Do we have ADHD? | Dr. Gupta & Friends Podcast with Kate O'Connell
In this episode we go over Kate O'Connell's ADHD test to see her results and if we have ADHD.
Kate O'Connell (00:00):
Okay. So I'm Kate O'Connell. I'm a licensed clinical mental health counselor, a licensed CL clinical addiction specialist, and the clinical director at Gupta Psychiatry and Wellness.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (00:13):
And my name's Dr. Mona Gupta. I'm a psychiatrist and I founded Gupta Psychiatry and Wellness in Raleigh, North Carolina. We work together and we actually like each other too. So that's a plus.
Kate O'Connell (00:26):
So this is one of the perks of my job is that during downtime, a psychiatrist can assess my adhd.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (00:35):
So that's what we're gonna do. We're gonna test her. We're gonna actually, she's already taking a test. It's called, it's actually a psychological test that she takes on the computer and she sat on the computer for about 45 minutes. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> did this series of questions. It's not really questions, it's like games
Kate O'Connell (00:49):
Almost. Yeah. It was kinda fun.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (00:52):
It's kind of fun, but it's stressful. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, like, I think it's stressful. Cause I, I I get bored in the middle of me. Right. But you finished it. I did. Um, it did indicate you did meet criteria for adhd. Um, in that there's different, there's below average and average. It sounds like you probably hit some of the below average. I don't have that test with me right now, but typically if you came into my office, we would have you do that test. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, if you're having some kind of issues with your attention, you may not think you have adhd, but this helps to confirm the diagnosis. Anyone can gimme a bunch of Right. You know, symptoms, but this is confirming it. Right. Could
Kate O'Connell (01:25):
We actually pause? Can I get my test? Sorry, listener.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (01:37):
Like I'm gonna take too, and I'm gonna ask this <affirmative>.
Solomon (01:44):
I can hyper,
Dr. Mona Gutpa (01:46):
But that's adhd. Yeah. Or like watch. Okay. Just wait, wait. You're
Solomon (01:50):
At six, eight hours straight.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (01:53):
Oh, I know that's, You have adhd. Do not even think you have nothing else, but you just show it to me and I'll go through it.
(02:06):
Okay. So I'm gonna ask a bunch of questions, Okay? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, she's trying to pull up her adhd, um, testing and I'm gonna go over it. Um, this is gonna be informative for not just you guys, but informative for Kate and myself. Um, I grew up in a house with a psychiatrist and, and you would think that my mother would've said I had ADHD because I clearly did. Like, if someone were to say, Hey Mona, we need a chair, could you go get one? I would go outside and I would get everything and talk to everyone except come back with a chair. And when I would come back, they would say, Hey, where's the chair? And I would say, Oh yeah, I forgot that. So, um, and then later, you know, I realized, and I was always kind of a, I was like an A student if I tried, but I was like a B student. Easy, but could have been a straight A student. Does that make sense? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, like I just kind of did everything. Yeah. Just enough, you know? Or procrastinated. Yeah.
Kate O'Connell (03:06):
Like a C or B student.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (03:07):
Yeah. Like we could have been better students, but it was like, almost like, uh, you know, like mm-hmm. <affirmative>, like I wait until last minute, procrastinate, procrastinate, procrastinate, you know? Right. And not be organized.
Kate O'Connell (03:19):
And then I'd get into avoidance.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (03:21):
Right. Cuz you're like, why would I do that? That just seems
Kate O'Connell (03:23):
So stressful. You're also scared.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (03:25):
Yeah. Cause you're like so late now. Yeah. You know, like, Right. Whatever. So did you get the testing?
Kate O'Connell (03:31):
No. Cause
Dr. Mona Gutpa (03:32):
Okay. I, Well we're just gonna move on and, um, I'm gonna, I, I'm a le a little focused today, but both of us, Are you medicated? Cuz I'm not medicated.
