Chris Packham’s Film Highlights ADHD as Real Condition

A recent study from the University of Huddersfield and Aston University reveals that ADHD diagnoses have surged, with ADHD prescription rates rising by 18% annually since the onset of the Covid pandemic. This increase is often viewed negatively, with critics suggesting that doctors over-diagnose ADHD or that social media influences neurotypical individuals to misidentify their behavior. However, Chris Packham’s documentary, “Inside Our ADHD Minds,” challenges these perceptions by presenting real-life experiences of individuals living with ADHD.

In the film, we meet Henry, a 23-year-old tour guide from London who was diagnosed as a teenager. While he exhibits confidence and knowledge at work, he struggles with chaotic home life, often forgetting appointments and even meals. His living space reveals the toll ADHD takes on his daily functioning, showcasing a disorganized environment that adds to his feelings of shame and the need to hide his struggles from family.

The documentary also features Jo, diagnosed at 49, highlighting how ADHD can manifest differently in women. Jo’s forgetfulness and challenges with planning strained her relationships, particularly with her daughter and wife, Ali. As she entered menopause, her ADHD symptoms intensified, causing significant stress in her marriage. Like Henry, Jo conceals her true feelings, grappling with guilt about the person she believes she could have been.

For individuals like myself, who have been waiting for ADHD assessments for over a year, Packham’s film offers a refreshing perspective. It portrays ADHD as a legitimate condition that complicates daily life, rather than dismissing it as an excuse for laziness or forgetfulness. Packham emphasizes the need to view ADHD as a neurological difference rather than a defect, avoiding the trap of romanticizing it.

Dr. Tony Lloyd, CEO of the ADHD Foundation, explains that ADHD brains exhibit different neurological patterns compared to neurotypical brains. He illustrates the concept with the analogy of trying to watch multiple televisions simultaneously when focused on just one. Furthermore, he notes that ADHD is associated with lower levels of dopamine and noradrenaline, chemicals linked to anxiety and depression. Dr. Lloyd firmly asserts that ADHD is not a passing trend but has been under-diagnosed and unsupported in the UK for years, stating, “What we’re seeing now is a rebalancing.”

The emotional weight of the film is palpable, particularly as Henry visualizes his ADHD experience through the metaphor of a “tombola man,” a grey figure that inundates him with random thoughts and tasks he cannot manage. Jo’s narrative unfolds through a dance song that incorporates negative comments she received about her behavior growing up—“too chatty, too cheeky, too loud”—which many viewers may relate to.

“Inside Our ADHD Minds” serves as an essential watch for anyone who suspects they have ADHD or knows someone affected by it. Importantly, it provides a compelling message for skeptics of the increasing diagnosis rates: ADHD is a genuine condition that presents real challenges and demands our attention. The documentary is available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.