ADHD test WITH breakdown PLUS tips on answering it

I go through the official ADHD screener ASRS-5 DSM-5 ADHD test questions, break them down and give some advice on how to answer these questions to give more honest answers.
An online version of this test can be found here:
www.welcometothewormhole.com/...
00:00 ASRS V1.1 or ASRS-5?
01:16 Two Top Tips for answering the questions
02:41 -1. How often do you have difficulty concentrating on what people are saying to you even when they are speaking to you directly?
04:28 -2. How often do you leave your seat in meetings or other situations in which you are expected to remain seated?
06:15 -3. How often do you have difficulty unwinding and relaxing when you have time to yourself?
08:58 -4. When you’re in a conversation, how often do you find yourself finishing the sentences of the people you are talking to before they can finish them themselves?
11:04 -5. How often do you put things off until the last minute?
12:01 -6. How often do you depend on others to keep your life in order and attend to details?

[@DuncanCunningham]

I am 49. I had an appointment, 5 days ago, to talk to a counselor. I made a list of all the things that I could think of in the 30 minutes before the meeting, that I could write down, because if I just said them I’d forget more than half. After 8 minutes he stopped me. “These are classic ADHD traits”. I had no idea. All of this time that I’d seen “head” doctors they told me that I was depressed and put me on medication that made me a “zombie” so I stopped taking them and never went back to them. I finally got a correct diagnosis. I started to watch videos and you going through these questions you nailed exactly how my life has been. I’ve been muddling through conversations and holding my thoughts because it’s rude to interrupt people so to do that I end up either writing it down or just being unable to listen to the rest of their speaking until they stop and then I find that my original response is either right on or off topic. I thought everyone had this, I didn’t know I was different. But now I’ve found my people. I’m not just a lone weirdo. There are others having a similar experience to me. I didn’t know that everyone else doesn’t have constant noise going on in their minds. I didn’t know that others can’t see the obvious problems that I can within moments. I didn’t know that others don’t feel either completely stupid or a genius depending on their mood or interest. I didn’t know that others aren’t constantly thinking about solutions to problems they see everywhere. I didn’t know that others don’t see problems, they are happy with how it just is. I didn’t know that others can relax and have a quiet brain so they can sleep at night. I didn’t know it was ADHD I didn’t know…

[@standuser9696]

One of the reasons why I haven't had a child is because I've always KNOWN that I'd be one of those mothers that forgets their child in the backseat of the car. I didn't know that was adhd. I forget everything all the time. I'm "careless" which hurts because I care a lot. I am ALWAYS looking for something I am incapable of opening mail I have never been able to keep up with a single friend. I'm 32 and I have no friends outside of whatever my current job is or whatever game I am playing at the time I forget where I was going w a conversation and just have to drop it. It's so embarrassing. When I was diagnosed w bipolar disorder 5 years ago, my doctor was not listening to me. I told him, I've never been depressed. When I am sad, something MADE me sad. Maybe my emotion is a lot stronger than a typical person, but my moods (although sometimes extreme) have causes. When I had to stop my bipolar meds cold turkey after being on them for a year, I felt SO much better. I knew I didn't have BPD but I trusted the professional. I throw things when I'm angry and feel so much shame because of it immediately after I take everything personally I've blamed myself for so much in my life and I'm barely realizing that things are not my fault I didn't know these things were symptoms. I just thought I was a forgetful, careless, sensitive, "intelligent" person who never lived up to my potential because of laziness.

[@stephaniepittaluga5057]

I realized as I listened to you that I also didn’t know how to answer these questions-made worse by my fear that anyone might think I’m attention or medication seeking-and I also would score a 24.

[@AdelleOverton]

The biggest issue I have with question 2 is that it's ableist. I'm a wheelchair user. I have no option but to sit.... Excellent video. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and tips on the questionnaire. As a disabled person, I had to use the same strategies when filling out my PIP form.

[@welcometothewormhole]

Thank you so much for that - I had never considered this. It's not often a youtube comment makes me sit up, but you're so so right! So many of the questions assume NTs/able bodied! I'm currently producing a podcast (5 episodes recorded and almost edited woo!) each episode talking to people about their experiences with neuro diversity, the highs and the lows...this comment makes me think you may have more perspectives to share! If you do, please please drop me an email - (link in channel page) - would very seriously love to chat! Sorry if I don't reply straight away - It's a thing - 😂

[@mrsupertash]

Most every time I get a questionnaire now from a therapist or psychiatrist about depression and social anxiety and "please think back over the last 2 weeks, or 6 months how often would you..." I have to preface it with "I am not in any of these situations anymore. I've been avoiding ALL of them for a very long time, so I'm going to answer the questions without the severely dysfunctional coping mechanisms in place." With the first questionnaire from my current therapist, I answered "truthfully", meaning what the questionnaire actually asked. After that I realized this information will be meaningless to her and look like a confident happy person, so I prefaced it with "I'm not in any of these situations anymore, so they don't affect me, BUT exactly that's a significant part of the problem".

