ADHA - Real or just an excuse?

[John the Gamer]

He just eats too much sugar. Psychic conditions like ADHD and Autism are real, but not everyone diagnosed as such actually has it. I've got this book with the characteristics of a person with Autism/ADHD/PDD-NOS/etc, but just about everyone has half or more of the points in that list. So everyone would we an Autist or ADHD-hypersmurf. Fuck psychic conditions. Let's all go crazy and be happy about it.

 

[Blitzwarp]

Yes, ADHD exists. But like all other disorders where there are going to be different guidelines for diagnosis in each case, there will be those who take advantage of the disorder in order to act up. And it is these people who then make the disorder a somewhat unbelievable and laughable affair, not those who are genuinely suffering.

OP, was your brother officially diagnosed, or did your mother just do a few Google searches and come up with the solution herself? Because if he was officially diagnosed, there's a good chance he actually has ADHD. Throwing a temper tantrum on the forums doesn't make this any less true. :/

 

[Cowabungaa]

Over-diagnosed? Sure. Real? You bet your ass. It's a recognised brain defect.

I've found that there are almost no real cases of ADD or ADHD (not sure what ADHA is...) in the world. Most of the claims are bullshit, either students choking out an excuse for their laziness or parents looking to excuse their shitty parenting.

Source?

Experience.

I may come off rather strong, but I'm just so fucking fed up with how over-diagnosed these disorders are.

That's your problem bolded right there. No doubt that it's overdiagnosed, but I doubt your experience encompasses the entire world. Experience is usually a really shitty thing to go on, considering the relatively small area we actually live most of our lives in.

Oh noes, I used an exaggeration! So sorry to have offended!

It's not that, it's just that in a discussion it's a silly thing to do.

Now that's out of the way though, I wonder, what kind of experience do you have with it? Seen it in the family, or are you a doctor yourself?

They could have omnipresence, you don't know! You know what makes it even more suspect? Treatments work, and the same treatments give normal kids extra-motivation to do school work and study.

Ahhh yes, the power of the placebo effect. The human psyche is such an interesting thing.

 

[SwagLordYoloson]

I can't even express how much I hate ignorant fucks like you. Please consider fellating a shotgun, both of you.

You sir, are all class.

And the point of being polite to scum-sucking know-nothing shit-for-brains like you is?...

I want to see the end of this, if you reply to the guy above, please quote me, i love watching human engagement.

OT: I have seen some real cases of ADD, but i am sceptical to a few of them, I never really got along with people with ADD, maybe thats a personality flaw on my part or im missing something, or i don't know, i think im trailing now....

 

[Geekmaster]

Being diagnosed with ADHD at the late age of 27, I'm offended by this thread. My meds are sure as hell making a difference.

 

[Nimzar]

ADHD does exist but it is diagnosed FAR TOO OFTEN.

 

[Booze Zombie]

I've met a girl with ADHD, she seemed perfectly normal... then I found out she was taking the max dose of Ritalin.
She then proceeded to ingest sugar without realising it until she had done so and started motor-mouthing.

I think it's real, but as with Asperger's there's probably a lot of self-diagnosed and misdiagnosed patients, as well as some fakers out there.

 

[brumley53]

My mum and I were dropping him and his sister off to school one morning and we got there a little early. My mum got out and pulled her seat forward so my sister could get out. While she got her bag together, my brother tried to barge his way out. My mum stopped him and pushed him back into his seat and told him to wait. He was having no of it and continued to trying pushing his way out. When my sister was ready, she got out, had hugs and kisses from mum and went. As my brother leapt out of the car, my mum grabbed him and told him off. He couldn?t care less and kept kicking and slapping her. When he went, he ran after my sister, grabbed her by the neck with both hands and throttles her, swearing at her as he did. Needless to say, my sister came running back to the car crying.
This is one of many?

That's definetly ADHD and it definetly exists, usually it's hard to control them because their brains work oddly. alot of people self diagnose ADD which is just a shitty excuse for being a lazy sod, ADHD however is hyperactive meaning they dont just get bored they get bored and start acting like an idiot.

 

[CobraX]

My pal has ADD and uses it as an excuse when he gets in shit at School. It's hilarious to think that we're Seniors in High School, yet all he has to do is say "I Have ADD" and any trouble he's in just disappears...

Although yes ADHD is real, although most people who are diagnosed as having it (or ADD) don't actually have it. It's Over-diagnosed

 

[Stasisesque]

I've met a girl with ADHD, she seemed perfectly normal... then I found out she was taking the max dose of Ritalin.
She then proceeded to ingest sugar without realising it until she had done so and started motor-mouthing.

