aren't wrong, they are beautiful messages to take us inward to 'feel'. What we may discover is beyond surprising and life changing.....in a very good way.

Recognizing the emotions your feeling that cause you to be distracted....Really has helped me . Write the feeling down, but don't give in to it right then. Build self control brick by brick. 💡

Hello Steven! I've been a huge fan of you, I have been watching your podcasts for a while now and they've had a great impact in my life. I really love all the podcasts I've watched so far and I will keep on watching. Indeed this is the best podcasts I've ever watched, thank you so much!❤

Your show is adding so much to my life. Thank you for picking and choosing guests so well. I look forward to implementing these ideas to help with the struggles of focus ❤

We’ve got one of your all-time favourite guests coming back next week! About 67% of you that watch the show regularly haven’t yet hit the subscribe button! If you like our show please could you do us a favour and hit the subscribe button ❤️

I loved the information Nir had to give. I plan on reading his book and implementing his advice to avoid distraction. Thank you both, be blessed!

This Podcast/Channel is my absolute favorite. The way these conversations go and the interview is the best I've seen. Thank you for doing these!

I wish more people where covering this subject as living whit this can’t be a real pain and having autism but being highly functioning with how society views people like me is a real bloody pain. A lot of people think that having a disability gives them a chance to take advantage of me. I’m 40 and it’s not my disability’s that is massing up my life buy how others acted around me that is at times very abusing and degrading. Thank you for covering this subject 😊

I see it much like my depression and dislexia, its a learnt behaviour that has been intrinsically pushed its way into my physiology. Constant stress and anxeity in my childhood created chemical issues and a habit of being that way later in my life, i knew no better. So, i pushed myself to do things and keep going with it, etc, its hard work, but im now medication free, my dyselexia is no longer in my way or affecting my memory etc. Many of theses diagnosis are simply caused by how our lives develope ourselves. Such as children brought up with the inability to appreciate calm and stable boundaries and stable homes, tend to be diagnosed with ADHD... but also not having a release and calm when we're stressed.

Wonderful quote quoted by Nir: "A mistake repeated more than once is a decision."

it feels almost ironic that I'm listening to this whilst working, to help stimulate me, so I can work better :D ADHD is a weird thing

Please interview Dr Daniel Amen! I read his books and with his scan proves the difference between someone with ADHD and a healthy brain

Breaks my heart to feel the enormity of loss of potential with undiagnosed adhd. Chaos and pain- only to be told- just focus. Jesus Christ…. Time blindness, … in ten minutes… What even is that when your disassociate self is in the ether, and you’ve missed the entire day. Please try to understand this leds to accusations of laziness, brutal abuse, and a life lost to shame and a sense of being an utter failure. Adult diagnoses are at an all time high- because it was missed in childhood. Bless you for your excellent podcasts tho’. ❤

I absolutely love this guy, this is helping me has open my eyes and my mind, no excuses just do it, lift yourself up with your SELF and you'll have no regrets. And the great things is, he tells you how it was for himself before he did the work! ❤❤❤❤❤

Steven is one of the best interviewers out there. ALWAYS awesome questions. Great job, Steven. Keep it up 👍

There’s a difference between distractable and ADHD. ADHD is very much a physiological disorder. The ADHD brain works differently than “normal” brains. What works for one, will not work for all. If I’m in a lecture, and I grow bored and my mind wanders, I am completely incapable of forcing my brain to listen to the lecture. Same for reading, or doing a task. I can try, really really hard, but it’s not going to happen. My mind will always divert to more interesting ideas.

I feel like conversations like this are great tool as we learn to manuever life with minds that operate differently. We'll be learning forever. When one finds something that works for them the quality of life for that individual improves. Hope we all figure it out one day.

Started at sunrise and ended at sunset while doing laundry 👍🏽 good Tuesday and wish it upon you all ☮️🙏🏽❤ as someone with diagnosed adhd (by society and doctor) he handled all those questions well and not hiding in fear. He’s calling big pharma out and everything that goes behind that … like how can I be opposed to that? It’s so simple. Putting in the work has been great and rewarding. Thank you ! Next book read!

Language is so important. Dis - TRACTION. Vital conversation. Thank you 🙏🏾

It is amazing to me how many people are triggered by a set of skills offered. I think it may be the clickbaity title. Just listen to a few sentences at 1:20:59 and 1:22:52 No one is taking away your ADHD diagnosis, or shaming you, or telling you to just pay attention. Everyone should be open to learning new skills that can help live a better life. Information is like a buffet, take what suits you, ignore the rest.

This has been one of the most enjoyable podcasts i've listened to, thoroughly enjoyed it all the way through.. 🙏

Holy shit. 20 Minutes in and I'm almost in tears. I wish I knew about this 30 years ago. This is a game changer.

I really enjoyed this episode. “Skills before pills” is something I’ll take away.

I was diagnosed with adhd. And I’ve been diagnosed in Paris, France. It was a long process which first started in the US years ago.

I've listened to thousands of hours of podcasts of any genre. This one is the single most knowledgeable and helpful one that I found so far. Thank you both!

I loved his discussion of distraction, traction and action. I actually made this year's one word motto 'action' because I drilled down to everything I want in my life to require action in my chosen direction. It makes 'action' even more fitting!

Such a great episode. So much of this rings true and is terribly important. Thanks, Steven.

The fact that he can says that you should pause and grab the pen you keep beside you and note down your stress proves how much bullshit he’s spouting about ADHD. Real scenario for someone with ADHD. Oh I’m distracted let me write that down. Wait where’s my pen, I know it was just here. I always keep it here *search for 5 min* oh it was right in front of my face the entire time. Okay what was I doing? Oh yeah write down why I was distracted, okay. Wait, where’s my notebook. Oh damn I left it in my bag. Okay. Let me take this glass with me to put in the kitchen on my way to get it. Okay. Get in the kitchen and see the garbage needs to be taken out. Okay. Bags by the front door so why don’t I take the garbage out on my way. Put the glass down on the counter instead of the dishwasher that is right there (but you don’t even think about that because you are already onto the garbage). Okay take the garbage out walk towards the door, see something else you should do so then you set the garbage down in the hall (again without even thinking about it). Go do that thing…..etc etc etc. then finally an hour later you get back to your desk having started but not finished countless tasks along the way and go ‘what was I doing?’ *think for a few minutes* Oh yeah I meant to get my notebook from my bag. And maybe you can now go get it. Maybe you get into another cycle. (Depends on the day). And then you search for your pen again for a bit and finally go to write down what was distracting you and completely forget what it was that initially distracted you in the first place meanwhile you’ve wasted maybe an hour, not accomplished anything and probably will lose the notebook by the next day. That is ADHD. What he’s describing is a normal person doing a task they don’t really like do and wanting to do something else so they get distracted for a minute and can find the notepad and pen they can manage to always keep at there desk, write it down and go immediately back to their task.

Burnout = being an educator these days. Extremely high expectations but no ability to achieve them with the parameters given (too many students, bad admin, parents who have no understanding, no funding, horrible work environments, first-person shooter drills, etc) I quit teaching because it felt like death. To not be able to help the children who needed help was a painful death to me. To come home with emotional trauma, physical wounds sometimes, bladder issues, it was too much. It's too much for many teacher right now.