When I got my diagnosis I couldn't get over the "hyper" part because I'm far from hyper. She explained I may not be hyper on the outside but basically my mind IS overactive which is why I struggle with focus issues. Once she explained it like this the ADHD title made sense!

One of the reason why I love this channel is because of the editing. I don't know how to describe it properly but it's really ADHD friendly. It has fast paced transition and proper use of motion graphic to help explain things to our ADHD brain. I'm sure this was a premeditated thing so thanks for helping us brain to learn more about ADHD without having to feel bored.

Also because "How to ADD" sounds like a math channel... And "How to Minimal Brain Damage" is just... no.

I have ADD and Asperger's, now I have ADHD and ASD. Basically I am a walking Alphabet. I love this Channel as it helps me understand why I operate the way I do. 🇬🇧👍

"Interest kept changing". I can feel that

At first I didn't think I had ADHD because I wasn't physically hyperactive; something I learned that helped me understand my ADHD is that hyperactivity isn't always physical. My mind is hyperactive, constantly thinking and jumping from thing to thing despite me not physically moving around much; however, it is extremely hard to slow my thoughts down, or shut them off when trying to rest, or stop the negative thoughts that I have. I'm sure that within our lifetime the term will change again, or there will be a merging of all sorts of neurodivergency into one diagnosis.

I'm waiting for the change to ARD -- Attention Regulatory Disorder. I have no problem with attention. Sometimes I can be hyperfocused. It's just often my attention is not where I need it to be. For example, writing in the comments while listening to the video.

"interest-based learner" - weirdly, not a term I've come across before, and exactly describes one of the presentations of my ADHD. Thank you. (also, "presentation" rather than "symptom" - much less damaging language)

A trip down memory lane I was diagnosed with minimal brain damage when I was 6 which did a number on my psyche. I was so happy when they changed it to ADD. I have ADHD and Dyslexia but I never let that stop me from graduating Law School. It took everything I had but with the love and support from so many friends, family and information sources like this channel I made it. Jessica your channel is awesome keep up the good work :)

In my opinion, Inattentive Presentation means 'repressed hyper-activity' / 'calm on the outside, turbulent on the inside'.

When my psychologist suggested that I might have ADHD a few weeks ago I almost laughed in her face because I am always so tired! Turns out she was right and that’s the reason I have insomnia 🤭

"Rewind them when you get distracted." You really do understand your audience

This has helped me understand so much about myself, even when living in Pakistan, and not many know about ADHD here

I was diagnosed with ADD in 5th or 6th grade. I didn't take the diagnosis seriously till I found this channel like a week ago and was like wait this is stuff I struggle with

ADD: Who are you? ADHD: I'm you but

Me: has class in 5 mins Also me: eh I can fit this almost 5 minute vid in

Very often for us ladies the hyper part is turned inwards. I was more hyper on the outside when I was a kid, but now the hyper is inside of me. Greetings from Sweden 🇸🇪

I have actually had someone suggest that I had brain damage, because I was trying to explain to them how I don't understand time. This was an actual health professional (though not a psych trained one), and it kinda stuck with me for a while. Honestly, at this point, I'd take a diagnosis of "minimal brain damage" if it meant I could get some help and/or respect from my GP.

I had the same problem picking what to take in college so I just stopped and got a job. I couldn't keep racking up debt. I didn't know I had ADHD back then and now it makes so much sense. There were so many feelings of shame about it over the years. I wish I had known this years ago.

ADHD tends to run in families and, in most cases, it's thought the genes you inherit from your parents are a significant factor in developing the condition. Research shows that parents and siblings of a child with ADHD are more likely to have ADHD themselves👍

Minimal brain damage feels accurate when I remember tripping 3 times with the same rock and hitting the front of my head hard with the floor every time during pre-school.

Congratz on 500k Brains!

I was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome. But that's not a thing anymore.

