I don't intend to diminish hers or anyone elses experience but this talk comes off as someone who didn't have adhds worst symptoms chronically. Me being distracted is not "busy inventing" at it's worst. That's the way i would describe being lost in thought but not the way i would describe trying to tell someone something and forgetting what that thing was before i finished the sentence. It could've been critically important too but then POOF, it's gone for now or forever. The way she says it is more invalidating than calling adhd a disorder is hurtful. Being impulsive is not audacious. Yes people with adhd (from my experience) are very audacious but don't remove their struggle and replace it with a positive. I once impulse bought a cooler with the last of my money because i thought it looked cool. I had to return it to buy food the next day. Impulsivity is not quirky audacious, it's a genuine struggle. I think the only thing i agree with is that lazy is a harmful stereotype atributed to adhd. But i think she tackled it in completely the wrong way. My focus and my lack of motivation are related in how they affect me but separate in how i tackle them. My lack of motivation to do basic tasks has made me stay in what my sister calls "un-liveable and hazardous circumstances". While focus definitely has some hand in that, my lack of motivation to do it is the far bigger issue. This also creates problems with jobs because i struggle to do things with self autonomy which is the opposite of what most employers want and rightfully so. Someone who can do the task on their own is far more sought-after than someone who needs supervision. My focus is in the same boat when it comes to supervision but having a person standing over you is not practical so i solve them differently. My motivation issues can often be fixed with planners and creating situations that present immediate consequences and my lack of focus is really only fixed with medication. Focusing and motivational issues are not fun quirks, i struggle with both issues chronically and im only middle of the road when it comes to how it affects me. I don't intend to diminish anyone's experience but i will probably diminish Ms. Matsons experience because her entire talk make it seem like she hasn't had the worst of the symptoms and had them manageable for her entire scholastic years. I was diagnosed at 20 after years of Fs and subpar grades even when put in environments that let me walk around. Just because walking makes it easier to complete tasks, doesn't mean it makes me perform at the same level as someone without adhd. She seems like someone who hasn't had the serious struggle their whole life and only had the the minor more manageable symptoms and once they were diagnosed, they made adhd their whole personality. She does not seem like someone who struggled with it. I am sorry to anyone i have invalidated in this small essay except for Ms Matson because she spent 10 minutes invalidating me.
I’m sorry to hear that you saw darkness where there is light. I feel that if you might consider changing every negative you experience into a positive learning experience, you may have the opportunity of viewing your life differently. I wanted to avoid using you statements, but wrote how it compelled me. Feel better. Best of luck. I found this speech inspiring and will be showing my undiagnosed 11 year old to stay positive in her strengths & acceptance of self with an adhd mind. From a mom with an adhd mind who has helped herself thru stigmatizing struggles by using a positive mindset.
There is A LIGHT?? whew..Finally so things can get better and we all can take a deep breath and step back for a moment quietly ..the light is so beautiful and so is this woman of clarity. Thank you for showing me that there is a way. It's not as bad as it seems..thank you
Throughout the whole talk a teared up. You, personally have changed my life and please believe me when I say how grateful I am for listening to this talk today. Thank you so much. I now know that I am capable
I loved this talk for myself, but i do see where some people who didn’t are coming from. For me, my hyperactivity is probably where many of my strengths lie, but if you aren’t hyperactive or if your hyperactivity isn’t project based, then this might feel like just another mold you can’t fit in. I do think though, we all have what it takes to be happy and have fulfilling lives, but it is individual to each of us. The message I think works best for the neurotypical that control our lives, to show that we’re not wrong for doing things atypical, but just different
This talk gave me goosebumps. Thank you. I’ve overcome a lot with a positive mind, a little disclosure when around neurotypical minds, lots of note pads & some strategies. I’ll be showing my 11 year old undiagnosed daughter so that she can see the positives before the stigma happens. She’s hitting the age where working hard, is getting hard for her, unless it’s something of current interest. This came at the RIGHT time 💝
I came in ready to be inspired but this hit me all wrong. It seems like I'm the only one, though. I appreciate the positivity but think it's misplaced and privileged. It seemed that she discounted the benefits of diagnosis and treatment by saying it isn't a disorder and speaking disparagingly of the DS-M. It's hard to be told once again that it's not real. ADHD is undeniably a disorder. There are positives to the ADHD brain for sure, and it's nice to focus on those, but we live and MUST function in a world built for neurotypical people, and we just aren't always gonna function well within that. That's what makes it a disorder; it has a negative impact on our lives, even if we have good qualities. We would never end up in a position where we are diagnosed in the first place if it didn't, as we don't go to a Dr to get diagnosed for being super creative and awesome. Diagnosis is important