ADHD sucks, but not really | Salif Mahamane | TEDxUSU

In current society, people with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) tend to struggle if not suffer. Despite this, rather than a disorder, ADHD should be thought of as a particular neuro-cognitive profile; that is, a characteristic brain format that results in a different way of literally thinking. With so many people diagnosed with ADHD – and so many more undiagnosed — we must ask, where does ADHD come from and is it truly a problem in and of itself?

Salif shares a current hypothesis about ADHD’s root and an alternative perspective – including several benefits of the condition – regarding how we engage with it in our schools, homes and selves.

Eisenberg, D. T. A., Campbell, B., Gray, P. B., & Sorenson, M. D. (2008). Dopmaine receptor genetic polymorphisms and body composition in undernourished pastoralists: An exploration of nutrition indices among nomadic and recently settled Ariaal men of northern Kenya. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 8, 173-184.

Salif is currently a doctoral student in the Experimental and Applied Psychological Program at USU. On a day-to-day basis he manages Dr. Kerry Jordan’s Multisensory Cognition Lab. His research investigates cognitive and neurophysiological outcomes of exposure to, and immersion in, natural environments. Salif loves long walks in the mountains, hunting, fishing, camping, gardening, and planning his future homestead. Most of all, he loves having no idea whatsoever as to how to parent his two-year-old son, but trying anyway.

[odditoriumleviathan]

Hello person with adhd scrolling through the comments

[sxfuirf]

When you try to watch a video about ADHD but then get distracted reading the comments during the whole video

[treymtz]

One of my biggest struggles with adhd and its executive dysfunction, is initialization of tasks. When you start beating on yourself, mentally and physically, because you just can't start the task and each idea or impulse wants to pull you away and you are just paralyzed it feels like you're powerless. Like something is wrong with you. The self harm part is real. If you know someone who struggles with ADHD, make sure you check on them before you remind them what they struggle with.

[TomSanders-qvbv]

I was severely traumatized years ago as a teenage, got diagnosed with ADHD. Spent my whole life fighting ADHD. I also suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 6 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.

[ouchouchouchh]

"PAY ATTENTION!" I had already switched tabs and got so scared lmao

[adambenji]

I always used to hear “you have much potential”

[akgirl]

My 11 year old has ADHD. He does not know it because we live in the woods and he is home schooling. He takes care of dogs, goes outside for a ski, does some school work, plays guitar for 20 minutes and then back outside. He loves fixing motors and making forts and building creatively. He does not enjoy kits or guided projects that come in a box. I can not imagine him not having a wilderness in his backyard to explore, It is is exactly what he needs. I am confident he will be successful. My idea of success is my kids finding joy in their daily life, not having the highest paying job and the biggest toys.

[KaylaNoelle]

The way he opened this talk, the rage and shame directed towards people with ADHD is why I have had suicidal ideations since the age of 8. We start to direct those same words at ourselves after a while. I didn’t get diagnosed until I was 26 and no anti-depressants worked for me, because I didn’t have depression, I was depressed because of my ADHD and how I was treated because of it.

[lindseysquire]

Me when I'm hyperfocusing: I can do literally anything. I'm going to get a Ph.D and become a therapist! I'm going to go to Harvard!
Me 0.02 seconds after my hyperfocus fades: I mean, sheep farming in Mongolia doesn't sound half bad tbh

[maxslatton]

The fact that someone with ADHD is doing a tedtalk gives me a lot of hope.

[memest]

Coming from a person with severe adhd I teared up from this cause I just wish people would understand and treat me like he explained.

[Joshua-xyys]

‘the stress of not being able to function in an enviroment, for which youre not adapted, while expected to, is heavy. ‘

absolutely brilliant 💕

[MBTIMemes]

Yo, stop reading the comments, you're missing a great talk !

[TylerElijah]

I am a believer that ADHD doesn’t just make us sensitive to sounds and colors and fast moving objects, but it also grants us the ability to pick up on subtle energetic shifts in people

[APOLLINAIREBARTHOLOMIEU]

Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.

[FastandFuriousJENN]

Salif, YouTube states that this video was posted 7 years ago. I hope you can see this one day but TODAY (in 2023) you changed my life and my kids' lives in which we all suffer of ADHD. I cried, I smiled and I reflected in the moments when we all felt frustrated, depressed and alone. THANK YOU wherever you are. Thank you.

[DizzehxxMitizzeh]

We're gonna be super valuable whenever the apocalypse finally starts.

[grammarpolice]

I have adhd... man I can walk in a circle for 30 min and just looking around and not get bored

[mkzogqr]

Six years ago, this video set me on a course that changed my life. Thank you, Salif.

[elamoreslaluchafinal]

This made me feel so seen. So heard. Explains soooo many things.
A small example: one day in 3rd grade my mom got a call from my teacher, she was concerned I was spending too much time in the bathroom. She wondered if I was sick or skipping 😅 what I was actually doing was reading the essays, appreciating the paintings and work on the hallway walls done by my classmates of the school. I was “distracted” or “time blind”, but my superpower is I notice things other people don’t, and take time to be curious. Fast forward I am really good at traveling, because I read signs other people don’t notice, I can navigate my way through a new place very well. 🎉