Growing up with ADHD has been a wild ride. Especially for Mindy.

We share our personal stories of growing up with ADHD, handling it in adulthood, and what it was like trying Vyvanse and Adderall.

We learned some interesting details around how having ADHD can get you into a lot of trouble if you don't get diagnosed. In Mindy's case, his life could have been completely different he had been diagnosed and medicated at a younger age. We share the case studies in which those that were medicated were much better behaved in society than those that weren't. Many times, poor decisions can start small but lead to a life filled with trouble to not only to themselves but the community around them.

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We talk about about our lives with undiagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and reflect on how it shaped our childhood and still continues to influence us as adults to this day. Growing up with ADHD meant struggling with symptoms like inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In school, we often zoned out during lessons, struggled to maintain focus, and left tasks unfinished, which led to significant academic challenges. Our journeys to an ADHD diagnosis revealed the depth of these struggles. Although we share our perspective as men, ADHD in women like us can fly under the radar, while ADHD in men tends to get more attention due to outward behaviours.

Medication became a big part of our ADHD management for different periods of time. We experimented with Vyvanse and Adderall, finding that they sharpened our focus but came with drawbacks. Vyvanse offered a steady boost, yet sometimes dulled our excitement, while Adderall’s intensity brought very scary internal thoughts. These experiences prompted us to explore alternatives like diet adjustments and exercise, which helped with mental clarity and productivity. Still, untreated ADHD left us wrestling with decision fatigue, poor time management, and the chaos of daily life.

Despite the hurdles, we’ve learned there are strengths in ADHD. The ADHD Advantage book by Dale Archer frames it through an evolutionary lens, our hunter traits shine in high-pressure situations, where we tap into creativity and hyperfocus. High IQ can mask ADHD, but emotional effects like anxiety and depression often creep in, testing our resilience. We’ve learned to lean on self-talk and patience, especially in relationships where ADHD’s quirks—like forgetting plans—require understanding from partners.

ADHD’s reach goes farther than personal life into broader systems. We discuss its link to the legal world, where untreated ADHD correlates with real-world consequences, and how early intervention, screening, and behavioural support could change people's lives, as we see in inspiring success stories from some studies in the UK. From workplace struggles to drifting off during movies, ADHD affects how we engage with sports, technology, and driving. Therapy, natural strategies, and structured routines keep us grounded, balancing the advantages. Thriving under stress and with the ongoing challenges of distraction and emotional regulation.

Keywords: ADHD focus, ADHD personal experiences, ADHD coping mechanisms, ADHD and relationships, ADHD self-medication, ADHD mental clarity, ADHD in women, ADHD in men, ADHD brain, ADHD evolutionary context, ADHD early intervention, ADHD behavioural support, ADHD lifestyle changes

0:00 Intro & When We Learned We Had ADHD

2:58 ADHD Definition and Explanation5:08 Our Diagnosis

13:28 How We Passsed School with ADHD

24:53 Watching Movies with ADHD

30:16 ADHD in the Classroom Facts

34:25 Our Experience Taking Vyvanse and Adderall

45:45 Decision Fatigue & ADHD

49:37 Getting Locked Up Having Undiagnosed ADHD55:19 How Common Is ADHD?

57:53 ADHD Medication Can Make Our Communities Safer?

1:10:02 How To Treat ADHD Before It Leads to Trouble

1:15:53 The ADHD Advantage

1:19:15 Relationships With an ADHD Partner

1:22:05 Dan Martel and His Growth

1:24:13 Final Thoughts