for many because without diagnosis we are just people who are awful at everything that is easy for others, and without treatment and medication many of us wouldn't function. The argument that the environment or expectations may be the problem, not our brain function, doesn't fly. Even if we excel at specific creative tasks, the fact is that much of what is required of us in life, like work and laundry and remembering our grocery list and waiting in lines, will be exceptionally difficult for some of us. And we can't escape those tasks even if we are super creative CEOs. Also, not all of us can be that. I'm glad her ADHD is manageable enough that she feels that way, but not everyone can be a CEO. Some people with ADHD are just drowning moms failing to keep up on their dishes and housework, or young men who can't keep a relationship, or rural dwellers with limited career options, further limited by their inability to stay on task with something that fails to grab their attention properly. I like the idea of finding the positives, but I'm not a CEO, and saying my brain is awesome doesn't help me remember where I parked my car (but medication does)
You’re not the only one, I get that ADHD gives me some unique qualities that I do enjoy and benefit from, however it has also had a debilitating and devastating impact in my life and in my ability function in life, so I don’t appreciate some airy-fairy lady on mdma telling me I have a wonderful gift and downplaying the struggles of millions of people that are not as lucky as her and the CEOs and celebrities she knows. That’s such disservice in explaining a neurodivergence that’s already so misunderstood by neurotypical people. It’s great that she wants to inspire people to look at it from a positive angle, but she could have at least spent a bit more time giving actual facts and explains all the ways, positive and negative, in which this neudivergence can affect people.
I felt the exact same way! This talk honestly just made me feel more of a failure because I'm not utilizing my creativity. I was just recently diagnosed because I'm that drowning mom and I was desperate to try and figure out what the heck was wrong with me. I know I'm creative, but I can't do anything with my creativity because my life is overrun by tasks, chores, and work that I can't seem to keep up with the way a neurotypical person does. And also, I don't know if this is just me, but my "daydreaming" or distracting thoughts are not always useful or productive lol. Many times my mind goes on a mental tangent about random junk like videos game side quests that I wish I would have done differently lol. She made it sound like ADHD minds are always inventing and creating, when in reality (at least for me) our brains are distracting us with thoughts that aren't always useful or fruitful.
You're not the only one. It seems awfully dismissive to only address the light side of this disability. It's not what any of us experience every single day. The amount of guilt and shame we hold over ourselves is immense. It is majorly debilitating. Yes, there are many great names who had/have ADHD and it can be inspirational. But those people suffered so much. That "overdrive" is what causes an impulse with me, personally, to drive a knife straight through my brain just to get some peace and quiet. I hear you
Undiagnosed ADHD can be incredibly harmful for someone. While I agree it should be better accepted and not joked about it shouldn't be over trivialized. Many people who don't get treated end up using substances, getting put in prison, being abused their whole life. It's fine if you're wealthy because then you'll get diagnosed before it kills you or destroys your reputation
I agree on most points, but my procrastination has led me to a ton of trouble at work and I have lost potiential promotions, been demoted and have struggled all my life with getting things done, so no, i dont see super powers in it all, but yes some of it is.
PSA: I dont believe this is directed towards people with ADHD. It is to "shift the narrative" and dismantle the stigmas that cause the social disorder. If this triggers you because you suffer from a disorder, and not a super power, then please try keep in mind that your woes are not caused internally, but rather externally through social stigmas associated with the "adhd" individual. We are living in a changing world, so we can work to make changes that help benefit more than just the normal average person.
@DistantVision85 my woes are not all caused by society's expectations of me. Some are, but some activities are just literally necessary to life, like laundry and grocery shopping and house cleaning and having a job. And those things are harder for me because of ADHD. It's not society's expectation that I buy groceries. It's an unavoidable reality, and, as said, it's harder for me because of ADHD. Some of what she said about not playing into societal expectation is true, but it doesn't change the fact that the non-fun necessary things are often still disordered
At age 57 its finally coming out in the open. ADHD was not a part of any sort of knowledge of; at my age, especially, for Woman. Out of curiosity; how many are also O Negative Blood? (I think this needs to be Researched more.) Hoping I can find a place in Colorado, for an official diagnosis; because I am so not motivated by the same things as other humans and sincerely feel like an Alien, with my views on this human experience. Add 2 TBI's- only complicates the whole thing. Thank You for your Honesty! It has Helped Immensely! Suggestions Welcomed! Self Confidence is my Biggest Struggle! Keep Educating, Please!! 😇
At 57, you're here, open, curious, learning about yourself, working on yourself, participating in discourse, being vulnerable about your experience... you are my heroine! 🙇♀ I (40F) hope to grow up to be like you, a bit a alien, but always curious and changing.
