ADHD: medical concern or made-up disorder?
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Many critics of the overmedication of our children contend that there is no such thing as ADHD.
Doctors claim that schools convince parents of a need to drug their active child when none really exists.
Weigh in on this controversial topic.
YOUR TURN!
Is ADHD a real condition?
Absolutely, a valid medical concern.
College Students Across America says:
I don't have ADHD, but I really enjoy taking Adderall! Thank you.
This Guy Here says:
ADHD, sure, its a real term. But for what? A chemical imbalance? The brain is a complex machine right? But is there some brain out there that sets the standard for all the rest? We're all different, and our brains are too, some guy might be able to focus well, have no problems socializing, and have a great desk job. The next might be extremely fidgety, hyper, and unable to focus. Does that mean he needs to be medicated? If simply being hyper is a medical condition, then we should have a drug for people that are a bit slow, or for people who laze about, a drug for every personality difference that does fit out cozy little standardized book of normal.
I was diagnosed with ADHD when i was seven, i am now eighteen. I took Ritalin and then Concerta. My body knew this was wrong, and i felt like shit. I didnt feel like myself, sure i could concentrate better, but at what cost? I refused to take any medication a year and a half after we started, i have been clean for five years now, and i feel on top of the world. I dont have the best grades in school, im not the star student, dont have the best job, but i know that i am just me, not someone that has had their "imbalance" fixed by a cocktail of psychotropic drugs that made me feel like a mindless drone, following life from a distance.
Im weird, hyper, strange, call it what you want. I am what i am, and i am sincerely sorry if that doesn't conform to your image of the perfect human being.
Jayme Dias says:
Pisses me off these people saying this is made up!! Really?? How do you know that?? I've had ADHD since I was a little kid, you have no idea how hard it is for me to finish a book or stay on the topic or follow a line of thought, I have absolutely no control over my thoughts! An ADHD brain is actually physically different and that's detectable with a cat scan. You people are just very ignorant, it only "doesn't exist" because you don't have it!
Darryl says:
Makes me laugh, everyone who is commenting don't have ADHD therefore won't know anything about it...
I've got ADHD and i've had it for 10years now! I tell you what if it wasn't for the diagnosis i would be jobless and probally have a criminal record. They diagnosed me early so they could implement appropiate help! So people who have not seen or had this condition should not comment on this matter!
Think Again.... and do some research- I left Sources! says:
I am an eighteen-year-old female, and I have ADHD- and was told right after I graduated High School WITH Honors, and a 3.77 GPA. The last time I got a C on my report card was in THIRD GRADE- and it was a C+. Just because someone has ADHD does NOT mean they are lazy, stupid, or being conned by either the Government or by pharmaceutical companies. Although I have "known" since my younger brother was diagnosed in fourth grade (when I was in 6th grade)- I never was taken seriously when I brought the subject up to my mother because I have always had excellent grades, I am extremely responsible, I am not overly hyper, don't cause much trouble at home, etc. I want people to understand that whether or not you have ADHD--- your life depends on how motivated you are. I am now a second semester College Freshman and attending school at no price because I received the Presidential Scholarship for having such a high GPA, as well as winning the Room & Board Scholarship with an essay. The school I attend costs about 26k to attend each year. Who's stupid now?
OH YEAH-- there are LOTS of people with ADHD who aren't hyper and their type of ADHD is considered the Innatentive type- the innatention caused by issues with their executive funictions being slower than in a normal brain and thus have issues with short term memory. Although- I have the combined type- which includes inattention as well as hyperactivity and impulsive type- although very few see my hyperness, because I have learned over a lifetime that is it "frowned upon"- so I control myself, until I get to my room or another quiet/personal place and I can crank up my music, dance although I truly can't- or be overly competetive in video games, sports, etc.!
ONE MORE THING-- ADHD is new eh? Well, taking a look at my elders, as suggested by a conspiracy lover-- MY GRANDMA has ADHD. So, guess that throws your s*** out. No, she is not being treated for it, but it is highly apparent.
