Reacting to ADHD in the Media

[@carawestgate]

At first I was like, 'oh, she's kind of overreacting to the bad portrayals, it's no big deal'. Then it hit me. These bad portrayals are the reason I never thought I had ADHD! This is serious stuff.

[@tenshimoon]

Also sadly the reason so many neurotypicals judge us wrongly/harshly, or at least completely miss the signs/symptoms in the case of parents & other family members (friends too)

[@carawestgate]

@@tenshimoon I hadn't thought of that! Good point :)

[@drewwafula]

@@carawestgate from thr moment i saw the title depression kicked in. we are judged by this.no has ever talked about the pain.

[@Devhorsefarmmavli7505]

Hi mem good morning

[@Emileigggggh]

It was also part of why I struggled to take even my own ADHD seriously when I was younger, and I think played a role in me convincing myself that I didn't really have it and was just a POS, causing me to go through college with no accommodations. This stuff really does have big effects that we can internalize.

[@Ahrpigi]

The example with Bart is extra good because when he's explaining how he really did try his hardest he gives an example that shows he also really did absorb and understand the material, he just couldn't regurgitate it in the way the test demanded. It's *extremely* relatable.

[@katkinch6954]

It was almost too relatable as a kid. I tried so hard burning myself out to try and make grades and failing every time that I just kind of leaned into it as I got older…

[@delightdelirium1]

I'm positive Homer (especially in the older seasons) is undiagnosed adult ADHD. I had a whole series of screenshots and examples put together at one point.

[@Badtz2]

@@delightdelirium1 I was thinking about that the other day after seeing an episode... He's really impulsive, (also eats compulsively and possibly self medicates with alcohol?) and is constantly jumping from one interest to the other, be it hobbies or businesses, where he make his life completely revolve around it until he's not interested anymore; can't follow instructions since every time he tries to build something (I remember a bike and an outside oven..or was it a barbecue), he's often reckless, he's messy... several times has been scolded by Marge for being late, can't stand boring things...ok I guess it's pretty confirmed 🤔

[@-Bloomingtales]

Yes! I’m horrible at taking tests but know the material. I could never understand why ppl make things so complicated when it could just be more straightforward. Tests are not always a good barometer for measuring your knowledge on a subject. It’s wild that we still rely on test taking to confirm what a student knows.

[@crackers3978]

Oh wait, that's one of the symptoms of ADHD? No wonder I'm so bad at maths lmao (I just got diagnosed)

[@leaveyetstillthere6261]

“ADHD tingle” I have a friend who has ADHD and, before I got diagnosed with ADHD also, I was talking about my problems I have with school and he said with a so casual voice “Yeah, you have ADHD.” With zero hint of just saying it as a joke. And he was right.

[@davedvedevad9739]

kinda like gaydar, adhdar? adhd-dar?? neorodivergentdar??? nd-dar?????

[@magikforce4069]

Yeah,I have it to.I believe we can just tell.My mom has it,and she would say that me and my sister had it as well.A few years after,we both got diagnosed with it.I was also able to tell my cousin she had adhd but she didn’t believe me or denied it,and then years after,she told me that I was right.

[@canvasbykaya]

a friend of mine pointed out that i may have adhd last year, I thought they were kidding but started to look into it, pretty much everything I thought that was just my personality turned out to be signs of adhd, i had a screener for it but havent mustered up the courage or motivation to get an actual diagnosis :s

[@davedvedevad9739]

@@canvasbykaya "haha called it"

[@marthe4246]

My friend has ADHD and when I got my diagnosis she said “you can’t, you’re smart” 😕

[@jimmaloney4111]

The thing about the Modern Family clip, too, is that she's reading off symptoms and talking about her brother while the mom is seeing it in the context of the dad. So it's also hitting on the common scenario of an undiagnosed parent who only becomes aware when their child is diagnosed.

[@HowtoADHD]

Yeah exactly! I thought that was clever.

[@diamondflaw]

Similarly there's the part of the Simpsons one showing Homer exhibiting exactly the same symptoms.

[@jenifermorgan7328]

That was me. I figured it out when I realized we were medicating my daughter for being me.

[@Azeriiall]

That’s what happened with me and my dad! I got diagnosed and then my dad was like “Oh, wait a second-“

[@xXSanijaXx]

I also love the adhd representation in modern family, because you can see the adhd in Phil’s behavior in many episodes, not just when they’re talking about it in this scene. Just like with Jake.

[@pamelahoughton5227]

Maria in The Sound of Music absolutely had ADHD. Read the lyrics to "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?" She's late, she loses track of time, gets distracted, is very creative. Sings a song about confidence to counter self-doubt & anxiety. I loved that movie from it's release when I was five. Now I realize why.

[@justicestanford5894]

Omg I sooo related to her!

[@essiemae1488]

Whoa you're so right!

[@lisajanelaurence6991]

How do you catch a wave upon the sand 😹🙌🏻

[@edorasmarauder5761]

I love that movie too.

[@latronqui]

Oh my goodness! 🤯

[@SamanthaEcho]

I actually think that one of the best-written ADHD characters is Mulan from the 1990’s Disney movie. I could write a whole essay on this but I can’t find the time, but I remember watching the movie as a kid and identifying more with her than most of the other Disney heroines: we see that she is always late and that she forgets about the matchmaking meeting, and then as she goes to meet the matchmaker she gets distracted by everything around her including two little boys bullying a little girl, whom Milan defends, and a chess game which she helps with, then she goes back to the matchmaker and feels disoriented. I know a lot of people interpret this movie as the story of a woman who doesn’t fit into traditional gender norms, but I think it is also equally effective as a representation of an ADHD female trying to find her place in a world that is both patriarchal and neurotypical.

[@daniellecrain5036]

This is amazing, I haven't watched Disney growing up but I want to now!

[@johnquinn2652]

Thats a really great spot

[@anilalikevanilla]

Omg I just realized I related to Mulan the most and for the same reasons lol.

[@souldancersbyjennifer]

Lol.... So true! You nailed it

[@Someone-dv7hw]

That actually makes sense in a lot of ways. Add to that the frustration of just not being able to do things the right way until she ultimately just finds a different solution and everyone is completely flabbergasted

[@GeldarionTFS]

In the case of Jake Peralta, I think they did a good job portraying his work life like it actually can be for some people who are smart, but who suffer from ADHD symptoms. You can see him get all squirmy when he is forced to do large amounts of paperwork. He has trouble regulating his emotions. He suffers from executive disfunction on things he doesn't want to do. You can see barriers that pop up for him in different episodes with his work and his relationship with Amy. Her need for order and his aversion to crossing his barriers sometimes clash, and they have to work through that. But there is a lot that also really hits home on the creativity of thought and ability to hyper-focus when needed. He tends to make connections that a lot of other people miss. His brain is always working on a variety of problems in the background, which sometimes goofs up his conversations. He also has multiple times I can remember where he either fixates on something that is really interesting or mysterious to him, or he works through the night because he is so doggedly hyper-focused on some case. Basically, he works harder to overcome his shortcomings. He uses his intelligence and natural interest in his work to fuel those aspects of his life. It is all very relatable. He is not a failure because of ADHD. It prevents him from having all of his crap together, but it doesn't prevent him from living a good life.

[@jamiethecat9044]

THIS

[@juliannvandermeer4359]

Love Jake! And I love the Jake Amy duo

[@rebeccahabtour]

I also really appreciated that they made Jake really exceptionally capable and talented in some key ways, despite his various other quirks and challenges. I feel like it is a good reminder that I have stuff I'm exceptionally good at when I'm struggling hardcore with other stuff.

[@claycross840]

Ya know, I have never been a big Andy Sandberg fan, but I actually want to give that show a shot now.

[@LibiB26]

Until this video I hadn’t thought about Jake having ADHD but it makes total sense! Just makes me love Brooklyn 99 more!

[@HIDDENADHD]

For what it's worth, I find that the representation of ADHD leaves a lot of us with INATTENTIVE ADHD feeling misrepresented

[@totallybionic123]

Pretty sure that’s why it took tik tok and Instagram videos on inattentive adhd and adhd in women for me to realize that I have it and to seek out a proper diagnosis at 27 years old.

[@HIDDENADHD]

@@totallybionic123good point! I've heard that a lot from my 100k tt followers

[@emmam3819]

I agree, I was diagnosed at 14 (now 27), but mainly because my mom was researching it because one of her students had ADD (how it was called at the time). My teachers in high school didn't see it because I didn't bother them (was doodling or making puzzles or playing with play dough quietly and didn't disturb anyone) and I got very good grades. But they didn't see the MASSIVE panic attacks before every test because I started way too late (hyperfocus usually saved the day) or even left the books at school. I'm gonna check out your tt!

[@elizabethjanetugby4695]

I used to zone out and just draw flowers a lot. I didn't understand why until last year that it is inattentive and impulsive together. I get hyper and can day dream.

[@alittlepieceofearth]

@@emmam3819 Yes! As long as you aren't bothering anyone teachers are happy not to have to bother with you. That's how I got through school.

[@МарияГоликова-ь7ф]

i'm pretty sure Mabel from 'Gravity Falls' has ADHD, as well as Star from 'Star vs the forces of evil'. They both are impulsive and loud, get distracted very easily, are constantly moving (sometimes fidgeting) and sometimes get hyperfocused, but at the same time are really creative and empathetic

[@Rose333X]

nah, just hyperactive, some people are naturally more energetic then others, doesn't have to be due to an illness/disorder lmao

[@Rabijeel]

That is the "Superpower"-Side of it. The other Side is way darker. Because you can not regulate this empathy - you get bombarded by feelings and such. ADHD is also the Fool in Tarot. We are reflections of Society. In a healthy Society, we are good, beneficial People. In a toxic Society, we become the Toxin itself and thus get punished for it. We become the Jokers, we are the Mad Hatters. It is up for Society what we become - andourselfs. How was the quote? "With great Power...?" That goes for both sides.