ADHD is a disorder. There is literally not a single study that demonstrates to the otherwise. The individuals listed used certain means to navigate their impairments - that doesn't mean they were without them. It's a disorder. It is a disability. You give people hope by telling them the truth.
@soupcastle8210 yup. She's just privileged enough to probably have a personal assistant or pay someone to handle many of the things the rest of us struggle with, and then she turns around and is like, "see guys? It's not that hard"
😮 Gracias por sumar confusión a la gente que no entiende lo que es sufrir de TDAH. Es un "trastorno", que conlleva discapacidades, no un súper poder. Obviamente esta chica no tiene TDAH.
It's already annoying that she starts off listing people for which it's impossible to know if they had ADHD, and furthermore, the claim is based on a handful of cherry-picked anecdotes. "Even brain experts agree that there's no attention deficit in ADHD..." here's where I stopped the video
I think this was a good Ted talk. I can't tell. I've restarted it 100x because I have dope stories and visuals in me Ed. (Head) Seriously though, great Ted talk. Just. I've had 20 movies 5 poems and 1 song get done and I'm not even a Lyricist. But I guarantee you it's beautiful. JK it's 🗑️ or is it? JK it's 🗑️ ... ?
You literally diminished my shame in about 10 minutes. Thank you
cool
nice
I don't intend to diminish hers or anyone elses experience but this talk comes off as someone who didn't have adhds worst symptoms chronically.
Me being distracted is not "busy inventing" at it's worst. That's the way i would describe being lost in thought but not the way i would describe trying to tell someone something and forgetting what that thing was before i finished the sentence. It could've been critically important too but then POOF, it's gone for now or forever. The way she says it is more invalidating than calling adhd a disorder is hurtful.
Being impulsive is not audacious. Yes people with adhd (from my experience) are very audacious but don't remove their struggle and replace it with a positive. I once impulse bought a cooler with the last of my money because i thought it looked cool. I had to return it to buy food the next day. Impulsivity is not quirky audacious, it's a genuine struggle.
I think the only thing i agree with is that lazy is a harmful stereotype atributed to adhd. But i think she tackled it in completely the wrong way. My focus and my lack of motivation are related in how they affect me but separate in how i tackle them. My lack of motivation to do basic tasks has made me stay in what my sister calls "un-liveable and hazardous circumstances". While focus definitely has some hand in that, my lack of motivation to do it is the far bigger issue. This also creates problems with jobs because i struggle to do things with self autonomy which is the opposite of what most employers want and rightfully so. Someone who can do the task on their own is far more sought-after than someone who needs supervision. My focus is in the same boat when it comes to supervision but having a person standing over you is not practical so i solve them differently. My motivation issues can often be fixed with planners and creating situations that present immediate consequences and my lack of focus is really only fixed with medication. Focusing and motivational issues are not fun quirks, i struggle with both issues chronically and im only middle of the road when it comes to how it affects me.
I don't intend to diminish anyone's experience but i will probably diminish Ms. Matsons experience because her entire talk make it seem like she hasn't had the worst of the symptoms and had them manageable for her entire scholastic years. I was diagnosed at 20 after years of Fs and subpar grades even when put in environments that let me walk around. Just because walking makes it easier to complete tasks, doesn't mean it makes me perform at the same level as someone without adhd. She seems like someone who hasn't had the serious struggle their whole life and only had the the minor more manageable symptoms and once they were diagnosed, they made adhd their whole personality. She does not seem like someone who struggled with it.
I am sorry to anyone i have invalidated in this small essay except for Ms Matson because she spent 10 minutes invalidating me.
I’m sorry to hear that you saw darkness where there is light.
I feel that if you might consider changing every negative you experience into a positive learning experience, you may have the opportunity of viewing your life differently.
I wanted to avoid using you statements, but wrote how it compelled me. Feel better. Best of luck.
I found this speech inspiring and will be showing my undiagnosed 11 year old to stay positive in her strengths & acceptance of self with an adhd mind. From a mom with an adhd mind who has helped herself thru stigmatizing struggles by using a positive mindset.
