Why You Can't Focus: The Stimulation Gap Explained

"Everyone has ADHD now" - no, they don't. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner who prescribes ADHD medication daily, I'm breaking down why this myth is harmful and what actually makes ADHD a real, diagnosable condition.

The truth: if stimulants worked for everyone, we'd still be prescribing them for depression, weight loss, and fatigue like we did in the 1930s-60s. But we don't - because they only work therapeutically for specific conditions like ADHD and narcolepsy.

In this video, I explain the stimulation gap - the difference between what your ADHD brain needs to function and what the environment provides. When that gap is too wide, you get paralysis and shutdown. When it closes (through urgency, novelty, or medication), executive function comes online.

Key Topics:

Why the "everyone has ADHD" argument invalidates real experiences
The stimulation gap concept explained
How medication response confirms diagnosis
Real consequences of undiagnosed ADHD
Why your diagnosis is valid

If your ADHD medication consistently works - you function better, symptoms are managed, quality of life improves - that's your brain telling you something real. Trust that.

📋 FREE Med Tracker: https://mailchi.mp/myfocuspath/focus-...

🎯 ADHD Habit Formation Playlist:    • The Real Science of ADHD Consistency - Res...  

When did you know your diagnosis made sense? Drop a comment.Go ahead and subscribe if you want to receive practical strategies from a Nurse Practitioner that won't sell you short.

My name is Jonathan Murphy, PMHNP-BC. For the past decade I've provided medication management and therapy for adults with ADHD. I also have ADHD myself, but you may have noticed that already.

Traditional ADHD education is incredibly boring, which makes it nearly impossible for people with ADHD to actually learn from it. So I translate what actually works in clinic into YouTube videos that hold your attention.

What you'll find here:

Medication information and optimization strategies
Practical approaches that go beyond medication
Understanding how ADHD overlaps with trauma and autism
Proprietary frameworks (Survival Modality, Reinforcement Matrix, Stimulation Gap)
Patient education for adults who need help and guidance

My clinical work has expanded beyond ADHD to include common comorbidities: autism spectrum disorder, complex PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. I take a holistic, trauma-informed approach because these conditions often overlap.

DISCLAIMER: Educational content only. Not a substitute for professional mental health treatment or individual clinical advice.

📧 Free resources: https://mailchi.mp/myfocuspath/focus-...
📖 Book "Cheat Codes: An ADHD Transformation Guide": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMJLQKBW
📝 Blog: myfocuspath.blog