[@carrot7868]

Didn't watch SVTFOE for a whiiiiiiile. But as far as I remember, didn't Star have problems with empathy? I think she kinda had that thing where she would just... Not notice someone is upset.

[@oe8134]

@@Rose333X ADHD stands for attention deficit *hyperactivity* disorder. Someone w ADD might not have the hyperactivity and just the distraction..... both mental illnesses tho

[@michaellorenzo3018]

Ummmm you can't just assume someone has ADHD that is rude! Some people when they look at me being my silly hyperactive self and say I think she has ADHD (I do) sometimes I hear them and it can really hurt my feelings because that is labeling and it is not right just to label people. So please don't just assume its not right. Thank you.

[@kikicogger2284]

As a woman, I honestly believe my delay in diagnosis was due almost entirely to the fact I wasn’t “stereotypically” ADHD. Looking back, I see the signs-the disorganization, the struggle to finish tasks in a timely manner, even the “you aren’t reaching your potential.” But because I wasn’t jumping off the walls, it wasn’t caught until I was in college, when my parents and I realized something was wrong. I wish they showed more women with ADHD as it may help future girls not have to struggle the same way I did.

[@maisiecat71]

I wish I'd known sooner! I was diagnosed at 48. It explained a lot! Like you my presentation is atypical. Female, good student, but not meeting someone else's idea of my potential. The mental / emotional scars are real.

[@meghansullivan6812]

yep yep yep!!! exactly the same situation for me - wasn't diagnosed til after freshman year of college when we realized something really was up. also i bought vyvanse during spring finals and oh my god i could ACTUALLY do work!!! literally told my psychiatrist that ahaha

[@LindseyTaft]

The Bart gets an F episode of The Simpsons wrecks me. The line "You don't understand, I TRIED this time!" ugh broke me. Julie & Julia might have some legitimate rep, If I'm remembering it correctly, she takes on a large project, there are meltdowns but it can go either way. Phil Dunphy in Modern Family, is my favorite rep so far, especially how they directed his actions. What you said, he's not just acting out symptoms, he has a goal to reach and all of the weird little obstacles come up along the way. VERY ACCURATE.

[@ColorJoyLynnH]

I have never seen the Simpsons show there, but that was horrible and so real. I remember even being pulled into the “principal’s” office in a small secretarial college at age 21. I was in danger of losing my funding because I couldn’t get to class in the morning, at 8 AM. I cried. It was terrible.

[@julieaubutgaudet4403]

Also what's so relateble in the modern family episode is that Alex is describing her brother's behavior but we get clips showing the father. Showing how ADHD is genetic so very accurate.

[@Ahrpigi]

I couldn't escape being told "you'd do so well if you just tried", and could never explain to them how I WAS trying, point of fact I was burning out.

[@diannamifflin3275]

@@ColorJoyLynnH When I was in college to get my associate's degree, I had a real problem getting there on time too. So much so that my principal advised that I cut my losses and take a certificate instead because my last term I was going to have a professor who was keen on pop quizzes at the beginning of class. If I didn't get there in time, I would fail. 😭 I wasn't diagnosed yet.

[@Chaotic_Pixie]

I actually watched Julie and Julia several times because I really connected with the Julie character. Taking on grandoise projects... setting myself up for inevitable failure and melting down repeatedly along the way. The "overreactions" to people "not getting it". I wasn't diagnosed at the time.

[@cloudsaysthings]

The Julie and Julia scene is really relatable to me because of how the character is sort of rambling on about things that interest her and what is going on in her life while the other character listens. I tend to find myself info dumping or rambling to people and it's always really validating when the other person just listens and maybe asks questions.

[@MissCaraMint]

Yeah it reminds me of when I ramble on about Roman history or whatever, and the person I’m with just has learned to roll with it. I remember a guy I dated once said something like “I have no idea what you are talking about, but I love hearing you talk become you are so passionate about it”. It felt a bit like that.

[@alphalax7747]

I'm always afraid of just boring the other person or just seeming weird or incompreehensible to them, so i usually try to make a very dumbed down version of what i actually want to say

[@sammichurl]

My dad actually is a psychiatrist helping kids, teens and young adults and at some point when i was around 12 yo he told me that i had an attention disorder, same with my mum. So when i started researching about ADHD, i found my father actually always taught me how to handle my ADHD without me even noticing.. As an example he would always remind me i have a task going (and still does) if i get distracted... so i kinda learned focussing better and now i don't have as many problems as i would have without this "teaching how to focus better" and i am honestly so grateful for having him...

[@doubleknott424]

I'm both so happy for you and envious at the same time! That's so great you had the support you needed! We definitely need to help parents do that more.

[@janam2632]

How does he remind you that you have a task going?

[@cnj67]

My dad used to remind me to take the next bite. He didn't know about ADHD, but as a grown up I suddenly remembered that sometimes that is what a child need: someone saying: "Next bite."

[@0n344]

My dad also does this but he didn't tell me until I asked. I was 30. Thanks dad

[@DS-cf1zc]

What a super father, he taught you to manage some of the symptoms/side effects of having ADHD - I do hope you have gone on to do wonderful things with the additional capacity you will carry over neurotypical people.

[@lyndsayhawkins8747]

I have wanted someone to do this for years! Media portrayals heavily contribute to the misconceptions and stereotypes us brains deal with. I'm so happy that more work is being done to accurately portray those on the autistic spectrum, and I think it's about time us ADHDers got some good rep too!

[@HowtoADHD]

Agreed!!

[@nickoliver3523]

Where do you think they’re doing well to portray ASD? Literally the only good example I can think of is Abed on Community.

[@lyndsayhawkins8747]

@@nickoliver3523 I haven't personally seen it, but "Everything is going to be okay" (tv series) has actors on the spectrum portraying characters on the spectrum. Many have praised it for its well-rounded portrayals of autistic characters. There is also an autistic character on sesame street, played by a woman with an autistic son. Both characters are shown struggling in neurotypical society, but also have other good character traits besides their autism. These are obviously my opinions and come from my experience having an autistic brother, every autistic person is different and media is subjective :)

[@JamiesLife]

Exactly

[@VioletEmerald]

@@lyndsayhawkins8747 Everything's Gonna Be Okay is a little shaky rep in the first episode but by the end of season 1 it's amazing and there are so many autistic characters on the show that are so realistic. They actually have a canon portrayal of ADHD on it too. I just heard of a new show with autistic adults, As We See It on Amazon Prime. There's also the Netflix show Atypical which i originally heard tons of criticisms of. But lately I've heard more positive feelings from some autistic people about it.

[@gloriosa8155]

Honestly I didn’t realize the mail thing was ADHD for years and it makes so much sense now. I’ve never done it with physical mail, but I’m notorious for opening texts/emails and going nope not dealing with that today

[@doodoodoodle]

I do both LOL

[@QueenRed2023]

I’m like that with mail, texts, emails, voicemails, etc 😅

[@Fluffy-777]

Yip and then I mark it unread if it's kinda important 😅

[@GeorgeBeckingham]

I tend to accumulate piles. It got so bad at my old office that I spent the three months before I left filing, shredding, or dealing with every document in the stacks. By the time I handed my office over to my replacement, I was down to the last dozen documents in the last pile. I tried using the OHIO principle (only handle it once), but had limited success. Now one way I deal with organization by having two places for everything: an ideal place and an acceptable place. If I can't get something to the ideal place, it can stay in the acceptable place until it bugs me so much I have to move it! (As you can imagine, the acceptable place becomes the final resting place for a lot of items!)

[@Mei-Ling-Li]

As a huge How I Met Your Mother fan, I will say that ALL of Barney's personality is actually masking. It's established as part of his character that his bravado and acting like everything he does is awesome is actually a way for him to hide his insecurities. However, I've watched all these episodes at least a dozen times, and I'm pretty sure that was that only time they mentioned him having ADHD as a one-off joke, so that definitely is problematic. More like how you mentioned certain characters only seem to have it when they talk about it.

He was also messing with Ted a bit because he is his friend. They do not have a preexisting professor-student relationship, they're bar buddies.

[@VioletEmerald]

@ Yeah this is important context.

[@llamalatte]

@ yeah that was my thought too. He doesn't feel the need to mask because he is close to and trusts Ted

[@pjsmommason5783]

Yeah, you have to know NPH's character to understand why he is acting like that in that scene. And he's with his best friend, so he is in a safe space where he doesn't have to mask in front of Ted. I agree, it's an inaccurate portrayal of real ADHD symptoms though, and like you said, it's only in one episode, so it's strictly for a comedic stance.

[@valerieyamashita3493]

That's the one thing I don't like about this type of reaction video, it's a clip without context. This clip is really hard to understand without the context of what is actually going on between Barney and Ted, this is not a true student/teacher situation and Barney is mostly messing with Ted. Julie and Julia requires watching the entire movie to see her symptoms etc.

[@katiek.982]

one thing I have never understood: how do neurotypical people deal with their mail?? I went most of my adulthood so far thinking everyone had heaps/bags/shelves full of paper

[@angelikafieseler741]

Yes , This as look at my coffee table that has about a month worth of mail

[@mariovara7440]

😭😭😭😭🤓

[@marshawargo7238]

In that moment I looked guiltily at my bottom dresser drawer!

[@jennytaylor3986]

Shoeboxes for me. I literally go paperless on everything that lets me because then at least it's A. not haunting me from a box in the living room or closet, and B. I can use the search function to find something if needed. Also, auto-pay is a godsend (provided you make sure you keep the money set aside for bills) turns a massive multi-step process into maybe two or three steps (IE: making sure the money is there at the end of the month)

[@arentak2773]

My mail is 90-95% junk. So, I "guess" which ones are relevant and toss the rest unopened. Hope I'm right.