Kate O'Connell (03:42):
I'm unmedicated today.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (03:43):
Okay. So that's the other thing with ADHD is we forget to take our medicines <laugh>. But anyways, um, what I really like about having ADHD is I really do believe it helps us be more visionaries. So like, if you are artistic, um, you'll find that are people who are artists, people who are musicians, CEOs, um, they tend to be, have ADHD qualities and it's because they're able to think three dimensionally. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So that's like, I do feel like I see
Kate O'Connell (04:16):
That's what I like about you is that you're positive about it.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (04:19):
I think it's a superpower and if anyone thinks it's not a superpower, they're wrong. They're wrong. Cuz it is a superpower. Some of the brightest people have adhd. Having ADHD doesn't make you dumb grades do not define us. You know, and I try to remember that when I'm looking at my kids' grades. <laugh>, <laugh> because ADHD is also 75% hair, um, inherited. Right. So it's 75% chance, that's a huge chance. So if you have a parent with adhd, you are a high chance of having a child. Maybe. I found it. So she found her testing and um, I
Kate O'Connell (04:52):
Got a four out of
Dr. Mona Gutpa (04:53):
The Oh, on the as srs. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, She got a four. Um, but the spatial planning looks like you're, or
Kate O'Connell (04:59):
Maybe a five. I got a five outta six.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (05:01):
She struggles with rotations, struggles with double trouble. I mean everything was kind of low, average or borderline. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, uh, or just, you know, um, low. So I mean, a lot of your cognitive assessment actually goes to show that you do probably have ADHD and we'll probably have to like, have this pulled up to be able to explain it to people. But it's really interesting cuz it goes through each of like different things. Spatial planning, um, you know, verbal reasoning, uh, digit spans, feature match. And we can kind of show people this if they have questions. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> getting put an example on our website. But it's interesting. So basically this is kind of giving me the ability to say, your story matches up with your testing. Right. Cause otherwise people could gimme any story. Right? Right. So this kind of gives me the added backing that you're not just trying to get Adderall.
(05:55):
Right. Does that make sense? Um, cause people like to abuse it. So we're gonna talk about, so I went to this lecture the other day and it was with this amazing doctor who's well known in the ADHD world. He's been, you know, at Harvard and, uh, he's been all these big universities and he did research and he's, you know, talked about ADHD with, um, the government and whatnot and got a lot of accolades over the years. Um, so anyways, he talked about 20 things to remember about a person with adhd. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna ask you questions. Actually, I'm not gonna ask you questions, I'm just gonna tell you this and you can say yes or no. Okay. Okay. They have an active mind. ADHD brain doesn't stop. No. On and off switch. There are no breaks that bring it to a halt. It's a burden. And one must learn to manage. Do you feel your mind is constantly active?
Kate O'Connell (06:48):
Yes. It's hard to shut off unless I'm exhausted.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (06:51):
I would say that yes. For me too. They listen but don't absorb what is being said.
Kate O'Connell (06:58):
Yeah.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (06:59):
That's like a 100% for me. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, like, people will talk straight to me and I may be somewhere else. Right. And I remember in high school being called an airhead. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, because that's, I would just blank out while someone was
Kate O'Connell (07:13):
Talking to me. Yeah. I was called a blonde.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (07:15):
Okay, there we go. You know? So both of us were called such nice things. Yes. And blond is fine. Like, that's okay. You know. Um, airhead not so much, but I think blond kind,
Kate O'Connell (07:24):
Delicious candy
Dr. Mona Gutpa (07:25):
The best. Yeah. <laugh>. Exactly. It's such good candy. Okay. Number three. They have difficulty staying on task. Yes. That's instead of keeping focus on what's in front of them. People with add stare at the colors and the paint on the wall. They walk, they're like walking through e labyrinth. They start moving in one direction, but keep changing directions to find the way out. They just cannot. Yeah. I can give up. I, I would panic in elaborate. I can't <laugh>. Oh gosh. Yeah. Like I would panic. Okay. Number four, they become anxious easily. Ding, ding, ding, ding. Yeah. I'm the most anxious person you ever meet.
