Latest news with #InsideOurMinds
Leader Live
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Chris Packham says autism does not need a cure: ‘We are not broken'
The conservationist, 64, is best known for presenting popular nature programmes such as BBC's Springwatch and The Really Wild Show and has spoken out about being autistic. Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, the presenter said he had 'mixed feelings' about RFK Jr looking for a cause to what he described as an 'autism epidemic'. He said: 'Firstly, there's no epidemic. What we have done is we've created a wider awareness of this condition (autism) and therefore more people are able, hopefully, to access help. And that has to be seen as a very, very positive thing 'Because people are learning about these conditions on social media, which we all use every day, that's not a bad thing. That's opening our eyes to the fact that these conditions are real and they need addressing and support. 'The second thing, as a scientist, I would love to know what has made me an autistic person. My curiosity is in that direction.' Autism is described by the National Autistic Society as a 'lifelong neurodivergence and disability' which influences how people experience and interact in the world. This may include finding socialising confusing or tiring, being overwhelmed in loud places, experiencing intense interests and preferring order and routine. The TV presenter spoke about his autism diagnosis in a two-part BBC Two docuseries called Inside Our Autistic Minds, which aimed to shine a light on how neurodivergent people think. The series follows Packham as he pairs a group of autistic people with creative experts, including filmmakers, graphic designers, animators and musicians, to help them create a short film expressing how their personal experiences and how they feel. He added: 'Many autistic people are frightened by that because of the third thing that you mentioned and that is driving towards a cure. 'We don't want a cure. We are not broken. We are merely different, and those differences are sometimes presenting us with enormous disabling problems or difficulties, those challenges that I spoke of. 'Without people who think differently, some of the world's problems simply would not have been and will not be solved. We are here to play a very valuable part in society. So we don't want to be cured. 'I'm curious to know why, and I always will be, but I don't want someone giving me a tablet or stopping the future development of autistic people. 'We are a proud, intact community of people who have an enormous amount to offer society.' Packham returns for a second instalment of BBC Two's Inside Our Minds with two new episodes exploring ADHD and Dyslexia. The episodes will follow four individuals as they collaborate with creatives to explore and express what it is like living with these conditions through a short film. Speaking about the new series, Packham added: 'There is a tendency these days for people to say, 'Well, I think I'm a little bit autistic, a little bit ADHD, a little bit OCD', but these are real conditions that impact people's lives all of the time. 'They're not a little bit any of these things. They're full on, these things, all of the time, and that can have quite a significant impact on their lives, particularly when they're young, and particularly, I have to say, if they are young females, girls and young women, where they're not getting a diagnosis in the time that they should so that they can live happier and more fulfilled lives. 'Our mission here is to ask people to better understand these conditions so that we can make small changes in society to make all of our lives easier and more productive. 'It is a spectrum condition, you may have some of those (traits), but they may not be impacting on your life in the same way that they do ours. So I appreciate that it niggles, but nevertheless, that this is what we're trying to do is develop that broader understanding.' Inside Our ADHD Minds will air on BBC Two on Monday May 12 with episode two, Inside Our Dyslexic Minds, due to air on Monday May 19.