[@eugear1057]

There is an episode of Bluey that shows a kid with ADHD. The first time I watch it it made me cry. It's excellent, and they show that kids with ADHD can overcome the difficulties. I think is the best representation that I've seen and is sooo important to kids that has ADHD.

[@LudmilaT.]

The Julie & Julia one feels VERY relatable to me. "I need a deadline because i know i'll never really finish it" is so accurate. It comes from constantly doing what Bart did earlier, that "i'll really do better this time!" You do so much that eventually you loose all hopes for yourself and even while having that rush of a new exciting thing that's definitely going to be THE thing you'll always stay passionate about... you NEVER really expect yourself to succeed in anything and have constant nagging thoughts of "should i even try when i know i'm going to fail" and "i NEED to keep my expectations super low so i won't have to face that horrible feeling of disappointment ever again." And some of us mask even harder in front of romantic partners because a rejection from them is much harder to take than from others. And, some of us internalize the mask in a way we can't even shake it when we want to, we don't even know who we are without the mask.

[@ericasmith5531]

Those are excellent points!

[@pattikahlo8175]

Yep. Pre diagnosis I had shrunk my life to the point that I barely did anything anymore in case I failed at it or let someone down or f’d it up somehow. It was killing me.

[@jewels3846]

Honestly I am so so thankful my partner doesnt need me to mask. Especially since my diagnoses last year made us both understand my behaviour alot better now and helped me find ways that actually work for my brain to better myself

[@felixmarisahead7547]

My god, this comment found me, gathered steam and just kept going. Well said. Thank you.

[@mommyheada]

Agreed!!

[@sckilham]

I always found that the characters who present as having adhd but its never explicitly discussed are the most accurate. A character that falls into this category to me is Andy from parks and rec. While he is kind of exaggerated, I definitely see so many adhd characteristics and relate to him so much, especially when he doesn't pass his police test. He really often feels shame because of his impulsivity.

[@HowtoADHD]

omg yes!!!

[@MrStroodle]

I completely agree!

[@chaoticpictures]

Shawn Spencer from Psych is one of my favorites. It's never said he has it, but it's clear he does. The sections with young Shawn show more masking than the adult section, and the impulsiveness is turned up for comedic affect. But otherwise I think he's a good example of ADHD.

[@MrStroodle]

@@chaoticpictures perfect example

[@gaf407]

Anna from Frozen - predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation.

[@vendimeyers9233]

So far my favorite portrayal of someone with ADHD is Pinkie Pie from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I always related to her a lot growing up before I knew I had ADHD but when I watch the show now I’m like “oh this explains a lot.” And it’s very clear that some of her tendencies are played up for laughs but growing up it was nice to see like “hey if Pinkie Pie’s friends and loved ones can just shrug of her weird tendencies and accept her for who she is why wouldn’t mine?” And it was (and still is)a good reminder to give myself grace for when I get distracted or bored or impulsive and the show is really at its best when it’s highlighting her ADHD tendencies as some of her biggest strengths.

[@avibingplaylist6381]

Pinkie Pie used to be one of my favorite characters because I related to her so much!

[@emilyhenninger7387]

“Parents get shamed or feel ashamed, as if they’re taking the easy way out by treating their child’s medical condition” …that line really hit me. Why DO some parents feel as though medication is the wrong way to go for anything mental health related? It’s a treatment, just like advil for a headache or cold medicine for a cold.

[@bluesira]

Unfortunately society treats ADD as a behavior problem, not a mental disorder. So the parents often shame themselves or are shamed by others. “Why can’t you get your kid to behave? What’s wrong with you? Don’t you know how to control your child? Why don’t you discipline them?” Etc etc. So when they finally break down & get the child medicated, it’s often after going through lots of other useless & painful steps to try to “fix” the problem or “correct” the behavior. They see medicating as a last resort, a sign that they “gave in,” the symbol of their “failure” as parents to “fix” their “mistakes” themselves… There’s also the unfortunate cases where some families don’t acknowledge or acce ADHD as a legitimate medical problem, therefore resisting diagnosis or treatment of any kind. In this case, it often takes an extreme breakdown on the part of the child for the parents to finally accept that medical treatment of the condition may be necessary.

[@Tashax405]

In real life (not TV) I think it can also be thinking that kids should be allowed to be themselves and e.g. schools should change to accommodate them rather than the kid having to take medication (with potential side effects) to make themselves closer to neurotypical. It's not really the same as taking medication for an illness as ADHD isn't really an illness more like a difference.

[@Anonymous-df8it]

@@Tashax405 I've seen a comment which says that the Simpsons clip was relatable to their experience of ADHD (they're learning but they can't regurgitate the answers in a test). Perhaps they could give more time and/or avoid distracting things to help -that specific commenter- those with ADHD.

[@postjm9]

I started treatment in the very early 80s, and I was put on two antipsychotic drugs (which actually did affect me as portrayed in the playground clip.) My mother still feels she 'failed' me by not better advocating in my care. The science and medicine was still pretty bad then. But a TV writer of a certain age might remember their early treatment the way I do...

[@magikforce4069]

It reminds me of my dad being against me being medicated at first but after I told him that my meds actually work and don’t do much,he was actually fine with it.To me,it depends on how the medication works and how it affects you,not just meds in general.

[@gracewalton5479]

I actually really saw that that lady had ADHD. She was doing exactly what I do frequently, hyperfocusing and spewing an avalanche of thoughts towards my husband with little to no expectation of him responding. I laughed at how the guy was obviously used to it and just continued eating and getting ready for bed, nodding every once in a while. That's so much like me and my husband. It does affect our relationship negatively because I'll often keep him up really late talking about something, and he gets frustrated that I can't put it on hold for the next day. I also don't like it because I'm so emotionally affected by the thoughts I'm hyperfocusing on and really want to just let it go, but I can't stop thinking about it. And the rest of the lady's conversation, talking about needing a deadline, never finishing things, getting away from her boring life, struggling with housework, it was spot on for me. How she was talking pretty fast, kind of switching thoughts (although they all obviously are connected to her), and continuing to talk all evening were other clues.

[@bennyton2560]

I thought the same! She was info dumping

[@pheebsszz]

Omg that’s literally me and my partner! I keep them up and feel so bad because I get bursts of energy mostly at night

[@ldbarthel]

To be honest, I hadn't considered that aspect - and I read the book and its sequel. But maybe getting inside Julie's headspace just felt comfortable to me...

[@missjlg]

Agree! I see myself here too.

[@katkatkat5]

Exactly

[@lisacorcoran3358]

The Julie & Julia scene actually seemed very relatable to me. As my husband often says, "your brain comes alive at night." So it's very typical for him to be winding down and I'm there talking non-stop through my thoughts on something while he drops the occasional "okay". I don't have to mask with him and so it actually seemed like her rambling was her not masking with her partner.

[@jinxgirl5]

I feel what she means though. It's not the rambling, it's the delivery. She just drops "I have ADD" with the same energy as "I prefer pencils". It's been a while since I've seen the movie, I can't remember how long she's been in her relationship, but it's clear they're comfortable with each other yet he never knew she had ADD. In most cases that would mean she was deliberately withholding it and masking, and usually when you suddenly spring the "I have a disorder" card there's this... reluctance? I'm not sure what word I want, but it's usually the feeling of "I've been hiding this thing and now I have to reveal the thing and what if they get mad or hate me or don't trust me cause I didn't trust them with the thing" energy. But she just casually drops that bomb and keeps steaming on like it was so matter-of-fact and commonplace. It was a little uncanny valley a la ADHD.

[@castorj.b.1257]

I think Julie in that movie does have it. She spends a lot of time through the movie hyperfixating on her cooking project, to the detriment of everything around her. She clearly infodumps on her husband, who you can see is so used to it that he barely acknowledges. She's messy and scatterbrained, but in a subtle, realistic way rather than the usual played-up-for-humour way. It's a very subtle portrayal, but there are definite signs there.

[@andreakurtz6028]

I came to say similar. Its close to my presentation honestly. I think amy adams would avoid doing something insulting with her portrayal so its more about what she is saying. Never finishing things, coming up with huge project ideas. Definitely the information dump. I do that to my husband multiple times a day. Somehow he still takes it even after 20 together.

[@maureenstemmle9475]

I agree but i think it was the grocery shopping impulse buys especially the branches purchase that she has to bring home on the subway scene that snared the character for me

[@samuelpmoran]

I thought it was odd that Jessica pointed out the over-the-top portrayals and that people with ADHD learn to mask, but then says this character seems neurotypical presumably for not bouncing off the walls. She has this grand new project where she's not only cooking through Julia Child's cookbook but making it into a blog, and one of her first reactions is thinking she might fail to follow through (again). That hit closer for me than the improvised ladder scene.

[@justanotherjessica]

She is also only able to complete her big Julia Child project because she gave herself a firm deadline (1 year to make every recipe and write a blog post about it). She had a lot of catching up to do towards the end of the year but she did it because she feared social repercussions if she didn't. I do think it's very likely that Julie has ADHD. I think if Jessica watched the movie, she'd change her mind on that particular portrayal.

[@jjQlLlLq]

@@samuelpmoran yeah I was thinking that hahah. Even if it's only a clip, I thought she could be a pretty well-masked ADHD in a girl.

[@isirlasplace91]

As a female who was diagnosed with ADHD in my middle age, I can say out of all the portrayals I saw in this video, the Julie was probably the one I relate to the most. I masked hard my whole life, especially in romantic relationships just to be accepted and loved. So to nonchalantly mention that “maybe I have that adhd thing” in passing would be something I would have done just to gauge reactions. If they were positive, I could feel safe opening up a bit more. A negative reaction would have made me mask even harder. As for other portrayals, they’re the reason my first reaction to knowing I have ADHD was intense fear and denial because I’m not like those people we see on TV!! I wholeheartedly agree with you. We need more accurate representation in media!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us on these clips🧠💖

[@Chaotic_Pixie]

Much of this is the same for me. Hardcore relate to Julie and masking to feel like you're just able to be loved by someone who isn't "obligated" to love you. Also might be why I have cats.