Kate O'Connell (07:59):
That's for me.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (08:00):
Yeah. Yeah. So we're both anxious. Um,
Kate O'Connell (08:04):
I feel like I've been doing better with my anxiety
Dr. Mona Gutpa (08:07):
While those YouTube videos have helped, right? Yes. You've calmed down a lot. I don't know what you're doing, but it's amazing. Yeah. Your anxiety's so much better. My anxiety is through the freaking roof.
Kate O'Connell (08:18):
So it's reaffirming or affirming or affirming to know that you're noticing it
Dr. Mona Gutpa (08:23):
Too. No, you're so much calmer. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, even in this conversation. You're the calm one. I'm the anxious one. I'm like, Oh, what do we do next? What do we do next? Like, I am the most anxious person and I know my life is kind of tumultuous right now, but I am, I worry about everything. I worry about worrying. I worry that I'm gonna be anxious.
Kate O'Connell (08:42):
Right. You know what mean that worrying is bad for my health and now I'm stuck in a worry.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (08:46):
Yeah. Spiral. And I'm so sick of worrying that I, I'm just, I don't wanna worry. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I wanna run away, but there's nowhere to run away, you know? Yeah. Okay. That's okay. Everyone knows my business. Okay. Number five. They can't concentrate when they're emotional.
Kate O'Connell (09:01):
Ding,
Dr. Mona Gutpa (09:01):
Ding, ding, ding. What that means is if something worrisome is going on, if they're upset, a person cannot think of anything else. They're just like stuck in that, you know? So it makes concentration at work, conversations, social situations. Impossible. I would agree. Like if I feel really stressed about something, I can't mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I have to get past that first, right? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Okay. Number six. They concentrate too intensely. Um, well, Solomon, who helps us make these podcasts, he just talked about being hyper focused for six and seven hours. Um, that would be an example, right? So I think you do that too. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, when you're really into something, you can concentrate, right?
Kate O'Connell (09:37):
Yeah. I think probably cuz I'm more negative and I see you're more positive. I'm more negative. So I think that's actually a really great feature. Hyper focus. I feel like I catch that hyper hyperfocus wave. Not a
Dr. Mona Gutpa (09:56):
Lot. It makes us feel good cuz we feel like we're accomplishing something. Right? Like, for me, I'm like, Oh my God, I accomplished so much today. But if anyone came and interrupted me, I wanted to rip their head off. Mm. You know, like, my kids will come to me and I'm in the middle of a text and I can hyperfocus on a text like nobody's business. And I'm like, What? You know, and I feel horrible, but that's the real thing. So I can hyper focus on things like work is my problem. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> number seven. They have difficulty stopping a task when they're in the zone.
Kate O'Connell (10:24):
Yes. Yes. Well, I don't know when the zone's going to come back.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (10:28):
Right. So I'm like scared that you're gonna lose the zone, right?
Kate O'Connell (10:31):
Mm-hmm.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (10:31):
<affirmative>. Okay. They're unable to regulate their emotions for a d d. Their emotions are flying, walled wild out of proportion cannot be contained. Um, they need extra time to get their systems up and running properly. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>? Uh, I think I have that. I have I, well, other people would say that I get really upset mm-hmm. <affirmative> if things don't go a certain way. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, do you?
Kate O'Connell (10:55):
Um, I get mixed reviews online.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (10:59):
You're pretty calm though. But I think you get anxious in
Kate O'Connell (11:01):
Those situations. Yeah. I don't,
Dr. Mona Gutpa (11:03):
You don't try not fly off a handle. Yeah. They have verbal outbursts. <laugh>, I get verbally. Outburst.
Kate O'Connell (11:11):
Yeah,
Dr. Mona Gutpa (11:12):
I do. I'm sorry. I'm sorry Kate. But I just get so stressed and I then I get crazy. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. I know. Ok. Um, do you have that?