[@christinae30]

Yes, exactly!

[@welcometothewormhole]

Yes! It's a game that has to be played....its why I recorded that. These mental health questionnaires are so poorly worded and the stipulations seem so rigid. I keep saying it to everyone who talks to me about it, but we have to self advocate so much and become hyper aware and pragmatic of ourselves.

[@jackdaw7751]

@@welcometothewormhole it's almost like they were written by, say... Insurance companies who will be getting the bill for your treatment 😂

[@b-beale1931]

@@jackdaw7751 Not in the UK, lol

[@VeronicaSipe]

@@b-beale1931 They feel like they are written for parents to answer about their kids, viewing exterior behaviors from a neurotypical angle. Like they didn't adjust parents forms when they changed them over for people to answer about themselves.

[@allignn210]

I wish I had seen this video when I had my ADHD impostor syndrome. The questions seem to follow the "hyperactive narrative" and as an inattentive ADHDer, the questionnaire felt off. It means a lot that someone else pointed these problems out!

[@Akstergrind]

Yes, you're right. The ASRS v1.1 is the form that I filled out at my doctor's surgery last week. As it was, ALL of my 18 answers were "Very Often" although I downgraded three of them to "Often" so they wouldn't think I'd just gone through and answered them all the same without thinking them through properly.

[@audreydoyle5268]

I wrote the questions, with both short and long answers down in my journal so I can possibly show it to my future psych (still in the process of sorting out a mental health care plan with my GP) 1. I find myself daydreaming, and/or a bunch of other co-current thoughts bouncing around my noodle, going on tangents about what they're saying, what they look like, and what I could say, which usually gets broken up and not very well thought out because I'm trying to make myself focus on what they're saying. 2. I wrote in brackets: (or want to leave your seat), because I force myself to stay sitting. Some would say, "then you don't have ADHD, cause if you did, you wouldn't be about to stop the impulse to stand,". That is a very neurotypical way of viewing getting out of one's seat. It's NOT an impulse, it's the need to be stimulated! To mask, I bounce my leg rapidly, so much so that my classmates used to ask why I was shaking and to stop bouncing my leg cause "it was distracting", well soooorrrry, but staying still distracts me! 3. I feel like a windup toy with the key wound and superglued. And I know the only thing that will "dissolve the glue" is medication. But I'm afraid to ask for an assessment because no one, not my parents, my old teachers from HS, !no one! will vouch for me and agree that I exhibit signs of ADHD, when I'm constantly debilitated, depleted and defeated by the symptoms. People say "you were doing fine, kicking goals at first. What changed?" Or "it's just depression, what do you usually do to get out of this funk?". I wait until I'm not in the luteal phase of my menstrual cycle, as heightened progesterone can intensify ADHD symptoms. Doesn't mean my ADHD just disappears after my period, it's just not as pronounced and doesn't impact my life as badly as the luteal phase does. I used to think maybe I've got mild ADHD, when I first started researching at 15. Then at 19 I though maybe I've got moderate ADHD. Now I think it's actually very severe. Edit: I did the test, and I got a score of 23. Tell me I don't have it, I dare you world

[@christinae30]

This was very helpful! Very clever to notice the "stupidity" of q3, I've never thought of that, but will surely keep it in mind, and everything else you said! (hoping to be assessed this year) And q6- that one seems to be straight from a questionnare for children🤔. No one are allowed to help me, I would feel totally worthless then. One thing I noticed in later years is how the questions in depression "tests" wants one to compare with "before, when you were healthy and living a rather good life" and how much worse you are now. For people like me (I suspect ADHD + other) it has never been "good" so the DIFFERENCE is almost none. So nowadays I always point this out very clearly!

[@welcometothewormhole]

“Q6” - the asrs 5 is the new asrs-4....and yet the asrs-4 is still so widely used! The 5 was adapted from the 4 which was more focused on children....and why there's still this slightly illogical kids feel to it. You're right, any mental health questions seem to be written with black and white answers in mind - VERY neurotypical!😂 Oooo - please do let me know how it goes if the thought pops in your head! I'm always really interested in hearing experiences x

[@jackdaw7751]

This is a really fantastic perspective, I've never realized how much I compensate and how much I avoid situations where I don't think I can fit in. Not to mention, I don't think I realized how much I have kept my friends to people who are either like me or get me. It's been so long since I had to try and fit into a predominantly neurotypical social setting...I think I just forgot 😆

[@welcometothewormhole]

You should see my friends….😂

[@lindagreengrass9898]

Thank you for these tips. I found the questions confusing. I am just thinking about how I may be ADHD at 70 years of age. No wonder things seem so hard all the time.

