0:01:22.909,9:59:59.000 Hello brains! 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I say that to you because...[br]if you think about it. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It wasn't really you[br]that decided to come here today. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It was your brain. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And whether you decided [br]to walk or drive, take a taxi, ride a bike 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 That decision was decided[br]by your brain. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Behavior, all behavior,[br]is affected by your brain. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 This is a story about my brain. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So, I was a smart kid. By 18 months I[br]was speaking in full sentences. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 By third grade I was scoring [br]post high school on standardized tests. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I had as all my teacher's agreed,[br]so much potential. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I was also struggling.[br]I didn't have many... any friends. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Outside of books.[br]I was easily overwhelmed. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I spaced out in class.[br]I lost things, constantly. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And trying to get my brain to focus on [br]something I wasn't excited about... 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 was like trying to nail Jell-O[br]to the wall. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But I was smart.[br]So nobody was worried. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It wasn't until middle school [br]when I was responsible for 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 getting myself to classes on time,[br]and remembering to bring my own homework. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 That being smart wasn't enough anymore,[br]and my grades started to suffer. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 My mom took me to the doctor[br]and after a comprehensive evaluation. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I was diagnosed with[br]attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 ADHD. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 If you're not familiar with ADHD [br]it has three primary characteristics. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Inattention, impulsivity, [br]and hyperactivity. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Some people with ADHD [br]have more of the inattentive presentation. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Those are the daydreamers,[br]the space cadets. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Some have more of [br]the hyperactive/impulsive presentation. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Those are the kids that usually[br]get diagnosed early. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But, the most common presentation[br]is a combination of both. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 My doctor and my parents decided [br]that given my shiny new diagnosis. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Maybe stimulant medication would succeed,[br]where spankings and lectures had failed. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So I tried it.[br]And it worked. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The first time I took my medication [br]it was like putting on glasses. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And realizing I could see, [br]without squinting. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I could focus! 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Without changing anything [br]my GPA went up a full point. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Honestly it was kind of miraculous.[br]By 14 I had friends, that liked me. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 By 15 I had published my first poem.[br]I got a boyfriend. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 By 17 I knew I wanted [br]to be a journalist. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 My local college had a program that would[br]guarantee admission to USC. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 They had a really [br]great journalism program. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So, I signed up at my local college[br]and I started taking classes. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I moved in with my boyfriend. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Things were going great![br]...until they weren't. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I started having trouble making it [br]to class on time. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I aced a statistics course, [br]but I forgot to sign up in time. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So, I never got the credit. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I took classes so I could help[br]my boyfriend with his career. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But I completely lost sight of mine. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I never made it to USC... 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 By 21 I dropped out of college[br]and moved back home. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Over the next ten years I started[br]and quit, or was fired from 15 jobs. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I ruined my credit. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I got married![br]And was divorced within a year. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 At this point I was 32, and I [br]had no idea what I was doing with my life. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Besides reading self-help books[br]that didn't seem to be helping. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 What happened to all that potential?[br]Was I not trying? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 No, I worked harder than anyone I knew,[br]I didn't even have time for friends. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I was that busy. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I had potential, though... 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So my failure was clearly my fault. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I just hadn't done what I needed to do [br]to reach it and honestly.... 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I was tired of trying, putting more effort[br]into life than everyone else. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And falling farther[br]and farther behind. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 At this point I could[br]have given up on myself. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I could have decided that everyone who[br]thought I had potential, was wrong. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But, I didn't, because I knew that it was[br]my behavior that had gotten me here. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And behavior is affected by the brain.[br]And my brain has ADHD. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Looking at my behavior[br]I knew... 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Even with medication, [br]even as an adult. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 My ADHD was still interfering[br]with my life. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 What I needed to know[br]was how, and why. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And more importantly,[br]what could I do about it. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I started to do some research.[br]And I found a lot of great information. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I found a lot of bad information too,[br]but that's another talk. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But there's good information out there.[br]Websites, podcasts, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 talks, by researchers [br]and medical professionals. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Books that would of been way more helpful[br]than the self-help books I've been using. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 That were clearly written for normal...[br]well, there is no normal. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Neurotypical brains. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 A lot of what I found though [br]was either really technical. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Or seemed like it was written for parents,[br]and teachers trying to deal with ADHD kids 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 There wasn't a lot that seemed to be [br]intended for us, the people who have ADHD. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So, I started a YouTube channel. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I had no idea how to start[br]a YouTube channel. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But, I started a YouTube channel 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I almost called it "How Not To ADHD"[br]because that was all I knew at the time. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But my boyfriend, Edward, [br]talked me out of it. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It turns out lots of people need help[br]understanding ADHD. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Including, maybe especially,[br]those who actually have it. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I was no exception. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I thought having ADHD[br]was kind of the same for everybody. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I thought it was mostly[br]about getting distracted. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I thought that maybe having ADHD was the[br]reason that I was failing at life. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And I thought I was what needed to change[br]in order to be successful. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I couldn't be successful,[br]and still be me. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Spoilers.[br]I was wrong. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So, lets go back for a second.[br]Back to what brought us here today 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The brain.[br]Understanding the brain you're 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 working with, it turns out[br]is kind of important. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And, that's true whether that brain is[br]your employees, your students, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 your kids, your significant others,[br]or your own. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 ADHD affects between [br]5 and 8% of the global population. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Which means statistically speaking there's[br]between 37 and 60 of us just in this room. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 You can't tell who we are just by looking[br]but its fun to watch you try. