ADHD from the inside | Toby Shaw | TEDxYouth@ISPrague

now millions of people from around the

now millions of people from around the world suffer from various different

world suffer from various different

world suffer from various different learning disabilities

learning disabilities

learning disabilities each varying in severity in the way it

each varying in severity in the way it

each varying in severity in the way it influences and affects the way they live

influences and affects the way they live

influences and affects the way they live their lives now I personally suffer from

their lives now I personally suffer from

their lives now I personally suffer from a condition known as ADHD and ADHD

a condition known as ADHD and ADHD

a condition known as ADHD and ADHD stands for attention deficit

stands for attention deficit

stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder now there’s a

hyperactivity disorder now there’s a

hyperactivity disorder now there’s a common misconception that individuals

common misconception that individuals

common misconception that individuals with ADHD cannot concentrate on one

with ADHD cannot concentrate on one

with ADHD cannot concentrate on one thing at a time

thing at a time

thing at a time and are very easily distracted now as

and are very easily distracted now as

and are very easily distracted now as much as this is true for certain

much as this is true for certain

much as this is true for certain individuals it doesn’t manifest itself

individuals it doesn’t manifest itself

individuals it doesn’t manifest itself that way with all now many people have a

that way with all now many people have a

that way with all now many people have a preconceived idea that ADHD is just an

preconceived idea that ADHD is just an

preconceived idea that ADHD is just an excuse for children to get away with

excuse for children to get away with

excuse for children to get away with unruly or disruptive behavior now this

unruly or disruptive behavior now this

unruly or disruptive behavior now this can be quite offensive to people such as

can be quite offensive to people such as

can be quite offensive to people such as myself as these people obviously don’t

myself as these people obviously don’t

myself as these people obviously don’t understand what ADHD truly is ADHD is a

understand what ADHD truly is ADHD is a

understand what ADHD truly is ADHD is a medically diagnosed condition according

medically diagnosed condition according

medically diagnosed condition according to the United States Institute of Mental

to the United States Institute of Mental

to the United States Institute of Mental Health and it affects the way people

Health and it affects the way people

Health and it affects the way people react to and process information that

react to and process information that

react to and process information that enters the brain now ADHD doesn’t make

enters the brain now ADHD doesn’t make

enters the brain now ADHD doesn’t make my life easier because I get benefits

my life easier because I get benefits

my life easier because I get benefits help of extra-time know it makes my life

help of extra-time know it makes my life

help of extra-time know it makes my life harder because I have to learn how to

harder because I have to learn how to

harder because I have to learn how to deal with it I have to learn how to live

deal with it I have to learn how to live

deal with it I have to learn how to live with it now I’m going to give you an

with it now I’m going to give you an

with it now I’m going to give you an example of what an average day in the

example of what an average day in the

example of what an average day in the person of an ADHD person feels like

person of an ADHD person feels like

person of an ADHD person feels like right so when you to picture a big city

right so when you to picture a big city

right so when you to picture a big city and I want you to picture it in the

and I want you to picture it in the

and I want you to picture it in the intersection right so you’ve got all

intersection right so you’ve got all

intersection right so you’ve got all these things going on you’ve got buses

these things going on you’ve got buses

these things going on you’ve got buses you’ve got cars you’ve got people

you’ve got cars you’ve got people

you’ve got cars you’ve got people talking you’ve got sounds you’ve got all

talking you’ve got sounds you’ve got all

talking you’ve got sounds you’ve got all these things going on and it’s

these things going on and it’s

these things going on and it’s overwhelming right and I want you to

overwhelming right and I want you to

overwhelming right and I want you to imagine that sense of confusion and

imagine that sense of confusion and

imagine that sense of confusion and having that sense of confusion on a

having that sense of confusion on a

having that sense of confusion on a daily basis now most people within

daily basis now most people within

daily basis now most people within thirty minutes or an hour of being in

thirty minutes or an hour of being in

thirty minutes or an hour of being in that sort of environment will eventually

that sort of environment will eventually

that sort of environment will eventually start to filter out or the white noise

start to filter out or the white noise

