Danielle Elliott

Your brain is never at a state of rest. Like our brains are just never in a state of rest anymore, except maybe when you're actually sleeping. And a lot of people are not sleeping enough.

Your brain is never at a state of rest. Like our brains are just never in a state of rest anymore, except maybe when you're actually sleeping. And a lot of people are not sleeping enough.

No. Well, they are like one of the experts I speak to in the podcast talks about what he calls environmentally induced ADHD. And I think as the environment people live in becomes less and less conducive with brain function, a lot of people are exhibiting symptoms that look very similar to ADHD. Like their brains are functioning in a way that an ADHD brain functions differently.

No. Well, they are like one of the experts I speak to in the podcast talks about what he calls environmentally induced ADHD. And I think as the environment people live in becomes less and less conducive with brain function, a lot of people are exhibiting symptoms that look very similar to ADHD. Like their brains are functioning in a way that an ADHD brain functions differently.

But for many of them, if the environment can be shifted and changed, their brain will go back to functioning in a typical way. Whereas the neurotypical brain is functioning how it functions.

But for many of them, if the environment can be shifted and changed, their brain will go back to functioning in a typical way. Whereas the neurotypical brain is functioning how it functions.

Right. But it's sort of become, right. It's not a response, but it's like the question that kept coming up for me in the reporting was sort of like, it's pretty tough to escape the environment that produces the symptoms of ADHD now.

Right. But it's sort of become, right. It's not a response, but it's like the question that kept coming up for me in the reporting was sort of like, it's pretty tough to escape the environment that produces the symptoms of ADHD now.

Yeah, I think it really can. And I think it's sort of like a... I've wondered if the relatability of ADHD descriptions now has made some people start to think, well, if everyone has it, I don't really need to be treated for it. You know, so it makes me question over-diagnosis and under-diagnosis.

Yeah, I think it really can. And I think it's sort of like a... I've wondered if the relatability of ADHD descriptions now has made some people start to think, well, if everyone has it, I don't really need to be treated for it. You know, so it makes me question over-diagnosis and under-diagnosis.

And I'm guilty of that myself.

And I'm guilty of that myself.

I think the most surprising conversation I had was with someone who studies the evolutionary benefits. And he said that, um, where we're getting things wrong. This is his opinion, right? So this is one researcher's opinion. But he said... When we talk about these evolutionary benefits, we tend to look for the ways they're beneficial to individuals.

I think the most surprising conversation I had was with someone who studies the evolutionary benefits. And he said that, um, where we're getting things wrong. This is his opinion, right? So this is one researcher's opinion. But he said... When we talk about these evolutionary benefits, we tend to look for the ways they're beneficial to individuals.

And the thing that people are missing about ADHD is that it's beneficial on a communal level. And that might not be great for the individual. Like it's so, and when he first said it to me, I was like, are you telling me my brain took one for the team? And he's like, yeah, kind of. Cause the entire group that like, he's like humans evolved in groups, groups need risk takers.

And the thing that people are missing about ADHD is that it's beneficial on a communal level. And that might not be great for the individual. Like it's so, and when he first said it to me, I was like, are you telling me my brain took one for the team? And he's like, yeah, kind of. Cause the entire group that like, he's like humans evolved in groups, groups need risk takers.

They need people who are willing to do things differently. just like regardless of the consequences who are just motivated to do that for whatever reason. And that's the only way cultures advance. So it was just really interesting to me to hear him say, like the whole group learns when someone does something risky and they either learn you shouldn't do that or you should do that.

They need people who are willing to do things differently. just like regardless of the consequences who are just motivated to do that for whatever reason. And that's the only way cultures advance. So it was just really interesting to me to hear him say, like the whole group learns when someone does something risky and they either learn you shouldn't do that or you should do that.

And it's like, whether you're talking about like, I mean, when we're talking about hunter-gatherer times thousands of, tens of thousands of years ago, you're talking about, like, somebody ate that berry, and that's how we know we can eat strawberries. Like, somebody did this, but it's probably a person with ADHD who did that.

And it's like, whether you're talking about like, I mean, when we're talking about hunter-gatherer times thousands of, tens of thousands of years ago, you're talking about, like, somebody ate that berry, and that's how we know we can eat strawberries. Like, somebody did this, but it's probably a person with ADHD who did that.