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So at some point you're going [br]to meet someone with ADHD. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Work with them, give birth to them,[br]or fall in love with them. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Chances are you already have. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And at some point, [br]you're going to ask yourself. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 What is going on in their brain? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So, after two years of learning about [br]ADHD and a lifetime of experience with it 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 After having the honor of connecting with[br]researchers, and doctors, and ADHD experts 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and tens of thousands[br]of ADHD brains all over the world. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 What can I tell you,[br]to help you understand ADHD? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 By the way, many of them[br]helped with this talk. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 First of all its real. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It's not bad parenting [br]or lack of discipline. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It's currently the most [br]well researched mental condition. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And, there are actually measurable[br]differences in the brain. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 These differences are larger in children,[br]but for most people they never go away. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 In other words,[br]adults have ADHD too. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 While rates of the ADHD diagnosis[br]are increasing. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It's not because of an increase [br]in sugar, or technology. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Or... lack of spanking.[br]It's not. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Anymore than people drowning in[br]swimming pools is because of Nicholas Cage 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Correlation does not equal causation. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Those are real numbers. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Audience laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It's from both an increase [br]in understanding that ADHD exists. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 That girls, adults, and gifted students[br]can have it too. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And ironically a lack of understanding[br]that being hyper, misbehaving, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 or struggling in school[br]does not mean that you have ADHD. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 ADHD is more serious than I realized. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The primary characteristics of inattention[br]impulsivity, and hyperactivity. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Don't sound all that serious, [br]and I didn't think that they were. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But in real life they translate into[br]people getting into more accidents. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Being more likely to get fired, [br]get divorced. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Significantly more likely [br]to struggle with addiction. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I learned that ADHD is on a spectrum. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Raise your hand [br]if you've ever lost your keys. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Or spaced out in the[br]middle of a lecture. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 If you're not raising your hand I'm [br]going to assume you spaced out 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in the middle of this one. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Audience laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The thing is while everyone experiences[br]ADHD symptoms sometimes. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 An actual diagnosis is based on how many [br]of those symptoms significantly, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and chronically impair[br]multiple aspects of your life. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Just like you can get sad[br]and not have depression. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 You can get distracted[br]and not have ADHD. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And just like you can have [br]mild depression, or severe depression. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 ADHD can range[br]from mild to severe. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I also learned ADHD is a [br]terrible name for ADHD. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It creates a lot of confusion. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We don't have a deficit of attention. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 What we have trouble with[br]is regulating our attention. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 As ADHD coach Brett Thornhill puts it,[br]it's like your brain keeps switching [br] 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 between 30 different channels,[br]and somebody else has the remote. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Sometimes we have a hard time [br]focusing at all. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And other times we get stuck on a [br]channel, and can't pull ourselves away. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 In real life this might look like we just [br]don't want to do homework because we'de 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 rather play video games,[br]and sure sometimes that's the case. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But, the truth is, there are plenty of [br]times we want to be able to focus, we try. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And we just can't.[br]Current understanding is 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that this difficulty has to do with the [br]way our brains produce, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and metabolize neurotransmitters,[br]like dopamine, and norepinephrine. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I learned ADHD is highly treatable.[br]Stimulant medication boosts 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 these neurotransmitters, [br]Which is why it helps us focus. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It's very effective for around 80%,[br]of people with ADHD. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And I learned that medication [br]isn't enough. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 ADHD affects much more than our focus,[br]it impairs executive functions 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 like planning, prioritizing and the [br]ability to sustain effort towards a goal. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It affects our ability to regulate [br]our emotions, our behavior, our sleep. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It's not one program in our brain[br]that it works differently. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It's the whole operating system.[br]It can effect every aspect of our lives. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And there are a ton of strategies[br]out there, that can help. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Cognitive Behavior Therapy,[br]coaching, even meditation, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 or regular exercise can [br]make a huge difference. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Understanding your brain.[br]I knew I had trouble focusing, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and I knew my medication [br]helped with that. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 What I didn't know was that getting[br]overwhelmed all the time had to do 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 with poor working memory.[br]And that making lists helps. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Or that the reason that I ran late all[br]the time isn't because I didn't care. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 ADHDer's have a skewed sense of time. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And that using a timer could teach me[br]how long thing's actually take. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Mostly, I expected to learn[br]what I actually learned. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 That ADHD is real.[br]Addressing it is important. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And medication is not enough. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 What I didn't expect to learn[br]that I wasn't alone. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I had an ADHD tribe. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 What a difference it would make [br]to connect with it. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 There are people with ADHD in every [br]country, every culture across the globe. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Yes, even in France. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Delayed laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And this tribe is awesome. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Comparing myself to people [br]with neurotypical brains, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I felt really bad about myself.[br]Why couldn't I keep my house clean? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Or, finish a project in time instead of [br]waiting until the very last second. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But seeing the positive [br]in fellow ADHD brains. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Helped me recognize,[br]and appreciate my own strenths. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 One's that I couldn't see when I was [br]just staring at my weaknesses. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Which is what I[br]had been doing for decades. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But ADHD, ADHD brains [br]have a lot to offer the world. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We tend to be generous,[br]funny, creative. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 ADHDer's are 300% more likely[br]to start their own business. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We not only think [br]outside the box. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We're often not even aware [br]there is a box. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Audience laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We may struggle when [br]our brains aren't engaged. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But ADHD brains are great [br]at tackling tasks that are urgent. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Working with ideas that are new. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Wrestling with problems[br]that are challenging.