start to filter out or the white noise and you’ll start to concentrate on the

and you’ll start to concentrate on the

and you’ll start to concentrate on the reason why you were there in the first

reason why you were there in the first

reason why you were there in the first place which would be the pair of

place which would be the pair of

place which would be the pair of trousers you were going to buy or the

trousers you were going to buy or the

trousers you were going to buy or the fact

fact

fact you’re hungry new looking for a

you’re hungry new looking for a

you’re hungry new looking for a restaurant however the problem with

restaurant however the problem with

restaurant however the problem with people with ADHD is is we don’t have

people with ADHD is is we don’t have

people with ADHD is is we don’t have that filter we can’t just filter things

that filter we can’t just filter things

that filter we can’t just filter things out and I’m just sort of going to

out and I’m just sort of going to

out and I’m just sort of going to explain to you what it’s like so for

explain to you what it’s like so for

explain to you what it’s like so for normal people people without ADHD

normal people people without ADHD

normal people people without ADHD imagine you’ve got a filing cabinet then

imagine you’ve got a filing cabinet then

imagine you’ve got a filing cabinet then you’ve got all these folders in that

you’ve got all these folders in that

you’ve got all these folders in that filing cabinet and you’ve been tasked to

filing cabinet and you’ve been tasked to

filing cabinet and you’ve been tasked to file files into this filing cabinet so

file files into this filing cabinet so

file files into this filing cabinet so let’s say you get a file and that file

let’s say you get a file and that file

let’s say you get a file and that file is a bus rights the sound of a bus

is a bus rights the sound of a bus

is a bus rights the sound of a bus driving by what you do is you take that

driving by what you do is you take that

driving by what you do is you take that file and you put it in the designated

file and you put it in the designated

file and you put it in the designated folder but when that file comes again

folder but when that file comes again

folder but when that file comes again it’s an identical copy you look at it

it’s an identical copy you look at it

it’s an identical copy you look at it but you don’t register it is important

but you don’t register it is important

but you don’t register it is important information you already have that file

information you already have that file

information you already have that file so you put it in the trash however with

so you put it in the trash however with

so you put it in the trash however with people with ADHD it’s nothing like this

people with ADHD it’s nothing like this

people with ADHD it’s nothing like this no matter how many times that identical

no matter how many times that identical

no matter how many times that identical copy comes through you continuously file

copy comes through you continuously file

copy comes through you continuously file it you’re getting the same information

it you’re getting the same information

it you’re getting the same information multiple times and that’s why we spend

multiple times and that’s why we spend

multiple times and that’s why we spend most of our day going through this

most of our day going through this

most of our day going through this increasing pile of information it’s why

increasing pile of information it’s why

increasing pile of information it’s why we’re difficult to work with it’s why

we’re difficult to work with it’s why

we’re difficult to work with it’s why we’re difficult to understand this

we’re difficult to understand this

we’re difficult to understand this because we have to go through what

because we have to go through what

because we have to go through what information is coming through as fast as

information is coming through as fast as

information is coming through as fast as possible now I want you to go back to

possible now I want you to go back to

possible now I want you to go back to that intersection and I want you to

that intersection and I want you to

that intersection and I want you to imagine that feeling of chaos in a

imagine that feeling of chaos in a

imagine that feeling of chaos in a classroom environment you can hear the

classroom environment you can hear the

classroom environment you can hear the lights buzzing you can hear the fan

lights buzzing you can hear the fan

lights buzzing you can hear the fan whirring you can hear the clock ticking

whirring you can hear the clock ticking

whirring you can hear the clock ticking you can hear people scribbling with

you can hear people scribbling with

you can hear people scribbling with pencils on paper you can hear people

pencils on paper you can hear people

pencils on paper you can hear people tapping you can hear the wind outside

tapping you can hear the wind outside

tapping you can hear the wind outside you can see and hear all these things

you can see and hear all these things

you can see and hear all these things and it’s confusing it’s why we click

and it’s confusing it’s why we click

and it’s confusing it’s why we click it’s why we tap our feet it’s why we

it’s why we tap our feet it’s why we

it’s why we tap our feet it’s why we make sound it’s to create order in this