I love that, while you were plugging Great Courses, you added important ADHD specific reminders about the trial process. I WISH more people did. Subscription-based service fees after a trial are a serious contributor to ADHD tax for me. :

*Petition to change it to Executive Function Disorder or ED, hey guys I have ED predominantly floppy attention, hard to get it up in the morning*

Learning so much here after being diagnosed at 43. Thank you for this channel

I love how Jessica talks. She's so accepting, kind, funny, and fun. She just makes me feel happy and calm and understood. Thank you for your helpful videos and dedication to help people who have adhd! ❤

I should be focusing on school right now....

You’ve helped me so much with my adhd and I just want to say that you are amazing! I wasn’t diagnosed until later in my life and because of my parents skepticism I got very little help with it so having your channel as a genuine tool for coping with it and developing skills means so much to me! Genuinely, Thank you!!!

Thanks for the video. We know you're dealing with a lot right now. Hope things are going well!

Got my diagnoses today. And i have ADD. Thank you for your input on this channel. it help me getting a diagnoses. Now they are making a plan for me. And are gone help me to handel ADD beter. My daughter was diagnosed with adhd. So i looked it up and found youre channel. Started lisening and found that i had multipel sympthoms. Now i know. Again thank you. Keep it up! You help so many people.

This channel has made me think about my childhood and my family so much. I used to be never still as a child. I remember living outdoors, cycling running, climbing…I would skip for an hour. Then when I had to sit still I would be totally absorbed by a movie or a book. I think I would flip from one mode to another.

It makes me feel better that you explained the "presentation" part. I'm officially "predominantly inattentive", but I was diagnosed in the depths of multiple anxiety disorders and a massive burnout. Now that I'm doing a lot better, I notice that the hyperactivity that I remember from my childhood is coming back and I feel like "combined" better represents my current struggles. It's not easy to get that diagnosis changed though.

♡♡♡♡♡♡ Thank you so much for continuing to invest your time and energy and pour into the ADHD community ♡♡♡♡♡♡

When I was much younger I got diagnosed with Autism, Dyslexia, OCD, and Auditory Processing Disorder. Recently also got diagnosed with ADHD and your videos are SO HELPFUL I just wanted to say that :)

Jessica, thanks to your channel, I was finally diagnosed with ADHD this year, despite being a high-achieving student for many years outwardly. Inside, I was constantly on fire-anxiously jumping from one thing to the next, never feeling settled or able to celebrate the things I did accomplish. Burnout is real and the older I get, the more difficult it becomes to force my body or my brain to act. Thank you for the strategies you’ve shared and for your own story, which have all been so helpful in identifying the signs of ADHD in my own life. I have more support now (through my therapist, doctors, and professors) than I did when I *almost* finished my first degree. Being back in school in my 30s is a real challenge, but I feel better equipped than ever because I can finally see what I’m up against and give myself grace where I need it. Thank you! 💕

yooooo! at 2:35 you just illustrated what ive been trying to explain to my girlfriend the first 2 years of our relationship. i called it my brain spinner and thats the only logical way i explained how i went from being obsessed with star wars monday, and than Pirates for the next month. lolol i love this channel!! :D

THANK YOU. I have just recently found you and you have given me a lot to work with. I am going through some changes in my life (divorce) and I wish I had met you sooner. As an adult I thought I would have understood these things already. I love learning from you. I love how you might start off energetic but go down to a whisper (a trick my mom used with me). I have to say I can only watch a few videos at a time because I find that I cry a lot watching. As I read the comments I see so much positivity, keep up the great work, you are making a positive difference in the world and we need more people like you!

I’m an “interest based learner”. I take courses outside my major like art, psych, theatre. However I swear I’m gonna get this degree! 😤

This channel is so educational on my newly discovered ADHD. Evidently, I've had ADHD all my life without realizing it, but it explains all my struggles that a person diagnosed with ADHD go through. Thank you for opening my eyes! And providing solutions to combat and keep our adhd under control.