[@M2Mil7er]

Bless you. I'm waiting for an assessment at 50 years old. Well done for making it this far. When people say "I didn't get diagnosed until I was 30 (or 40)" I think "lucky you!". But it's all relative, I suppose!

[@wendyhannan2454]

I was 75 when first diagnosed, I wish I had of known decades ago. It’s been a hard road, fortunately I’m been told, I’m very resilient I believe that’s helped me cope. Watching these videos has also helped. Good luck to all you Adders out there.

[@kylaallen822]

I was just diagnosed with ADHD at 62 and when I was given the more up to date questions, I still found I had to look at them through my strategies, or I would have scored very low. It is satisfying to know I applied exactly what you are saying to the screening!

[@jhummelgaard9310]

Thank you so much! I don't have a diagnosis yet but a very high score on that test. Your video made me even more sure I might have ADD. I would never leave a meeting (or lecture) but just get increasingly uncomfortable. Given a choice of leaving I wouldn't think twice!

[@octopiinthesky44]

I just answered most questions with two answers, one with coping and one without. My poor doctor got the papers handed back with a bunch a skribbels, example situations and notes. But the questionear alone was pretty revealing, like "why are they asking for that, isn't that normal?" 😅 My dad took around 6 months to hand his papers in, lost them a couple of times before they eventually ended up in fort of the same doctor who diagnosed me. He already knew what he was in for, my dad has almost 1:1 the some symptoms 😂

[@SuperManning11]

Wow! I seriously can’t imagine having two of me in the same household!

[@octopiinthesky44]

@@SuperManning11 Well then let me tell you. The household I grew up in had 6 people, me, my brother, dad, mom, grandpa and grandma. 2 out of these 6 people are NOT ADHD, the rest are. And we didn't even know about it, thus couldn't learn to cope and work with our brains. You can imagine the amount of chaos, missed deadlines and school struggles. But it was also a wild childhood filled with adventures, running through the woods and being outside in nature.

[@salimawright]

Thanks for making this and getting in depth on those questions and how they apply to more "real world ADHD & coping" situations. I think having a doctor who can do that when screening is extremely helpful, because these questions can be so black and white. For example, leaving and getting up during meetings isn't something many people do even if they attend meetings; a follow-up question I found beneficial was: "how often do you feel on edge or like you need to get out of your seat, or have to be fiddling or doodling (etc).?" That changes how you'd answer the question, because many adults would be more likely to engage in those (either inattentive or hyperactive) coping mechanisms we've developed or learned, rather than getting up during a meeting. The last question is also a tricky one, because while there are some who directly rely on others to help manage their life, there are others who rely on a planner or thousand sticky notes to help manage their life/day and would be utterly lost without.

[@miraclewade6112]

This is really eye-opening, especially for the 3rd question. I thought I was very good at relaxing hahaha

[@SuperManning11]

Very enlightening. I’m kind of old, never been diagnosed, but life was manageable until about ten years ago. At that time I had to retire early due to some health issues. I was a school teacher and although I was always a disorganized mess, I somehow held it together, most likely because of constant due dates and the need for daily lesson plans. But once I stopped having that framework that was essentially managing my life, the bottom simply fell out from under me. I feel like I’ve been in a prison of my mind, with the world crumbling around me. Yet as hard as I try, I just can’t manage get things done nor to move forward at all, in anything. I feel like I’m too old to really go in for testing and treatment. So unfortunately it seems like I’m just running out the clock on my life. It’s a sad end of what was otherwise a pretty good life. I’m not on my deathbed, but it’s hard to imagine starting treatment when I’m also dealing with my other health problems. Your videos have shown me that I’m not just lazy, I love doing things, even difficult things, but I just can’t focus or finish anything. Thank you for this information

[@welcometothewormhole]

Thank you, Stephen. This hits very close to home. My wife is a teacher with ADHD - as soon as the holidays hit, her life in so many ways crumbles because the routine is taken away. But even without treatment, simply treating and accepting you most probably have ADHD is totally valid, and therefore adopting some coping strategies, can lead to a lot of relief. x

[@lindagreengrass9898]

You are saying exactly what I am feeling. ❤

[@SuperManning11]

@@welcometothewormhole thanks-sorry for your wife, but good to know this theory of it being so much worse when I stopped teaching is probably valid. I’ll keep watching your videos to get some coping strategies and skills. Thank you

[@SuperManning11]

@@lindagreengrass9898 thanks for telling me that. I hope we both find some relief-and sooner than later!

