Is ADHD a Fictional Disease?

[TSD]

Lord, I am thinking you don't have kids.



TSD, as you feel you have all the symptoms, yet do not suffer adversly. You obviously would not be diagnosed with ADD as by your admission are unaffected by it.



Look at those syptoms again and think about the scales of things. Have "some" lack of focus(possibly in your case),is much different from a "great" lack of focus. It is all relative my friend. My daughter suffers absolutely from this. Not only is schoolwork dificult she also has to carry the social stigma and the burden of the ignorance of others.



That is a lot for a little girl to deal with.

Who said I wasnt adversely affected? Just because im not a homeless vagrant doesnt mean I dont cause myself un-needed stress do to the way I am. I was a shitty student as a child, but my parents took the "i'll give you a consequence by whooping your ass" approach, instead of the lets take to a headshrinker and see what might be bothering our special boy. Its amazing what you can do with the proper motivation. My motivation now is simply, I'll be a beggar on the street if i dont get shit done when it needs to be. Its a goddamn chore to motivate myself to do anything I dont want to do, from taking the garbage out (speaking of which i have 3 bags of garbage in my kitchen) to doing work for, work.



So suffering adversely is a relative term, just because I manage, doesnt mean there is no shortcoming. Its determining whether that is or is not ADD?



Now to the million dollar question....



Are the symptoms ADD OR the inability to cope with them ADD?



Even that is completely indiscernible for SURE by a doctor, you have to take someones word for it.

 

[howcho]

I am thinking that you said it right here



" I manage to function in society without feeling like i am handicapped in some way"



Look, I have no intention of getting into a pissing contest with you. I am much the same and have a lot of the symptoms as well and like you I have learned to cope. But given new advances in medicine, diagnosis and treatment, I gather that you still suggest the belt is the correct form of treatment?



Mental health is such a stigma in our society. Most often those affected have an imbalance of chemicals in their brain, yet so many people suggest they just are weak willed and should get over it. My father-in-law has cancer, no one tells him to get over it, yet my daughter just needs more disciplin???



Ignorance is the most difficult hurdle.

 

[Shantz My Pants]

I was diagnosed in 3rd grade as having ADHD. My mother took me off the medication about a year later saying that she didn't believe I truly had it. I really haven't had any prob

 

[TSD]

I am thinking that you said it right here



" I manage to function in society without feeling like i am handicapped in some way"



Look, I have no intention of getting into a pissing contest with you. I am much the same and have a lot of the symptoms as well and like you I have learned to cope. But given new advances in medicine, diagnosis and treatment, I gather that you still suggest the belt is the correct form of treatment?



Mental health is such a stigma in our society. Most often those affected have an imbalance of chemicals in their brain, yet so many people suggest they just are weak willed and should get over it. My father-in-law has cancer, no one tells him to get over it, yet my daughter just needs more disciplin???



Ignorance is the most difficult hurdle.

Im not claiming to know the answer. As I said, I am sure some people actually have a problem that they cannot deal with without proper treatment. I am merely saying it has to be over diagnosed if the only thing they have to go on is a set of symptoms I think most people can say they at least have some of. which is why I say what is ADD the inability to cope or the symptoms themselves? The problem is especially in childhood, I think the initial reaction of a child is simply to give in to those inclinations. I think just due to the nature of our world today, where once parents would tan a kids hide for not doing their homework, being loopy in class, shrugging of chores etc. now parents take them to the doctor to see whats wrong with them.



I am not implying one or the other is the correct course of action, I dont have kids so i dont know what I would do until I was in that situation, the only experience I have with parenting is how I was raised myself.



I just think a better way to diagnose whether someone has an unmanageable problem other than a set of symptoms.



To your last question no I was not implying your daughter is weak willed. What I am implying is that you, me, nor a doctor are able to determine whether that is the case or not. Nothing of what I said has been personally directed at you, I am more or less talking about the situation as a whole.

 

[TSD]

I was diagnosed in 3rd grade as having ADHD. My mother took me off the medication about a year later saying that she didn't believe I truly had it. I really haven't had any prob

This is my point. They have no way of determining an unmanageable problem and a manageable one without drugs.



my only argument in this whole thing is that its over diagnosed, not that there is no such thing as ADHD.

 

[bri]

I am thinking that you said it right here



" I manage to function in society without feeling like i am handicapped in some way"



Look, I have no intention of getting into a pissing contest with you. I am much the same and have a lot of the symptoms as well and like you I have learned to cope. But given new advances in medicine, diagnosis and treatment, I gather that you still suggest the belt is the correct form of treatment?



Mental health is such a stigma in our society. Most often those affected have an imbalance of chemicals in their brain, yet so many people suggest they just are weak willed and should get over it. My father-in-law has cancer, no one tells him to get over it, yet my daughter just needs more disciplin???



Ignorance is the most difficult hurdle.

