Could you have ADHD? Let’s breakdown the signs with Tracy Otsuka | Clutterbug Podcast # 203

I almost cried when you said that that "doc" said you were too successful to have ADHD. I work my butt off every second of every day to just keep my head above water. And to the outside it looks like I'm totally fine, when in actuality, I'm drowning.

As one of those 'inattentive' people, I can tell your guest that we don't have it as easy as she imagines. I have no working memory, suffer debilitating brain fog, and have never excelled, despite having a high IQ. My life has been hugely impacted by Inattentive ADD, and I wish I didn't have it 💔

My whole life I have been told "people either LOVE you, or they HATE you." So, at 42 I have no close friends, and anxiety when it comes to trying to make friends as an adult.

I wish I had known this while I was teaching and I wish I could open a Special school for extraordinary ADHD kids where they could choose what to study in a big proportion. When I taught, I used to allow kids to chose the way they were evaluated: I am a very creative person and I understand that kids put a lot of effort when they like what they do. So I would offer different ways of evaluation on a topic in science, my subject: making a game, doing a class, making a 3D model, making a song, a video, a puppet show, whatever the kids would like. It was a bit unconventional but the kids liked it and more important, learned for more than cramming for a test.

Thank you so much for this!!!! I worked as a receptionist in the 1980's (and I was in my early 20's) and had to take messages and write down people's names and phone numbers. I couldn't remember 7 digits to write it down on the "return call" slip. I had to have them give me the numbers 2 digits at a time. Talk about poor working memory! lol! People thought that I was an idiot, but it was just a bad job for me! OTOH, I could organize a band concert with 500 students, 7 teachers, 1500 family members in my 50's... because I loved it!

I’m crying listening to this because my thoughts and experiences were just validated for a whole hour, over and over again.

I listen to you talking about your experience and I relive what I went through with my adenomyosis diagnosis: the dismissal was huge ("hey it's normal you literally cannot walk for 2 days every month from the pain, unless you take enough painkillers to drop a horse. Stop bothering us"). And it's the same for endometriosis. For autism. For fibromyalgia. Women are dismissed, ignored, ridiculed all the time and it's so frustrating.

My 8 year old daughter heard Tracy and said, “Wait! Does Cass have TRACY OTSUKA on her YouTube channel?!” We both have ADHD and listen to both of you. Feliz Navidad 🎄 from New Mexico where we actually got frost this morning.

“Driveness is hyperactivity “ omg. I needed to see this today. I am Recently diagnosed and unmedicated. Thanks Cas and Tracy.

Rejection sensitive dysphoria - I thought I was the only person in the world who avoids going to social events because I don’t sleep afterwards! I’m up rehashing every conversation, thinking “I’ll do better next time.” There is a name for this thing?

Ugh! I can remember in 2nd grade doing exactly what you described. I was in my own world and my teacher called on me. I had no idea what she was talking about or what she wanted from me. 😢 It was embarrassing and I'm almost 40 still thinking about this moment.

Thank you for bringing attention to this! Diagnosed @37. Was told by female psychologist, after taking neuropsych test and checking off almost every ADHD symptom, "You have four young kids and a high IQ, so I think you have really high expectations for yourself. It's probably anxiety." 🤯 Thankfully, my GP knew to put me on Ritalin. Was like putting on a pair of glasses for the first time. Now I don't lock myself out, lose my keys, my phone or other really important things, get myself to places on time and can keep my house relatively under control.

This has been me all my life. It’s so sad. I went through thinking I was stupid. I did awful in my school work. But my parents knew I didn’t have a learning disability. But I was tested for it. I was called too hyper, fidgety, anxious, too sassy, too bossy and my teachers said I was too sassy. I was always in trouble for talking and never did my home work! This podcast is MY LIFE! It’s sad. But I guess it’s good to know that there was a reason for it. No one knew how to help me. I have a story and am learning so much now in my 40s. But unfortunately my parents and more importantly my dad are no longer with me. So I cannot call him to tell him. I can finally explain it because I know he tried so hard to help me. But this is all so informative. I feel like it’s gotten worse as I’ve gotten older.

Never be less Cas! I love the person you are!!! ❤❤❤❤❤

Have you heard of the Holderness Family? They have a book coming out called “ADHD Is Awesome” it’s about thriving while having adhd. Penn Holderness has been diagnosed with adhd for quite awhile and he talks a lot about the stigma around it and how he uses adhd as a tool for success rather than a hindrance. They talk a lot about it on their podcast and it has come up in some of the comedy videos they post as well. 😊

I love how they are showing the issues right on the podcast!

Loved this episode so much! @Cas, if you haven’t already discovered Elyse Myers, she is another ADHD creator I think you would like! What you say at 19:50 sparked this idea, when you said you would try to make yourself less.😢 Elyse has a saying of “If I’m too much… go find less”. No need to make yourself less- they can eff off. We love you Cas!

Thank you thank you thank you!!! This podcast was so amazingly awesome! I cried. I laughed. Especially when Tracy was making a point of connection and then lost her thought!!! LOL. That’s me all the time. I can relate to everything you were both talking about. I’ve never officially been diagnosed but it’s crystal clear I have ADHD. When my oldest son was diagnosed about thirty years ago, I remember sitting there thinking “ wait a minute, I am and have and struggle with all of the problems the child psychologist was mentioning!” So very glad I watched this podcast Cas. I’ve watched you for years now and follow your YouTube channel. Keep doing what you’re doing and just be you. If people find you a bit much sometimes, maybe they need the meds and not you! LOL. 😎🤗👍🏻

Keep being "EXTRA", Cas! We love who you are!

Just starting the video and had to take a moment to appreciate the squirrel on her shelf 🤎🐿️