July 1, 2024 • 21 mins
Welcome to Episode 3 of the 8DHD podcast, hosted by Nurse Coach Seth. In this episode, we take a comprehensive look at ADHD, exploring what it really means to live with it. From understanding the three main types of ADHD—hyperactive, inattentive, and combination—to discussing the various causes and symptoms, Seth breaks down the complexities of this condition.
We delve into the challenges faced by those with ADHD, including emotional dysregulation, executive function issues, and the social implications of the disorder. Seth also emphasizes the importance of medication and holistic management strategies to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Whether you're newly diagnosed or seeking to better understand ADHD, this episode offers valuable insights and practical understandings. Join us as we navigate the intricate world of ADHD and learn how to thrive despite its challenges.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Music.
(00:08):
You're listening to the ADHD podcast, where we dive into the good,
the bad, the ugly, and the spicy of ADHD.
Taking a holistic view from the boardroom to the bedroom, nothing is off limits.
I'm your host, Nurse Coach Seth, and whether you're newly diagnosed or looking
to better understand yourself, I'm here to make the journey of navigating ADHD
a little less messy and help you thrive.
(00:31):
Music.
I'll see you next time. Bye. Hello, friends, and I am your host, Nurse Coach Seth.
Welcome to Episode 3. I know it gets a little confusing looking at it,
but yes, this is Episode 3, and today we are getting into it.
(00:56):
We are actually getting into talking about ADHD properly, what it is,
what it looks like, like what it means to live with it, what that feels like,
and what all the other stuff is that's associated with it.
And we're just going to dig in.
So let's do this. Let's do this thing.
(01:16):
The truth is that around 15% of all kids and adults in the US are diagnosed
with ADHD. Now, that's not even an accurate figure.
That's a best guess based on existing diagnoses for all kids and all current
adults with ADHD diagnoses.
(01:39):
And the truth is that for adults, it is dramatically underdiagnosed.
That's part of why, and maybe you fall into this category, there's a big uptick
in adults who are getting that late-in-life ADHD diagnosis.
But then there's the question of, what is ADHD?
(01:59):
You have the diagnosis, you're told, you meet the criteria, and you go,
great, this makes sense.
All of these things that I was and that I've struggled with,
it all makes sense now. I have a diagnosis.
Now what? What does it mean? Well, let's get into what it actually means, right?
(02:23):
It's not some fun, quirky thing.
It's not something that you can turn on and off, and it's not curable.
ADHD is something that is in your brain.
It is your brain. It is a result of changes in your brain.
Now, if you have ADHD, you know that it affects every part of your life.
(02:49):
There is nothing that you do or say or experience that is not touched by ADHD.
So don't get angry with me when I say this part because I am right there with you. I have ADHD also.
I know what that lived experience is like.
The clinical diagnosis of ADHD is incredibly narrow.
(03:13):
It doesn't take in all the other stuff. off.
It's a very narrow diagnosis, and there are only three types of ADHD.
You've got your hyperactive type.
Now, if you're the hyperactive type ADHD, I don't need to describe this for you.
(03:34):
You know who you are. You know what this is like to live with.
If you're unfamiliar with someone who has hyperactive type ADHD,
these are the kids, especially as these are the kids who get diagnosed early,
because this is the easiest one to spot.
These are the kids that have a motor running in them nonstop.
They are the ones that are talking out. They can't control what they say,
(03:58):
when they say it, they can't sit still. They are out running around.
These are the ones that, you know, can run the energizer bunny into the ground.
And they're the ones who are probably, talking a mile a minute also.
Hyperactive type, that was also kind of the standard definition of ADHD for
a long time before everything got lumped in.
(04:21):
Inattentive type used to be what was called ADD.
Inattentive type is usually what shows up more in adults.
It's also what kind of gets That's kind of swept under the rug.
Inattentive type is what gets swept under the rug.
It's where you're not necessarily not paying attention, but you have trouble starting tasks.
(04:47):
You're going to have trouble finishing.
That's where you start spacing out and get lost in your own thoughts. You are losing items.