Here is some more evidence of the prior existence of ADHD:
Many critics as well as the public may be surprised to know ADHD has been around for much longer than the last two decades and possibly longer than the last century. Although ADHD has existed before now, it was called by many different names, such as: Morbid Defect of Moral Control, Post-encephalitic Behavior Disorders, Minimal Brain Dysfunction, and Hyperkinetic Reaction (History of ADHD and Attention Deficit Disorder). According to Doctor Amen, ADHD has been described in the medical literature for over 100 years (Amen xvi). ?In 1902, pediatrician George Still described a group of children who were hyperactive, impulsive and inattentive? (Amen xvi). ?Already In 1798 Sir Alexander Crichton described a mental state with all the essential features of the inattentive subtype of ADHD, the restlessness, problems with attention, the early onset and how it can affect the ability to perform in school ? In the chapter of ?Attention? in his book? Crichton described a ?mental restlessness' and: ?The incapacity of attending with a necessary degree of constancy to any one object, almost always arises from an unnatural or morbid sensibility of the nerves, by which means this faculty is incessantly withdrawn from one impression to another' ? (The History of ADHD). The only reason ADHD has had an alarming amount of publicity in the last decade is due to the understanding of ADHD growing exponentially. The U.S. Surgeon General, the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, among others, all recognize ADHD as a valid disorder as printed in June of 2002 (Barkley).
Here are my sources:
Amen, Daniel G. Healing ADD: the Breakthrough Program That Allows You to See and Heal the Six Types of Attention Deficit Disorder. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2001. Print.
Barkley, Russell A. "International Consensus Statement on ADHD." Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review 5.2 (2002). Web. 27 Sept. 2011.
The History of ADHD. Dec. 2009. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. /adhdhistory.com/>.
History of ADHD and Attention Deficit Disorder. Add-adhd-help-center.com. Web. 27 Sept. 2011. /www.add-adhd-help-center.com/newsletters/newsletter_15july03.htm>.
Lauren says:
When I was in my freshman year of high school, my parents sat me down and talked to me about ADHD. My father described the problems he's faced with it, and how he's been able to function better when taking Vyvanse during the week to focus on his job. He suggested that I get diagnosed, seeing as I was "undoubtedly ADHD". Now, at this point, I couldn't do anything but laugh. ADHD is definitely a real disorder, but I agree that it's probably over-diagnosed, especially when people come to conclusions on their own. I finally agreed to meet with a psychologist, thinking that I could shut my parents up with some evidence that I was perfectly fine. Well, after a series of strange tests on which I supposedly performed alright, I was "officially diagnosed". My plan backfired, and my parents promptly tried to convince me to take medication.
I was a stubborn kid, and I still am. This idea of taking medication for something that I didn't feel was much of an issue started to weigh down on me as the semester came to a close. Looking at my grades, which were mostly A's and B's, save for a C in math, I thought I'd done fairly well, but my parents wouldn't give up. My dad kept on with his stories about how Vyvanse "doesn't change your personality" and "would really help". Finally, I agreed to go to the doctor about it.
A couple of weeks later, I had my first 30mg dose of Vyvanse. For the first few weeks of winter break, I felt no different than before, which led the doctors to up my prescription to 60mg daily. I took them every school day, and occasionally on Sundays if I had tests to study for. I could definitely feel the effects, and, though I didn't want to admit it at the time, the medicine actually helped a lot. Doing schoolwork was really the only issue for me, especially in classes I didn't like, and I found it much easier to push myself to get things done around the house on a day when I took my meds. Now, one year later, my grades are always A's and a few very high B's in my advanced classes, and I can definitely tell the difference from last year.
ADHD is definitely a real disorder, but it's also very misunderstood. There are numerous theories about how it's caused, ranging from sugary diets to cracks in the myelin sheaths of neurons, and our understanding of the disorder has grown in the last century. I won't hatefully argue with those who believe otherwise, but I'd like to ask that you at least consider the evidence before drawing conclusions. I also believe that ADHD has a bad reputation as an excuse used to explain someone's disorderly conduct. It is insulting, to put it frankly, when people with ADHD try to use the disorder as a crutch, and it is even more insulting when uninformed teachers automatically assume that the majority of people with ADHD will use it as such. To make matters worse, some parents will even lessen punishments because of their child's "condition". This, I believe, is one reason that ADHD has such a reputation.
One other issue that really gets to me is the abuse of drugs prescribed to people with ADHD. While some teenagers at school are discussing how much Adderall to take after school, I'm still feeling the effects of the drug that I take 5 days out of 7 just to keep my attention in the right place. I am every bit as motivated to do my work, but sometimes I just get distracted. It's not that I don't want to focus, which is a common misconception of ADHD.
I expect a lot out of myself, and ADHD doesn't change that. I know of people who go overboard and claim that, because of their ADHD, they're actually much smarter than the average person. While this may have some truth to it in some cases, it doesn't make their reputations any better when they go around saying things like that. We should all learn to deal with what we've been given, and there's really no reason to go overboard.