Kate O'Connell (11:20):
I dunno if
Dr. Mona Gutpa (11:21):
I really No, I'm gonna check. No, but so far I've forgotten. Yes. Nine. You've you and you've got eight. Yes. Eight yeses. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Ok. They have social anxiety. Yes, I do. I do. You, Isn't that funny that we have social id? Anxiety?
Kate O'Connell (11:34):
Yeah. Like
Dr. Mona Gutpa (11:35):
Everyone thinks I'm like, miss blah blah, blah. I talk to everyone. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. But
Kate O'Connell (11:38):
Really
Dr. Mona Gutpa (11:39):
I hate going anywhere. Yeah. Do you know that about me
Kate O'Connell (11:43):
Sometimes? Yeah. I, you know that about
Dr. Mona Gutpa (11:45):
Me. You can tell that I like, avoid it like nobody's business. And then I go and I, I'll be the, then I'm the center of
Kate O'Connell (11:51):
The party. I know.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (11:52):
Isn't that that weird?
Kate O'Connell (11:53):
There's so much
Dr. Mona Gutpa (11:54):
Fun. No, I'm fun once I go there. But going there is like deaf.
Kate O'Connell (11:58):
But if you went all the time, maybe you wouldn't be as fun as you are.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (12:03):
Oh. Is that what it is? I don't know. I just, I love doing things when I'm doing what I've done when I'm in it. But going to it is, it is really hard.
Kate O'Connell (12:13):
Right?
Dr. Mona Gutpa (12:14):
I dunno. So social anxiety, you both have that check. They're deeply intuitive.
Kate O'Connell (12:20):
I feel like that's true for both of us,
Dr. Mona Gutpa (12:23):
Actually. Yeah. Inspirational trait is what makes creative geniuses, inventors. Artists, musicians, writers thrive in the zone. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And I would say that Solomon who's behind the camera is also Absolutely. He is. He is great at whatever he does. Right. You know? Yeah. Um, they think out of the box. Yes. We all think out of the box. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I'm gonna check it. Yes. For all of us. They're impatient and fidgety. Mm-hmm.
Kate O'Connell (12:51):
<affirmative>. Yes.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (12:53):
The come sitting. You're sitting. Okay. Um, they are, Oh, do you troll your
Kate O'Connell (12:58):
Hair? Cause I do.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (12:59):
Yeah. I It says that too. Trolling your hair, bouncing your leg up and down. Yes. Need constant motion. It's like zen for them when they're moving. Like, you know, we need to do this to like self, so.
Kate O'Connell (13:09):
Right, right. It's the bilaterals. Yeah. Like talk about an emdr that's, Oh,
Dr. Mona Gutpa (13:14):
Tell me
Kate O'Connell (13:14):
About that. Selfing is the, with the, the back and forth motion. Like, you know how with emdr it's like this. Yeah. The listener can't hear, see this, But it's just moving your finger back and forth or listening to like a sound. Go back and forth. Even time, even tempo can be self soothing.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (13:35):
What is, what is EMDR for
Kate O'Connell (13:37):
Listeners eye movement.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (13:39):
Rapid. Rapid desensitization. And it's used for,
Kate O'Connell (13:43):
For trauma
Dr. Mona Gutpa (13:44):
Specifically. And it really helps, right? Yeah. It takes that physical away from the emotional.