South Wales Guardian
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Chris Packham says autism does not need a cure: ‘We are not broken'
The conservationist, 64, is best known for presenting popular nature programmes such as BBC's Springwatch and The Really Wild Show and has spoken out about being autistic. Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, the presenter said he had 'mixed feelings' about RFK Jr looking for a cause to what he described as an 'autism epidemic'. He said: 'Firstly, there's no epidemic. What we have done is we've created a wider awareness of this condition (autism) and therefore more people are able, hopefully, to access help. And that has to be seen as a very, very positive thing 'Because people are learning about these conditions on social media, which we all use every day, that's not a bad thing. That's opening our eyes to the fact that these conditions are real and they need addressing and support. 'The second thing, as a scientist, I would love to know what has made me an autistic person. My curiosity is in that direction.' Autism is described by the National Autistic Society as a 'lifelong neurodivergence and disability' which influences how people experience and interact in the world. This may include finding socialising confusing or tiring, being overwhelmed in loud places, experiencing intense interests and preferring order and routine. The TV presenter spoke about his autism diagnosis in a two-part BBC Two docuseries called Inside Our Autistic Minds, which aimed to shine a light on how neurodivergent people think. The series follows Packham as he pairs a group of autistic people with creative experts, including filmmakers, graphic designers, animators and musicians, to help them create a short film expressing how their personal experiences and how they feel. He added: 'Many autistic people are frightened by that because of the third thing that you mentioned and that is driving towards a cure. 'We don't want a cure. We are not broken. We are merely different, and those differences are sometimes presenting us with enormous disabling problems or difficulties, those challenges that I spoke of. 'Without people who think differently, some of the world's problems simply would not have been and will not be solved. We are here to play a very valuable part in society. So we don't want to be cured. 'I'm curious to know why, and I always will be, but I don't want someone giving me a tablet or stopping the future development of autistic people. 'We are a proud, intact community of people who have an enormous amount to offer society.' Packham returns for a second instalment of BBC Two's Inside Our Minds with two new episodes exploring ADHD and Dyslexia. The episodes will follow four individuals as they collaborate with creatives to explore and express what it is like living with these conditions through a short film. Speaking about the new series, Packham added: 'There is a tendency these days for people to say, 'Well, I think I'm a little bit autistic, a little bit ADHD, a little bit OCD', but these are real conditions that impact people's lives all of the time. 'They're not a little bit any of these things. They're full on, these things, all of the time, and that can have quite a significant impact on their lives, particularly when they're young, and particularly, I have to say, if they are young females, girls and young women, where they're not getting a diagnosis in the time that they should so that they can live happier and more fulfilled lives. 'Our mission here is to ask people to better understand these conditions so that we can make small changes in society to make all of our lives easier and more productive. 'It is a spectrum condition, you may have some of those (traits), but they may not be impacting on your life in the same way that they do ours. So I appreciate that it niggles, but nevertheless, that this is what we're trying to do is develop that broader understanding.' Inside Our ADHD Minds will air on BBC Two on Monday May 12 with episode two, Inside Our Dyslexic Minds, due to air on Monday May 19.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
6 ways ADHD impacts daily life as Chris Packham presents documentary on the condition
Ahead of the release of his new documentary Inside Our ADHD Minds, broadcaster Chris Packham has criticised those who dismiss attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a fad. ADHD is a neurodevelopment condition that affects an estimated 2.6 million people in the UK, which influences how individuals experience, process, and respond to the world around them. While children and adults may show different symptoms, the underlying cause is the same: their brains function differently from those who are not neurodivergent. Now 64-year-old Packham, who was diagnosed with autism at 44, is returning with a new instalment of his Inside Our Minds series. This time, he's met people living with ADHD, with the documentary premiering tonight at 9pm on BBC Two. The naturalist and nature photographer told Good Morning Britain today: "There is a tendency these days for people to say, 'Well, I think I'm a little bit autistic, a little bit ADHD, a little bit OCD,' but these are real conditions that impact people's lives all of the time. They're not a little bit any of these things. They're full on these things all of the time. "That can have quite a significant impact on their lives, particularly when they're young, and particularly, I have to say, if they are young females, girls and young women, where they're not getting the diagnosis in the time that they should, so that they can live happier and more fulfilled lives. So our mission here is to ask people to better understand