Main content

Must Watch reviews: Inside Our ADHD Minds

Every week the Must Watch podcasters review the biggest TV and streaming shows.

This week, Hayley Campbell and Scott Bryan Naga Munchetty to review ‘Inside Our ADHD Minds’.

It’s part of a documentary series which explores different kinds of neurodivergence, including autism, ADHD and dyslexia.

In this episode, he meets two people with ADHD and helps them explain to their family and friends what’s actually going on inside their minds.

What do the Must Watch reviewers think of Inside Our ADHD Minds?

Scott and Hayley give their views on Inside Our ADHD Minds

Naga: “Scott, tell me more.”

I think the masterstroke of this series is firstly that he highlights neurodivergence"

Scott: “This is a must watch for me. I watched the documentary Chris Packham did on autism two years ago, and I learnt so much about autism from that documentary.

“I've also spoken to other people who have subsequently been diagnosed from watching that documentary, realising that the traits that Chris is talking about was actually a reflection of what they were experiencing too.

“But yeah, I think the masterstroke of this series is firstly that he highlights neurodivergence, [that] one in seven of us are neurodivergent and that it's more likely for us to experience anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.

“But then he also makes sure that he doesn't kind of unintentionally highlight that everyone's experience is the same.

“So he has case studies that he focuses on and then highlights that these are the traits that they are experiencing, but that is also individualistic to them. I think a challenge that's happening in the way that neurodivergence is reported, is sometimes it can lead to everyone being brushed as the same thing and that's really not the case.”

Scott: “In the case of autism, you can be autistic or not autistic, but if you are diagnosed as autistic, that is in itself on a spectrum, so you might have some traits and not in others. So, I think it's a fact that is really highlighted and that is the same case with this in ADHD in this new episode too.

“I think it's also the fact that ADHD is a hot topic, everyone is talking about it, it's been reported in the news a lot, there's been a great rise in people seeking diagnoses, but he also highlights a lot of stuff I just didn't know. I hadn't seen it reported anywhere else, particularly around the split between girls and boys, because he highlights in the documentary that it tends to be, of course, not everyone's the same, but girls might not be diagnosed until later because they might have challenges around fatigue.

“Whilst in school, boys are seen to be more fidgety. However, the diagnosis that used to make you, what used to basically confirm that you are, was more naturally set around male traits rather than female traits.

“So, a lot of people were misdiagnosed for things they just did not have. And I saw that to be fascinating.”

Scott: “And the final point is, there's been a lot of talk about, ‘oh, is ADHD a fad’? And they spoke to an expert who says, ‘Well, yes, there has been a great rise in the amount of people seeking diagnoses, but actually we're still way behind’. Six percent of the global population is. And at the moment, it's only one to two percent of people have been diagnosed.

“And I think it was great at a time when there's so much annoying, annoying press stuff about, ‘oh, isn't everyone a little bit ADHD’ to actually highlight, no, people are waiting a great deal of time and experiencing a lot of mental health struggles trying to get a diagnosis that they actually need.”

Naga: “Hayley?”

[Chris Packham] is really good at explaining things if you're brand new to it"

Hayley: “This wasn't a must watch for me personally, because I'm at ADHD explanation saturation point. I've just seen so much of it. So none of this was new to me.

“I think I've said this before about Packham documentaries. They always come a little bit too late for me. But what he's really good at is explaining things if you're brand new to it.

“He's really open hearted and kind, and is really good at talking to people. So, I think this would be excellent if someone in your family has been diagnosed. Or if you're frustrated with a family member's behaviour and think it might be ADHD. I think this will help you understand what you're dealing with.

“Because judging from the families in this episode, I think people wildly underestimate just how much ADHD affects every part of your life. It's not just school or work.

“Packham has also picked different kinds of people, different ages, diagnosed at different points in their lives, and it's them explaining their lives so that we can understand it, but it's not just anecdotal.

“There's also a doctor who explains the science of how brains are different and how medication might help if you took it. There's a professor explaining how it manifests differently in men and women and how, because of the gender bias in tests, which is across all medical things, leads to women being misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed.”