You are one of my top recommendations to my students, their parents, my coworkers (other teachers) for working with ADHD.

I don't have adhd, I still find this channel helpful for myself

That interest based learning is soo relatable to me. I'm working on my degree and what I've been doing is looking through the categories I need to make progress in and choosing whatever interests me. Fortunately that's a lot of different things so I haven't gotten stuck yet. Except history but I've dragged myself through that already

I got diagnosed at 47, started treatment this year at 48 - even if you did GREAT (on the surface, or in some classes) in school and maybe you are even doing really well (on the surface) but this stuff resonates deeply, it is worth finding out if it fits you. You, other viewers, are worth the effort and the time and the help. If there are other women my age or so, who are thinking "I have done ok my whole life wth is wrong with me now", adhd can be affected by hormonal shifts and life changes. @HowtoADHD Jessica, I hope you'll do a video on that! I loved the one about being diagnosed as an adult. :)

I've never used The Great Courses Plus, but I used several classes from The Great Courses in high school and they're excellent! I'm so glad they're sponsoring the channel!

*m i n i m a l b r a i n d a m a g e*

You helped me get tested so thank you! I love that you’re doing this update video.

I can't wait to sign up for the great courses free trial... To end up having my wife ask "Why did we get charged 9.99 from the great courses ?" 9 months from now...

I love your videos I saw this notification and my day just got so much better

I have ADHD inattentive which was diagnosed at about 28 almost 10 years ago which if had been diagnosed when I was a child may well diagnosed as ADD. I was also diagnosed with Dyslexia as well as Autism or ASD just as they going to be changing to diagnose.

i'm working on focusing so we're keeping this short: THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I know that it's a global pandemic but I've never wanted to give someone a hug so much in my lifeee. I am 16 years old and just discovered this channel 2 days ago. I'm not sure if I have ADHD for sure or not but I've never found anything so relatable that explains just SO much. I have an appointment set in November as it's the earliest I could get. Ever since the school year started and much longer before then, I've felt like I'm slowly falling behind. ----even though most of what I hear from people is about how much potential I have had. For so much of my life I've been what I think one might call an "internal hulk," and would beat myself up at every point of failure. It hurts so much and yet for so long I had to tell myself that it's something I shouldn' have to struggle with, that I was too old or too smart to deal with it. that it was always my fault and that I wouldn't be able to make it through life because of how I am. I've always been too messy and disorganized and have too many thoughts and just... all over the place. I tend to over think everything. It's what I've always been told at least. It was an absolute miracle for me to find something that sounds like what my brain might be like! That maybe I'll be okay. When I shared my excitement with my friends they laughed saying "of course" like they wouldn't expect any less of me or that it was something bad. and it hurt. I want to take your advice to heart though, and not give up! to educate and stand up for myself, to climb walls of awful and try using "magical pomodorro fruit." This ending up not being as short as I thought it would be (oops) and I'm still struggling. But I feel like I'm on the right track. It really scares me to think of where I might have gone had I not discovered this in another 10 or 20 years... I have some questions! Have you heard of Naturopathic medicine or know anything about how they diagnose? They're basically like a non-traditional doctor and I don't know a lot about it but that is where my appointment is... also another interesting topic to look into is ADHD and the school system. I thought that ADHD was just not being able to sit still in class, and remember being taught that in school. A friend of mine didn't even know what it was. I think it's similar to your videos about the stigma around medication, which I also a bit nervous about being from an area that has had a lot drug abuse (actually I think we might be in the same area? idk ahaha). Perhaps I'll find more info or videos about this, but how do I manage my screen time with having school online and being prone to distraction? that's one of my biggest issues right now... Thank you so much again!