these conditions so that we can make small changes in society to make all of our lives easier and more productive." Speaking about people who casually claim to have ADHD symptoms without a diagnosis, he added: "Let's be clear, some of the traits that I have as an autistic person and people have as someone with ADHD, it is a spectrum condition, you may have some of those [traits], but they may not be impacting on your life in the same way that they do ours. "In our programs, we ask our contributors, brave, bold people who speak out frankly about the difficulties and challenges these conditions present in their life. But also, I have to say, about the attributes that they confer on their capacity to do things. It's not all negative." The NHS estimates that 3-4% of adults and 5% of children in the UK have ADHD, with many presenting symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, forgetting tasks (or everyday events like brushing your teeth) or struggling to manage your time. The condition may also present itself in hyperactivity, such as feeling restless, having high energy levels, being more talkative or making impulsive decisions. "ADHD can greatly impact individuals lives," Tom Howcroft, from the ADHD Foundation explains. "Understanding its impacts and implementing effective management strategies can greatly enhance daily functioning and overall wellbeing. "Receiving an ADHD diagnosis offers valuable insights into personal behaviours and challenges. By recognising the multifaceted impact of ADHD and implementing personalised management strategies, individuals can enhance their daily functioning and quality of life." Howcroft says ADHD can lead to difficulties with concentration, organisation, and completing tasks, which can impact your school or workplace performance. The best practice for coping with times were you feel easily distracted is to break tasks down into more manageable chunks, advises Howcroft, so focus is only needed for a short period of time. Techniques like the Pomodoro method (25 minutes working followed by a five-minute break) can be helpful. ADHD can make forming and sustaining friendships difficult, Howcroft says, due to a lack of impulse control and hyperactivity. It can be useful to find support groups or a community of likeminded people who understand and perhaps even live with ADHD themselves. Howcroft also recommends counselling and coaching that can provide tailored strategies to help deal with the process of coming to terms with a diagnosis and how to work with your neurodivergent brain. Stress is an inevitable part of all our lives, but ADHD can lead to a heightened sense of low mood or anxiety. "Persistent stress can exacerbate ADHD symptoms, leading to heightened anxiety and potential depressive symptoms," Howcroft explains. In these circumstances, try to take regular breaks to ground yourself and alleviate these feelings by going for a walk, doing exercise, spending time outside or with loved ones. ADHD can also lead to "repeated challenges and misunderstandings, such as perceived failures due to impulsiveness or disorganisation which can impact self-confidence and self-worth," says Howcroft. If you have ADHD, it's important to practice self-compassion and focus on leaning into how your brain works to reframe ADHD-related struggles. ADHD has also been known to lead to "struggles with planning, prioritising and completing tasks, which can affect personal and professional responsibilities," Howcroft says. It can often help to lean on productivity tools such as planners, reminders or apps such as Notion or Monday to organise your tasks and track responsibilities and upcoming deadlines. All of this preparation can help to reduce feelings of overwhelming or feeling flustered with juggling your workload or life admin. "Individuals may experience 'time blindness' leading to difficulties in perceiving and managing time effectively," Howcroft continues. "Creating consistent daily schedules can provide structure and reduce uncertainty, aiding in task completion and time management." Read more about ADHD: Psychiatrist explains why we've seen surge in ADHD and depression (Wales online, 4-min read) Living with undiagnosed ADHD felt like I was always chasing my tail (Yahoo Life UK, 8-min read) Nadia Sawalha tearful as she reveals ADHD diagnosis on Loose Women (Yahoo Entertainment, 2-min read)
Rhyl Journal
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Chris Packham says autism does not need a cure: ‘We are not broken'
The conservationist, 64, is best known for presenting popular nature programmes such as BBC's Springwatch and The Really Wild Show and has spoken out about being autistic. Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, the presenter said he had 'mixed feelings' about RFK Jr looking for a cause to what he described as an 'autism epidemic'. He said: 'Firstly, there's no epidemic. What we have done is we've created a wider awareness of this condition (autism) and therefore more people are able, hopefully, to access help. And that has to be seen as a very, very positive thing 'Because people are learning about these conditions on social media, which we all use every day, that's not a bad thing. That's opening our eyes to the fact that these conditions are real and they need addressing and support. 