[@isirlasplace91]

@@Chaotic_Pixie I have 4 cats 😂

[@nadiajohansen3660]

I agree! I watched that clip and thought “that is my exact presentation”. I was only diagnosed a few months ago at 30 years old and it was a total surprise to me. If I was masking that hard with myself you better believe I was doing it with my intimate partners. It’s not something I was ever consciously doing and could turn off with certain people.

[@rebeccahabtour]

Wasn't Julie based on a real person? Maybe that made a difference in how she was portrayed.

[@followthemoonrabbit]

You raise an excellent point Isirla. Julie & Julia is an interesting case because the character is based on the blog and book of a real person, Julie Powell, written in what reviews at the time called a "digressive stream-of-consciousness style" with personal details that would have formed the basis of the script as is often the case in adaptations - filmmakers look for details in the author's autobiographical material that can form the basis of interesting scenes and reveal important points about their character. Adapting a personal story to film is rarely done with a neurodivergence-inclusive lens now, let alone in the mid-2000s when the film was developed and shot, so you can easily end up with taking someone's personal story or, in this case, thoughts about possibly having a neurodivergent condition expressed in a blog, and write it it in a scene and having acted by people who do not take this into account. (Which is what happens in most mainstream portrayals of neurodivergent people.) However in this exact case, Julie & Julia was written and directed by Nora Ephron, who has the often quoted line "Reading is the unbelievably healthy way my attention deficit disorder medicates itself" (which doesn't mean that Nora Ephron definitely had ADHD but that she was aware of the concept), and Amy Adams herself was diagnosed with ADHD as a child. So you have the rare constellation of a real person who may or may not have ADHD writing about whether they have ADHD, adapted by a filmmaker who has or is aware of ADHD, played by an actor with ADHD. So even if the exact scene in itself is not conclusive, I'd say it's no wonder that it can deeply resonate with ADHD viewers.

[@bonnie3937]

I have severe ADHD. I always felt as if I had to mask. I knew I had to work harder in some areas than my friends and knew something was not right. I always got by being the funny scattered girl. It took so much energy to appear normal. I did well in college and my profession as a registered nurse. I was able to take good care of my patients and focus on patient care ( then fall in a heap after work from the shear exhaustion of over compensating.) I may have handled a life and death situation impressively only to lock myself out of my car after work. Or run out of gas on the way home. I am retired now. I am still ADHD. I still joke about some of my symptoms. Unfortunately, at my age funny and scattered looks like early dementia! Sigh.

[@evasage14]

thank you so much for sharing your experience, i hope you get the help you deserve. i mask so much too so i get your pain. you deserve better!!

[@carrot7868]

You sound amazing!

[@angela_flute52689]

8:25 calling medication "special candy" is also actually dangerous because it could lead to kids getting into pills they find around the house, thinking they are candy. That can be life-threatening. The Julie and Julia scene is how I am. My experiences don't feel as severe, and for a long time I didn't realize it was ADHD because I've been downplayed my whole life or written off for other reasons to the point that I forgot I had gotten an ADHD diagnosis when I was 10 that my mom didn't believe (probably because she didn't fully understand it) and therefore didn't treat. I've got a lot of coping/masking going on just from how I was raised and what was expected of me, but the burnout is real.

[@mykijiji1958]

Yes! Dangerous! Kids should be taught early that medication can be very dangerous if they ever eat too much. Calling it “candy” is insane!!

[@AnneBivalent]

My kid even knows taking too many gummy vitamins is dangerous!

[@Saeryfim]

I guess I'm relieved to know I'm not the only one that's forgotten a prior ADHD diagnosis. I had been on meds until 7th Grade when I was tired of being taken out of class or projects and such to take my meds. I managed to fake it hard enough to get off them on the day they were assessing me. That was 17 years or so ago, and I stumbled onto one of the How To ADHD videos and realized that a ton of this was relevant, painfully so in some cases. My experiences are real severe, my working memory is absolute butt. Hopefully getting assessed sometime this year, but the appointment keeps getting postponed on me. -_-

[@limespider8]

Guys, it's satire! The episode was in no way supposed to be a serious or nuanced portrayal of a child and mother struggling to manage ADHD. I behaved exactly like that little boy when I was as a kid, and I hated how my medication made me feel. The line "special candy" was funny because it shows how selfish and clueless the little boy's mom had become. Although she does connect with her son at the end of the episode and she embraces his personality and struggles.

[@nataliawashington872]

Agree plus if your child tells other kids about the “special candy” their taking then other kids are gonna go like “why do they get to have special candy, but not me/us?!”

[@jenniferobrien7764]

I have to add that the lady that is 'masking' while being in bed with her partner is completely possible. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 35, I honestly don't know at this stage what aspects of my personality are me or what is masking :-( the quirks I thought were part of my personality were actually signs of adhd that were never picked up on.

[@YOUAreTheSecretToLife]

I relate so freaking hard to this!! I'm 35 now, but was diagnosed when I was 32. Literally have walked around since I was 15 with a misdiagnosis of borderline personality disorder. Which only complicated things, and intensified the blame I got for failing everything, and the subsequent shame I of course carry.

[@KaytchC1790]

I’m 32 and I also have a lot of “quirks” that I can’t seem to change no matter how much I’ve tried. I recently saw a therapist and she had me fill out some assessments for insurance and after filling out the ADHD assessment I messaged her to ask her to pursue a possible diagnosis. I never would have thought I have it but every single article/video/assessment I watch is literally MY LIFE. 😳

[@bradleymiller3683]

I was diagnosed at 51. Explains a lot of things through out my life.

[@kaethehinto]

Diagnosed on my 36th birthday

[@kristykravchenko7966]

I went into comments just to make sure this kind of comment was already here. Thank you.

[@goofball2228]

I can usually tell if people have ADHD or not. I have ADHD and I had this one friend who showed all the obvious symptoms of ADHD. One day she came to school and said “I got diagnosed with ADHD” and in my head I was like “ah I knew it”

[@scribblecloud]

haha i had the same experience with one of my friends """"diagnosing"""" me. Im not officially diagnosed yet unfortunately because my mum doesnt want to

[@mookayla2889]

Ive seen people say Maria from Sound of Music has adhd, and maybe that explains why i loved that movie so much, especially as a kid. I need to watch it again now that I know about adhd but that whole "how do you solve a problem like Maria" song was the other people trying to understand how to get her to behave, a lot of actually fairly accurate metaphors for adhd like "how do you catch a cloud and pin it down" and "how to you keep a wave upon the sand" also all of them do care about her they say she is funny and a sweet girl and they are trying to find a solution. She "misbehaved" the whole time she was in the abbey, singing when she shouldn't, climbing trees, being late because the hills are so pretty. When she finally found what she loved to do she was very devoted and great at it. The problem solving too, she heard she was getting new curtains for no reason and that night decided to make all the kids clothes they could play in, she knows how painful it was for her to be restricted at the abbey, and she doesnt want the same for them. All the kids say she is the best governess they have ever had, she cared about them so much and she made every day interesting and fun in different ways. omg also the I Have Confidence song she goes from confused and scared to loudly singing about how exited she is and sort of pretends to be confident, seemingly riding on her new excitement "besides which you see I have confidence in me" she is consistently making tiny mistakes during the song too and continuing to belt out chaotic confidence. she is one of us

[@mookayla2889]

lol side note ive seen people say the Baroness was so chill with the Captain being in love with Maria because she was also in love with Maria and wanted her to be happy. They had a moment idk

[@lizl1407]

Yep one hundred percent, Maria Von Trapp is def ADHD

[@keeshy]

100%

[@luvsthespotlight]

I’m now obsessed with this interpretation

[@bennyton2560]

this is canon now

[@jamieopthof6940]

I think JD from Scrubs has got ADHD too, the inattentive type. Constant daydreaming, laying connections others can't, impulsivity, commitment issues in relationships and more. Also he's being ridiculed by Dr. Cox for not being a "man", because his interests are supposedly more effeminate. Kinda relatable for me. He's weird, but the people close to him understand and love him for it.

[@jessicakellytindal1671]

When I got diagnosed, I knew the kids with blatant ADHD and I didn’t want to be associated with them Bc they were “weird.” Now I realize they probably just had really good friends that helped them feel comfortable not masking.

[@theoneanton]

I love the Jake Peralto character. They are consistent with it, and he demonstrates ability and competence but his successes are not via the typical route or interpersonal interactions

[@haliarskaphoto]

exactly, I saw Brooklyn 99 maybe four times and I just love that his charakter is like this every episode. The Barney Stinson one was like this only one moment in one episode when he was talking about his diagnose.

[@mamzellenoodolls2512]

As someone with AD(H)D (or ADHD-PI), I did relate a lot to the Julie and Julia scene. Between the hyperfocus, talking a lot about the project, but at the same time realising that it most probably won't get anywhere without an external motivator, I thought it was portrayed pretty well, especially for a woman as I can relate to masking that much even with partners/friends/family. Do you think that the fact that you have the Combined type of ADHD might have made it more difficult for you to relate to this character?

[@HowtoADHD]

I think so, yeah! I was originally diagnosed with ADD but it wasn't til I started this channel (and was re-diagnosed ADHD-C) that I realized I actually do have hyperactive characteristics, in how quickly I speak for one thing... I think I was responding to her not having any impulsive/hyperactive characteristics, as well as not being able to "see" her inattentive characteristics. thanks for pointing this out!