Glad I could provide an opinion. Now it's time to get back to my math homework, which I've been putting off...
Taylor says:
I have ADHD, and it's unbelievably hard to focus, even if you try hard.
Josh says:
Oh and Smarterthanu you can kiss my sweet white ass cause you have no idea what you are talking about and your silly excuse for what you call a legitimate argument is actually a reflection of your sad views on the medical industries; Not if ADD/ADHD is real or not.
Josh says:
First off, i have ADHD, Not because i was duped into believing i had it or anything like that for that matter. I was a well-behaved child and never got into any kind of trouble. I was not diagnosed until i was 17. Ever since the third grade i can remember not being normal like all of the other kids. I was more thought out and more "mature" as some would say. The only problem that i had when i was young was not being able to concentrate on the teacher when ever she was saying anything because of the background noise drawing my attention away from what i needed to actually pay attention to. I have always been accident prone because either i put my full concentration into one thing or into multiple things at once. For instance, i would be driving a four wheeler and pay attention to the grass and boom hit a tree or hear some birds and look at the birds and hit a ditch. Either i would be doing multiple things at once and never finish any of the tasks i started or focus on one task and never do the other tasks because i wouldn't even think about the other priorities that needed to be accomplished. Having this disorder stopped me from getting a license when i hit 16 because i was afraid of getting into a crash from lack of attention. What i believe is that ADD/ADHD is just over Diagnosed and people that don't have it wouldn't understand unless they have it. Its like asking a Penguin how flying is when it hasn't flown in its entire life. So i ask all: Dont make the assumption that ADD/ADHD is just made up for the medical field to make more money, for some people it will ruin your well being and ultimately your life and for people that try to get diagnosed just to get the medicine, Get a life.
Sadie says:
ADD/ADHD is real. It doesn't HAVE to mean that someone runs around like crazy. It also has to do with the problem of not being able to stop the talking in your head. Call it crazy, I don't care but it's hard to focus. You can't stop thinking and you get easily distracted. A pill probably wont solve it, not all types NEED a pill. It just needs time. Focusing is a major problem. No matter how hard you try you just get distracted and it is VERY frusterating. It has to do with the brain. Look it up. ADD/ADHD is real but alot of people confuse it with being "too hyper". Yes, you CAN be hyper, but then there's the impulsive and Adult A.D.D. Just imagine. Trying to focus but then the LITTLIST thing can change that, It is VERY complicated. I have A.A,D,D, ( Adult attention deficit disorder. ) I don't need medication to fix it, I just need very detailed explaining and something to interest me so I can focus. Don't believe me? Fine, that's your choice. It shouldn't be that hard to tell who's faking and telling the truth.
http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/adhd-symptoms
Rob says:
ADHD has been a long time medical condition.
Pediatric Urgent Care NYC
JM says:
I think a lot of people have no clue...there is more to ADHD than just being a naughty hyperactive child or coming from a difficult family background of permissive parents. I believe that many children are falsely diagnosed. Not every naughty kid has ADHD, I agree with this. But ADHD doesn't stop - you will still have it as an adult and that's when you actually learn more about this syndrome and what it causes.Let me tell you, you have no clue until you got it. It messes up your whole life. Think about how you felt in your most unrelaxed and nervous moment (maybe before a test) That's how I feel every second of my life. Read a book about it if you really want to know. I took medication for 1 month and I didn't like it so I stopped. The pharma industry definitely doesn't benefit from me.Mental health issues are never really being taken seriously from people who don't have it. I know people who think that depression doesn't exist. Oh how I wish those people will get one once in their life. I can't say much more - you don't know how I feel and what I went through. Yes, I had a difficult childhood and maybe it was triggered by it - I don't know and researchers still don't really know what the cause is. But whatever it was, the symptoms are there and I can't turn back time. People should become more tolerant and recognize illnesses that are not visible. Do legs have to fall off before anyone understands the seriousness of an illness? Not every illness is visible and nobody who has not been through it will understand. So please stop being such a smart ass and shut up if you haven't got a clue. To the guy who got wrongly diagnosed: Just because you don't have it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. People just think it's to do with hyperactivity. But it hasn't - so please think before you hurt!
