ADHD: A Left-handed Brain

Hi folks, this video is about ADHD, and is my follow-up from my "Hacking Your Brain With Elaborate Coping Mechanisms" video[1].

Despite not being left-handed, I do have a great deal of empathy for our left-handed cousins because of my ADHD: Some tools, like scissors, you can get a left-handed version of, of course. You can fill your house with physical coping mechanisms that help you function.

But when you walk out into the world, you will find that nearly everything isn't designed for you.

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🖊️ Corrections are in the pinned ERRATA comment.

🙏🏻 CREDITS & PROMO
My name is Tris Oaten and I produce fast, technical videos.

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And to all my patrons!

[NoBoilerplate]

ERRATA
- I'm taking one-a-day, 50mg of slow-release Elvanse (Vyvanse in some markets)

- I spoke in vague terms about the Dopamine Imbalance model because the jury is still out about what causes ADHD, notice I said "dominant model" in this video: New research casts doubt on not only on how the dopamine system works, but if it causes ADHD at all. This is how science works, we update our understanding as we get more evidence.
- I forgot to mention a side effect! I think I have SLIGHTLY less appetite, which could either be the meds directly, or a side-effect of not needing the dopamine hit of constant snacks! Your doctor will talk to you about this, don't worry. It needs more monitoring for children, but for healthy adults (or folks like me who could lose a few KG) it's not a problem.

[kylemckell]

"This doesn't effect his work because he doesn't do any" is one of the funniest and most on the nose descriptors of ADHD I've ever heard lol.

[MyNamesMarch]

> 2:12 "This sinister practice died out in the 50s"
> _Sinister (adj.): (archaic) on the left side_
I see what you did there

[NickShvelidze]

As someone with ADHD I instantly liked the video and didn't pay attention during most of it.

[naturally_rob]

The first day I took my medication, I sat down at my piano. I had played the same piano for 5+ years. Every time I had done so it felt less like I was playing the instrument and more like I was just moving my fingers around. But playing it after taking medication for the first time, I cried so much my grandmother came upstairs, worried something was wrong. There was something wrong, I went 23 years without a single soul noticing that I had something different about me. Twenty-three years of me trying harder than everyone around me and still performing behind them. That moment was more than euphoric, it was a moment that breathed life itself into me.

Your videos have a simplicity and a pull which keep me focused. The way you paint your stories echoes how my brain tells my own. You're a cool person.

[frroossst]

I got diagnosed as an adult with autism and adhd a couple of months ago, I started watching for the Rust content, but the neurodivergent focused content is always spot on, I have recently started the meal replacement hack and it is absurd why I did not do this all before, thanks Tris!

[Grpp]

The adhd-prison pipeline makes sense to me.

When labeled as (and grouped with) troublemakers, made a leper by the rest, what child would chose social isolation over drugs and occasional crime?

When the good kids won't associate with you, you're left with the bad kids. And not just the ones who are "bad" because they daydream and forget instructions. But the ones who specifically want to cause trouble.

I know I did a lot of things that I would have never sought out. Never even considered doing. Simply for social acceptance. I had zero desire to break into homes, but when the only people who accepted me were suddenly kicking in a door I followed.

I'm lucky that I was never caught. Had I been, I wouldn't have been able to go on to become an engineer. I'd almost certainly still fall into that crowd.

[ratglyph]

"this sinister practice" got an amused smile out of me. well done, and thank you.

[enkiimuto]

Just a major adding to the first 6 minutes:

You have described a very classic view of ADHD. I myself was the opposite, and that is why me, and more often, girls, have not been diagnosed. They "behave". As a kid I was incredibly creative with stories, I paid a lot of attention in class until I was either too bored with the content for lacking an application or because I was too ahead of it.

I would excel in class to the point I learned English by myself and I wouldn't do homework because I simply didn't need that grade, but homework itself was dreadful because it was boring.