Kate O'Connell (13:48):
It does.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (13:49):
It's pretty amazing. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you know, cuz people who have had traumatic situations, they don't typically wanna reopen that wound over and over again cuz they feel it, right? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. But this is a way to kind of take the feeling away from the talking Right about
Kate O'Connell (14:04):
It. Yeah. I mean it's interesting cuz you don't have to go through every single detail of the trauma, but let's talk about that later.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (14:12):
Another one. Okay. Okay. Sorry. That was mm-hmm. <affirmative>. You're
Kate O'Connell (14:16):
Seeing it in live action. Mm-hmm.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (14:17):
<affirmative>. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. They're physically sensitive. Pencils feel heavy in their hands. Fiber on their,
Kate O'Connell (14:22):
Gosh, that's you. This is the reason why I can't do individual therapy. Okay. More. Why? Why? Because I don't know when it's gonna happen, but I'll have some type
Dr. Mona Gutpa (14:32):
Remember you in your pajamas. Yes. God. First
Kate O'Connell (14:36):
Of all, like with the physical, like at in therapy I'm okay. And like in assessments it's fine. And like if I can get into, like if we're doing something specific in the therapy session, it's okay. But when I'm just listening, sometimes something physical will start to bother me. Either it's like a tag in the back of my shirt and then I'm trying not to like pick at it.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (14:57):
Then you over concentrate
Kate O'Connell (14:59):
On that. Yeah. And then it starts to feel really uncomfortable. And I almost have like a mini panic attack, like all over my body. It's this like sensory, sensory, sensory, like sensory yuckiness is the only that I could describe
Dr. Mona Gutpa (15:12):
It. And you just, you almost need to
Kate O'Connell (15:14):
Get out. And the pajama thing, when we went to Asheville, so I didn't realize this was a perk, but I can't wear a pajama twice. And I,
Dr. Mona Gutpa (15:24):
And everyone wears their pajamas
Kate O'Connell (15:26):
Twice. Yeah. I, Cause
Dr. Mona Gutpa (15:27):
No one wants to do laundry like that.
Kate O'Connell (15:28):
Right. If I slept in it for more than two
Dr. Mona Gutpa (15:32):
Hours. But you can wear the same jeans.
Kate O'Connell (15:34):
Yeah.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (15:35):
That doesn't make any sense. Okay. Well there you go. Um, number 15, they are disorganized.
Kate O'Connell (15:43):
Yes.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (15:44):
Yes. For me. Yes. Um, they have piles. Piles are their favorite method of organizing. Oh my gosh. I have so many piles.
Kate O'Connell (15:52):
I hate, I hate
Dr. Mona Gutpa (15:53):
The piles. I hate piles. I wanna un pile and somehow I pile again. Oh my Do you do that? Yes. Like I un pile to pile. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> like I, I have piles and then ipi them into another pile. But now I have two piles.
Kate O'Connell (16:09):
Pile on piles.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (16:11):
Yes. Okay. Okay. Number 16. They need space to pace when talking on the phone or having a conversation. People with a d d think better when they're in motion. Movement is calming and brings clarity. Yeah, Absolutely.
Kate O'Connell (16:22):
Makes sense.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (16:23):
Yeah. So that's a check. They avoid tasks. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> making decisions or completing tasks on time is a struggle. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Yes.
Kate O'Connell (16:33):
And
Dr. Mona Gutpa (16:34):
Yeah. And they overthink. Hmm. The excess and dwell in the depths of their own mind. <laugh>.
Kate O'Connell (16:40):
I never do that. Ever.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (16:42):
That's
Kate O'Connell (16:43):
Not never.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (16:44):
Ok. Number 18. They can't remember simple tasks. Yeah. So like a simple task for me was, uh, Yes. Oh, today it's been two days in a row. I was supposed to go see this office. I always forget what I'm supposed to do. Like without a doubt. And then last minute I'm in crisis trying to go to this office. Right. Or therapy. I have therapy session. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I will always be late for my therapy session. It is like without a doubt it's, and I know when it is and I know and I'll even the morning I'll say it, but I still forget. Yeah. Do
Kate O'Connell (17:16):
You do that? Yeah. I don't really forget much about like events, appointments. I think I'm
Dr. Mona Gutpa (17:22):
Good on that. I'm late at appointments, I'm late at everything. I'm like, not cause I wanna be, sometimes I'm prepared and I can't do it. Yeah. They have many tasks going on at the same time.
