Content creators Kim Holderness and Penn Holderness, who shot to internet fame in 2013 with their “Xmas Jammies” video, are on a mission to change the way people think about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) .
“First of all, this condition has a scary name. Deficit, hyperactivity, deficit are negative words,” Penn told TODAY.com. “Forget all that. If you have ADHD, you're part of a very cool club. Traditionally, we're innovative. We think outside the box, we create. That's the point.”
Penn even calls his ADHD “my superpower,” which he describes in detail in a new book he co-authored with his wife, “ADHD is Amazing.''
When Penn was finally diagnosed with ADHD while attending the University of Virginia, he remembers feeling relieved. Suddenly, Penn realized why he was struggling with his studies. I also found it difficult to concentrate during large lecture classes.
“It's good to have answers,” Penn says.
Some people with ADHD manage their symptoms with medications that increase dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical that promotes focus and concentration. Penn says he uses ADHD hacks to stay on track.
For example, Pen has a magnet on top of the car. Its sole purpose is to remind you not to leave your coffee mug on top of your car and drive away.
During the summer, Penn says, “I wear a lot of cargo pants.” I keep important things like my wallet and cell phone in my pockets. We have special areas in our North Carolina homes that are dedicated to specific items, like glasses or keys. He also relies heavily on calendars and lists.
As fans of the Holderness family know, Kim and Penn create original music, song parodies, and skits to poke fun at themselves. So it's no wonder that before Penn leaves the house, she sings a jingle to the tune of “Head, Shoulders, Needs and Toes.”
“I call it the Glasses, Wallet, Keys, and Phone song,” he says.
Kim, Penn's wife and business partner, is proud of how far her husband has come.
“It was hard until we figured out how to deal with his ADHD. So we went to marriage counseling. We wrote a book about our arguments,” Kim told TODAY. com.
The couple have two children, Laura (17) and Penn Charles (14). According to Kim, she previously held a grudge against Penn because of the emotional burden of raising her child.
“But once he realized what was going on, he made a change. He started working and researching ADHD,” says Kim. “His work to manage his ADHD has improved our marriage.
“ADHD is an explanation, not an excuse,” Kim added. “I want to put this on my pillow.”
Of course, Penn has his occasional gaffes. Recently, Kim sent Penn a text message urging him to pick up her son from school. Penn, who was working in the studio, glanced at the message and went back to editing the video.
“I should have written it down. But I was like, 'Oh.' I got this,''' Penn recalled. “A short time later I got in my car and picked up the wrong child.”
“There were a few words,” Kim says with a laugh. “There were some words.” But Kim quickly realized that she wasn't being too hard on Penn.
“When he's an ADHD idiot, it causes quite a bit of shame. He feels deep shame, and I have to realize that I can't bear to have a picnic with him either. are dealing with anxiety and depression. So we're like soup' of neurodiversity here. ”
Penn said most of their fights stem from Kim feeling like she's not listening to him.
“That's the biggest challenge for me,” Penn reveals. “I'm trying to listen, but my brain just gets pulled in another direction. So I'm going to respond to anything with, 'That's crazy.' And it makes Kim feel like I don't care about her. ”
Now, Kim knows that if she needs her pen's attention, she should close her laptop and put her phone away.
“He looks me straight in the eye and I know he’s listening,” she says.
Kim describes Penn's brain as “beautiful chaos.”
“He's so talented. People are drawn to him. When we walk into a party, he's like a wind-up toy. And every night at dinner, like Tuesday night, he makes it fun.” We find ways to make it interesting,” Kim says.
Penn wants children who have recently been diagnosed to know that they will continue to do great things.
“You're not broken,” Penn says. “If you take the time to learn about your brain, and the people around you take the time to learn how your brain works, you will live a very successful life.” And who knows, maybe you'll live an extraordinary life.”
This article originally appeared on TODAY.com