You can't remember where you put your keys. That can happen with anything,
anything with any type, but especially with inattentive type,
it's keeping track of items.
It goes on and on with that one, but...
(05:12):
These are the people, and if you fall into this category, I am sorry.
I know it was hard, where in school you were told you needed to try harder,
you needed to do more, that you had so much potential and you just weren't living up to it.
And I was there. I even, I had teachers who told me that I was going to fail,
(05:34):
I was never going to amount to anything, and I had to work harder even though
I was already putting in hours and hours every day of extra work and tutoring
and everything else just to try and understand and keep up.
But they didn't care. They didn't understand.
But that's why it matters to have the right kind of support.
(05:56):
That's why it's so important to not listen to those negative voices because they aren't true.
Now there's the third type of ADHD, which is combination type.
It's means that it is just the fun grab bag of at least six diagnostic symptoms
of both inattentive and six diagnostic symptoms of hyperactive.
(06:21):
You just get to mix them up and go to town.
So you are there getting the combination of both of them.
You might be able to sit still, but your brain's going a mile a minute.
You're there fidgeting.
It's all mixed together. This is where I fall in, it's difficult.
(06:44):
It's a difficult place to be.
But that's it. There are three categories.
There is inattentive, there is hyperactive, and there is combination.
If at any point you come across anything telling you that there are seven types
of ADHD or that you might have a ring of fire type of ADHD, there is no actual
(07:07):
clinical backing behind that.
There is no actual science to back that up.
There is only one institute out there that sells a very expensive program with
a bunch of brain scans saying that if you scan your brain,
you can diagnose your exact type of ADHD and get a very specific plan to treat it and almost cure it.
(07:30):
There is no science to back that up. The DSM only recognizes three types of ADHD,
and everything is based off based around
that let's take a short break today's episode
is brought to you by clarify wellness llc and the national outdoor leadership
school if you're looking to master your adhd and build your leadership skills
(07:51):
join us for a seven-day expedition in the southern utah canyons launching in
april 2025 you can get your spot today day.
Contact Seth at clarifywellness.coach for more details.
Welcome back from the break. Now, there are different causes for ADHD.
(08:13):
Some of us are just lucky and hit the genetic lottery and we are born with ADHD.
You just come out and boom, there you are. Your brain is just different.
But then maybe there are exposures to toxins in the environment.
Also premature birth has been shown to
(08:35):
be a potential link but then there are
other things that can actually be factors in developing adhd so you don't have
to have adhd as a kid to end up with adhd because adhd is a result of having
different brain structure and different brain function.
(08:57):
So emotional trauma, things like severe depression, PTSD, and physical trauma.
Brain trauma, TBIs, traumatic brain injury, concussions, multiple concussions,
can all be factors in resulting in having ADHD and causing ADHD.
(09:20):
Not necessarily causing, but but creating an environment within your brain that
can allow for ADHD symptoms to occur.
It is not a one-size-fits-all. There is not only one thing that causes ADHD.
There is not only one way to treat ADHD, and there are multiple ways that ADHD
(09:44):
can then present as a result.
And it is not just a childhood disease, clearly.
If there are so many ways with that it can pop up or be created,
in a sense, it's not just for kids.
Even though there are different ways that ADHD can present, different places
(10:05):
that it can come from, different ways that the brain can change,
it really does all come down to the fact that it is a presentation of different
brain function, different brain structure.
There are different neural pathways that are occurring. There are different
neural connections that are occurring.
So it's important to keep in mind that not everyone is going to experience ADHD the same way.
(10:31):
This is not a one-size-fits-all.
There are different levels of severity. As a result of that,
that means that different people are going to develop different skills along the way.
This is also the reason that ADHD tends to present differently in women than it does in men,
because there's differences in how men are taught to regulate their emotions
(10:54):
and the expectations of them versus in women.
And women are able to kind of mask their symptoms a bit better for longer,
which is also why there is more of a latent life diagnosis for them versus the
earlier diagnosis for men.
Now, for me personally, I was lucky.