[@rdklkje13]

@@SuperManning11 I don’t know which country you’re in (i.e. how long the waiting lists are there), but have you checked out Additude Magazine’s webinars and articles? There’s a website and KZbin channel with lots of information including many happy stories of people being diagnosed and treated successfully in their 60s, 70s and 80s (often as their grandchildren and then children get diagnosed). Many of these people have a variety of other health issues as well, so simply having something (age related) is not necessarily a problem. It just depends but is definitely worth checking out if you can find a specialist with enough expertise to make a proper assessment.

[@carolinevictoria3280]

FINALLY a video like this 🙏🏻🙏🏻 for years I’ve also found these questions inceeadibly hard to answer, because I have nothing to compare my selv to. It was first when I was employed at a neuropsychological research center, that I realized how “normal” peoples attention worked… and I think that qualitative understanding is sooo important now when trying to answer these questionnaires. For example: I used to think, that I am extremely great at focusing. So good, that I tune EVERYTHING else out. And so did my parents. Only, I found out that all these things I was “focusing” on was what interested me at the very moment! All the other stuff I was trying to focus on, but ofren failed at, I was called lazy, because “clearly you are good at focusing, but om this case you are not wanting to do it!”…. It wasn’t untill I talked to another mental health professional, who had more experience than me, that I realized, that the focus I was good at was just… hyperfocus… and that “normal people” don’t focus that Way… A bit long, budt just a qualitative example of, how you can get misdiagnosed, when the essence of the questions and phenomena being investigated… is not at all clear… Thank you so much!! ❤

[@Internalflow33]

Yes. I had to tell my assessing dr that we learn a lot of coping skills and masking in school... we learn to develop filters of what we let out... My doctor was like what do you mean? Will telling the feared school bully that he is a pathetic fool seeking attention by trying to make others look bad, got me a smack in the face. So yes, we can learn not to be so open and honest when we get a knuckle sandwich. Its really learning self preservation 😅😅😅 A lot of us ADHD'ers after years of trial and error, learn to be able then think ahead. "If I say this, they may then..... ABC!" We learn to read a room, thats how we often know how to finish others sentences or what they are likely to be thinking. We learn to reword and re-phrase messages we put across, according to the situation. This is partly as we also are used to EVERYBODY taking what we say and mean WRONG! We get used to putting all the details into our explanations, so say a text as we know it sends us NUTS, when people are vague and we have to fish out every detail, without exploding. So we overexplain everything, overshare everything until we learn "dont be me, dont say F all".... then we are just plain rude. No inbetweens! If we mention we are ADHD, thats an excuse and they dont understand and say "we are all a bit ADHD!" If we dont mention it, they point out our symptoms and quirks, and want us to explain all these behavioural abd social issues which they will label as being unscociable and rude. Thats not even going into a workplace setting 😂😂😂

[@TheSagemeister]

I’m glad you said that about Q2. I said rarely. Mainly because I’d hate to draw attention to myself for the wrong reasons. I can participate in meetings, but only in things I’m confident enough to verbalise and understand. I can be inquisitive, but again it’d have to be something that I find interesting, useful or I disagree with. But as for getting up when it’s not appropriate. No.

[@rustreloaded]

Thank you so much for this insight, it's made a massive difference to how I answer the questions as I've sculpted my life so that a number of these questions don't apply to me and I've done so because those situations were excruciating. I've become so accustomed to my reclusive life that although day to day functioning remains uncomfortable and difficult I'd almost forgotten that it was so much worse when I had to attend meetings and deal with colleagues, clents, friends and acquaintances.

[@shefelilit2921]

im almost crying because you explain it so well and i remember how much i was struggling in the diagnosis progress because it was all so vague and there was so much room for interpretation, not being to able to think how itd be without my strategies & also not even realizing how many strategies im already using! i thought i wouldnt have to prepare myself for the assessment because "the professional will help me with that" but like if i grew up with a parent who probably had adhd and already got taught how to accommodate struggles like time blindness, impulsivity , hyperactivity etc how am i supposed to know that other people dont need for example 2 clocks in every room which are set to a later time than it actually is & are actually able to estimate how much time things take?....or the fact that i never had to pay attention in class because i was the "nerd" and the teacher knew i already know the stuff so i was either super engaged because learning was exciting or could easily get away with doodling or even sleeping in class... seeing how other adhders would answer these questions made me realize i had no idea what i was saying and was just hoping that my struggle & chaos is visible enough but i guess i can sound like i know what im saying even tho it doesnt even make any sense to me in my head... definitely gonna get a second opinion hopefully from someone experienced with masking also - thank you so much

[@DanS8204]

This is so well-done, and I thank you so much for sharing your observations and experiences!