Q says:
Sometimes a child can't explain everything. Sometimes a parent doesn't understand. I am an adult. I don't think ADHD is one thing. All of them are bad. People don't like you and you screw up everything. A lot of your life is lived like you are living in a fog. Sometime you do things without thinking. You don't want to but you do. People think that you don't care but you care very much. Other people can do things that you can't do. You ask for help and doctors tell you, don't worry. You have to wait until your whole life is screwed up before anyone will believe you. Then you have to take risky medication that could kill you but you just want relief and are willing to take it to try. Why would people think that someone would risk their life to take medication that they didn't need, especially when the medicine helps but doesn't fix everything. Some of the names I've heard are turkey, dud, blank, clown, sucker, jitterbug, and stupid. People treat you like the names they call you. Little things bother you. Little noises distract you so you can't study even if no one is in the house. Little things trigger you so you get into arguements every day. You alway get left out. Much of what you do is to get people to like you; even when those things are risky and result in pain for you. I you are living in this misery or your child is living in this misery, do something about it. If no one will help you, demand it. If your child needs help, demand it. Don't let someone tell you something doesn't exist when you know it does.
Erika says:
I notice how the only people saying that ADD/ADHD isn't real are those who have had no experience with it. How can you sit there and say that what these people are feeling, thinking, and dealing with isn't real?
Sophia says:
Growing up in a family with high expectations, who does not believe in it, tough when yes it exists. I always knew I was bright, just slow. My mind just works differently and school are not made for people with ADD - why not? Anyhow, I never ever ever took a med or drug but dealt with an increasingly heavy work load without help on my own, and cuz I could not let school suffer, I let social suffer, and to this day, I am 25 now, have no friends simply because to keep up with the world I have to work 24/7. Not normal. I got diagnosed finally this week and took my first med yesterday. Guess what, it worked, and trust me I am a skeptic, and I did try everything natural first, aromatherapy to diet to making lists, and forcing myself to just work harder, oh and I just almost keep up with other even then. So yeah, just like colds are real, so is this.
GRIFF says:
If it helps people out then why not. Fuck all you Jackass ignorant suns o bitches who say its not real. you guys can all fuck yourselves. seriously. i feel strongly about this issue. if you guys had it you would be on my side to. but obviously you don't because you just think it can be cured by diet. yeah ill admit it helps, but there is a lot more behind it. there is no way of knowing until you actually have it so you guys who think its a hoax can all fuck off! If it helps someone do something they couldnt otherwise, so be it, its helping our country out by allowing us to make contributions to society. WHY NOT?? seriously worry about your damn selves and stop sticking your noses into something that you dont understand. You guys are all just ignorant pieces of shit!
Amilia Steffan says:
I personally have add, and i know for a fact it isn't some made up condition like a obviously wrong neurosurgeon, or a stupid person that doens't know exactly what it is and you KNOW when you have it. some people think they might, which is how it so often gets misdiagnosed, and lead us to where we are today in this discussion. It is very much a real condition otherwise there wouldn't be 5 different medications for it. People are so freaking ignorants. stop worrying about it, if it doesn't personally effect you, why even bother, because you have absolutly no clue.
Florence Nightengale says:
Since psychiatry is still in the dark ages, it is premature for even the "Piled High & Deep" (Dr Dan, PHD) to make such a comment. The brain is an organ that we must treat without being able to look at it most times. I am not sure what sort of Dr you are, but if you treat human beings, just wondering if you treat depression with a pat on the back and advice to just "cheer up". Here's hopin' you work for Glass Doctor you imbecile
KarateKatGraphics says:
Yes, very real. But unfortunately kids who really have different issues are sometimes misdiagnosed with ADHD. For instance, chronic poor or inadequate sleep can look exactly like ADHD. Anxiety can also cause problems with attention and focus. Careful diagnosis is important. But yes--we deal with it in our family, and it absolutely is a real health issue, just like asthma or diabetes, that requires special care and management.