Hayley: “But something I really appreciated was every now and then there was a little reminder that neurotypical people aren't without these problems, it's just that they're not overwhelmingly part of their personality.

“I think in the kind of ADHD chat saturation stuff, there's a lot of online culture where people assume that neurotypical people don't find things difficult, which is just so far from the truth that it actively annoys me.

“The documentary does go a bit off-piste for me when they start making their short films.”

Scott: “No, I love the short films.”

Hayley: “They were too cringy, but…”

Naga: “I agree the film wasn't great, but I think the principle of it was really excellent.”

Hayley: “I think it was for the families, but it wasn't for us. I found it a bit much.”

Naga: “I think you both make really, really valid points. I'm going to kind of sit somewhere in the middle.

“I think I agree with you, Hayley, if you don't know much about this, you should watch this because we should learn much more about those who are, especially if you're neurotypical, about those, who aren't, because I think when you're a neurotypical, it can be very easy to have that attitude that we all find life hard and not understand others may find it harder with different levels.

“And I do understand that when you are neurotypical, you think, I find this challenging, but I just don't shout about it, and I don't need a diagnosis about this.

“Equally, I think without these diagnoses and without this recognition, too many people are being denied opportunities when they can excel. So I am bang in the middle. I don't even think that we're in disagreement about that point, to be completely honest.”

Scott: “May I just very quickly say, Chris Packham is an exceptional broadcaster and I think he's done more for neurodivergent awareness than I think he has done for environmental awareness now.”

Naga: “Oh, I disagree with that.”

Scott: “No, I just think…”

Naga: “I think he's doing both.”

Scott: “He's doing both brilliantly, but I think in of his openness, he's really made more people, I think…..”

Naga: “And that is the way that TV works now and actually lots of things work when you have a high profile and you have your own experience of the subject you're doing.

“I think good and bad sometimes, high-profile people are being asked to do that to bring awareness to the subject and I think sometimes actually that's a shame because there are so many people out there and who could do a good job but not getting the opportunity to say that until you are someone with a high-profile who can then offer their experience and add it to a campaign or a raising awareness.”

Hayley: “What I liked about this was that Packham talked about his experience at the beginning, and then it was all about the other people. Henry was able to tell him things that he hadn't even spoken to his own family about. I thought that was incredible.”

Naga: “For me, one of the most powerful bits was how his family responded.

“Must watch for you Scott?”

Scott: “Must watch for me.”

Hayley: “Not for me, I knew everything, but it should be seen by people. So that's a personal not-a-must-watch.”

Naga: “Yeah, I'm with Hayley on this one, but absolutely think it's important.”

Inside Our ADHD Minds is available to watch on BBC iPlayer, along with Chris Packham’s other series: Inside Our Dyslexic Minds and existing series Inside Our Autistic Minds.

But before all that, why not Scott and Hayley with the shows you’ve been loving, loathing or lamenting on [email protected].

This week, the team reviewed ‘The Four Seasons’ and ‘Malpractice’.

Must Watch is released as a podcast every Monday evening on BBC Sounds.

As always, we like to include your reviews - on shows you love, loathe or lament.

Message @bbc5live on social media using the hashtag #bbcmustwatch or email [email protected].

Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes

Melanie got in touch about the show we reviewed last week, ‘Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes’

“From Melbourne Australia, a big thank you to Scott and Hayley for recommending Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes.

“I found the detail gave credibility to the powerful . It allowed us to see the communication break-down between police divisions and the loose sense of permission to kill given from the top brass.”

River

John got in touch to recommend ‘River’ on ITVX…

“Love the podcast. I would recommend a binge of "River" on ITVX.

“It's from 2015 and is a great watch. It's written by Abi Morgan and stars Nicola Walker (can do no wrong) and Stellan Skarsgård as two detectives.

“He is haunted by previous unsolved cases and it is very dark and very engrossing. Hayley must have watched this when it was first on and it should be right up her street. I watched it in 2015 and have been waiting for its repeat ever since.”