(11:16):
I had parents who saw symptoms in me early on.
I was able to get tested and diagnosed early.
But in addition to winning the genetic lottery,
I also have the joy of having the combination of head trauma and PTSD all being
(11:37):
worked together to enhance the ADHD experience.
So I can tell you that when you're in the midst of it, it can suck.
There can be the question of why me and also, well, what am I supposed to do with this?
But ultimately, it's not about having ADHD.
(12:00):
It's not about how severe the symptoms are at the time.
It really comes down to you. It's a question of what are you going to choose to do with it?
How are you going to to choose to move forward?
And also, what resources are you going to choose to seek out?
(12:21):
You can't hide behind a diagnosis.
You can't use a diagnosis as an excuse for your behavior.
And that's actually something that I'll end up doing a full episode on right there. But it's true.
You need to choose your path. And there is no one path. There is no single answer.
(12:46):
But if you choose to do nothing, then nothing changes.
But if you choose to do something, if you choose to move forward,
if you choose to do anything, that's what's going to make a difference.
Even if it's not the right choice, then you still learn something and you can
make a different choice. And that's huge.
So it is so important to make sure that you do do something.
(13:10):
And part of that is because if you do nothing, you only go into a deeper hole.
Now, there are other symptoms that get associated with ADHD.
And like I said, if you have ADHD, you already know what I'm talking about.
But there was a study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
(13:32):
And I'm going to post all the links for anything that I talked about on my website
for this episode. They'll be available.
You can look at everything that I researched.
So feel free to go and check that out.
But what this study showed is that when you're faced with setbacks and you have
(13:55):
ADHD, there is a much higher risk for depression and anxiety.
And when there's depression and anxiety, there's an increased risk for substance
abuse and self-harm when there's ADHD involved.
So it is so important to take care of yourself, to make sure that you are getting
the help that you need, that this is not just a personal journey,
(14:16):
but this is really a mental health journey.
The outcomes here are about more than just school or just getting the job that you want.
It really is about your quality of life. And it still falls into some kind of key categories.
I mean, there's the executive function piece, there's organization,
(14:37):
there's time management, there's the anxiety can fall on can mix in with problem solving abilities.
Then you've got the emotional
piece of it there's emotional dysregulation
that comes with adhd you've got
mood swings there's low tolerance for frustration there's emotional sensitivity
(15:00):
there's rejection sensitivity dysphoria and on top of all of that anger can
also feel good which which can be problematic because when you feel angry,
there's actually a rush of dopamine. So you can lean into that anger.
So arguing, fighting, being angry can actually be problematic.
(15:21):
It can be problematic with ADHD because even if it doesn't feel good,
good, it actually like gives you that spike inside.
And then that leads to kind of some social issues because maybe you don't connect
as well because you like arguing, you like fighting, But then there's fear of
rejection and possibly you're impulsive.
(15:44):
So if you don't learn the skills to bring it all together to move forward to
really understand yourself, your own ADHD,
it can be problematic because there are all these other pieces that even though
they're not necessarily directly related to ADHD,
then it still stems from your ADHD.
(16:05):
And it gets even bigger than that because now you've got depression and anxiety
in the mix, which can affect sleep, it can affect self-esteem,
and the list kind of keeps going.
There can be other associated learning disability things with reading, writing, math, memory.
(16:26):
There can be issues still around more executive function.
Depression in the mix. Then there are sensory issues. You can feel overwhelmed with bright light.
You can be uncomfortable with clothing. You can be hot, cold.
All the sensory input can be overwhelming, but also sound.
(16:51):
Sound can be overwhelming, but then it can also become an issue with auditory
processing because maybe you're trying to think faster than you can hear. then you're not able.
And then at the same time, you're trying to filter out extra noise in a loud
environment while someone's talking to you and you're filtering and you're trying
(17:11):
to pay attention and you're thinking at the same time.
And then you can't actually process what the person who's talking to you is saying.
You just can't hear it. And you have to ask them to repeat it five times and
then they get frustrated and then you feel bad.
All of these things build up. This is part of the lived experience of ADHD.
