Inside Our ADHD Mind: Why This BBC Programme Hit Home

Like many others working in neurodiversity, and living with it too, I recently sat down to watch Inside Our ADHD Mind on BBC2, a programme that explores adult ADHD with honesty, curiosity and (thankfully) a healthy dose of humour.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but by the end, I found myself nodding along, feeling seen, and most importantly, feeling hopeful that more people are starting to understand what ADHD actually looks and feels like, beyond the outdated stereotypes.

ADHD Isn’t Just a Punchline – It’s a Daily Reality

One of the most powerful things about the programme was how it gave space to people sharing their lived experiences. These weren’t medical case studies or attention-grabbing headlines. They were real stories – people trying to juggle work, relationships, emotions, and the day-to-day reality of a brain that works a bit differently.

It highlighted something I see all the time in my role as Head of Neurodiversity at The Owl Centre: ADHD is about much more than being distracted or ‘hyper’. It’s about managing time, emotions, energy, and expectations – both from others and yourself.

It’s also about not realising, until quite late in life, that the reason things feel harder for you is because your brain is wired in a different way. That moment of recognition – “I thought it was just me” – came up again and again in the programme, and it’s something I hear from people across the country, week in and week out.

The Personal Bits That Really Landed

As someone with ADHD myself, I saw myself in so many of the moments the programme captured:

• The racing thoughts at night

• The constant stream of ideas

• The emotional highs and lows

• The frustration when something seems so simple to others but feels like climbing a mountain for me

Professionally, I work with NHS Trusts, ICBs and other partners to design and deliver ADHD and autism services – so I’m often sitting in meetings where people throw graphs, spreadsheets and data at me and expect an instant response. But that’s not how I work best. I can analyse and problem-solve – in fact, that’s one of my biggest strengths – but I need time to process and reflect. Give me a day, and I’ll come back with a thorough, considered answer. Ask me for it in the moment, and I might stall or overcompensate.

The programme didn’t shy away from this kind of nuance, and that’s what made it stand out.

Working in This Space – And Living It Too

Leading a neurodiversity service while living with ADHD is a balancing act. Remote working gives me the flexibility to manage my energy, but it also means I have to be really intentional about protecting time to think. Without that, I risk spending all day in back-to-back meetings and never getting to the deeper work that actually makes a difference.

Prioritising is another daily challenge. My brain doesn’t always know what’s urgent and what’s just interesting. I’ve learned to structure my calendar in a way that works for me – scheduling focus time, adding visual reminders, and making room for the kind of ‘strategic thinking’ that can’t happen in a 15-minute gap between calls.

But I also try to lead with honesty. I’m upfront about how I work best, and I encourage others to do the same. Creating neurodivergent-friendly spaces starts with trust, flexibility, and – sometimes – a bit of trial and error.

What the Programme Got Right

It gave a platform to adult ADHD experiences. It showed the emotional depth behind the diagnosis. It treated ADHD with seriousness and compassion, but also with a sense of optimism. And for that, I’m grateful.

That said, I’d love to see more in future programmes about access to services, the postcode lottery of diagnosis, and the particular challenges faced by women, people of colour, and those with co-occurring conditions. But as a starting point for wider public understanding, Inside Our ADHD Mind was a really important step.

Final Thoughts

For those of us working in the world of ADHD, it’s easy to forget how far we’ve come. This programme helped remind me that every story shared, every myth challenged, and every honest conversation moves us forward.

If you haven’t seen it yet, I’d highly recommend giving it a watch – whether you’re neurodivergent, working in healthcare or education, or just trying to understand someone in your life a little better.

And if you did watch it – what did you think? I’d love to hear your reflections.

First published on LinkedIn on 17 May 2025.