*ME* says:
There are many people that are "creatively wired". That is my personally minted term. :p Anyway, I suffered through it (and still do) all through my school days, and never got any higher education other than high school because of it. I could sit there and read a word problem in say, math... then after reading the 2 lines or so, not remember a darned word. Would have to re-read it. Again... again... and still nothing. (and I EXCEL at reading... straight A's and was reading Judy Blume books since I was 6!) I could have someone tell me to do a couple things at work... and it would be repeated when I asked "huh"??? And I still did not understand a WORD... could see their lips move, but my mind was soooo stressing over something else, that it could not accept any new info.) In stressful or distractful situations, my mind will run like a crashed computer. You can see the little hourglass and know it's REALLY working... but nothing you WANT it to do... is being done. YET... if you are really INTO something, it works for your benefit, since your mind will seek out (sometimes all day LONG) details in every way shape or form... regardless of what your mind SHOULD be doing otherwise. My daughter is medicated (I am still not) and only because of her grades. She had failing reportcards and would have FAILED. We had her start on her med's and the next day, her teacher (not knowing) had personally called to congratulate her on her awesome day. She had not disrupted the class with her fidgeting, and was paying attention finished her work... etc. When she ran out for a while, we tried to see what would happen. Her very next report card was mostly F's. All but 2 that were D's. Back on her med's, and her following report card was a C, three B's and a couple A's. My other two kids don't have ADD, or ADHD. I will concede, that there are SO many ways a mind can work other than what's considered "normal", so it is hard to label mental wiring issues...
Whatever, discipline would "fix" it.
Diagnosed with Aspergers 21 years ago, and functioning just fine in society says:
It is... but it is overdiagnosed. Just like everyone's kids are autistic/asperger... like how everyone is suddenly allergic to gluten... etc.
The add/adhd is more often than not an excuse for poor parenting.
Doctors are quick to diagnose it, because the drug companies will give kickbacks for prescribing the completely unnecessary drugs to treat those poor kids who are labeled with some "disorder".
Parents are clueless and/or just want some sort of justification for their lack of parenting skill.
Like the overwhelming majority of society, nobody wants to take responsiblity for their own actions (or lack thereof).
Yes, there are valid cases of autism/aspergers. It is a very real condition... but drugs are not the answer.
There are plenty of simple, cognitive awareness techiques that are far more effective at combating this.
...unless you're one of those parents who just want to justify your kid's awful behavior and STILL not take an active and supportive role in their lives. Really... why do people like that have children to begin with?
This Guy Here says:
(Wrong bubble, problem has been rectified.)
ADHD, sure, its a real term. But for what? A chemical imbalance? The brain is a complex machine right? But is there some brain out there that sets the standard for all the rest? We're all different, and our brains are too, some guy might be able to focus well, have no problems socializing, and have a great desk job. The next might be extremely fidgety, hyper, and unable to focus. Does that mean he needs to be medicated? If simply being hyper is a medical condition, then we should have a drug for people that are a bit slow, or for people who laze about, a drug for every personality difference that does fit out cozy little standardized book of normal.
I was diagnosed with ADHD when i was seven, i am now eighteen. I took Ritalin and then Concerta. My body knew this was wrong, and i felt like shit. I didnt feel like myself, sure i could concentrate better, but at what cost? I refused to take any medication a year and a half after we started, i have been clean for five years now, and i feel on top of the world. I dont have the best grades in school, im not the star student, dont have the best job, but i know that i am just me, not someone that has had their "imbalance" fixed by a cocktail of psychotropic drugs that made me feel like a mindless drone, following life from a distance.
Im weird, hyper, strange, call it what you want. I am what i am, and i am sincerely sorry if that doesn't conform to your image of the perfect human being.
Mark says:
It would make me more comfortable taking the side that it wasn't a disorder if the word fix wasn't it quotations. That is subliminally suggesting that its laughable to be able to "fix" this alleged disorder already and it seems that the host is already biased. In saying that If i wanted to I am one hundred percent positive that i could get diagnosed with adhd no problem. Yet i challenge you to look at it inversely. Not to look for the disorder but to ask is the medication NECESSARY to maintain a "normal" life. If you notice the quotes around normal it is because who defines someone as normal or not. I believe that we are all individuals some can jump higher or dance better or read faster then others. The slower readers or people with worse coordination than others don't say they have leg or eye disorders because they can't quite achieve what others do in specified areas. People openly admit that they can suppress there hyperness because it.s frowned upon so if you yourself can control it is it a disorder? There are people that get road rage but some how the majority of the people can control themselves from ramming the other car off the road because it's "frowned upon" I say that ADHD it is a behavioral characteristic trait that is just in some people just like anger, honesty, selflessness and selfishness. Because some people display a trait more predominately then other can hardly classify it as a disorder. Lifes a bitch and then you die. Get over trying to conform to a convoluted definition of normal life and enjoy your individualism. If you are hellbent on trying to classify it as a disorder then you must classify all behavioral un-norms as disorders. For instance Abe Lincoln obviously had an honesty disorder and JFK for sure had a congeniality disorder. You may think i'm going a little to far but there are to sides to every coin. If you believe in God you have to believe in the Devil. If you think people with lower then average attention span have a disorder then someone who has a higher the average attention span must be what then superhuman or some sort of demigod for sure they aren't normal. Just food for thought.