There is A LIGHT?? whew..Finally so things can get better and we all can take a deep breath and step back for a moment quietly ..the light is so beautiful and so is this woman of clarity.
Thank you for showing me that there is a way. It's not as bad as it seems..thank you
Throughout the whole talk a teared up. You, personally have changed my life and please believe me when I say how grateful I am for listening to this talk today. Thank you so much. I now know that I am capable
I loved this talk for myself, but i do see where some people who didn’t are coming from. For me, my hyperactivity is probably where many of my strengths lie, but if you aren’t hyperactive or if your hyperactivity isn’t project based, then this might feel like just another mold you can’t fit in.
I do think though, we all have what it takes to be happy and have fulfilling lives, but it is individual to each of us.
The message I think works best for the neurotypical that control our lives, to show that we’re not wrong for doing things atypical, but just different
This talk gave me goosebumps. Thank you.
I’ve overcome a lot with a positive mind, a little disclosure when around neurotypical minds, lots of note pads & some strategies.
I’ll be showing my 11 year old undiagnosed daughter so that she can see the positives before the stigma happens.
She’s hitting the age where working hard, is getting hard for her, unless it’s something of current interest.
This came at the RIGHT time 💝
I came in ready to be inspired but this hit me all wrong. It seems like I'm the only one, though. I appreciate the positivity but think it's misplaced and privileged. It seemed that she discounted the benefits of diagnosis and treatment by saying it isn't a disorder and speaking disparagingly of the DS-M. It's hard to be told once again that it's not real. ADHD is undeniably a disorder. There are positives to the ADHD brain for sure, and it's nice to focus on those, but we live and MUST function in a world built for neurotypical people, and we just aren't always gonna function well within that. That's what makes it a disorder; it has a negative impact on our lives, even if we have good qualities. We would never end up in a position where we are diagnosed in the first place if it didn't, as we don't go to a Dr to get diagnosed for being super creative and awesome. Diagnosis is important for many because without diagnosis we are just people who are awful at everything that is easy for others, and without treatment and medication many of us wouldn't function. The argument that the environment or expectations may be the problem, not our brain function, doesn't fly. Even if we excel at specific creative tasks, the fact is that much of what is required of us in life, like work and laundry and remembering our grocery list and waiting in lines, will be exceptionally difficult for some of us. And we can't escape those tasks even if we are super creative CEOs. Also, not all of us can be that. I'm glad her ADHD is manageable enough that she feels that way, but not everyone can be a CEO. Some people with ADHD are just drowning moms failing to keep up on their dishes and housework, or young men who can't keep a relationship, or rural dwellers with limited career options, further limited by their inability to stay on task with something that fails to grab their attention properly. I like the idea of finding the positives, but I'm not a CEO, and saying my brain is awesome doesn't help me remember where I parked my car (but medication does)
You’re not the only one, I get that ADHD gives me some unique qualities that I do enjoy and benefit from, however it has also had a debilitating and devastating impact in my life and in my ability function in life, so I don’t appreciate some airy-fairy lady on mdma telling me I have a wonderful gift and downplaying the struggles of millions of people that are not as lucky as her and the CEOs and celebrities she knows. That’s such disservice in explaining a neurodivergence that’s already so misunderstood by neurotypical people. It’s great that she wants to inspire people to look at it from a positive angle, but she could have at least spent a bit more time giving actual facts and explains all the ways, positive and negative, in which this neudivergence can affect people.
I felt the exact same way! This talk honestly just made me feel more of a failure because I'm not utilizing my creativity. I was just recently diagnosed because I'm that drowning mom and I was desperate to try and figure out what the heck was wrong with me. I know I'm creative, but I can't do anything with my creativity because my life is overrun by tasks, chores, and work that I can't seem to keep up with the way a neurotypical person does. And also, I don't know if this is just me, but my "daydreaming" or distracting thoughts are not always useful or productive lol. Many times my mind goes on a mental tangent about random junk like videos game side quests that I wish I would have done differently lol. She made it sound like ADHD minds are always inventing and creating, when in reality (at least for me) our brains are distracting us with thoughts that aren't always useful or fruitful.
I encourage you to listen to short adhd podcasts titled “Faster than Normal”
You're not the only one. It seems awfully dismissive to only address the light side of this disability. It's not what any of us experience every single day. The amount of guilt and shame we hold over ourselves is immense. It is majorly debilitating. Yes, there are many great names who had/have ADHD and it can be inspirational. But those people suffered so much. That "overdrive" is what causes an impulse with me, personally, to drive a knife straight through my brain just to get some peace and quiet. I hear you
This video made me super pissed off and upset with those around me.
