Beyond The ADHD Symptom Checklist...

[@lisaschwegel3520]

I love your humor, I have a sense of humor too, it gets me into trouble. When I first listened to my grown adhd sons, they'd tried years ago to tell me I'm neurodivergent. It wasn't until their father passed 7 months ago, that my brain recognized what they were saying. I went a step further and did tests on the autism sites too, why not?, yup I'm glowing on the spectrum. So I lost my husband to cancer and gained knowledge about who I really am, when my masks broke. It's been quite a ride these past 7 months, but I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel and my glasses are able to see the new revised map. I'm also loving my inner child, she's no longer trembling in the corner, I love her and enjoy when she wants to come out and play, so does my youngest grandson, he's 5 and showing signs that he has adhd too. But life is good and hard and you need to laugh when you fall down, reach your hand to God and He'll help you up! ❤️🙏

[@RickHasADHD]

I am sorry for your loss, Lisa. I know how easily a sense of humor can get one into trouble. 😅🤐 You're lucky that your kids recognized it. When i was diagnosed people either dismissed ADHD as a joke or an excuse, or they had the opposite reaction, "Yeah, it was kind of obvious." And getting the second diagnosis will be so helpful. I'm 90% sure I fall on the Autism spectrum, and at some point I will pursue a diagnosis. It seems more and more people are recognizing they have both things going on. Thus the term auDHD. Keep feeding that inner child. The goal is to make your inner child your outer self.

[@patormsby9441]

Condolenes on your loss！You have a very good mindframe to get through it. I have had repeated trouble on account of my sense of humor too. But somehow I just can't stow it in the corner where most adults do. (That would be really dull, now wouldn't it.) I agree that when you fall down, you need to laugh, so maybe some of us need it more than others. I wonder if this is very common among the ADHD and those of us who very strongly suspect in ourselves.

[@TheVeganHumanist]

The fact that I had to start this twice just to pay attention.😬 The jobs and moving is me exactly.

[@davidmartindavies8352]

my ADHD has been a life long struggle nice to know that I'm not alone - thank you

[@RickHasADHD]

You're most welcome. Once you know what's going on you have a chance.

[@scurvofpcp]

I kept a job for 15 years ... but every 6-18 months I was doing something different in it, and the working conditions was always a shit show.

[@RickHasADHD]

That's frustrating. A job that changes frequently and offers fresh challenges can be ideal for some folks with ADHD. But not if it's a dysfunctional organization. It's too easy for us to get triggered.

[@realzath]

No chance my father does the test. My family still thinks I'm just stupid and totally normal. Meanwhile I see even more symptoms in my father, now that I went through the testing and watch all this here.

[@RickHasADHD]

Ask him to watch the test with you, or our documentary 'ADD & Loving It?!' with you, because you want him to reassure you that you do have this issue. And let him work it out for himself. Make it about you. Not him. 😉 Sneaky, right?

[@realzath]

@@RickHasADHD 1. He has super ADHD ^^ ... he is on another level. He will watch for 30 sec max. 2. Language barrier. I saw some videos on youtube that use AI translate. It looks new and youtube is known to rollout slow. But maybe you've got that feature somewhere? But... thanks a lot for responding. I guess I'll just look for videos he can understand and then tell him to see my world ... and make him realize: Wait, what? XD ... so, yeah. Good Idea. Thanks. Edit: But then again ... it'll take him 2 sec to realize what I'm doing -_- ... he is ridiculously quick to get it.

[@joshbruce8167]

Just got my diagnosis a month ago and have been on Vyvanse for a while now. WOW! I have a lot of tools that I've created by myself without help not realizing what I was going on. Now that I have help, medication and soon to be behavioral therapy, My life is already improved by a hundredfold. Work life, home life and outside relationships. I didn't realize how heavy the backpack was that I was carrying until I was able to put it down! You were one of the main reasons I sought help. I appreciate you and your dedication to helping us. Your humor helped make very heavy topic a little bit lighter as I tackle the situation. Also, to anyone reading this, Microsoft to do has alarms and checklists that can help you remember to call the doctor when their office is open! 🤣😐😭

[@RickHasADHD]

Thanks for the kind words. I am only able to do this with the support of our Patrons on Patreon and the KZbin subscribers who become members.

[@legiontheatregroup]

Your videos are always spot on. "Looking back over your lifespan to see the patterns." Here is a true story: about 25 years ago I was working in a corporate job. I asked my boss how I was doing. She said: "Here is the thing with you. If something interests you, you will go to the ends of the world to solve it and do creative things no one else would ever think of doing. But the parts of your job that do not interest you -- you just ignore."

[@AlaskaBrandy]

Ugh......a long drawn out diagnosis process is very depressing. It was just brought to my attention this past summer the lesser known symptoms of ADHD, and I have those in spades. The more I learned, the easier it was to see ... this is my life. But now trying to navigate the official diagnosis process......it seems like maybe it's too much. If we struggle with overwhelm and memory....why is the whole process nothing but that? I do not have a spouse that ever so patiently picks up my slack or helps me remember things. Reminders on my calendar can all do so much. And let's not forget the cost for a long drawn out ordeal. I guess I am just looking for a little encouragement or a tip to up my dopamine enough to tackle the medical gauntlet.