[@sioravanweperen3183]

i think it's funny, i watch the part and the thing i saw which gave me adhd vibes was her talking fast and kind of rambling. Also the "i need a deadline" is soooo accurate and that in combination with householding... omg i feel that one 😅. It's good to show not obvious symptoms especially in girls who still have some form of adhd!

[@VilyRose]

Yesss! I’m 22 years old and got diagnosed last summer, I grew up “gifted” in school so masking is a huuuuge part of my life. I related to her so much because I still mask in front of my partner but I’m slowly learning what works and what doesn’t for me. The “I need a deadline or I won’t get it done” is the current story of my life 😂

[@mamzellenoodolls2512]

@@VilyRose Same as you! I find that being Gifted also makes you mask even more because you are wired differently (just like with ADHD) and will try to hide it. I also think that they mask each other. I'm lucky to have a boyfriend who is also ADHD-PI, so even if it doesn't always mean that we have the same "symptoms" we understand each other better and don't feel the need to mask anymore. Being diagnosed helped a lot to get rid of a chunk of the guilt which I feel pushes us to mask even more. How do you feel since you got diagnosed?

[@mamzellenoodolls2512]

@@sioravanweperen3183 Haha same same. I only survive housework because I've set up a system with an app and have an accountability buddy 😂 It's an adventure finding what works for us!

[@pumpkin_spice_froggo_frappuchi]

The thing you said about ADHD students are soo real!!! I really feel that I have adapted to being a «bad student» and «lazy», so much that I dont know nothing else but to act like it. ( I havent been diagnosed, but I am almost 90% sure that I have ADHD, my friends think so too. I just find it so hard that my parents dont. They just wont accept that I might be «different» and needing help. Watching your videos have hjelped me understand my symptoms better, thank you.)

[@Zooblie]

The stereotypes and misrepresentations of what ADHD is definitely contributed to the delay in seeking diagnosis for myself. It wasn't until I came across your channel a few months ago that I started seeing what ADHD really is and how relatable it is and realized that I should talk to someone about it. Until recently my understanding of ADHD was based on all those stereotypes of bouncing off the walls and "ooooooh shiny!" mid-sentence and being a terrible student, two of which don't apply to me (the shiny thing does, though. And squirrels.).

[@ThatOneLadyOverHere]

I definitely do the "oh! Shiny!" A lot, but I think it's hard to portray in a way that is actually relatable, cause I don't actually realize I'm doing it unless someone else points it out. Before I was diagnosed I was telling a story when a really cool dragonfly flew by, so I pointed it out and then went right back to my story. But my friend stopped and was like "why do you do that?" It just seemed obvious to me that I would point out the beautiful thing that was going to be gone before I finish my story that I can finish after, priorities! Duh! Still think I would rather enjoy the fleeting beauty of the world and then continue my story, if being nuerotypical means ignoring things like the dragonfly, I'll take ADHD any day! I think a way they could have done the shiny shoe scene and actually made it realistic would be for him to finish what he was saying and make it a more polite self interruption. Like "I have Attention Deficit Disorder. I love your shoes, by the way. They are very shiny. Anyways..."

[@Zooblie]

My husband and I met online and were together a few months before he flew out to actually meet me in person. The drive from the airport to my apartment was about 2 hours and we just made polite conversation because we're awkward like that and just before we pulled into my complex I was talking about something and then yelled "look! A Western Gray Squirrel!" and proceeded to tell him its scientific name and other random facts about squirrels. After a moment I noticed the look of shock on his face and was confused. He just laughed and said that I really am the same in person as I was online. So yes, my husband and I bonded over a "oooh squirrel!" moment. By the way, I know things about squirrels because I majored in Fisheries and Wildlife in college 😂

[@ThatOneLadyOverHere]

@@Zooblie 😆 That's adorable! It was a literal squirrel moment! I love it!

[@Zooblie]

@@ThatOneLadyOverHere It was that moment that made me feel like we'd be ok, and here we are almost 11 years later 🤣

[@DonLoco3]

Squirrels are sneaky, always stealing my attenion.

[@iam_sherlocked8421]

I absolutely love the non-canon representation in B99! I love how they have never confirmed if Jake has ADHD, but he still inhibits the traits. and I love how we can see more than just hyperactiveness and impulsiveness - we can also see Jake hyperfocusing, experiencing hyperfixations, emotion dysregulation, etc. also, I would like to mention one other character, Daisy from Bones! it hasn't been confirmed whether she has ADHD, but she definitely inhibits the traits. she gets excited very easily, she's very talktative, interrupts a lot, has hyperfixation(s), hyperfocuses, etc.

[@katemonstermoore8538]

The scene from Julie & Julia convicted me. Before my adult diagnosis, I had a VERY similar conversation with my partner. It read to me as the hyperfocus that can come with a new passion, along with the knowledge that you may never complete the project. For me, that was like the year I was planning my wedding. I spent 2 full weeks designing fabric to make steampunk vests for the men in the wedding party, and ordered samples of the fabric from a few printers in a few different fabric bases, but I couldn’t decide who to order from, and eventually there wasn’t time to custom order fabric and make vests, so we found a similar color solid vest for the guys to rent, and got one for my partner from Historical Emporium.

[@xkirstinx8058]

Having adhd being lately diagnosed coming across ur channel has made me understand much more and be more self aware so thank u

[@HowtoADHD]

Aw thank you!!

[@mmartinezPhysics]

Ditto! I wasn't diagnosed until I was 32, while in grad school, working as a TA; it was a s$@&storm in a dumpster fire! @How to ADHD I found your channel some time later, and it's been very helpful! BTW, I then watched your TED Talk, and was inspired (still am) by how you got to be who you are. Thanks!

[@isirlasplace91]

@@mmartinezPhysics I can relate to your story so much!!

[@CiudadanaHerzeleid]

I relate to this, my diagnose was almost two years algo, and I'm like still learning. Welcome to the comunity 😁

[@xkirstinx8058]

I was 15 when diagnosed now 16

[@HowtoADHD]

I'm loving reading all the comments on this!! I think this is such an important discussion to have. And thank you to those who are giving me context, my perspective was limited to the clips I showed here. Do you feel like your particular flavor of ADHD is well represented in a show or a character you've seen? Who and why? (If not, why not?)

[@HowtoADHD]

@@terryfiner6446 sometimes! haven't seen that one though. What's the character's name?

[@lizl1407]

Someone else commented, Maria Von Trapp from The Sound of Music!! Wonderful loving and authentic representation of ADHD, it represents her struggles as well as her successes... I think she embodies your mantra of "try different". She is failing at being a nun and it is so painful for her but when she is in the right place with the right people she shines so bright. And I think Julie Andrews hits just the right notes of unpredictable, stubborn, creative, spontaneous, and warmhearted

[@lizl1407]

Also, Troy from the TV show Community, and Jason from The Good Place. Troy i think was an accurate representation, his friendship with Abed was sweet although they didn't show much of his challenges. And I didn't really like how they portrayed Jason, (spoiler) in order to get into heaven he has to focus on a task while playing a video game and then they treat his failure like a lack of effort. So ok, great, I guess in order to get into heaven I have to not have ADHD...?! Overall I love that show but hate that particular episode

[@DeZusVanMijnZus]

I love the way phil dunphy from modern family has adhd. Even though there is never a diagnosis it seems pretty clear to me. He is clumsy and has some difficulty, but is also a good realtor because of it. I loved it when he was insecure and gloria said his clumsiness and mistakes are his superpower, because he makes people around him feel comfortable about themselves.

[@cathyadhdwriter]

I wish we could see more ADHD characters who excel academically - I never thought I had ADHD until well after I was out of school because I was a really good student. What I realize now is that I was able to hyperfocus on school, even through college and grad school, and my brain loved the novelty of learning new things. I know academic struggles are important to represent, but seeing someone who is "good at school" and still ADHD would make me feel more represented!

[@lb3659]

I think the Julie and Julia scene feels the most real to me. The number of project ideas I have come up with, rambled about and then dropped… my god. The only weird thing is that her husband is just now finding out. Another representation in media but is never actually labeled is both Andy and Leslie on Parks and rec. I think the most realistic representation is a mix of the two of them.

[@rainbowgirl3225]

I was hoping you'd include Shawn from psych. He is confirmed diagnosed in the show and feels very accurate to me. They even have a whole episode where he's in hyper focus, and they do talk about how that's bad for his mental health.

[@killerpussy84]

I feel directly opposite. Shawn was just too much over the top for me. And hyper focus a bad thing for mental health? 🤨 That's a new statement for me. Hyper focus is the good thing inlmy world. It's hyper fixation that breaks me. 😕

[@YoonchiYa]

Me too!! Tbh he's the character who made me accept myself more. Yeah in season 8 for example he's too over the top but in the earlier seasons, it's just right imo XD

[@panthercat38]

It is??? It's my favorite way to enjoy a thing 😔

[@fangirl_43]

@@panthercat38 If it works for you then it's not a bad thing. Don't worry, not everything works the same for everyone

[@sheenajae]

@@killerpussy84 I've not seen the show, but hyperfocus could also just mean he is perseverating. Which obviously can be a problem.

[@kevinearthsoul6143]

Julie and Julia is a pretty good movie. I think it's totally accurate about being bad with housework and her self-doubt about starting an ambitious new project, because she knows she's bad about finishing such endeavors is totally relatable.

[@KaitlinGaspar]

yeah i related really hard to that clip!!

[@IcebulletZ]

Born female and diagnosed as a young kid. I've always hated how media portrays adhd. I never once saw myself in them. I'm good at masking. If you knew me in school though I was always seen as that kid. The one that would forget whole events and feel gaslit when someone spoke about it. The one that could only get work done if it needed to be or it would be late. The one that would get sent to the office for doodling on books and "daydreaming". The one that would never be able to finish tests in time because I'd forget most of what I'd just read. The one who was accused of cheating because I never payed attention or could show work that made sense to others. The one who'd find a niche topic and learn every single stupid detail of it. The one who had more hobbies than time or focus. The one who would be in trouble because I was never able to be fully there....