I very recently discovered you're channel and it really is extraordinary! I've known abt my adhd for years and was managing it pretty ok... until quarantine demolished my routine and it started to feel like everything was falling apart always. I think I've watched 20 videos in 3 days n while I know I didn't remember most of what I saw the things I have taken away from them have already made my life so much better!! For example based one of you're videos I asked my bf to write on a post it each morning a household thing he would like done by the time he gets home b/c I keep forgetting what he asks me to do (he does the vast majority of household tasks & works long hours). The result: yesterday the dishes were done when he got home & today I folded the laundry on my own for the 1st time in probably 3 months! Than you so much!!!!

So my suspicions that I do have ADHD keeps growing, not only did two friends share the look when I talked about it with them (one of them has ASD and ADHD and the other one has experience of working with teens with ADHD), but also what happened just last night. So I'm in bed at 3 am, sleepy and trying to relax while having a video on in the background, when suddenly my brain thought "hey, you have a lot of colouring books, many that you don't like, why not go through them?" And BAM I wasn't sleepy anymore. On the plus side, I now have way less colouring books taking up space and my nieces will love me even more when they get the books. On the minus side, I've slept on and off the whole day, because I had no energy to try to keep me awake. I just can't let an idea go when I get it, and I tend to get a lot of ideas 🤣

In my case, the tornado of hyperactivity is inside my head, and mostly hidden from others. Doesn't matter what label is used.

So thankful for this channel! The time blindness episode FINALLY helped a few misunderstanding family members “get it”. Although I have a lot of fail-safes in place to prevent professional issues due to lateness, they are exhausting and the anxiety over how my neuro diversity could affect my job adds to that. So, explaining that I kind of give my brain a break when it comes to casual family functions (meaning: I may not be on time. Let’s face it. I probably won’t be on time) isn’t because I don’t care. It’s because I have to ratchet down the stakes to manage stress.

I think I'm "Predominantly Inattentive", but I am a little hyperactive. It's more that I'm super talkative than "traditional" hyperactivity. Sleep definitely amplifies my ADHD. Whenever I'm super tired, I can not stop talking.

"Minimal brain damage" ... I mean it honestly can feel like it sometimes

I have inattentive ADHD :D

I have been looking forward to a new episode all day! Thank you, to the whole team, for everything you do! I’m showing your videos to my grandparents, whom I live with, and you are helping them understand me and my brain!

Hello Jessica!! Thank you for you work!! I gave me hope after a long long long time. For that I'm in debt with you. Lots of love from Paraguay!

Wow, just happened to pull up KZfaq the second you posted this video. Guess I've gotta watch it now! Do you think they should update the ADHD now, as it seems to not be the best descriptor for many of us?

Hi, Jessica! You're the best ever! I have definitely learned so much from your channel. 💗💖💗💖💗

Thank you thank you thank you!!!! I was really hoping for this video! I was diagnosed with ADD 6 years ago and when I found your channel I thought a lot of it was helpful but I wasn’t sure if it actually applied to me, so thank you so much as this really clears up my confusions.

I was diagnosed with adhd when i was 7 years old...and on my 12th birthday i was looking on youtoub and found this amazing channel!!!!😁😁Jessica you are amazing and i'm so so glad i found these amazing videos!!!!!

I'd like to add one more important aspect here: culture! I found out that in the US the term is actually more "outdated" as it is where I come from (Western Europe). I got diagnosed 6 months ago and they called it ADD, while professionals know that officially it's now the same diagnosis. Most people, including in healthcare, do not know this at all. It is still viewed as two completely separate things. And even though I agree they share the same umbrella, it only confuses people even more if I say I have ADHD instead of ADD.

The hyperactive part is one of the main reasons I didn't get diagnosed earlier in life. I'm not usually outwardly hyperactive, it is mostly internal. I was diagnosed as combined as well, thanks to Jessica and finding this channel more than 4 years ago now. 😁

You just got a brand new Subscriber. Your channel is phenomenal and exactly what Ive been looking for

I'm mainly here for of the executive functioning stuff, and the general atmosphere of acceptance. I don't have adhd but I've found lots of good things on this channel! My particular favorite is the Wall of Awful, and I go back to those videos every now and then.