Dad says:
You say you have had it for 10 years where did u catch it from?
Rob says:
NO!
Dan says:
LMAO....ADD/ADHD.. yeah we all have that....life is never easy...Prescribing speed (amphetamine HCL) aka adderall, ritalin is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. No wonder these people grow up with sleep disorders, eating disorders, mental deterioration... Use of speed will just make it all worse..even if you are healthy....everyone needs a crutch in america to know why they arent as successfull as somone else. I mean historically this "disorder" never exsited..Why? cuz Pharm companies spend way more $ on advertising to make people think they need meds to concentrate...grow up life is never easy to concentrate. Take a look at the diagnostic criteria here...everyone can say that sometimes they meet these..
http://web4health.info/it/adhd-diagn-dsm.htm
Christian Finch says:
The problem with 'ADHD' is that children who are diagnosed with it consistently have their behaviour justified and re-enforced, told that they cannot focus because of their ADHD so they literally become a product of that rhetoric, its simple psycology, its a scam! If you think you have ADHD they you are being scammed!! plain and simple
Christian Finch says:
At best ADHD and similar 'disorders' are made up conditions, at worst they are an easy answer being peddled to medicate our children with harmful drugs. The frightening thing is because this ludicrousy has not been utterly rejected, parents are finding themselves faced with a 'Give yourchild the drugs or we will do it for you' situation. This is TYRANNY in its worst form. Children act up... thats what they do... they're children. Good boundrys and discipline are all that is needed.
Jenni says:
I have the most useful symptom of ADHD: Hyperfocus. Why anyone would label this a "symptom" of a "disorder" is beyond me. I have absolutely no trouble concentrating on practically anything except, perhaps, watching paint dry. I think the only difference between me and ADHD sufferers is that I have disciplined myself, with years of patient practice, into focusing on elements in my life that need attention, not the (metaphorical) flies buzzing around my head. Exceptional attention abilities are a gift, not a disorder--know your capabilities, and make them work for you.The only other option is lazy thinking--which I see plenty of, but that doesn't excuse it!
wayne says:
when i was a kid parents whipped your but for misbehaving and adha was never heard of, is this an excuse for parents not to whip their kids or what
MJ says:
I have watched a child behave like a brat, I blame the mother and father, once upon a time I would of believed that the kid was ADHD. Then I met him at his Grandparents, without the over protective mother and the daydream father. Child was well behaved well mannered. People sometimes look excuses. I have met a child with ASD/ADHD and its real alright he was faster than the road runner. Some people need to get control of there kid stop looking for excuses to how you cant control your kids.
Pete Willis says:
I was in a car with a friend and her 8 year old son punched her in the face (he has the so called adhd). What did she do ? ... nothing !
Had I puched my mum in the face at 8 I wouldnt be here to tell this story, therfore I never did ! ... end of.
Liz says:
ADHD is just an excuse that doctors have to shove medicine down the throats of kids and milk money outta parents. Pop the kid on the ass a few times, take away the toys, exert your authority as a parent. Tell your kid this is how it's going to be, and enforce it! Don't just shove a pill down your kid's throat and call it good. Kids don't pay attention, duh, that's a given. They're KIDS! And of course kids are hyper! That's NORMAL! Stop drugging your kids, show real discipline, stop being a fucking moron and be a parent! Can't handle kids? Get fixed, put them up for adoption and move on with your life!
Kim says:
I have worked as a teacher for over 15 years, and when I began teaching there wasn't much talk of ADHD children. There were disruptive children, but there was also discipline in the schools.Then we had society changes and level lowering of the school system, and suddenly we have at least 4 in each class.
When we were allowed to discipline children, (I refer to time out, and staying in during recess, after school or getting parents in to talk to parents), the behaviour of the "Disruptive" child stopped. There were of course exceptions, generally these children came from families who had no interest in their child's school life or behaviour.
I have spoken to many of my children over the years, as well as observed. The comment that is all too frequent with the children is "I'm bored!" They want things to do, stimulation.
As a "test" myself and many of my colleagues did two "ADHD" checks online, (One from the US and the other from the UK.). We understand this is not entirely conclusive, but nearly all of us came out as having some form of ADHD. If you look at a teacher's lifestyle we are jumping from one thing to another, (teacher meetings, lesson planning, parent meetings, and this is before you take what we have to work with at home).Does this make me ADHD? Of Course not?
