Dr. Alok 'Dr. K' Kanodia

There's a causal link with a mood disorder and low self-esteem because you can tell that your IQ is about the same as everybody else's.

Kids are actually quite good at judging IQ, but you know that you can't perform the way that they can.

You know you're just as smart as your classmates, but for some reason you get Ds and they get As.

And so what you come away with is this idea there must be something broken within me because it's easy for everybody else.

And people will say, just focus, just try harder, try harder, try harder.

And you're like, I am trying harder.

And then it doesn't work.

So then you think, okay, like that must mean that there's something within me that's fundamentally broken, right?

I'm going through life with a flat tire, but I'm jamming my foot on the gas pedal just like everybody else.

There's something within me that is fundamentally broken.

That will propagate the guilt, right?

The third thing is there is an emotional regulation deficit.

So people with ADHD will experience emotions more intensely, more quickly, and for a longer period.

So this may be like a 4 out of 10 guilt for a neurotypical person.

That'll turn into an 8 out of 10 guilt.

It'll persist for way longer.

So they sort of live with this constant feeling of I could be doing better.

Maybe I'm doing things wrong.

Maybe I feel guilty.

Okay?