Your description while correct, is only half right, the exact reason when I considered to have ADHD, I didn't follow to why I should get a diagnosis, despite being a very dysfunctional adult. My gf has ADHD and had not up to date doctors discard that and autism as a possibility despite having both.

Please folks, do try a Neuropsychological evaluation. It is expensive but it is less expensive than trying meds in and out for depression and anxiety as adults.

[Babytronians]

Getting medicated made me realize I can actually enjoy my life without purposefully or subconsciously putting myself in stressful situations and environments. I got diagnosed very late in my life and I was relieved to find out that many are affected by the same thing, but society shuns people who seek help for a special brain. I can now actually intentionally focus and be present and play music for the first time in my life. Thank you for bringing this subject publicity.

[PaintballBoomer]

Happy that the algorithm found you and boosted your channel to what it is. I'm not a programmer, I don't know anything about Rust, but I am in IT and I have ADHD. I also recently started taking ADHD meds over 30, despite being diagnosed 15 years ago. It really makes a tremendous difference, andcI encourage everyone with ADHD to look into it.

[SnoFitzroy]

I'm a left handed person with adhd and the title alone is such an accurate description that I wish I'd come up with it LMAO

[thefluke]

I want to thank you for this video. This has finally convinced me to stop accepting being distracted and finally working to get back onto ADD medication.

[bkm]

I was complaining to my girlfriend just YESTERDAY about my envy of some of your videos, saying "he doesn't have ADHD he doesn't understand etc." and I guess here you are to prove me wrong, and make me feel hopeful and understood

[herohalv]

Having begun the process of realizing my (incredibly obvious in retrospect) neurodivergence near the beginning of this year, the effect of being diagnosed (ADHD Combined Type) last month and being prescribed medication has been... fantastic. The drastic increase in my ability to not just get things done productivity wise but to simply care for myself and maintain my environment (things that I always knew rationally should be incredibly simple and easy yet took absurd amounts of effort in practice) has done more for my mental health than any anti-anxiety medication or therapist ever has lol

The most hilarious effect, though, is that the tension between "I want everything to be perfectly organized and neat" and "doing so is so goddamn hard because no dopamine reward so I guess I'll live in chaos" has been shattered to pieces, and I get more joy organizing my life and getting things done than I ever got lying in bed scrolling through social media for hours because everything else was too hard

also, wow, the "ADHD dosen't present heavily in very structured/deadline-focused environments" thing makes so much sense in retrospect

[Nikifun]

I got diagnosed this year with adult inatentive adhd and finally understanding what was "wrong" with me is a lifechanger, thank you for telling your story!

[vanguardlol]

I watched the precursor video to this one, thought that it was relatable, watched this one, and thought that it was relatable, and then, a few days ago, got diagnosed myself with ADHD. I'm medicated now, and my university work, as well as my personal life, is improving drastically. Part of the reason I reached out to get diagnosed was this series, and I have an incredible gratitude for that. Thank you

[sciencelab]

Now I feel like I should really talk to my doctor... Thank you for contributing positively to my life with every video

[jamespilcher]

I'm 45 and watched a video recently about the symptoms of ADHD and was struck by how much it described ways i've struggled all my life. I asked for a referral, and recently got a letter saying i have a year to wait. If a simple pill has that kind of impact on me, it will be a bloody relief. I'm left handed as well, so that was a interesting analogy to hear. Thanks.

[SFTshift]

Thank you so much for making this video. I was finally diagnosed with ADD last year at the age of 22, after being talked into seeking help, by a friend of mine who was diagnosed as a child. I sometimes have a lot of self doubt caused by my disorder. My parents who are usually really supportive and open-minded, have a really hard time understanding what I’ve been going through my whole life, and I don’t know how they haven’t seen the signs. I started freelancing, alone, from home…. In 2019 which has been hell on earth for me. Anyways, your story made me feel really seen and a lot of your experiences, such as the way you describe the feeling of being medicated, and the different stages of feeling like you’re “cured” makes me feel like there are others out there who truly share this human experience, and that makes me feel a whole lot less lonely. Thank you for making these great videos. ❤