Kate O'Connell (17:32):
Yes.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (17:33):
Yeah. Multitasking is one of their favorite activities. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Yeah. And it also stresses you out, doesn't it? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, Like yesterday I had to sign a check and I knew I had to sign a check and then I forget I needed to sign a check and then I needed to get my hair done and needed to get ready for Devali. Cuz you saw our new year. And for some reason I got so overwhelmed. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I, I just can't time manage. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you know, number 20. They're passionate about everything they do.
(18:03):
Yes. Yes. We are passionate. So I, and then it says basically a person with ADHD has trouble con controlling their impulses. They have many awesome qualities that you'll enjoy. Once you understand how they think and feel. Compassion, empathy and patience will carry you to most of your difficult times. Is important to take care, extra care of yourself. Take a alone time regularly. Do what you enjoy. Find a support group. Find a compassionate wise friend that's me. <laugh>. Um, take frequent vacations, take 'em with me, <laugh>, um, meditate, find hobbies and find your passion. Most of all, learn how to breathe. I think that's a huge thing is that we need to learn how to breathe. I think that we are trying to fit so much stuff in such a little time that we forget to breathe. Yeah. And I feel guilty relaxing. I don't know about you. Hmm. Do you?
Kate O'Connell (18:53):
Yeah, I feel guilty chilling out. Yeah, for
Dr. Mona Gutpa (18:56):
Sure.
Kate O'Connell (18:57):
Like, cause there's something else that I should've been doing.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (18:59):
Like what am I supposed to be doing? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you have that problem too?
Kate O'Connell (19:02):
Yeah. You do? I do.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (19:05):
Wow.
Kate O'Connell (19:06):
I mean with meditation and like relax like that deep breathing for me, I feel like it's an assignment to me. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. It's part of my job. I'm not gonna tell people to deep breath and meditate and not do it myself. Yeah.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (19:19):
So when do
Kate O'Connell (19:19):
You do it? So I do it at morning. First thing I wake
Dr. Mona Gutpa (19:22):
Up. So how long do you do it for? Five minutes. Can you show us what you do?
Kate O'Connell (19:25):
Yeah. I mean I lay, I'm still laying in bed and I put the calm app
Dr. Mona Gutpa (19:31):
On. Okay.
Kate O'Connell (19:32):
And then, and just listen to them. And usually it's,
Dr. Mona Gutpa (19:35):
Does it help?
Kate O'Connell (19:37):
I, so what
Dr. Mona Gutpa (19:38):
I tell a lot cause I know we tell people lot. Yes. But do we feel like it helps?
Kate O'Connell (19:42):
So this is what I'll say about meditation. I notice when I don't do it versus when I do it. So I'm not getting an instant gratification from doing the meditation, the
Dr. Mona Gutpa (19:55):
Practice
Kate O'Connell (19:55):
Of it. However, yes. When I don't do it, I notice things go
Dr. Mona Gutpa (20:00):
Haywire. Do you do yoga?
Kate O'Connell (20:02):
Yeah.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (20:03):
Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. How often do you do that?
Kate O'Connell (20:05):
Like once a
Dr. Mona Gutpa (20:08):
Blue moon. I used to do it and it was like the best thing ever.
Kate O'Connell (20:11):
Yeah. It was for me
Dr. Mona Gutpa (20:12):
Too. It was stressful getting to the yoga class. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Like I would be so stressed out about getting there. But once I got there I was so happy. So I need to go back to it, you know? Yeah.
Kate O'Connell (20:23):
The appointments help.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (20:24):
Yeah. Yeah. And then, okay. Oh, so you meditate every morning. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And you meditate in the evening too?
Kate O'Connell (20:29):
Yeah, before I go to bed I just do ocean weight.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (20:31):
When did this start?
Kate O'Connell (20:33):
Um, I think actually around, Oh, before the pandemic? Actually kinda when I started working for you. Because?
Dr. Mona Gutpa (20:41):
Because I cause anxiety.
Kate O'Connell (20:42):
No, because I went from a very stressful work environment where
Dr. Mona Gutpa (20:47):
Stress. Oh, your work environment's where the lady got stabbed.
