“Think. Pause. Act. But ADHD Brains Miss the Pause”

Phil Anderton - From the frontlines of law enforcement to revolutionizing neurodivergent care Phil Anderton Interview at ADHD Chatter Phil Anderton is not your average ADHD expert. With a PhD in hand and 27 years in the police force under his belt, he's now the founder of ADHD 360—Europe’s largest ADHD clinic—and he's personally assessed over 50,000 people. From the frontlines of law enforcement to revolutionizing neurodivergent care, Phil is unafraid to challenge the system. In this episode, he sits down with Alex Partridge to unpack the emotional ripple effects of ADHD, the criminal justice system’s failures, and why ADHD has nothing to do with naughty boys—or girls. Think childhood trauma, addiction, the power of pause, and how a fruit (yes, a pomegranate) became a metaphor for neurodivergent minds. Phil’s insights are raw, layered, and grounded in thousands of stories. If ADHD has ever felt like a confusing storm of emotion, impulse, and misunderstood brilliance, this conversation just might change your weather forecast. The Lowdown ADHD is not a “naughty boy” disorder—it’s emotional, nuanced, and often misunderstood. Undiagnosed ADHD can result in impulsive choices, addiction, and criminal justice involvement. The real cost isn’t in treating ADHD—it’s in not treating it. Society often punishes ADHD traits instead of accommodating them. Diagnosis and support at any age (even 87!) can be life-changing. “ADHD Is Indiscriminate of Gender. We Just Don't Look.” Forget stereotypes. ADHD doesn’t care about your gender. It’s not about boys being disruptive in class or girls zoning out. If we look for hyperactivity in women or inattentiveness in men—we'll find it. Society just hasn’t been looking. History painted ADHD as a boys' issue, but that’s just what the system decided to see. “It’s not about the split between men and women—it’s about what we’re trained to notice.” – Phil Anderton “The Impact of ADHD Doesn’t Come From Inattention. It Comes From the Emotional Fallout.” It’s the emotional turmoil—not just zoning out—that causes the real damage. Situationally Pissed Off (SPO)? That’s Phil’s term for the lifelong frustration ADHD creates when the world doesn’t fit. Kids start internalizing failure early—missing questions in class, turning in the wrong homework, always being ‘wrong.’ That builds into chronic stress and anxiety. “If your emotional fuel tank’s been empty since you were six, eventually you explode—or implode.” – Phil Anderton “You Can’t Punish the Trauma Out of Someone” What if trauma isn’t causing ADHD symptoms, but ADHD is causing trauma? A lifetime of being misunderstood can etch itself into your psyche. And then society punishes the fallout instead of seeing the source. Sending someone to prison for impulsivity without assessing their ADHD? That’s just fueling the cycle. “Most parole violations are for missed appointments—classic ADHD behavior. Not new crimes.” – Phil Anderton “Self-Medication is Faster Than NHS Waitlists” Cocaine. Weed. Booze. Nicotine. People with ADHD aren’t partying—they’re surviving. The drug slows their brain down enough to focus. But if they can’t access treatment, what’s easier: waiting three months for meds or buying instant relief? Classic treatment models fail ADHDers by demanding they be clean before getting help. That’s backwards. “You’re not choosing the drug. You’re choosing to function.” – Phil Anderton “Rejection Feels Like a Knife to the Soul—and Then You React” RSD (Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria) makes criticism feel like betrayal. One snide comment, one perceived diss—and it’s game over. The result? Rage, withdrawal, self-sabotage. Or all three. Schools and parents need to stop fueling that fire with detentions and pressure. “If a kid walks in emotionally exhausted from masking at school, the last thing they need is ‘Do your homework now.’” – Phil Anderton “Think. Pause. Act. But ADHD Brains Miss the Pause” That hyperfocus? It’s not just a superpower—it’s a landmine. Whether it's buying a domain at 3AM or yelling at a loved one, acting without pause can wreck careers, bank accounts, and relationships. Phil's solution: Build the pause into your environment. Use tools. Ask for help. Don’t try to fix it solo. “Life loses when impulsivity wins.” – Phil Anderton “ADHD Isn’t About Balance. It’s About Purpose” Do ADHDers need balance? Not necessarily. Entrepreneurs, inventors, artists—they often tip  the balance. What they need is understanding, happiness, and room to operate in their own way. “Balance is overrated. Let’s focus on creating happy imbalance that works.” – Phil Anderton What’s Next? Q: What needs to change in 10 years? Phil:  Join the dots—wrap education, justice, health, and work around the individual. Understand them. Let people carry a “passport” that explains their needs, not hide behind a diagnosis. Q: Is ADHD being taken seriously enough by health systems? Phil:  No. The myth that it’s expensive to treat is BS. The real cost is ignoring it. We’ve proven that. Q: Final message to parents? Phil:  It’s not about your kid failing. It’s about the system failing to understand them. Quickfire ADHD myth you want to kill? That it only affects naughty boys. That it’s untreatable. That it goes away. One phrase that defines your mission? “Get people the help they deserve.” What item represents ADHD to you? A pomegranate. Complex, misunderstood, but packed with value—if you look inside.