And then maybe you have self-stimming, maybe there's skin picking,
(17:33):
but there's the question of how much of this is comorbid symptoms?
How much of this is actually related to ADHD?
How much of this is secondary?
Or how much of this is related to anxiety being created by having ADHD?
And then you have self-stimming because you have ADHD.
(17:57):
And then you have more anxiety and then you have all of these other pieces going
in this spiral because you have anxiety and then you have adhd which increases
the anxiety and then you don't have the tools to deal with any of it there's a lot to unravel.
All of it does end up connected one way or another.
(18:17):
And it's important to really understand yourself, your symptoms,
how they connect, and how you can manage them.
And part of managing them is better living through chemistry.
So let's talk about medications real quick.
Medications matter. They also help change the way your brain chemistry functions.
(18:40):
It helps regulate it so if
your symptoms are a result of your brain
chemistry being out of whack medications that normalize that brain function
can reduce those symptoms that you're experiencing that make things so much
harder even adhd medications a big part of what they do is they
(19:04):
are increasing dopamine levels to a clinically normalized level,
which is why brain function improves.
So medications are an important part of management. It's part of holistic management.
It's not just building the skills.
It's not just building the understanding, but it is using every tool available to you.
(19:26):
So ADHD can feel big and scary and overwhelming.
Overwhelming but the truth is is that when you
break it down it's not that scary because
it's already just your lived experience you
need to take the time to understand yourself and then you can take steps to
(19:47):
move forward there are skills that you can master there are goals that you can
move towards there is a way forward you're not alone there's a community out
there for you there is support.
Make sure, be kind to yourself, give yourself grace, give yourself the time.
And you will be able to thrive.
(20:08):
You've been listening to the 8DHD podcast with Nurse Coach Seth.
This podcast is brought to you by my website, clarifywellness.coach,
where you can find resources, get your copy of the 8DHD playbook,
and schedule your first call to learn more about coaching.
If you liked what you heard or just like this episode, make sure to follow for
new episodes and leave a five-star review to help other folks who may be looking
(20:31):
for something similar find this podcast.
If you have topics you'd like to hear covered or would like me to come be a
speaker at your organization, you can send your emails to 8dhdpod at clarifywellness.coach.
For more resources and coaching, go to clarifywellness.coach.
Music for this podcast comes from upbeat.io. Remember, be kind to yourself. I'll see you next time.
Music.
(00:08):
You're listening to the ADHD podcast, where we dive into the good,
the bad, the ugly, and the spicy of ADHD.
Taking a holistic view from the boardroom to the bedroom, nothing is off limits.
I'm your host, Nurse Coach Seth, and whether you're newly diagnosed or looking
to better understand yourself, I'm here to make the journey of navigating ADHD
a little less messy and help you thrive.
(00:31):
Music.
I'll see you next time. Bye. Hello, friends, and I am your host, Nurse Coach Seth.
Welcome to Episode 3. I know it gets a little confusing looking at it,
but yes, this is Episode 3, and today we are getting into it.
(00:56):
We are actually getting into talking about ADHD properly, what it is,
what it looks like, like what it means to live with it, what that feels like,
and what all the other stuff is that's associated with it.
And we're just going to dig in.
So let's do this. Let's do this thing.
(01:16):
The truth is that around 15% of all kids and adults in the US are diagnosed
with ADHD. Now, that's not even an accurate figure.
That's a best guess based on existing diagnoses for all kids and all current
adults with ADHD diagnoses.
(01:39):
And the truth is that for adults, it is dramatically underdiagnosed.
That's part of why, and maybe you fall into this category, there's a big uptick
in adults who are getting that late-in-life ADHD diagnosis.
But then there's the question of, what is ADHD?
(01:59):
You have the diagnosis, you're told, you meet the criteria, and you go,
great, this makes sense.
All of these things that I was and that I've struggled with,
it all makes sense now. I have a diagnosis.
Now what? What does it mean? Well, let's get into what it actually means, right?
(02:23):
It's not some fun, quirky thing.