[@Kuuuba19]

This hits hard. I feel you!

[@trypotherapy7478]

1. I have a story that relates to the "Accepted clip". In highschool, literally the first day of highschool; we were put on a group-based math assignment as a part of getting to know the class; each group containing three pupils. I was put with one guy from the same major as I, and with this girl who was in a different major. The first - and only - thing she did was to come up to our table, slam her hands down On the table, and then look us both dead in the eyes and say: _"Just so you two know, I have ADHD And that means that I'm not going to do A N Y T H I N G... So Good Luck with the project!"_ and then she just bounced away...... During the two years she was at the school - She would scream in the hallways during class, and sorta hit her vocal chords so that she sounded like a fire alarm or something. This was 100% her way of 'managing' her symptoms and bring herself a false sense of self-security, by accepting that she's crazy because people says she's supposed to be because of ADHD. It was a coping mechanism for her, and she was very clearly not as okay with it as she wanted to pretend. 2. I felt really called out with the modern family one. Where he builds his own ladder to get to things. It happens to me way too often that I need to get something from a high shelf, I build a makeshift ladder, get up to the shelf, see something that I wasn't looking for, pick it up, look at it, proceed to forget what I was actually climbing up for so I climb down, and then that stack of a ladder ends up staying there until somebody else complains about it ( :T) 3. For the Julie and Julia one. Some people will mask it around their loved one. It depends mostly on how they grew up. Masks are hard to remove if they've been glued to your face your whole life.

[@sp00kyd4ddy6]

or she just didnt have adhd lmao

[@SSJKenpachiZaraki]

jesus christ that girl's behaviour was appalling and i hope she's okay now it sounds like she was going through A LOT

[@rantingegalitarian4043]

My first experience with ADHD in media was Percy Jackson and I like how he did it for his son who was diagnosed with it, but it was more of the hyperactive type and that being some of the only representation in media I ever saw definitely contributed to me not thinking I had it because I'm primarily inattentive type

[@theninjaofmusic]

They state in the books that his ADHD diagnosis is essentially incorrect. It's just the closest label for the half god side of him

[@theninjaofmusic]

@Naveen KV I would guess he meant the author's son

[@bennyton2560]

@Naveen KV Rick Riordan did it for his son. read PJO, it's good!!

[@bennyton2560]

Hence why I love the series so much!!! I'd like to think I have ADHD so I can be really good in battles😂

[@sandypradeepk5799]

The books helped me get diagnosed 🥰

[@aziaseitcher1454]

you always start with "ive been wanting to do this episode for a long long time" and it hits home because you actually do them and post them and no was was really expecting you to do them at a specific time. so cool

[@LysippeLee]

I actually enjoyed the clip from "How I Met Your Mother" when it aired. The two guys are friends, the one with ADHD is not only comfortable showing his ADHD, but also in this case is purposefully using it to get out of something he doesn't want to do in the first place. A little more into the clip would have shown that. I thought it was clever writing because I have leaned on my ADHD to get out of situations or conversations I didn't want to be in. Usually when someone in a group is being unknowingly crass. Edited to add, if you stop masking so much and practice your ADHD you can actually control conversations to where you always want them to go, if that makes sense.

[@magikforce4069]

I understand,I relate to that.I don’t hide my adhd from my friends either because they aren’t judgmental about it,and I’ve showed my symptoms openly sometimes before to get out situations that make me uncomfortable.

[@ButtercupLlama]

Exactly! The missing part that made this scene seem bad is that without seeing the context it's hard to understand that the two are very good friends! Also, Barney (the student) is kinda showing ADHD symptoms through the entire show - he is often seen spacing out during a conversation.

[@LyRockerBR]

Wait is that... is that a LIFE CHEAT CODE????

[@heartears]

100% They're friends and there's not much consequence in not masking other than getting what he actually wants which is to get out of the situation.

[@Ashley-ro4xz]

just what i was thinking. Barney doesn’t care about the consequences because he wants to get away from the task at hand. It’s easier for him because he’s so comfortable with Teddy. I thought it was accurate just a bit excessive for the acting just like when she said Jake was a bit excessive.

[@1Gr8Editrix]

As someone with ADHD, I feel that fellow "members" can pick it up like radar. At least in real life. We don't have to announce our condition--which TV feels compelled to do.

[@Dancestar1981]

Exactly usually the Neurodiverse can spot the condition in others

[@angelikafieseler741]

I tend to feel more comfortable with others who are more like me , I mean in a way its a tribassl thing

[@Gingerbreadllama]

I’ve felt this. When I insist on doing things like scheduling informal meetups in my calendar or putting something visual out to remind myself of a task, if I tell my friends I need to because that’s how my brain works, they get it. If they’re cool, they get it.

[@Rainygirl3100]

Neurodivergency (and I suppose physical disabilities can be included too) is almost ALWAYS more natural and better written using a "show don't tell" mindset. I find a mjaority of media announcing that a character has a disorder is more concerned in having a "diverse cast" for brownie points instead of worrying about proper representation. There are ways to blatantly tell the audience that a character was diagnosed and have it feel natural of course, but that should be after we SEE symptoms or signs of masking or just general ways that the character's disorder affects their life. That Accepted clip is probably the worst depiction of "ADHD" I've ever seen, god

[@0lexis788]

I've re-watched "The Sound of Music" a couple times after my diagnosis and Maria is definitely a potentially missed character. Of course it's never stated in the movie (not even sure they knew what ADHD was, then).

[@LendriMujina]

_Some_ knew about it, but research into it was only just beginning at the time, having only really started in the late 1950s. Those in the know called it "Hyperkinetic Impulse Disorder" at the time (the term ADD was coined in 1980, and the term ADHD in 1987), but it wasn't officially recognized by the DSM until 1968; three years after _The Sound of Music_ came out.

[@melanie62954]

Maybe that's why it's my favorite movie 😆

[@SLYCoopaEatsChicken]

that Simpsons episode always made me so sad, Bart always felt so relatable growing up because of the impulsivity and Lisa always felt so relatable because of the intense caring

[@btk72491]

I swear, when I was younger some of these exact scenes helped convince me, incorrectly, that I didn’t actually have ADHD, because I could mask and my parents were right that I just had to try harder. It wasn’t until I started learning more about ADHD that I realized that I really did need my meds and this channel has taught me so much about how my brain works.

[@DougWolfe]

Just discovered your channel. I LOVE that you chose that Modern Family episode to show a great example of accurate ADHD portrayal in Phil (and Luke too). I love that show but that episode was my hands-down favourite. I could see myself in both Phil and Luke so clearly.

[@janine2957]

About characters with not-discussed ADHD I have a really good one: Todd from Bojack Horseman. The way he jumps from one hobby or activity to another throughout the whole series but most times not finishing what he starts, reacts way better to positive reinforcement than to consequences, and his extreme hiperfocus on video games is, while of course exaggerated, really relatable to me. Even that episode where he gets lost in a hotel bc he can't remember which room was his, that has happened to me lmao. He is considered good asexual representation, and he is good ADHD representation too ❤️

[@janine2957]

PS: the episode where he and Mr Peanutbutter developed a Halloween store in January but then forgot to put the new floor and Andrew Garfield broke his bones as a result, a masterpiece of a plot

[@jessicasingleton4242]

The show mom is a great example (the adhd angle is only in the last few seasons). A woman is diagnosed late in life and it shows connection to addiction. Also the grief that comes with a late diagnosis. She looks back on her life and questions who she would be if properly helped as a kid. She sees a therapist and starts to work on coping skills.

[@imperfectly_megan]

I love the show mom but stopped watching tv so I missed these later episodes. Now I want to check it out thanks :)

[@alittlepieceofearth]

I saw it. It made me happy to have that representation.

[@anneclough5771]

Season 6 ep 16 is the one that broke me as she lamented what her life could have been like if she had had support.

[@iamhuld]

Great responses! I’m so curious to hear what you think of Hal, Bryan Cranston’s character in Malcolm in the Middle. He is never described as having ADHD, but feels like he was written by someone with potentially undiagnosed ADHD. Everything he does and experiences is so, so relatable, even down to how if you don’t see the ADHD you might think he’s selfish when it comes to how he relates to his work, etc.

[@anamariefalk3796]

Oh and Luz from the Owl House is a really good one!! The show somewhat focuses on her lack of ability to fit in with other kids her age, and her “weird” way of thinking and impulsivity

[@hannahmoore7936]

Lorelei in gilmore girls. I’ve always thought she represented pretty well. Late for a lot of stuff, impulsive. Needs caffeine. Talks fast. Gets obsessed with starting an inn and doesn’t do anything else. Has trouble in relationships (and got pregnant at 16). Doesn’t like mornings lol. There’s quite a few scenes where she has one goal and takes a really long path to get there. Also she uses her oven to dry socks and only opens the mail once a month. (In which she did an experiment where she gave random names to companies to see who they sold it to. Then forgot she did.)

[@georgia3832]

I was looking for this comment! Totally agree. She’s very impulsive and disorganized. There’s one episode where she is struggling to write a character recommendation for Luke (s6 or7) and it’s really relatable.

[@hannahmoore7936]

@@georgia3832 yes! Hockey puck rattlesnake monkey monkey underpants! Haha I love that scene

[@sashaboydcom]

It never occurred to me that this is why I liked Gilmore Girls so much when I was younger, but that makes so much sense

[@bluesira]

It also portrays the positives of ADD, like the sociability, the charm, the rapidfire speech, the wicked sense of humor, the ability to ingratiate herself to others through her bombastic personality, etc.

[@ultru3525]

A few years ago when my friends asked me what show I'd been watching lately, I said Gilmore Girls, and it was obvious they weren't expecting that answer from a guy nearing his 30s, but this would explain why I related to it so much, despite not being part of its target demographic.