[@ianjames3078]

Really useful thanks

[@grominwithrob1339]

I have been compensating for decades so I really had to be conscious of why I do the things I have done for decades because I know I have problems with it.

[@Dopevibesx]

Wow!! This helps a lot ! I believe I have ADHD and was mis diagnosed with bipolar. I stopped medication because I did not get better I was just very sedated with hella side effects. I’m going to get a assembly for ADHD soon because seeing the information on your channel it’s so close to home that I literally feel like I just met another human for the first time that knows what my life is like ! Thank you for your content and have you ever heard about someone getting misdiagnosed with bipolar before ?

[@darkesteye-derkesthai]

Awesomely useful. Thanks so much.

[@j-skullz]

This made me realise how much I'm used to faking like I'm ok lmao, I'm trying to get assessed for ADHD and it's hard asking for help. This was really helpful thank you!!

[@howardstory1391]

Could you ever picture yourself producing such a thoughtful, helpful articulate vlog without your your meds? I struggle thinking my accomplishments while on meds is somehow artificial. I was diagnosed at 64 after a successful career that, thankfully, required me to be hyper focused. In retirement, my shortcomings became glaring leading to diagnosis leading to medication. Your effort on these videos is much appreciated and helpful to me, and I’m sure, many others.

[@welcometothewormhole]

Thank you Howard. In all honesty, yes, I could - however it would have led to a similar pattern where I'd become engrossed, excel, and then burn out, get overwhelmed and close it all out. Since the diagnosis, understanding and medication, things are becoming less intense and I can chip away at tasks/projects rather than going "all in"

[@ninespop]

I’m going for an assessment today. I’m 54. Thank you for this. Thank you for what you do.

[@autisticexpressiongenx]

Great job

[@aseannessienot]

Spot on

[@lukeskywalker8543]

This is a fantastic video and you are a very eloquent speaker, would certainly be interested to see what other videos you make.

[@welcometothewormhole]

Thank you. I've got many many more to come - but for the first time in my life, I'm taking my time....mainly to do the proper due diligence on research :-)

[@MrDavegeo]

I had been a bit confused as to how it's a better test, considering it's got very few questions compared to the old one. I'd taken it and it said I didn't have ADHD at all, however after watching you go through each of the questions I've answered very differently, so thanks - really useful!

[@misce_]

Thank you.

[@cgayle92cg]

Ugh my friend, you get it. I printed this off and filled it out. I had to look at it through that filter as well.

[@welcometothewormhole]

I think the difficulty is the binary questions with expected binary answers, with no shades of grey to accommodate humans x

[@IoxosaKnocks]

Im not sure if I have adhd or not I have most the symptoms people mention in videos, im forgetful, bad with time, etc but I also have no idea because I have very bad social anxiety not in the sense that i seem autistic when talking to people but in the sense that firstly I always am scared about what people think about me or what people will think about me after a conversation but also I avoid conversation with almost every single person in my life like I literally avoid walking home with best friends because when I do walk and talk with them I always get worried about not being able to say something or not being able to keep conversation. Basically I can act confident and make jokes or whatever but inside when im talking to someone I struggle profusely and always end up on firstly - focusing on making eye contact and never really listen to them 2. i fidget and have no idea where to put my eyes and 3. create the dumbest responses because either i wasn't listening or I don't know what to say, even if I know a lot about the topic being talked about. Also have extreme fear of meeting people for the first time or for the first time in a while. Example I am going to meet a girl I like and have been texting for weeks but feel so anxious to actually meet her don't know what to do or say when I do meet her. If anybody has any similar things to me please let me know I wan't to feel im not alone maybe.. - May I note im 17 years old

[@jedilady66]

I took that exact test some time ago (after I was already "pre-diagnosed" by a psycologist), and, of course, the score was bellow 40. Then, I took a women screener test, and it almost hit the ceiling, ha! Thanks so much for this video, it's very insightful!

[@chrischris824]

Great video. Thanks. I am undiagnosed, but through a failed marriage have started to see I most likely have ADHD. The way you explained to look at these questions makes a lot of sense to me. My Grandmother, Mother, Uncle, and Brother are all diagnosed.....so it would only make sense.

