I'm Jamie Leibert, a professional athlete and filmmaker with ADHD. Extreme sports don't cure ADHD, but they are one of the tools I use to manage mine: high focus and real stakes quiet the noise in my head, and the daily practice behind them is something anyone can use.
My story
My brain never stops. Ten ideas at once, no off switch. I was diagnosed with ADHD as a kid and put on Ritalin. I was expelled from two schools before I was 12. Over the years I've also been diagnosed with PTSD, OCD and depression. Medication was one part of it. What finally gave me a way to manage it every day was adventure.
Why extreme sports quiet the noise
When I stand at the edge of a cliff in a wingsuit, there is room for exactly one thought. Every rope, every line, every breath has to be right. The noise in my head doesn't fit in the jump. For a few minutes I am 100% present, and that feeling stays with me after I land.
What I do every day
I don't jump every day, and you don't need to. The real tool is the daily practice behind it: show up, do the hardest thing in front of you, struggle, suck less, repeat. Adventure is how I train that, and it works for a walk, a climb or a cold swim just as well.
Now I'm learning the opposite
On September 12th I crashed my wingsuit and broke my ankle in three places. A man with ADHD who can't sit still had to learn freediving: one breath, slow, silent. It's the hardest thing I've ever done, and it's teaching my brain something new.
FAQ
Do extreme sports cure ADHD?
No. Nothing "cures" it. Adventure is one tool I use to manage mine, alongside daily habits. Talk to a professional about what's right for you.
Why do people with ADHD love extreme sports?
For many of us, high focus and real stakes quiet the noise in a way daily life doesn't. That's my experience, not medical advice.
Can I use this without jumping off cliffs?
Yes. The framework works with anything that demands your full attention: climbing, swimming, running, breathwork.
Who is Jamie Leibert?
A professional athlete and filmmaker with ADHD, founder of Battling Monsters, the mental health movement run by the 501(c)(3) Just Care More.
More: the Battling Monsters movement and Jamie Leibert's official site.
This page shares personal experience, not medical advice.
Last updated: November 8, 2026