Does your daughter have difficulty focusing on everything or just certain things? My cousin who is my age was diagnosed with it and he had a really difficult time in school with most subjects. He had problems retaining anything. He still has difficulties in adulthood, but there are certain things he is a wiz at.

 

[LordKOTL]

Exactly TSD. I know ADHD is real since I show all of the symptoms (albeit not debilitaing), yet I seemed to have came out of childhood just fine ("just fine" being incredibly relative). In fact, had I been about 5-6 years younger, I know my stepmonster would have been draging my ass from doctor to doctor trying to find one who would drug me into submission.



Howcho: No, I don't have kids, and like TSD said I don't think the disease is fictional in any way shape or form, and I do think people like your daughter do need help with it. My beef is some parents, who when given the magnitude of their job as a parent, look for the easy way out rather than trying to do their job. They need to save the treatment of ADHD for the kids that really need it and accept that their kid is a ball of energy and needs to get out and play and be noisy (everything a normal kid should be, by the way).

 

[howcho]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I do beleive we are on the same page. I can see that perhaps Adhd can be over diagnosed as TSD says because it is only based on symptoms, symptoms that we all seem to display at some time.



Lord, I appriciate what you are saying but don't be too quick to judge parents. I am not so sure that they are looking for the easy way. I can tell you that my wife is exhausted in her efforts. We are a one income family because of ADD.



Bri, you are correctomondo!! My daughter while having difficulties in math, spelling and writing/printing scores in the top 2% in Canada when it comes to reading and comprehension. Her vocabulary equals that of an adult, she can also use uncommon words in perfect context.



Here is British Columbia, the school district will only recognize one designation. Although my daughter carries both "Gifted" and "Learning Disabled" designations we can only address one, what a pity.

 

[The Count Dante]

This is my point. They have no way of determining an unmanageable problem and a manageable one without drugs.



my only argument in this whole thing is that its over diagnosed, not that there is no such thing as ADHD.

And as one who is diagnosed and takes the head drugs, I completely agree.



And there are always varying levels. I know for me, since me momma was a teacher of physically and mentally handicapped, she knew something was off, but didnt know what. That is when I remember seeing a head shinker/teacher who specialized in ADD, OCD, head stuff like that.



And it should not be implied that without my head drugs I am a cannibal and not functioning in society. I rarely take it when I dont work. And sometimes it is better or worse depending on outside factors.



But if disease is not a good word to label it, cool. Call it whatever ya want, as long as I get my drugs!

 

[LordKOTL]

...Lord, I appriciate what you are saying but don't be too quick to judge parents. I am not so sure that they are looking for the easy way. I can tell you that my wife is exhausted in her efforts. We are a one income family because of ADD. ...

Please forgive me if it seems I'm judging you and your wife, specifically. I'm not. In Highschool (just a shade over 10 years ago), I taught martial arts and you would be surprised at how many parents--supposedly from well-adjusted "good" homes, would talk amongstr themselves within earshot about how their kids "run amok" and were sharing info on which doctors would prescibe drugs for ADHD, and those same parents, when their kids would seem more energetic and enthused about class, focused on class, would apologize profuesly on how they forgot to give their kids their medication. The sad thing is...the probelm as I saw it was gettign worse over time.



And yes, I did have 1 or 2 students back then who had full-blown ADHD (one I thought was a bit autistic), and know that they needed help.



My gripe is on parents like that--that expect kids to not be kids. The type that expects kids to be calm, patient, and quiet. Last I checked kids were suppsed to be full of energy, impatient, loud, and liked to play in situations and scenarios that lacked any form of structure (See Also: Calvinball). True ADHD doesn't fall into that category in the least.



Or maybe I'm just off my rocker here...wouldn't be the first time

 

[howcho]

Na, didn't think you where judging me or my wife. It is all good discussion. Cheers.

 

[mikita's helmet]

Yes!

No!

Maybe?



What were we talking about?

 

[R K]

I wasn't going to respond to this thread but reading some of the posts I thought I'd share our story with you folks.



For what it's worth I think they have a difficult time differentiating from what "they" perceive as ADHD verses being a form of dyslexia, which is far harder to not only diagnose, but to treat.



As parents we all try to do what’s best for our children. 30 years ago special education was a joke. It was a place to conglomerate students that didn't fit into the "norm" society had placed on 99% of the population. That 1% was in some way different from the rest. Not only not diagnosing the actual problem, but now creating a secondary problem of ostracizing that 1% even further.



Then special education graduated to the age of pushing drugs. NO matter the incorrect diagnosis any number of drugs will not only mask the problem, but in many cases make it better or transparent, while at the same time making it worse. Often with drugs unproven in long term effects.



Today it is clear, at least in my opinion, that ADHD does exist but is still too often miss diagnosed. Schools and the medical community are still in the mode of throwing any number of medications at the problem in hope of finding a solution. Instead of actually working to diagnose what the actual problem really is.