I still call it ADD but definitely i find much of your channel pertains to me . I find that while my body isnt hyperactive my mind often is so. Funny enough I also find it actually makes me be not impulsive enough, over thinking everything.

Re free trials: Often you can sign up and then cancel right away. Then you still get the free trial period. BUT you have to remember to renew.

I love your channel and cry like a baby everytime I listen to your ted talk. I hope one day my story can help others as much as yours helped me! Thank you so much!!!!

I am so thankful for your channel. My husband, brother in law, and mother in law are all ADHD and my son is as well. It was so helpful for understanding them and teaching my son to cope. Keep the videos coming!

Is it because this isn’t a math channel?

So THAT's how I ended up with a degree's worth of 100 level courses and no actual degree!!! #interestebasedlearnerinthehouse

I got diagnosed yesterday (I’m 20), I’ve been watching your videos and it’s made me understand so much about my life so far (yes I was supposed to be studying, yes this was giving me more dopamine) I’ve sent a handful of your videos to some of the ‘hearts’ in my life. Thank you

I don't have an official diagnosis but a lot of the things on your channel make so much sense to me. I've talked to my mom about it and she always says that she doesn't think I have ADHD, just ADD. Thanks for this video! I'm excited to share this new information with her!

KZfaq has another update and I literally can't handle it. I'm having a mental breakdown right now

Had to double-check the playback speed of this video... I was so sure it was playing at 1.25X. I almost always set it at that because my ADHD can't handle slow talkers. Turns out you just talk at a 1.25X playback speed. If that's not hyperactivity...

I just found this channel and Oml I thought I grew out of my adhd as I was a crazy kid but makes sense as I’m so distant and erratic in motivation and ideas

hey uuum, i got ADHD and Autism. and I have litteraly active help in my struggles. I live in a protected living institute and have VERY close proffesional help to me, that includes my parrents who are experts in Autism, ADHD and also Psychiatric issues like borderline. like 50%+ of their lives was devoted in helping people with mental disabilities....and this need to provide to ppl who struggle is noticable in almost every member of our family....and even so, I am still a very complex example of both of the disorders.....But this channel is wonderful! it doesnt only teach me new things (which is rare for others to do so....i know a lot haha) but also useful in teaching my friends and family that were diagnosed later on or not getting through propperly. and when I dont feel like learning, I still like listening to your voice and to see this happy face of this woman ^^. I dont want to sound like a creep or anything....but she often brings a smile to my face, which is hard to do so.....Im litteraly not living for myself anymore, so i dont care how life goes at this point, all i care is friends and lovely ppl I still speak, see or meetup with. Life is hard and I dont know if I have actual depression...I like looking at small things and be amazed how wonderful such a small thing is, but it doesnt make me less hopeless. It just distracts. which is fine, but I dont like how ppl think im a fun and kind person with a upmooded persona. because even my best friends only know my struggles from stories. they never really saw me going lunatic.....but I just wanted to say thanks for these lovely videos