[@barborahrabalova7945]

A tiny hit for you here ❤ keep up the good work.

[@RickHasADHD]

A few thoughts that might encourage you to tackle the medical gauntlet. First, I don't know where you are and who you have to see to get a diagnosis. But in our Patron chat rooms it's clear that long waiting lists and a shortage of experts is a world-wide problem. The reason the diagnostician asks a lot of questions about your past is to clarify whether this has been an ongoing, life-long challenge, or just a temporary state due to Clinical depression, a recent loss, stress from the pandemic, PTSD, thyroid issues, a brain tumor... the list goes on. If it makes it esaier, bring along someone who has known you for a long time. (See comments on other videos about adult kids diagnosing their parents. We don't see what others do.) They can give a more neutral perspective. Just don't bring someone who is judgemental of you or dismissive of ADHD. Your best and oldest friend is ideal. And getting a proper diagnosis can eliminute any uncertainty. It's not the best news, but it's best to know.

[@dorhocyn3]

I feel as though they need to stress, the executive function malfunctioning more. I’m not hyper, and I can focus, but my brain doesn’t seem to want to pick the proper task at the right time.

[@RickHasADHD]

Yes. As one young man told me, "The medication really helps me to focus. But it's not a guru. It doesn't tell me what to focus on."

[@CallippoShafai]

I love your content, your humour and the way you talk 😊 I'm binge watching your videos in my ADHD deep dive (and I'm afraid I'll come over prepared for my diagnosis in a few months 🙈) I want to join your Patreon, but I'm also hanging up laundry and don't have my credit card around. I leave the tab on my phone open and hope I'll see it tomorrow and find my wallet... (And now I'm annoyed why PayPal doesn't let me use my balance)

[@AThirstyPhilosopher]

Great breakdown of the criteria!

[@InstantKiwi1005]

Oh, thank you for the reminder... Planed early last year to apply for the waiting list of a german psycologist specialised on undiagnosed older women, after my husband found some videos on ADHD, and toled me that he noticed lots of my wierdo, geeky behaviours matched with others diagnosed with ADHD

[@TheeOldest]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@charlottewilliams7866]

Your videos are so helpful! As I'm listening to you I'm wandering around the little spare bedroom and noticing all the stuff I should be cleaning before I have guests. My sister just left 20 minutes ago and I'm noticing everything I should have cleaned before she arrived. Will I turn over a new leaf and become a more hospitable host? Maybe, maybe not. But now I know I can listen to your videos and get a bunch of stuff done. Thank you!

[@RickHasADHD]

That's great. I like to put on music from the 60's and Motown. Lots of people put on podcasts or audio books.

[@InstantKiwi1005]

​@@RickHasADHDfor me Spanish (Shé), English (REN & NF) and Italian (Jiovanotti) RAP Musik works best. Lots of intelligent content in foreign languages to hyperfocus on - helps silence the circus in my brain ;)

[@Arfonfree]

I've got to go make yogurt. EDIT: Well, ffff... my yogurt pot was still full of goo from the lamb shanks I cooked 4 days ago. I put the pot in the garage so the fat would congeal and I could throw it (the fat) in the garbage. But my bike tires are flat, it is winter after all... where is my tire pump. Ahh... but I haven't used it for a while and it won't seal, perhaps some silicone spray would help... if only I knew where I'd left it. Ahh... laundry room. I need to recharge those tool batteries while I'm here. It's an hour later and the pot is clean. The milk is being pasteurized as I type, and I've set 3 timers to help me remember the next steps. I might have ADHD.

[@RickHasADHD]

D'ya think? I had to laugh. And then cringe. i won't get into the state of the garage or the laundry room.

[@binghobson7122]

Only an hour! That’s good going. 😊

[@Arfonfree]

@@binghobson7122 I think I got the time wrong. It was 3 hours.

[@Arfonfree]

@@RickHasADHD When I was retrieving the tire pump, I tripped over a gas can. I sat on something that squished. When my wife got home, she said the garage smelled like fuel. Oh, sss..., I forgot to close the garage door I opened to air it out when I set the gas can upright after she got home. So that's all for this comment... I've got to go shut the door before the racoons get home.

[@TopOtheMorntoya]

I thought they got rid of the hyperactivity part in the name and everything falls under ADD now

[@streitrat]

It's the opposite, everything falls under ADHD now...

[@High_Alpha]

Not diagnosed, but I'm pretty sure I have both... noticed it especially socially... ADHD brain wants to be a social butterfly and party, ASD brain couldn't think of anything worse! So the internal conflict makes me tired just thinking about going out! Ugh.

[@yootoob7048]

Rick, how does one find a reputable and knowledgeable doctor for a diagnosis?