[@CoolFishFunk]

At the bart clip when you mentioned “working harder than their neurotypical peers/being less effective” really clicked. I used to work hours on end to learn math in school only to still score badly. Ive been learning a lot of stuff about adhd after finally caving to all my neurodivergent friends telling me I probably have ADHD. Still with a lot of stuff being explained in my life, as well as taking a look at the criteria and having 6+ on both hyperactivity and attention deficiency I feel like a liar, and like sometimes I hope I dont have adhd. Hoping to see what anyone else has to say about it

[@theninjaofmusic]

That Simpsons episode is heartbreaking. Because Bart really does put his all into his schoolwork and still ends up failing.

[@HowtoADHD]

I know omg it was so relatable!!!

[@theninjaofmusic]

@@HowtoADHD An exact experience like that was how I ended up getting tested. I'd never gotten below a B on a test before college. And on a calculus test I got a 6% and I studied hard for that thing. That was a heck of a wake up call that something wasnt right

[@Ahrpigi]

In second grade I took multiple days to copy down a board of math problems, and genuinely did not know where the time went or what took me so long. I wish I'd gotten any support about it, instead of being blamed and punished for being lazy.

[@DonLoco3]

So me as a child. My dad once said I was a combo of Bart Simpson and Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes. Once I got my diagnosis in my 20s I understood why.

[@dirano09]

I think one of the things I would like is having a character that is clearly ADHD in a show suddenly learn that about themselves. Like, they have that moment of "wait, what? No, this makes so much sense!" And they go learn more and get some new skills or tools. I think it would be a nice way to kind of "give permission" for people who relate to the character to go look at things themselves.

[@latronqui]

I want to write a book like that.

[@SSJKenpachiZaraki]

@@latronqui me too

[@magikforce4069]

Now you’ve encouraged me to make one of my protagonists have ADHD,and I will,because I was considering it anyways

[@another_franci]

When I was younger I tried to be a bit open about having ADHD, I because I thought "What's the harm? Like, people need to know, why I'm acting 'not normal' sometimes ... they might understand me better and like me better." My doctor told me to keep it more down because - nobody needs to know. This was super weird to me at the time, but ... I'm keeping it down and this leads to awkward situations ... who would have guessed that?!

[@HugeZorse]

Re: 30 rock. I know you hate when they get distracted mid “I have ADHD” sentence. I do too, it’s lazy writing. But that’s exactly who Tracy Morgan’s character is, he 100000% has ADHD and shows it across the entire series. It’s actually pretty good showing how it can be self destructive. This was just too on the nose.

[@itsamemaaike]

Yeah they bring it up a few more times and it's written into his character, he also has symptoms when it's not mentioned. Just a bad clip unfortunately.

[@plaidraven6068]

I was looking for a 30R comment. I don’t like when ADHD is portrayed with the “ooh shiny” sentences interjections while explaining they have ADHD either, it is lazy, and you’re right about Tracy’s character! But, I’m not going to deny that a lot of us do that. I’ve definitely interrupted and lost myself for a moment mid sentence because something else caught my attention and I felt I needed to say it right then. It probably wasn’t immediately after “I have ADHD”, but “...sorry, I have ADHD...” may follow and then I continue w my original point. My hyperactivity only really shows in my speech, and it’s sporadic, but I can definitely create a run on sentence out of three subjects and still get back to my original point. Lol.

[@Fledhyris]

lol I have this thing where I will start talking and just not finish the sentence. My husband finds it SUPER annoying, but in a tolerant-affectionate way, so he jokes about it and e.g. when I say "I wonder where..." he will finish by saying "the rest of that sentence is?"

[@michaelcarlini8690]

The most heartbreaking portrayal of a person with ADHD is in "It's a Wonderful Life". Uncle Billy very clearly has ADHD and it is so sad to see him suffer.

[@cnj67]

Yes, that's what I saw too!

[@melanieg.9092]

Saw the movie for the first time this christmas. I really related to him so that really makes sense!

[@GrayvesX]

As someone who is going through diagnosis late in life and have just been learning about what it acutally is. I started getting way too emotional at you talking about Jake Peralta I've love and identified with his character for years and only realising what's going on in my life recently I hadn't connected the two. Hearing about how he's respected by peers almost made me tear up as I feel I really struggle with that.

[@CheriMurphy]

My comment on How I Met Your Mother is that remember, it's a story being told by Ted. Ted is a perfect example of the untrustworthy narrator, especially when it comes to Barney. Everything that Barney is, Ted exaggerates to the extreme. I think his ADHD would fall under that umbrella.

[@HowtoADHD]

Makes sense! Thank for the context :)

[@CallMeLu]

@@HowtoADHD Also the whole class was set up as a joke. Ted is not actually Barney's professor but one of his best friends with an extreme trust between them, so it makes sense that Barney feels super comfortable not masking.

[@gilliganIII]

Umbrella reference makes me happy

[@Empty3932]

@@HowtoADHD also, this clip is an obvious exaggeration, but through the whole series Barney actually shows clear signs of ADHD that are much more subtle and nobody talks about it, but it's there. It's actually a fairly good portrayal.

[@Sandreline]

I think the show is pretty good at signaling when Ted is being an unreliable narrator though. I wouldn't say that the show portrays him as an unreliable narrator throughout the whole story, just in moments and individual stories. Granted, I don't recall if this scene is part of that or not.

[@Dismythed]

I definitely had to mask my ADHD with my ex-wife. Even more so with her than with anyone else. She was a bridezilla and always identified my ADHD correctly because it is so extreme, but she was not the least bit forgiving or supportive of it as a mental condition. I didn't know much about it back then, so I couldn't explain to her the impact it had on my life or how demeaning it was that she chided me for it frequently even after learning about my diagnosis.

[@HowtoADHD]

good point, my close relationships have been with people who understand & accept ADHD long enough at this point that I forget there are marriages where people still have to mask hard...

[@irradiated_woman8016]

Dude I am so sad that you went through that.

[@Stefanburakov]

Sick but common

[@DavidPaulNewtonScott]

My wife seemed to be annoyed at me going and getting diagnosed. "So you want to have ADHD now", "Now your happy you have ADHD".

[@Dismythed]

@@DavidPaulNewtonScott Ouch. I feel you. So many think that it is a cop-out or fad. I can at least say that my ex believed in it. She just wasn't sympathetic to it because she was of the belief that it could be overcome by applying effort and my succumbing was just me not applying enough effort.

[@sisterrosette13]

The ‘mail tub’ omg. When it gets that bad, I can’t do ANYTHING anymore! Now that I’m married to an incredible and kind NT, he opens my mail for me- and just puts important stuff on the pile. I’m a lucky girl 🥰

[@cnj67]

Oh! The Paige in "Atypical" - she is a real ADHD over-achiever, masking so hard, until she breaks down. And creative, loyal and fierce ... I've only seen first season, and ADHD isn't mentioned - but I knew "my girl".

[@hannalowercase5928]

AAAAAAAAH you think so?? i love atypical and absolutely stan paige

[@AngalicWings]

I think it is mentioned in one of the following seasons and you really should watch the rest of the show, her character develops so good along with the rest.

[@michelleluo9595]

road rage paige!

[@Sandreline]

"Neil Patrick Harris, what are you doing?" lol this scene is literally the least problematic thing Barney does on that show

[@demongurrl13]

The one about the woman masking heavily while with her partner really hit home for me. I was in a relationship with someone for more than 10 years and what really pushed me to finally end it and walk away was the fact that it was so mentally damaging that I felt I could never be 100% myself around him. Of course this was a few years before I even got diagnosed with ADHD but after being with someone who made me feel so safe and secure (and was actually the person who convinced me to get help and get diagnosed) and after getting my diagnosis, I understand now that I was masking the entire time I was with my ex. What a relief and an absolute change it's been to know that I'm loved by someone for being no one else but myself. It's been the most positive change in my life ngl.

[@kerrystott4933]

I am 47 and was diagnosed with ADHD 3 weeks ago. Your KZbin chanel has been such a lifeline for me. Thank you so much ❤

[@martelraykin]

I created a character with ADHD and one of my friends loves her so much that we're considering making a webcomic with her as one of the main character. I really hope we get though this project, writing her has helped me deal with a lot of things that were hard for me (I may have ADHD, or ASD, I don't know yet) and watching your channel made me realize how "accidently" accurate I made her because a lot fo things I saw in your videos were already written in her character beforehand xD so I guess if we end up doing this webcomic she would be a decent representation, at least I hope so

[@Sour.Lemonz]

one of my favourite portrayals of ADHD is Michelangelo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012. He is super relatable and the way he shows his ADHD is so similar to my own growing up and I'm just in love with how accurate it is. It even shows parts where everyone thinks he's really stupid but he's actually SUPER smart, just not in the same way as everyone else.

[@marjoficin]

I think one really good example was from Big Mouth. The character named Jay is diagnosed with ADHD rapidly by a doctor without much time for assessment and instantly put on stimulant medication. They personify the medication in his head acting as a drill sergeant to keep his racing thoughts from getting out of control and he's able to focus for a test when he normally has horrible grades. Later on the rest of his classmates essentially bulky him into selling his meds so they can do brother on the test as well, then personifies the meds in their heads not working as it's supposed to for someone with ADHD. The parts with the doctor rapidly prescribing the stimulants opens up the discussion about how people are concerned that kids are too quickly put on meds. Then him selling it to his classmates of course further she's the stigma. The way its done though is actually effective because it highlights the stigma for a discussion rather than poking fun and further perpetuating it However, there are two parts thay

[@azaya8782]

trust the simpson's to have the representation that hits hardest for ADHD people, got me lowkey have goose bumps with many times i've said what he said :(

[@Bendilin]

@8:20 More importantly in my mind, is that if you tell kids their medication is "special candy" they're going to tell their friends they have "special candy", their friends are going to want some "special candy", and why wouldn't the kid share them if they think it's just candy?