We have a child with a proven dyslexic issue (hand writing). In the process of finding that out I learned that we as a whole are often so very quick to agree with judgment from those we perceive to be an expert in the area, that we often underestimate our "own" expertise. Without first sitting back and actually dissecting the issue ourselves, from our interaction with the situation many are just so happy to go with the flow.



My son was first diagnosed by the school with ADHD in first grade. While I completely disagreed on several levels I was NEVER convinced it was ADHD and always thought it was a form of dyslexia. As the school years progressed so did the pressure to have our son medicated. And it was never really from the medical aspect, but more so the school which always pissed me off more. "IF your son isn't doing well with grades, it must be ADHD. It's certainly not our teaching methods".



Some where around the age of 12 our son was diagnosed with a mild form of dyslexia. Something medication NEVER would have solved but yet was always pushed upon us. With a firm NO from the parents, always knowing it was something else.



I guess what I'm saying is always question things in the back of your head. While I do believe there are forms of ADHD, and that some of them can be helped with medication, I do feel there are far more cases OVER DIAGNOSED, just to find a solution rather than the cure. Or the root of the problem. Looking back now both of us could not be prouder as parents that we held our ground, and allowed our Son to learn around and through his disability.

 

[LordKOTL]

See, RK, that's my gripe. Even though your case wasn't the parent's side (more like the school's side), it still has the same problem: "Your kid not behaving like we think they should? Drug 'em."



Not all parents and teachers are like that, but still, I at least know my kids will be the hellions that I was and don't expect them to be well-adjusted, patient, and calm little angels.

 

[R K]

It shows just how proactive you need to be as a parent. It's a tad disturbing that some of these medications pushed in the past couple of decades are now showing to have severe, long term, side effects. I was not willing to "change" my child via medication, when I knew 99% that was not his issue. The more the school pushed it, the more aggravated I became. So much my wife had to calm me down in several meetings. Ironically in our case our pediatrician was behind us for the most part. He did do the tests they requested but did not overly push anything towards me. Knowing most likely I'd slam him right back if he did.



I just want everyone to know the best judge for your Children is YOU. You are the first, last, and initial step for protection. Against people who could really give two shits about your child but rather the situation it places them in.



You had children, be parents. You are their most advantageous advocate!

 

[howcho]

It shows just how proactive you need to be as a parent. It's a tad disturbing that some of these medications pushed in the past couple of decades are now showing to have severe, long term, side effects. I was not willing to "change" my child via medication, when I knew 99% that was not his issue. The more the school pushed it, the more aggravated I became. So much my wife had to calm me down in several meetings. Ironically in our case our pediatrician was behind us for the most part. He did do the tests they requested but did not overly push anything towards me. Knowing most likely I'd slam him right back if he did.



I just want everyone to know the best judge for your Children is YOU. You are the first, last, and initial step for protection. Against people who could really give two shits about your child but rather the situation it places them in.



You had children, be parents. You are their most advantageous advocate!

Holy ****! Rk said something un-asshole like!

or portion of post anyway.

 

[LordKOTL]

It shows just how proactive you need to be as a parent. It's a tad disturbing that some of these medications pushed in the past couple of decades are now showing to have severe, long term, side effects. I was not willing to "change" my child via medication, when I knew 99% that was not his issue. The more the school pushed it, the more aggravated I became. So much my wife had to calm me down in several meetings. Ironically in our case our pediatrician was behind us for the most part. He did do the tests they requested but did not overly push anything towards me. Knowing most likely I'd slam him right back if he did.



I just want everyone to know the best judge for your Children is YOU. You are the first, last, and initial step for protection. Against people who could really give two shits about your child but rather the situation it places them in.



You had children, be parents. You are their most advantageous advocate!

Precicely. Not having kids I'll admit that what little I do know about the actual "art" of parenting is that not only will it be far more intense than I realize and put all of my theories to the test, but that it is something you have to be 100,000% committed to because it's not like it's a job you can quit from. I think that if you're not willing to deal with someone who did all of the things that you did when you were a kid (Driving the car full-tilt throuhg the garage door when you were 2, Telling your dad that you and he should "Beat the Dog-shit out of Santa Claus" when you were almost 2, Helping your younger brother stuff a beach towel down the toilet at 5, Climbing on top of the roof when you were 7 without the aid of a ladder and jumping off into a pile of leaves, and telling your step-mom that "Spandex is a priveledge, not a right" at 10), then you shouldn't become a parent at all.

 

[MassHavoc]

Ohh look a squirrel!

 

[The Count Dante]

Ohh look a squirrel!

Reminds me of one of my favorite jokes:



How many ADD kids does it take to screw in a lightbulb?







LET'S RIDE BIKES!

 

[MassHavoc]

Reminds me of one of my favorite jokes:



How many ADD kids does it take to screw in a lightbulb?







LET'S RIDE BIKES!

HAHA yeah, that's what I was.... hey a rainbow!