'The second thing, as a scientist, I would love to know what has made me an autistic person. My curiosity is in that direction.' Autism is described by the National Autistic Society as a 'lifelong neurodivergence and disability' which influences how people experience and interact in the world. This may include finding socialising confusing or tiring, being overwhelmed in loud places, experiencing intense interests and preferring order and routine. The TV presenter spoke about his autism diagnosis in a two-part BBC Two docuseries called Inside Our Autistic Minds, which aimed to shine a light on how neurodivergent people think. The series follows Packham as he pairs a group of autistic people with creative experts, including filmmakers, graphic designers, animators and musicians, to help them create a short film expressing how their personal experiences and how they feel. He added: 'Many autistic people are frightened by that because of the third thing that you mentioned and that is driving towards a cure. 'We don't want a cure. We are not broken. We are merely different, and those differences are sometimes presenting us with enormous disabling problems or difficulties, those challenges that I spoke of. 'Without people who think differently, some of the world's problems simply would not have been and will not be solved. We are here to play a very valuable part in society. So we don't want to be cured. 'I'm curious to know why, and I always will be, but I don't want someone giving me a tablet or stopping the future development of autistic people. 'We are a proud, intact community of people who have an enormous amount to offer society.' Packham returns for a second instalment of BBC Two's Inside Our Minds with two new episodes exploring ADHD and Dyslexia. The episodes will follow four individuals as they collaborate with creatives to explore and express what it is like living with these conditions through a short film. Speaking about the new series, Packham added: 'There is a tendency these days for people to say, 'Well, I think I'm a little bit autistic, a little bit ADHD, a little bit OCD', but these are real conditions that impact people's lives all of the time. 'They're not a little bit any of these things. They're full on, these things, all of the time, and that can have quite a significant impact on their lives, particularly when they're young, and particularly, I have to say, if they are young females, girls and young women, where they're not getting a diagnosis in the time that they should so that they can live happier and more fulfilled lives. 'Our mission here is to ask people to better understand these conditions so that we can make small changes in society to make all of our lives easier and more productive. 'It is a spectrum condition, you may have some of those (traits), but they may not be impacting on your life in the same way that they do ours. So I appreciate that it niggles, but nevertheless, that this is what we're trying to do is develop that broader understanding.' Inside Our ADHD Minds will air on BBC Two on Monday May 12 with episode two, Inside Our Dyslexic Minds, due to air on Monday May 19.
Telegraph
06-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Chris Packham: People who call ADHD a fad are prejudiced
Chris Packham has claimed people who call attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) a 'fad' are 'prejudiced'. The naturalist and BBC presenter, 64, said progress for people being diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia had not been made in the same way it had for those with autism. He told Radio Times: 'There has been some vile and misplaced prejudice prominently voiced recently about ADHD, suggesting that it's a fad and has been wrongly or over-diagnosed. 'That very urgently needs countering in this time of divisive culture wars, with assaults on inclusivity and diversity.' Neurodiversity campaigner The Springwatch presenter, who was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, in his 40s, said he 'once hid my autistic traits' while he struggled with the then undiagnosed condition in his youth. He has now become a prominent neurodiversity campaigner, which often extends to discussions about ADHD and dyslexia. His comments came as a recent study revealed that the Covid lockdown fuelled a near-doubling in the number of prescriptions for drugs to treat ADHD. Prescriptions per 1,000 people in England rose from 25.17 in 2019-20 to 41.55 in 2023-24 as lockdown was found to have exacerbated symptoms of the disorder. ADHD symptoms exist on a spectrum of severity ranging from mild to severe and affect 2.6 million people in the UK, 694,000 of whom are children and 1.9 million adults. The symptoms depend on the individual, but in general, people with ADHD have trouble with attention, organisation, time management and self-control. Researchers suggested there was an increasing awareness of the disorder through social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, which is likely to be encouraging more people to seek diagnosis and treatment. However, it is warned that 'misinformation on these platforms may lead to misconceptions about symptoms, diagnosis and treatment'. 'Positive and challenging impacts' In 2023, Packham released a two-part BBC Two series titled Inside Our Minds, which attempted to explain the autistic world to allistic (non-autistic) viewers. He said he was still thanked by strangers 'on an almost daily basis' for the series, with people saying it 'gave them a better understanding of themselves or one of their relatives or colleagues'. The 'logical next step', Packham added, was to apply that same storytelling format to other neurodiverse conditions. His two new documentaries, Inside Our ADHD Minds and Inside Our Dyslexic Minds, will be aired by the BBC later this month. Packham's stepdaughter, Megan, has dyslexia, meaning the presenter has 'experience of the positive and challenging impacts of that'. He added that 'thinking about ADHD is a bit like holding a misty mirror up to myself, because there is often an overlap between the traits of autism and ADHD'.