[@Firegen1]

I love this Jess. I think a lot of media back builds neuro diversity for the sake of not catching flak for using outdated archetypal characters. It's why writers with a wider pool of experiences so necessary. Otherwise we get bad representation xeroxed over and over.

[@Dancestar1981]

And not just writers but actors. I have Aspergers and ADHD Inattentive and have wanted to be an actress since I was two

[@Firegen1]

@@Dancestar1981 Totally agreed

[@Olimick98]

I love this! In my opinion. The portrayal of Bart in that particular Simpsons episode, Bart gets an F, Is the best representation of adhd in the media. Made me cry, so relatable, and heart wrenching. Pretty crazy for a Simpsons episode. If you see this comment, I would highly suggest doing a video reacting and reviewing just this episode. I think it could be really cool to hear your thoughts on it.

[@lach888c2]

There’s a lot of simpsons episodes like that where you know they really were Harvard level screenwriters. They portrayed things that weren’t allowed to be portrayed favourably at that time, like feminism, adhd, unions etc in such a way that it wouldn’t trip any alarm bells. They silently introduced children to unwinding their pre-judgments in the guise of a cartoon.

[@dem_itra]

Julie & Julia is a biographical film about a real woman (Julie Powell) who is actually diagnosed with ADHD as an adult-- at least that's what she says in her memoir. But IMO, if true, her experience as a successfully masking and functioning adult woman who's diagnosed with ADHD later in life is extremely relatable.

[@valeriechou420]

I’m so glad you made this video. As an adult who was recently diagnosed with ADHD, I can definitely say growing up seeing this kind of excessive stuff on television… made me shocked to receive my diagnosis. More often than not, ADHD is portrayed in an extreme, cartoonish way. I never saw myself in there portrayals. Excellent points!!

[@bobbyb9718]

Sometimes I get frustrated with ADHD symptoms in my life, but watching these videos helps remind me how many people out there deal with the same things, and it feels a bit better 🙂.

[@hobistinyheartbag]

WAIT!! BARNEY HAS ADHD?? I always had a feeling we were similar 😭 but to be fair in that episode of How I Met Your Mother it’s not about adhd it’s about him not wanting to learn what TED was pushing Barney to learn it. It was well explained in the episode 😌

[@hobovan.]

i’m not very familiar with himym so i thought you were talking about the big purple dinosaur and got so confused.

[@LendriMujina]

@@hobovan. 9:35 _♫ I love you, you love me, and I have ADHD... ♫_

[@ti9erlilly]

Those were my thoughts as well. That episode wasn't the best representation of his ADHD, in my opinion. There are many instances in the show where he does things that are very clearly ADHD. It's almost as if when it's mentioned in shows, the writers have a compulsion to play it up way too much for laughs. The subtlety of his symptoms during the rest of the show actually fits a true diagnosis much better in my opinion.

[@Laura-hx6yt]

Thank you for calling attention to these issues. I am 47. I was diagnosed ADD at 16. My mother pulled me out of counseling and didn't tell me until I was 27. She felt that it was just something I was doing wrong and I just needed to learn to be appropriate. And two months ago I tested high on the Autism spectrum. I wish I had known so much sooner. Even though I am very self aware, It really has caused issues on my own world becausei would get so angry at myself because I didn't understand why I did or acted the way I did. Needless to say, I am an expert at masking but that doesn't change the way my brain works.

[@hopelilyvanduyne5764]

The character Stiles in Teen Wolf has adhd and while it is exaggerated early on in the show to emphasise it, there is a lot of examples of hyperfocus and other symptoms later on in the show that I really like to see represented. Especially as he is a student and he never does school work but when it comes to something he is interested in he stays up all night researching. Other than some of the exaggeration it feels very realistic

[@Rookie_Rockounding]

8:10 I work in residential care and the other day I was caring for the kid I work with and I was like, “huh, that pill looks familiar!?” I straight up told him, “duuuuude! I take the same medication! I have ADHD too!!!! We’re like medication buddies!” He was actually so stoked like he never thought an adult would have what he has. Made me happy, had to share 😊

[@scmachache1]

I really loved the show Dirk Gently on Netflix. I felt they were casually and effectively portraying a number of neurodiverse conditions in the characters and it was done really well without bluntly mentioning it.

[@lvmln7843]

ohh I loved this show and I didn't really think about it that way but it makes so much sense!!

[@Mijou]

To be fair, the student and professor skit in “How I met your mother” was with 2 friends, no one else in the room, they would feel comfortable with eachother.

[@kellyhawthorne3629]

Phil Dunphy is such an amazing character. ♥️ Loved him so much.

[@ColleenJoudrey]

I noticed right away that Modern Family had a less harmful way of tying ADHD into the show. As for the lady masking, It reminds me alot of myself as a kid when I was "not permitted" to have ADHD because I was constantly told that I "reflected poorly" on my mother. I also refused to speak unnecessarily and avoided any human interaction to mask every aspect of myself.

[@alittlepieceofearth]

OMG! I just wanna hug you.

[@Frozenwinter84]

I remember watching that episode of The Simpsons when I was younger. It hit pretty close to home. Great video as always!

[@hazellmitchell]

Heinz Doofenshmirtz (from Phineas & Ferb) gives me ADHD vibes. After Jake Peralta, he’s one of the most realistically ADHD characters I’ve seen in a TV show. Not just the gags about things like sticky notes in the original series but also his long post-hyperfocus crash in Milo Murphy's Law.

[@HolyKoolaid]

HOLY MOLY! You hit 1 million subs so quick! You deserve it good job. :)

[@rickc2102]

don't drink the special candy

[@DoktorVinter2011]

I've just seen the first clip and HIMYM is basically my "special interest" lol and I can tell you that Ted is the person he feels the safest around, so he probably feels he can be 100% himself around him. I can totally see how he could have the diagnose. ;P I also think you have to take into consideration that he is male. I feel like women and men handle their ADHD differently. I've written a paper on this, even. It's just not as socially acceptable for girls to behave the way Barney is behaving. And of course they are over-doing it, they are misrepresenting a big part of the ADHD community... but some kids are this way. Definitely. But I don't like the thing Ted said about him being a bad student of course. As a teacher, that's the worst thing you can say. OK, I'll continue watching now.

[@the_bottomfragger]

I'd agree, Barney is mostly messing with Ted here. As an ADHD diagnosed guy I never saw any problem with this even though some people might think this is what the disorder is like after watching this. Honestly I get mad triggered when people act this way around me and I don't think they're ADHD.

[@properconciete14]

As a HIMYM fan, agree. It's a bad example because the context of that clip is super loaded that no one would know if they haven't seen the whole show.

[@catpoke9557]

Your name makes the "Ok, I'll continue watching now" so fitting because that is such an ADHD comment to make

[@Raesling1]

I don't think Ted said Barney was a bad student as a professor, though. Barney's messing with Ted and they both know it. Ted knows Barney, so there's no missing his ADHD much earlier than this. And, sure, it's annoying Ted, but that's just an observation and something a friend would totally say.

[@magikforce4069]

I agree,I have adhd and a guy friend I have also does,and he was more open about it while I mask more.And I remember one time we had a substitute teacher and he was “acting up”and we told her he had it, and she said “Almost every kid acts like that,so it doesn’t matter.”

[@controllerfreak3596]

I also struggle with paper monsters. thats a good name for it. One thing that helped me is that I got a paper shredder. Using the paper shredder is very satisfying, but I have to open the mail first.

[@BirdiesX3]

I'm going to be perfectly honest, I'm the 30 rock one, I've related to that on multiple occasions. For example, when I'm in the car with a friend or family member and there is music on in the background, and I am having a conversation. On many occasions, I've interrupted myself mid sentence or even mid word to sing along to the song. Then I apologize and continue my story! I don't think it's a bad portrayal, but I also can see how it may seem slightly offensive. It depends on the severity of the disorder in the person

[@sydneynuttall8694]

Another great example in my opinion and I haven't seen anyone else mention it, but Jess from New Girl! I immediately recognized myself in her. She's so passionate and bright and impulsive and is doing her best to fit in, but struggles in many ways. Zooey Deschanel has ADHD and I think she put a lot of herself into the character. That being said, Nick Miller (also New Girl) also is a good example with all his impulsivity in decisions. He also does a lot of different spontaneous hobbies too.

[@juliannvandermeer4359]

Agree! Also love New Girl!

[@selkiescove8697]

5:40 IIIIIISTG I HAVE BEEN TOLD OFF SO MANY TIMES FOR CLIMBING SHELVES AND STANDING ON SPINNY CHAIRS TO GET STUFF THAT’S HIGH

[@joelcastro-reyes1667]

Might I recommend a show called Psych? The main character very clearly has ADHD and I believe its a fairly accurate representation without putting too much focus on it.

[@HowtoADHD]

ooo thanks!! I'll have to do another one of these :)

[@joelcastro-reyes1667]

@@HowtoADHD no problem 😁. I mean there might be parts that make your eyes roll, but that's cuz the show is about a guy pretending to be a psychic in order to help solve crimes. So he kinda overemphasizes things just cuz

[@andyackerman7123]

@@joelcastro-reyes1667 I’ve heard it both ways.

[@jplveiga]

@@HowtoADHD look into any episode of Clarence! and being a kids' show that doesnt put any shame in the narrative for his actions, just maybe coming from some characters, in the end the message is always in a way that he's a kid and his neurodiversity isnt something to be ashamed of.

[@theninjaofmusic]

@@joelcastro-reyes1667 He puts on a show because he has fun and is good at it. That's like the ADHD holy grail. Always new challenges, really good at solving them, get to work outside of rigid structure, and get to ham it up.