It's not something that you can turn on and off, and it's not curable.
ADHD is something that is in your brain.
It is your brain. It is a result of changes in your brain.
Now, if you have ADHD, you know that it affects every part of your life.
(02:49):
There is nothing that you do or say or experience that is not touched by ADHD.
So don't get angry with me when I say this part because I am right there with you. I have ADHD also.
I know what that lived experience is like.
The clinical diagnosis of ADHD is incredibly narrow.
(03:13):
It doesn't take in all the other stuff. off.
It's a very narrow diagnosis, and there are only three types of ADHD.
You've got your hyperactive type.
Now, if you're the hyperactive type ADHD, I don't need to describe this for you.
(03:34):
You know who you are. You know what this is like to live with.
If you're unfamiliar with someone who has hyperactive type ADHD,
these are the kids, especially as these are the kids who get diagnosed early,
because this is the easiest one to spot.
These are the kids that have a motor running in them nonstop.
They are the ones that are talking out. They can't control what they say,
(03:58):
when they say it, they can't sit still. They are out running around.
These are the ones that, you know, can run the energizer bunny into the ground.
And they're the ones who are probably, talking a mile a minute also.
Hyperactive type, that was also kind of the standard definition of ADHD for
a long time before everything got lumped in.
(04:21):
Inattentive type used to be what was called ADD.
Inattentive type is usually what shows up more in adults.
It's also what kind of gets That's kind of swept under the rug.
Inattentive type is what gets swept under the rug.
It's where you're not necessarily not paying attention, but you have trouble starting tasks.
(04:47):
You're going to have trouble finishing.
That's where you start spacing out and get lost in your own thoughts. You are losing items.
You can't remember where you put your keys. That can happen with anything,
anything with any type, but especially with inattentive type,
it's keeping track of items.
It goes on and on with that one, but...
(05:12):
These are the people, and if you fall into this category, I am sorry.
I know it was hard, where in school you were told you needed to try harder,
you needed to do more, that you had so much potential and you just weren't living up to it.
And I was there. I even, I had teachers who told me that I was going to fail,
(05:34):
I was never going to amount to anything, and I had to work harder even though
I was already putting in hours and hours every day of extra work and tutoring
and everything else just to try and understand and keep up.
But they didn't care. They didn't understand.
But that's why it matters to have the right kind of support.
(05:56):
That's why it's so important to not listen to those negative voices because they aren't true.
Now there's the third type of ADHD, which is combination type.
It's means that it is just the fun grab bag of at least six diagnostic symptoms
of both inattentive and six diagnostic symptoms of hyperactive.
(06:21):
You just get to mix them up and go to town.
So you are there getting the combination of both of them.
You might be able to sit still, but your brain's going a mile a minute.
You're there fidgeting.
It's all mixed together. This is where I fall in, it's difficult.
(06:44):
It's a difficult place to be.
But that's it. There are three categories.
There is inattentive, there is hyperactive, and there is combination.
If at any point you come across anything telling you that there are seven types
of ADHD or that you might have a ring of fire type of ADHD, there is no actual
(07:07):
clinical backing behind that.
There is no actual science to back that up.
There is only one institute out there that sells a very expensive program with
a bunch of brain scans saying that if you scan your brain,
you can diagnose your exact type of ADHD and get a very specific plan to treat it and almost cure it.
(07:30):
There is no science to back that up. The DSM only recognizes three types of ADHD,
and everything is based off based around
that let's take a short break today's episode
is brought to you by clarify wellness llc and the national outdoor leadership
school if you're looking to master your adhd and build your leadership skills
(07:51):
join us for a seven-day expedition in the southern utah canyons launching in
april 2025 you can get your spot today day.
Contact Seth at clarifywellness.coach for more details.
Welcome back from the break. Now, there are different causes for ADHD.
(08:13):
Some of us are just lucky and hit the genetic lottery and we are born with ADHD.
You just come out and boom, there you are. Your brain is just different.
But then maybe there are exposures to toxins in the environment.