Undiagnosed ADHD can be incredibly harmful for someone. While I agree it should be better accepted and not joked about it shouldn't be over trivialized. Many people who don't get treated end up using substances, getting put in prison, being abused their whole life. It's fine if you're wealthy because then you'll get diagnosed before it kills you or destroys your reputation
I agree on most points, but my procrastination has led me to a ton of trouble at work and I have lost potiential promotions, been demoted and have struggled all my life with getting things done, so no, i dont see super powers in it all, but yes some of it is.
Touché Brooke! Such an important talk that all educators need to listen to. I'm passing it around.
This is so inspiring and empowering! I'm so proud of you.
I loved this. My favorite TED talk ever! Thank you so much.
Excellent! I have ADHD and this is extremely helpful!
Now I understand! Well presented Brooke, thank you!
Beautifully made ...one of the best talks on this show
PSA: I dont believe this is directed towards people with ADHD. It is to "shift the narrative" and dismantle the stigmas that cause the social disorder.
If this triggers you because you suffer from a disorder, and not a super power, then please try keep in mind that your woes are not caused internally, but rather externally through social stigmas associated with the "adhd" individual. We are living in a changing world, so we can work to make changes that help benefit more than just the normal average person.
@DistantVision85 my woes are not all caused by society's expectations of me. Some are, but some activities are just literally necessary to life, like laundry and grocery shopping and house cleaning and having a job. And those things are harder for me because of ADHD. It's not society's expectation that I buy groceries. It's an unavoidable reality, and, as said, it's harder for me because of ADHD. Some of what she said about not playing into societal expectation is true, but it doesn't change the fact that the non-fun necessary things are often still disordered
🙌 If only people were open to this! Great stuff. ❤
At age 57 its finally coming out in the open. ADHD was not a part of any sort of knowledge of; at my age, especially, for Woman.
Out of curiosity; how many are also O Negative Blood?
(I think this needs to be Researched more.)
Hoping I can find a place in Colorado, for an official diagnosis; because I am so not motivated by the same things as other humans and sincerely feel like an Alien, with my views on this human experience.
Add 2 TBI's- only complicates the whole thing.
Thank You for your Honesty!
It has Helped Immensely!
Suggestions Welcomed!
Self Confidence is my Biggest Struggle!
Keep Educating, Please!! 😇
B negative- if it was blood type someone would have worked it out by now
At 57, you're here, open, curious, learning about yourself, working on yourself, participating in discourse, being vulnerable about your experience... you are my heroine! 🙇♀ I (40F) hope to grow up to be like you, a bit a alien, but always curious and changing.
50, 0 pozitive
Such a powerful message!!
Amazing video. The great challenge of intelligent people are the other people.
TPS reports!!! ❤😂
Yes! I just left a job that was basically that. I would say all the time, “this is like doing TPS reports”
ADHD is a disorder. There is literally not a single study that demonstrates to the otherwise. The individuals listed used certain means to navigate their impairments - that doesn't mean they were without them.
It's a disorder. It is a disability. You give people hope by telling them the truth.
I love it
This is nice and all but it's hard to have a good relationship with a partner or others. It seems to have more problems then positives
@soupcastle8210 yup. She's just privileged enough to probably have a personal assistant or pay someone to handle many of the things the rest of us struggle with, and then she turns around and is like, "see guys? It's not that hard"
😮 Gracias por sumar confusión a la gente que no entiende lo que es sufrir de TDAH. Es un "trastorno", que conlleva discapacidades, no un súper poder. Obviamente esta chica no tiene TDAH.
Im not ashamed, but i knew how mediocre i am when speaker started enumerating Einstein and Steve Jobs😂😂😂
It's already annoying that she starts off listing people for which it's impossible to know if they had ADHD, and furthermore, the claim is based on a handful of cherry-picked anecdotes.
"Even brain experts agree that there's no attention deficit in ADHD..." here's where I stopped the video
I think this was a good Ted talk. I can't tell. I've restarted it 100x because I have dope stories and visuals in me Ed. (Head)
Seriously though, great Ted talk. Just. I've had 20 movies 5 poems and 1 song get done and I'm not even a Lyricist. But I guarantee you it's beautiful. JK it's 🗑️ or is it? JK it's 🗑️ ... ?