We need to get a grip on this before the damage is unrepairable.
smarterthanu says:
u people are all stupid... ive done more research on it than all of u idiots. there is no such thing as adhd, or whatever u want to call "your disorder" yeah i was diagnosed with adhd as a kid. u people should realize that everything you are diagnosed with is because pharmeceutical companies come up with disorders and diseases with the help of "health proffessionals" who are in my opionion a bunch of money hungry hacks. the reason why u are all idiots is because this country is run by money and whoever has the most of it can come up with whatever disease or disease.... as long as there is some sort of evidence to prove a theory. lmao for example if somebody sneezes too much some pharmeceutical company will find a way to diagnose it as a problem. they will make a drug to TREAT AND NOT CURE the problem and then they will call it a disease or disorder. now the drug will treat you chronic sneezing condition and you will make th drug companies rich... its fucking hillarious how apperently 8-10 perent of kids not including adults have adhd. hell u idiots are making drug companies billions of fucking dollars. i love to listen to your stories about how life is so fucking hard living with adhd and whatever else you have. for some of u its the drugs that fuck you up and ur going to be on them for the rest of your life. and for those that just recently were diagnosed and on the meds u have. i hope u feel good about what u have to rely on now because ur taking the easy way out. i lived a perfectly good life and i was also diagnosed with adhd sure i had a tough as time getting through life but i never had no disorder that stopped me from accomplishing anything i was a crazy little kid too i picked fights i could never sit still and i go in touble and my grades sucked going through school. by tenth grade i was maturing and never got in trouble and my grades were getting better. why dont u understand that it takes 21 years for the brain to fully develope and for some maybe even more. thats why ur all a bunch of retards. id prove more too but why dont u all do a little research on what adhd really looks like in the brain how and what it effects and how it was discovered. then why dont u look at ur grandparents or ur elders and howcome u dont see it in them. if ur still now convinced why dont u look at all the money the drug companies are making and why there are no CURES only treatment to alleviate symptooms. it is because there is no disease and the drug companies want to make some easy money... well thats great u gave em billions of dollars for no reason... haha cocksuckers
fifi123 says:
we are not saying that what they are thinking and feeling isnt real we are saying its not a medical disorder, its not adhd!
Evan says:
Today many people are diagnosed as ADD/ADHD and many may be diagnosed incorrectly but to say that everyone diagnosed with ADD/ADHD is simply the cause of drug addicted, non-working, "scum" parents living in poor neighborhoods is very much a logical fallacy. Some of the hardest working, loving, and NON-addicted parents I know have children with this diagnosis. While a poor living environment may very well contribute to delayed mental growth, there are other factors to take into consideration.
I do not believe that the popular diagnosis of ADD/ADHD is right and do not condone it. It seems to be that it has become a new, easy, and quick way to diagnose people who have a problem focusing so doctors can just move on to the next diagnosis. Here is a great story on what I believe we would view as a typical ADD/ADHD diagnosis in today's society.
Sir Ken Robinson once spoke at a convention called TED on creativity in schools. He made a reference to a young girl who had a problem focusing in school and was sent to see a doctor. (Note that ADD/ADHD was not an available condition at the time.) The doctor noticed that when he turned on his radio the girl began to immediately tap her feet to the beat of the music. Curious, the doctor asked the child's mother to step outside of office with him, turning up the radio as he left. Once the door had shut the doctor and mother watched the girl through a window and the girl got out of her chair and started dancing. The doctor looked to the mother and said "See there is nothing wrong with your child, she is just a dancer." The mother enlisted her daughter into a performing art school. The girl went on to perform in the Royal Ballet and is now a multi-millionaire running her own dance schools.