[@TheSagemeister]

Love the glasses

[@jliller]

I don't have any problems with the touching involved from receiving a massage. From a physical standpoint, it does feel pretty good. But from a mental standpoint I assume normal people just go blank while receiving a massage; they don't think about anything. My brain is humming along, full speed as usual. So the end result is that it feels kind of unsatisfying.

[@rdklkje13]

Thank you so much for this, and for your video about starting medication too. They’re really helpful and seem to fill a gap - at least I haven’t come across anything quite like this in the YT ADHD channels I’m aware of. Lots of people talk about their experience using meds, of course, but not with your level of helpful clarity. At least not from my pov.

[@welcometothewormhole]

Thank you - it seems pretty taboo - at least judging by all the troll messages I've received 😂

[@rdklkje13]

@@welcometothewormhole Glad you keep going!

[@peabbles1012]

Oh man, I wish I didn't watch this video the day AFTER I did my test.... I think I still proved I had it... But this would have been very helpful

[@antonc81]

Q6 really assume you have someone in your life who would take up the slack when you fail to organize yourself. My wife has become that person for me.. it’s a pattern we naturally slipped into. Before I met her I would have had to answer no because I muddled through as best I could and never asked anyone to help me organize myself.

[@michelleryan1771]

Wish I'd watched this before filling in my assessment forms.

[@michelleryan1771]

@Peter Jack because I put never for some of the answers for things I have always struggled with because I was basing my answers on me using a multitude of adaptations and coping strategies. The advice in the video is to be honest about how you feel about doing something (like sitting in a meeting) rather than focusing on the fact you abide by social conditioning and stay seated (though it feels horrible). I hope that explains.

[@Internalflow33]

Also you mentioned ASD assessment in this video unless I heard wrong? How did you go with that mate? (YEP IM AUSSIE 😅)

[@markmuller7962]

Weird how I may fail the first question because that's among the few things that have improved with psychotherapy but before therapy it was a *very* severe symptom of mine

[@dmn4747]

With the how often do you get up when you're expected to stay seated I thought well I stay seated a lot but then....I thought about when I'm on airplanes. I get up so much people look at me oddly. I get up and pace, do stretches and if I can't get up every 30-45 min I feel like my nerves are on fire. While everyone else either NEVER gets up or gets up ONCE...maybe twice. I'm getting up 6-10 times.

[@welcometothewormhole]

Yup - these tests appear very binary on the face of them, but it was very insightful when I discussed these questions with a qualified clinician - it's not so much trying to make the questions fit, but rather opening them up to how they apply to your life. As one viewer commented....they use a wheelchair, so at face value the blunt honest answer would have been "never"!

[@webermail1]

Excellent points. I also find the questions to be overly binary and require a lot of exploration to fit with my adapted approach to being in the world.

[@carlpeck6465]

How did you learn that removing all your coping strategies to answer the questions was the way to go? Is this written anywhere? You'd hope so! Glad I watched this before I've received mine. Unless it's the questionnaire you fill out when you first do a referral? (which I've already done) Thank you for these helpful videos!

[@welcometothewormhole]

I found it really hard answering them - they were all very binary with very little guidance. My brain natural analyses and dissects things so I spent a few full days wormholing through the questions and came to that conclusion so answered like that. When it came for my assessment, my clinician was so incredibly patient and took so much time to discuss each one with me and how he uses them as a 'base' to expand on. It all made sense! I recently re-did this video to be a little more condensed and structured using the ASRS 5 - it's worth taking a look if you've found this helpful x

[@carlpeck6465]

@@welcometothewormhole Thanks for the speedy reply! Will definitely check out the ASRS 5 vid. So after you do this form, the actual assessment is not so black and white it sounds? That's a relief! I've been waiting for about 7/8 months for this form. It's driving me nuts! Beginning to wonder if I've fallen off the radar and if I should chase up. Do you know if that's a normal amount of time? (on NHS that is)

[@carlpeck6465]

Urrgh. Just watched the stuff about "right to choose" and 3-4 year waits on the NHS on your "ADHD diagnosis referral advice." Missed the boat on that one.

[@nightmary]

I almost didn't watch this video because I thought a person shouldn't need tips to answer truthfully on a test. I've never been officially diagnosed because the medical community failed me so miserably with my depression and migraines (now knowing I have ADHD has made both conditions much less severe because I don't beat myself up emotionally like I used to for not being able to cope in a "neurotypical" world). Anyway...thank you so much for pointing out that we need to answer the questions in terms of what our life is like without masking and coping mechanisms. Instead of answering never or rarely to the questions, I'd truthfully have to answer often or very often to every one.