make sound it’s to create order in this

make sound it’s to create order in this huge amount of chaos and sometimes we’ll

huge amount of chaos and sometimes we’ll

huge amount of chaos and sometimes we’ll just do it because there’s a lack of

just do it because there’s a lack of

just do it because there’s a lack of information we do it because our brain

information we do it because our brain

information we do it because our brain craves that information rush now ADHD is

craves that information rush now ADHD is

craves that information rush now ADHD is is sort of an umbrella term there are

is sort of an umbrella term there are

is sort of an umbrella term there are many different types of ADHD so the

many different types of ADHD so the

many different types of ADHD so the first type you’ve got people who are

first type you’ve got people who are

first type you’ve got people who are extremely unorganized people who are

extremely unorganized people who are

extremely unorganized people who are extremely hyper energetic you know they

extremely hyper energetic you know they

extremely hyper energetic you know they don’t know when to be quiet they don’t

don’t know when to be quiet they don’t

don’t know when to be quiet they don’t know when to calm down and then you’ve

know when to calm down and then you’ve

know when to calm down and then you’ve got the people who are very

got the people who are very

got the people who are very komm they like to relax they like being

komm they like to relax they like being

komm they like to relax they like being by themselves they’re lazy and then

by themselves they’re lazy and then

by themselves they’re lazy and then you’ve got the third type and these

you’ve got the third type and these

you’ve got the third type and these people can be more aggressive more

people can be more aggressive more

people can be more aggressive more conflictual they tend to have things

conflictual they tend to have things

conflictual they tend to have things such as OCD which is obsessive

such as OCD which is obsessive

such as OCD which is obsessive compulsive disorder and then there’s a

compulsive disorder and then there’s a

compulsive disorder and then there’s a fourth type and the fourth type is a mix

fourth type and the fourth type is a mix

fourth type and the fourth type is a mix of all the three of us I’m one of the

of all the three of us I’m one of the

of all the three of us I’m one of the four right I’m the fourth type I can be

four right I’m the fourth type I can be

four right I’m the fourth type I can be extremely unorganized you can ask my

extremely unorganized you can ask my

extremely unorganized you can ask my teachers about that I can be extremely

teachers about that I can be extremely

teachers about that I can be extremely energetic and sometimes I really don’t

energetic and sometimes I really don’t

energetic and sometimes I really don’t know when to be quiet you can ask my

know when to be quiet you can ask my

know when to be quiet you can ask my parents about that actually don’t um but

parents about that actually don’t um but

parents about that actually don’t um but then I can also be very calm and

then I can also be very calm and

then I can also be very calm and sometimes I like to be by myself

sometimes I like to be by myself

sometimes I like to be by myself sometimes I like to sit in my room and

sometimes I like to sit in my room and

sometimes I like to sit in my room and just think which is watch stuff by

just think which is watch stuff by

just think which is watch stuff by myself and then I can be very

myself and then I can be very

myself and then I can be very conflictual I argue with my parents you

conflictual I argue with my parents you

conflictual I argue with my parents you know quite a bit over small things and

know quite a bit over small things and

know quite a bit over small things and again there are certain things I have to

again there are certain things I have to

again there are certain things I have to have in a particular way otherwise I

have in a particular way otherwise I

have in a particular way otherwise I don’t feel comfortable now I remember

don’t feel comfortable now I remember

don’t feel comfortable now I remember back in ninth grade I was watching this

back in ninth grade I was watching this

back in ninth grade I was watching this YouTube video about a guy talking about

YouTube video about a guy talking about

YouTube video about a guy talking about his experience with ADHD when he was a

his experience with ADHD when he was a

his experience with ADHD when he was a kid and I found I could relate to a lot

kid and I found I could relate to a lot

kid and I found I could relate to a lot of what he was talking about and I went

of what he was talking about and I went

of what he was talking about and I went to my parents and I told them this and

to my parents and I told them this and

to my parents and I told them this and then through the help of the school

then through the help of the school

then through the help of the school psychiatrist and through a lot of

psychiatrist and through a lot of

psychiatrist and through a lot of testing and questioning I was eventually

testing and questioning I was eventually

testing and questioning I was eventually diagnosed with ADHD and then through the