Also premature birth has been shown to
(08:35):
be a potential link but then there are
other things that can actually be factors in developing adhd so you don't have
to have adhd as a kid to end up with adhd because adhd is a result of having
different brain structure and different brain function.
(08:57):
So emotional trauma, things like severe depression, PTSD, and physical trauma.
Brain trauma, TBIs, traumatic brain injury, concussions, multiple concussions,
can all be factors in resulting in having ADHD and causing ADHD.
(09:20):
Not necessarily causing, but but creating an environment within your brain that
can allow for ADHD symptoms to occur.
It is not a one-size-fits-all. There is not only one thing that causes ADHD.
There is not only one way to treat ADHD, and there are multiple ways that ADHD
(09:44):
can then present as a result.
And it is not just a childhood disease, clearly.
If there are so many ways with that it can pop up or be created,
in a sense, it's not just for kids.
Even though there are different ways that ADHD can present, different places
(10:05):
that it can come from, different ways that the brain can change,
it really does all come down to the fact that it is a presentation of different
brain function, different brain structure.
There are different neural pathways that are occurring. There are different
neural connections that are occurring.
So it's important to keep in mind that not everyone is going to experience ADHD the same way.
(10:31):
This is not a one-size-fits-all.
There are different levels of severity. As a result of that,
that means that different people are going to develop different skills along the way.
This is also the reason that ADHD tends to present differently in women than it does in men,
because there's differences in how men are taught to regulate their emotions
(10:54):
and the expectations of them versus in women.
And women are able to kind of mask their symptoms a bit better for longer,
which is also why there is more of a latent life diagnosis for them versus the
earlier diagnosis for men.
Now, for me personally, I was lucky.
(11:16):
I had parents who saw symptoms in me early on.
I was able to get tested and diagnosed early.
But in addition to winning the genetic lottery,
I also have the joy of having the combination of head trauma and PTSD all being
(11:37):
worked together to enhance the ADHD experience.
So I can tell you that when you're in the midst of it, it can suck.
There can be the question of why me and also, well, what am I supposed to do with this?
But ultimately, it's not about having ADHD.
(12:00):
It's not about how severe the symptoms are at the time.
It really comes down to you. It's a question of what are you going to choose to do with it?
How are you going to to choose to move forward?
And also, what resources are you going to choose to seek out?
(12:21):
You can't hide behind a diagnosis.
You can't use a diagnosis as an excuse for your behavior.
And that's actually something that I'll end up doing a full episode on right there. But it's true.
You need to choose your path. And there is no one path. There is no single answer.
(12:46):
But if you choose to do nothing, then nothing changes.
But if you choose to do something, if you choose to move forward,
if you choose to do anything, that's what's going to make a difference.
Even if it's not the right choice, then you still learn something and you can
make a different choice. And that's huge.
So it is so important to make sure that you do do something.
(13:10):
And part of that is because if you do nothing, you only go into a deeper hole.
Now, there are other symptoms that get associated with ADHD.
And like I said, if you have ADHD, you already know what I'm talking about.
But there was a study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
(13:32):
And I'm going to post all the links for anything that I talked about on my website
for this episode. They'll be available.
You can look at everything that I researched.
So feel free to go and check that out.
But what this study showed is that when you're faced with setbacks and you have
(13:55):
ADHD, there is a much higher risk for depression and anxiety.
And when there's depression and anxiety, there's an increased risk for substance
abuse and self-harm when there's ADHD involved.
So it is so important to take care of yourself, to make sure that you are getting
the help that you need, that this is not just a personal journey,
(14:16):
but this is really a mental health journey.
The outcomes here are about more than just school or just getting the job that you want.
It really is about your quality of life. And it still falls into some kind of key categories.
I mean, there's the executive function piece, there's organization,
(14:37):
there's time management, there's the anxiety can fall on can mix in with problem solving abilities.
Then you've got the emotional
piece of it there's emotional dysregulation
that comes with adhd you've got
mood swings there's low tolerance for frustration there's emotional sensitivity
(15:00):
there's rejection sensitivity dysphoria and on top of all of that anger can
also feel good which which can be problematic because when you feel angry,
there's actually a rush of dopamine. So you can lean into that anger.