[@welcometothewormhole]

It's something that just doesnt cross our minds in the heat of the moment - it's not ideal, but we have to work with what we've got with all these box ticking exercises ❤️

[@embryomystic]

I took a test recently that seemed to indicate that I didn't have ADHD; the doctors thought that what I'm experiencing are secondary symptoms of epilepsy (I've since learned that they impact the same part of the brain, or something, and are actually often comorbid, at least with the kind of epilepsy I've got). I see stuff like this, though, and I really wonder, what's the threshold I didn't pass? They were very helpful and receptive, but it's hard not to feel at least somewhat invalidated by the experience. I still recognise myself in a lot of ADHDers' anecdotes and memes and things.

[@asdfssdfghgdfy5940]

So I'm not diagnosed adhd but looking into the possibility. I've found I'm either stressfully a few minutes late, or over an hour early.

[@asdfssdfghgdfy5940]

Obviously I don't go inside if I'm an hour early though, I entertain myself somehow outside then get there just on time if not a few minutes late.

[@welcometothewormhole]

😂 I hear you!

[@fixerupperer]

Would these be questions from the NHS?

[@markmuller7962]

12:50 Are these questions still made for children? Like from the times when ADHD was considered a childhood remissive condition?

[@Tekay37]

question 4 is very confusing to me because I don't even understand why it is considered rude. From my perspective I am actively listening and engaging in what the other person is saying and demonstrate that by following their train of thought very closely. I also haven't experienced that people find it rude when I do that. So maybe that's also a cultural thing.

[@FJ.Y]

Please give me the list of all the best books you¨ve binge read, my adhd is severe+++ lol

[@rust2985]

I’ve watched a few of your videos now. I feel exactly the same as everything you describe. I always thought iwas weird. My mom Says it’s autism, but I’ve never been diagnosed and I don’t think so… i think it’s adhd. I will seek diagnosis I think. Thanks for the videos

[@welcometothewormhole]

It may well be ASD too, don't dismiss it. After 16 months being diagnosed ADHD, I'm starting to identify more what is the ADHD bits, and what is something else. I started the process of an ASD assessment a few weeks ago as I'm now more confident about untangling the two. Little steps Rustinmyeye ✊

[@lesleyelder2826]

I went for an assessment and the lady asked me 3 questions then got me to fill out a disco, I called her to find out what she thought and she hadn't read my disco only went on my 3 answers so I still don't know!

[@alexeimalyukov2456]

Спасибо за Вашу работу. Склонность к альтруизму, пренебрежение собственными эгоистическим ценностями, увлечение общественными глобальными вопросами. Все это яркие черты СДВГ. Если природа не сделала нас такими то большинство людей: "Не увидели ничего, дальше своего носа."

[@jliller]

I can read books; I read 30-40 a year. And I track them religiously on GoodReads. But they're almost all history nonfiction, which is a lifelong major interest. I hated pretty much every classic literature work I was ever assigned in grade school. It's darkly funny when someone asks what I'm reading, genuinely curious, and I honestly answer something like "a collection of essays about the Creek War." They almost visibly retreat because they're expecting some novel, not a serious historical topic. There's an unspoken sense of "I don't know what that is and I don't know why anyone would read about it." I'm envious of people who can just sit read for an hour. I read for lots of 10-15 minute bursts: at meals, while waiting somewhere, on the toilet, while waiting for a drawbridge or a train, before bed, at a quiet park where I can try to avoid distractions. It's been my policy since childhood never to leave home without at least one book so that I always have something to read if I ever have to wait somewhere. I also have little interest in buying books, unless I can't get them from the public library. It's not simply being frugal. I rarely ever read a book twice. I read it once, gleam information from it, and move on to one of the literally thousand other books I'm interested in reading to gleam other information from. In summary: reading is a great example of the interplay between my ASD and ADHD. About the only books I ever binge-read where Harry Potter, and that just ended up turning me off of reading fiction because I wasn't happy with how they turned out in the end.

[@0mNomNinja]

I'm not sure which version of this test I was given, but I still scored a 90. Even with that score, this video makes me realize my ADHD is even worse than that lol

[@welcometothewormhole]

I'm only scratching the surface of just how much my masking has impacted me - it's bloody draining, and I'm slowly and deliberately trying to lower them, which is giving me more mental energy and peace.

[@lightyagami2374]

did it get better after using meds?

[@welcometothewormhole]

Yes! By a huge amount. Check out my video on my experience taking them

[@IceSixxx]

Going to be assessed tomorrow morning at age 50. I self tested a score of 23. I have great hope to be helped as I can't live anymore with those symptoms. Thanks for the help!