diagnosed with ADHD and then through the

diagnosed with ADHD and then through the help of my learning support teachers my

help of my learning support teachers my

help of my learning support teachers my adviser my parents my friends I was able

adviser my parents my friends I was able

adviser my parents my friends I was able to manage ADHD and for example my

to manage ADHD and for example my

to manage ADHD and for example my learning support teachers they gave me

learning support teachers they gave me

learning support teachers they gave me stress balls

stress balls

stress balls so things that I could squeeze when I

so things that I could squeeze when I

so things that I could squeeze when I could sense I was getting off task or I

could sense I was getting off task or I

could sense I was getting off task or I had this little buzzer but I’d attached

had this little buzzer but I’d attached

had this little buzzer but I’d attached to my my trousers and it’d go off every

to my my trousers and it’d go off every

to my my trousers and it’d go off every 30 to 40 seconds and that would remind

30 to 40 seconds and that would remind

30 to 40 seconds and that would remind me that I need to concentrate and what’s

me that I need to concentrate and what’s

me that I need to concentrate and what’s what’s important at that time now ADHD

what’s important at that time now ADHD

what’s important at that time now ADHD is not a disadvantage ADHD is something

is not a disadvantage ADHD is something

is not a disadvantage ADHD is something that we’re born with and we have to deal

that we’re born with and we have to deal

that we’re born with and we have to deal with it and we have to learn how to

with it and we have to learn how to

with it and we have to learn how to learn with it and you know people with

learn with it and you know people with

learn with it and you know people with ADHD shouldn’t be discriminated ignored

ADHD shouldn’t be discriminated ignored

ADHD shouldn’t be discriminated ignored or made fun of just because the fact

or made fun of just because the fact

or made fun of just because the fact that they don’t function the same way

that they don’t function the same way

that they don’t function the same way other people’s do other people do ADHD

other people’s do other people do ADHD

other people’s do other people do ADHD has its pros and cons you know the pros

has its pros and cons you know the pros

has its pros and cons you know the pros for example for myself I’m able to pick

for example for myself I’m able to pick

for example for myself I’m able to pick smaller details faster than other people

smaller details faster than other people

smaller details faster than other people and this is particularly good especially

and this is particularly good especially

and this is particularly good especially with one of my passions which is video

with one of my passions which is video

with one of my passions which is video gaming I play a lot of video games and

gaming I play a lot of video games and

gaming I play a lot of video games and it’s extremely useful to have ADHD when

it’s extremely useful to have ADHD when

it’s extremely useful to have ADHD when playing competitive games online because

playing competitive games online because

playing competitive games online because I can see things faster than other

I can see things faster than other

I can see things faster than other people and it also helps for example

people and it also helps for example

people and it also helps for example when I do drama when I’m on stage

when I do drama when I’m on stage

when I do drama when I’m on stage because I perform on stage when I’m on

because I perform on stage when I’m on

because I perform on stage when I’m on stage and I see something that’s changed

stage and I see something that’s changed

stage and I see something that’s changed I’m able to quickly react to and change

I’m able to quickly react to and change

I’m able to quickly react to and change my performance based off of something

my performance based off of something

my performance based off of something minuscule but then it has its cons it’s

minuscule but then it has its cons it’s

minuscule but then it has its cons it’s it has its negatives and one of the main

it has its negatives and one of the main

it has its negatives and one of the main negatives is the fact that I disrupt

negatives is the fact that I disrupt

negatives is the fact that I disrupt other people not intentionally I don’t

other people not intentionally I don’t

other people not intentionally I don’t mean to but via my way of coping with

mean to but via my way of coping with

mean to but via my way of coping with the information I can help distract

the information I can help distract

the information I can help distract other people and yes sometimes the cons

other people and yes sometimes the cons

other people and yes sometimes the cons over you know outweigh the pros but at

over you know outweigh the pros but at

over you know outweigh the pros but at the end of the day I’ve got to deal with

the end of the day I’ve got to deal with

the end of the day I’ve got to deal with that and I’ve got to learn how to manage

that and I’ve got to learn how to manage

that and I’ve got to learn how to manage that because ADHD is something I was

that because ADHD is something I was

that because ADHD is something I was born with and it makes me who I am thank

born with and it makes me who I am thank

born with and it makes me who I am thank you

you

you [Applause]