So arguing, fighting, being angry can actually be problematic.
(15:21):
It can be problematic with ADHD because even if it doesn't feel good,
good, it actually like gives you that spike inside.
And then that leads to kind of some social issues because maybe you don't connect
as well because you like arguing, you like fighting, But then there's fear of
rejection and possibly you're impulsive.
(15:44):
So if you don't learn the skills to bring it all together to move forward to
really understand yourself, your own ADHD,
it can be problematic because there are all these other pieces that even though
they're not necessarily directly related to ADHD,
then it still stems from your ADHD.
(16:05):
And it gets even bigger than that because now you've got depression and anxiety
in the mix, which can affect sleep, it can affect self-esteem,
and the list kind of keeps going.
There can be other associated learning disability things with reading, writing, math, memory.
(16:26):
There can be issues still around more executive function.
Depression in the mix. Then there are sensory issues. You can feel overwhelmed with bright light.
You can be uncomfortable with clothing. You can be hot, cold.
All the sensory input can be overwhelming, but also sound.
(16:51):
Sound can be overwhelming, but then it can also become an issue with auditory
processing because maybe you're trying to think faster than you can hear. then you're not able.
And then at the same time, you're trying to filter out extra noise in a loud
environment while someone's talking to you and you're filtering and you're trying
(17:11):
to pay attention and you're thinking at the same time.
And then you can't actually process what the person who's talking to you is saying.
You just can't hear it. And you have to ask them to repeat it five times and
then they get frustrated and then you feel bad.
All of these things build up. This is part of the lived experience of ADHD.
And then maybe you have self-stimming, maybe there's skin picking,
(17:33):
but there's the question of how much of this is comorbid symptoms?
How much of this is actually related to ADHD?
How much of this is secondary?
Or how much of this is related to anxiety being created by having ADHD?
And then you have self-stimming because you have ADHD.
(17:57):
And then you have more anxiety and then you have all of these other pieces going
in this spiral because you have anxiety and then you have adhd which increases
the anxiety and then you don't have the tools to deal with any of it there's a lot to unravel.
All of it does end up connected one way or another.
(18:17):
And it's important to really understand yourself, your symptoms,
how they connect, and how you can manage them.
And part of managing them is better living through chemistry.
So let's talk about medications real quick.
Medications matter. They also help change the way your brain chemistry functions.
(18:40):
It helps regulate it so if
your symptoms are a result of your brain
chemistry being out of whack medications that normalize that brain function
can reduce those symptoms that you're experiencing that make things so much
harder even adhd medications a big part of what they do is they
(19:04):
are increasing dopamine levels to a clinically normalized level,
which is why brain function improves.
So medications are an important part of management. It's part of holistic management.
It's not just building the skills.
It's not just building the understanding, but it is using every tool available to you.
(19:26):
So ADHD can feel big and scary and overwhelming.
Overwhelming but the truth is is that when you
break it down it's not that scary because
it's already just your lived experience you
need to take the time to understand yourself and then you can take steps to
(19:47):
move forward there are skills that you can master there are goals that you can
move towards there is a way forward you're not alone there's a community out
there for you there is support.
Make sure, be kind to yourself, give yourself grace, give yourself the time.
And you will be able to thrive.
(20:08):
You've been listening to the 8DHD podcast with Nurse Coach Seth.
This podcast is brought to you by my website, clarifywellness.coach,
where you can find resources, get your copy of the 8DHD playbook,
and schedule your first call to learn more about coaching.
If you liked what you heard or just like this episode, make sure to follow for
new episodes and leave a five-star review to help other folks who may be looking
(20:31):
for something similar find this podcast.
If you have topics you'd like to hear covered or would like me to come be a
speaker at your organization, you can send your emails to 8dhdpod at clarifywellness.coach.
For more resources and coaching, go to clarifywellness.coach.
Music for this podcast comes from upbeat.io. Remember, be kind to yourself. I'll see you next time.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.