This is a true story, and goes to show that diagnosing every person that has a little trouble focusing with ADD/ADHD and throwing them on Adderall is definitely not the answer to this "epidemic" per se.
fifi123 says:
you only have experience of it because someone labelled your anti social behaviour as ADHD, otherwise youd be non the wiser
Truth hurts: says:
I work alongside this type of fake diagnosis on a regular basis. Your notice I said work. This is a word not normally said in the household of brats that have this fake illness. Usually the word work is difficult to say without the sentence starting with, I can't work because... The kids are from scummy council houses which bring down the whole estate. The scum parents can't be bothered to look after there kids and let them do what ever they want as long as the parent can get a quiet life and stick to there chemical dependencies. Inevetebly, the kid starts getting into more and more trouble and eventually is diagnosed with this crappy illness. Funny how kids from middle class families don't have this problem. Funny how kids with working parents don't have this problem. You can drive round any estate and spot the house with ADHD kids, the christmas decorations are up all year, old furniture and a rotting fridge can be seen in the front overgrown garden. The house will stink of vomit and everyone chain smokes infriny of there 60 inch plasma tv. If they haven't been on Jeremy Kyle already, you can bet your arse they watch it. Stop making excuses for bad parenting, stop taking the free handouts, get a job, get a life and discipline your unruly kids.
Randy says:
I can say it isn't real. It was a term made up by the field of psychiatry - they have TONS of made up disorders. I was a very hyperactive child, and there are many. There is no scientific evidence to validate that this exists as a disorder, malady, disease or otherwise. Any data used to validate it, such as "chemical imbalance" are absurd. This is and has been the number one excuse for drugging this nation's children and young adults. It's a huge boon for psychiatry and the drug companies, and a huge loss for our children. It isn't real, and it consumes new drug-takers everyday. You have to have a biological cause and subsequently determine the effect, then determine if it's due to nature or nurture. This made up disorder has none of it. Lots of people feel better because of their "meds". LSD was invented by the same people who made this one up, and trust me - LSD makes you feel good. But,like any other drug it can cause suicide, depression and a host of other side effects. I watched a close friend with this alleged disorder take Adderall, which is nothing more than speed. It made her mindless. I watched a teacher try to drug a 6 year old because she didn't know how to handle a perfectly normal child. Luckily, she didn't get away with it. All you guys responding positively have been successfully assimilated. You are psychiatric Borg.
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ADHD Treatment Guidelines
This policy statement from the AAP offers standari more...0 points
NIMH · ADHD · Complete Publication
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Medem: Medical Library: ADHD — Establishing a Treatment Plan
Medem Medical Library article0 points
ADHD Treatment | ADD ADHD Information Library
Here is a list of the treatment options for attent more...0 points
Is ADD/ADHD Real?
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ADHD Diagnostic Criteria
ADHD Symptoms ADHD Diagnosis - Diagnostic Criteria more...0 points
Getting Help for Children with ADD / ADHD: A guide to diagnosis and treatment
Describes how a diagnosis for ADD / ADHD is made, more...0 points
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADD-ADHD
Learn more about ADD/ADHD. What is it? What are th more...0 points
ADHD Diagnosis (Diagnosing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children and adults) from MedicineNet.com
Diagnosis of ADHD- learn symptoms of ADHD0 points
ADHD/ADD treatment Treat ADHD Naturally
ADHD/ADD treatment Treat ADHD Naturally0 points
Low-Risk Interventions for Attention Deficit Disorder
Our family has way too much experience with attent more...0 points
All About ADHD
All About ADHD is a blog about info on adhd, such more...0 points
Fish Oils and ADHD - A Natural Cure for ADHD?
Are fish oils more effective than Ritalin? See the more...0 points
Dig News » A day in the life of ADHD » Natural Adhd remedies using HET alternative therapies
Natural ADHD therapies with HET which is a therape more...0 points
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ADHD and Education
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ADD/ADHD: A "Fake" Diagnosis?
Is ADD/ADHD a 'fake' diagnosis, since it doesn't e more...0 points
An end to the Fake ADD/ADHD at Quackery or Cure Debate Forum
An end to the Fake ADD/ADHD at Quackery or Cure De more...0 points
The Gift of ADHD
Studies suggest that many of the traits kids with more...0 points
Is ADHD a Real Disease? - My Kids Deserve Better
The vast majority of Ritalin and Adderall is given more...0 points
Myth of ADD
This page provides general background information more...0 points
My three cents.
Never thought I'd be one to "drug" my kid, but if it means that he gets the grades that he deserves and a better chance to go to college, helps prevent severe depression and debilitating anxiety that result from his symptoms if not treated, and as a bonus relieves a great stressor on the entire family, it's worth it.
I would recommend to anyone to try alternative remedies first. Changes in diet, exercise, routines, anything. I know that some look to drugs as a quick fix for a smart, active, bored child -- that too many parents demand it, and too many doctors are willing to prescribe it, or face losing patients. But I absolutely believe that in my case and many like mine, it is the right thing to help my child reach adulthood with the best start he can achieve.
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