It’s easy ADD = ABBA Dabba Dooba ADHD = ABBA Dabba HOOBA Dooba

I have ADHD and I love your long hair

I just watched you first tedx. And more by others explaining 'their' adhd. The pain of being misunderstood for so long, of the lost years, friends and families; missed opportunities, the relief of finding out who they are, that there is hope, that they aren't lazy, broken, uncaring... is so palpable it's heartbreaking. I'm glad that ADHD is being dragged kicking and screaming to the attention of neurotypical brains! The number of people with ADHD who self diagnosis late in life, or who are self taught in how to live with it is astounding. I have diagnosed myself at 45 and desperate to research and bring awareness to the 'condition', so others aren't left in the wilderness for as long. Yet, the irony of being told I can't go and study x,y,x at Uni because of my historic school and academic records, by those teaching the next generation of health professionals specialising in mental health, is unbelievable. btw my brain not being the same as someone elses does not mean I have a condition! But I'm sure you agree. I prefer to think of the box lovers out there having some sort of condition due wanting others to fit into something that does not exists. I'm just a hunting and gathering badass! =p Having to wait 3 years for an official assesment to then be allowed access to medication that might help my brain ignore their barriers is.... When I get there, I think i will make it a compulsory module, for every first year trainee health professional who might ever encounter people with mental health issues, to watch yours and others TedX lectures. Open to suggestions on what I'll rename ADHD to. My 2015 mental health nurse assessment said i "no psychomotor over-activity or retardation and affect was reactive" - I'm sure my 1991 school psych report said similar... so ADHD dismissed before even considered by lack of awareness and knowledge from the professionals trained to diagnose... Or to be kind to them, from an extremely poorly named condition that causes confusion and one that the people at the top won't rename due their own ? ego ? belief ? maybe I should sue them for allowing a 'condition' to be knowingly named in such a way as to cause confusion by those working in the health profession... Stay strong and, now you've found your ocean, keep swimming !

Just found the channel after a friend sent me a link to your TEDx talk. Outstanding job. I have already hit your website and subscribed to your forum. Thank you.

I’m still waiting for the diagnosis :( it’s been nearly 2 months.

"ADHD Tax". HA that made me laugh. Clever. Do you take supplements along with your medication?

So glad you did this one! I'm definitely more "inattentive" than anything. Also love that you're sponsored by the great courses. I was just reading an article about how good lectures don't just teach you, but put you in the state of mind to think. My creativity mostly stems from the way my mind wanders during lectures because I'm stimulated by the new ideas. So far I've started three fascinating great courses: dystopian fiction, one about the evolution of language, and one about visualizing math. They're all SO FASCINATING!!!

I haven’t been diagnosed yet but after watching your videos I understand that I should see a specialist first. Regardless of the result, I’ve cried several times watching them and just want to thank you, you made a difference.

I have ADHD television.. : D

Jess is super sus; she killed me a couple weeks ago in among us :mild_panic:

I find the content on your channel extremely helpful despite not having been diagnosed with ADHD or ADD. I was diagnosed with Specific Learning Disorder, and part of that diagnosis includes weak working memory. It has been difficult navigating life as an adult, but I feel your content has helped me in a big way! Also, I just thought I'd leave a comment to say... THANK YOU!

WAIT! Your ADHD traits can change over time!?! That explains SO MUCH! I’ve always had 100% (literally) of the ADD traits in most lists, but almost none of the ADHD traits, but recently I’ve been trying to become more active…and it’s like I let something loose that previously only ever came out when I was enthousiastic. I’m becoming more and more hyperactive. It’s a good thing, because now I actually…sometimes get things done.

Bill Gates also has ADHD ?

First

I never knew this... I was diagnosed with ADD in 2011 I have followed you since the beginning and have really benefited from your channel!

Thank you for putting the advertising at the end! And thank you for making these videos!

Thank you Jessica!!! Your videos are the best

Love this, I've got combined ADHD, none medicated and surviving. Well done keeping up with this channel from one ADHD head to another well done and am proud of you 🙏🙏🙏🙂

I got diagnosed with Attention and Concentration Deficit this July because of watching your channel and connecting with the examples really well.

Haven’t tried Great Courses Plus, but I can testify as an online grad student that I’m starting to prefer online courses over in-person ones for the same reasons you mentioned. I can bring the lectures wherever I go, I can watch them when my brain works best, and I can rewind and rewatch lectures I didn’t understand as much. I can also pause so I can catch up with writing notes (and I mean writing, not typing!). I thought that I would procrastinate everything until the very last minute because I didn’t have the same structure of a regular class, but because they space everything out for you, I haven’t gotten stuck trying to do the entire class in one weekend. It also helps that I really enjoy (most of) the classes too.