[@AlexM-um2xv]

1.50 minutes in I realised your glasses were different shapes :S

[@rebeccaimanblackdawestindi6975]

I brought my mom along with me. And my mom was helping because I didn't actual remember everything.

[@welcometothewormhole]

That's amazing - that most have been great having a supportive mum 🙂

[@pixelmotte]

That's also a problem with the official diagnostic criteria. Depending on how you interpret the symptoms, you can get anything from severe ADHD to only mild ADHD that doesn't justify medication. If you have to "outsmart" diagnostic criteria, just to get the right diagnose, they're not appropriate.

[@welcometothewormhole]

It's the binary responses that get me, without consideration for any shades in-between. Fortunately, most good clinicians and psychiatrists know this and simply read between the lines. The system ain't a patch on being great, but we have to work with it, and any spare left over units of energy we may have left after 'life' stuff, use on slowly affecting any sort of small change.....that or total revolution😈

[@bw5187]

I'd say the fact that you cant answer the question straight up is a tell-tale sign there is something going on 🤣

[@electron2601]

Wow! How do you have so many views already?

[@welcometothewormhole]

Not a clue - a bit overwhelmed by the response to be honest ❤️

[@electron2601]

@@welcometothewormhole Your channel is doing extremely well so far. Keep up the good work.

[@welcometothewormhole]

Thank you for your positivity ❤️ - the world need more humans like you x

[@rdklkje13]

@@welcometothewormhole Because you’re REALLY GOOD at this. There’s a rare quality to your videos, really.

[@DavidGonzalezSamudio]

Really nice breakdown and analysis of how flawed that test is. Nothing in depth about sensory or emotional issues affecting our daily life, or the effects of skewed time management governing our performance.

[@duckmcduck007]

Those questions are not for you, they are for a therapist, who then would ask you to talk about your life, and they would be answering those questions based on what you explain of your life and their judgement as a mental health professional. It is not a "how to know if you have ADHD", it is a "how to know if your client has ADHD" questionnaire. If your therapist is asking you these questions verbatim, get a different therapist, because they do not know what they are doing.

[@peadookie]

@13:15 if my wife didn't pay our bills, they honestly might not get payed, regardless of our ability.

[@TheSagemeister]

I think the question is too vague tbh.. if it was about having to distract yourself with something else. It’d be easier to relate

[@ranadesreveaux3349]

I really dislike these binary questions. They are being used for every kind of assessment, scoring, evaluation... I always want to add things, or nuance things. And you know your answer will determine any conclusion. Filling out those tests is just stressful.

[@welcometothewormhole]

Exactly, and as one viewer mentioned...for question 2 (I think) they’re in a wheelchair so of course they are sitting!!!

[@markmuller7962]

10:50 That's such a stupid question, everyone reacts in a different way driven by distractibility, internal hyperactivity or impulsivity. I for instance for most of my life had to immediately say what I wanted to say otherwise the concept and the phrase would disappear from my memory in few seconds due to the chaos going on in my mind plus the typical AHDH lacking memory. So in order to avoid interrupting people constantly I had to hold to my sentence and repeat it in my mind with the effect of me being unable of listening because I had to focus on my sentence otherwise it'll disappear... Other people may react with impulsivity but not necessarily by finishing other people sentences...Who even make this tests? This is pure madness and pure ignorance

[@aishisufuyu5961]

Chit chat is so annoying.

[@xyzyyz]

Great idea. How ever, why not do the test in its entirety, while you have my attention. I had to skip your introduction and then you lost my attention/ patience at the 3:26 mark of the presentation.

[@welcometothewormhole]

It was more an exercise on adding commentary to help people expand the questions to fit themselves. I'm new to this youtube melarky, so it's a learning curve as I try each time to edit down and plan out a video that becomes more concise, retains attention, whilst not loosing my points. Little steps :-)

[@xyzyyz]

@@welcometothewormhole yes but maybe consider who or what your demographic is.

[@xyzyyz]

ADDHD, we are complex animals. Some like myself are afflicted with high IQ and tend to wander at trigger words during regular conversation ( zone out ). My biggest problem is I learn to quick and get board and move to the next. I’m a licensed auto mech, electrician, plumber, carpenter, patented engineer. All by the time I was 35. Over qualified for almost anything and couldn’t find employment because of it. I work for a temp company until I retired. No savings, no pensions.

[@GeneralFuct]

I feel like you know me better than anyone in my life...are your asymmetric glasses there to set people off too? lol