Kate O'Connell (20:50):
Yes.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (20:51):
Yes. So was that how kind of tumultuous it
Kate O'Connell (20:54):
Was? Nobody ever got stabbed. Stabbed when I was there. I didn't even, I think the most that's ever happened was somebody got bit,
Dr. Mona Gutpa (21:02):
I mean I got spit on many times, but Oh you know. Yeah. No, I have gotten spit on but and that's not, it doesn't feel good to be spit on. Yeah. But this lady got stabbed and that is a real fear sometimes in our offices. Yeah. Or in our world. Right. Um, but then you hear it happens and it was the place you worked. Yeah. Um, Did you know
Kate O'Connell (21:21):
Her? It's scary. No it didn't.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (21:23):
It's wild though. So sad. It's very, very sad. And she lost her life. Yeah.
Kate O'Connell (21:27):
Yeah.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (21:28):
Um, but yeah. No. So you were in that environment and you came to my environment
Kate O'Connell (21:32):
Mm-hmm. <affirmative> and, and I had more time to do training and I started, cause I started off with you. I started like not part kind of part-time. Yeah. In the beginning. Um, and so I just started getting into, into more modalities of therapy. I think I was a better therapist
Dr. Mona Gutpa (21:48):
Four years
Kate O'Connell (21:49):
Ago. Is that possible? Maybe I was better than I'm now. I
Dr. Mona Gutpa (21:52):
Dunno. No, you're really good.
Kate O'Connell (21:54):
I just felt like very in tune with things and I was trying to educate myself. Part of it was meditation and deep breathing. Okay. And I hate being a hypocrite even though like I've done it before. Everyone is, but I'm not gonna like assign that to clients and then not do it myself. So that's why I feel guilty and it's a chore.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (22:16):
I actually agree with meditation being a really good treatment for adhd. And meditation's been shown to help with like neuroplasticity too. Oh yeah. Yeah. So it's actually like, kind of like ketamine for the brain. Absolutely. You know, if it's like an easy way of helping yourself mm-hmm. <affirmative> form those connections again and kind of help your brain rebound. It's just a matter of doing it.
Kate O'Connell (22:39):
Mm-hmm. <affirmative>
Dr. Mona Gutpa (22:40):
And like for an add mind, it's really hard to to do it Follow through. To
Kate O'Connell (22:45):
Follow through. Exactly.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (22:47):
But so based on this, I got like 18 out of the 20 and I'm pretty sure you got 18
Kate O'Connell (22:52):
Outta 22. Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Dr. Mona Gutpa (22:54):
<affirmative>. So that was like a good exercise on it. Uh, but you know, the good thing about ADHD is that it can be a superpower. And most inventors, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs and writers have ADHD or a d d and they succeeded because they had a loved one that supported them through their daily struggles. Hm. So it's just important to replace anger with compassion. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And like for me, I have a child with ADHD and I can get really, really upset with him. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. But we have to go in with a different angle. I think we have to go in even with substance use or Yeah. All these different things. We just need to go in with a different angle. I kind of see where they're coming from.
Kate O'Connell (23:30):
Meet 'em where they are,
Dr. Mona Gutpa (23:31):
Meet em where you meet ourselves too. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I think we have to give ourselves grace too and kinda understand ourselves a little better. Right. Cause that's where the anxiety comes from. We feel like we're not meeting expectations, I think. Yeah. I think Right. Part of it. Yeah. It's that, um, imposter syndrome. Oh, got it. Imposter syndrome. Serious. Yeah. Yeah. No, I think, I think, yeah. No, and that could be a whole nother discussion. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. But I, but I think today we just wanna kind of go over the different symptoms or the different characteristics of an ad mind. Yeah. That's went through it. It was kind of interesting. That is. Yeah. Yeah. Well if you guys can think of anything else you want us to talk about. Yeah. Let us know. Hi. Hi.