I think it's real, but as with Asperger's there's probably a lot of self-diagnosed and misdiagnosed patients, as well as some fakers out there.

This is another thing that makes people doubt its existence. Sugar causing hyperactivity is widely believed to be a myth in the medical field, there is no evidence to support sugar or any other foodstuff can cause any chemical changes in the brain.

 

[Gethsemani_v1legacy]

ADD and all of its' sub-classifications certainly exist. The point of contention should be whatever or not everyone that has been diagnosed with it really suffers from it. Just like most psychiatric disorders, it is hard to diagnose becuase it relies almost solely on the judgement of the evaluating pscyhiatrist and while there are various forms of brain monitoring possibilities, these are rarely employed.

A big part of the problem here is also that Ritalin is big business for pharmaceutical companies today. It is in their interest that people get the diagnosis of ADHD so that they can keep up their sales of Ritalin and derivative pharmaceuticals. I've been told my some of the psychiatrist at work that they get invited twice a year to "ADHD conferences" where experts talk about ADHD. The catch is of course that these conferences are arranged and funded by pharmaceutical companies.

 

[The Aimless One]

Hmmm......

Being an adult who has ADHD I can tell you: It exists...
It has caused me a lot of problems during the course of my life and still does to this day.

The thing is that "ADHD" is not the same for every person. There are a number of issues that when combined can lead to that diagnosis.

There is an actual chemical inbalance in the brain that can lead to (among other things) ADHD.

Mind you:
I'm not saying it's a disease that should necesarily be treated with medication.
Just that there is a real difference to be found when someone fits the diagnosis

I don't take any medication for it myself, since (based on experience) the active substance in Ritalin is too close to what passes for "Speed" in the streets of my country.
(I have met a lot of people who "Rave the night away" on the same stuff that calms me down.....) :/

So...with a lot of continuous effort I have learned to manage the effects up to a point that I can keep my life on track....but it's hard.
When I compare myself with the people I know there's a clear difference in perception of- and reaction to external stimuli aswell as a host of other stuff.

There's really a lot I could say on this subject but I don't want this post to turn into a rant so I'll leave it at this:

ADHD exists as a phenomenon...though I agree that it seems to be falseley diagnosed way too often.

 

[Gethsemani_v1legacy]

I've met a girl with ADHD, she seemed perfectly normal... then I found out she was taking the max dose of Ritalin.
She then proceeded to ingest sugar without realising it until she had done so and started motor-mouthing.

I think it's real, but as with Asperger's there's probably a lot of self-diagnosed and misdiagnosed patients, as well as some fakers out there.

This is another thing that makes people doubt its existence. Sugar causing hyperactivity is widely believed to be a myth in the medical field, there is no evidence to support sugar or any other foodstuff can cause any chemical changes in the brain.

Sugar can indeed cause "rushes" when ingested in large quantitites, that's not a myth. But it has nothing to do with your brain. What happens is that your body finds itself with a large quantity of quick energy that it can't store, which makes it feel as if you get a "rush". Especially if you've slept badly or haven't eaten properly in several hours. This is basic nutrition knowledge.

 

[Booze Zombie]

This is another thing that makes people doubt its existence. Sugar causing hyperactivity is widely believed to be a myth in the medical field, there is no evidence to support sugar or any other foodstuff can cause any chemical changes in the brain.

Really? I eat sugar, rush and then crash and I can't think straight.
Always seemed like a bit of a change to me, but I could be quite wrong.

 

[Verlander]

Slight change of pacing here, but when does something become "overdiagnosed"? When the doctors have met the quota? When people with mild symptoms are ignored? If the latter, should we apply the same to all medical procedure? Like, deafness, short sightedness, epilepsy, autism etc?

I get fed up with the fact that 50% of people seems to be dyslexic, and I know that some of them use it as an excuse to milk the system, and be lazy. However I also can understand it's a real disorder, and I would take every advantage I could get for it, seeing as I had been born at a medical disadvantage. Grow some thicker skin, and stop whining about other peoples situations that in no way affect you

 

[Stasisesque]

I've met a girl with ADHD, she seemed perfectly normal... then I found out she was taking the max dose of Ritalin.
She then proceeded to ingest sugar without realising it until she had done so and started motor-mouthing.

I think it's real, but as with Asperger's there's probably a lot of self-diagnosed and misdiagnosed patients, as well as some fakers out there.

This is another thing that makes people doubt its existence. Sugar causing hyperactivity is widely believed to be a myth in the medical field, there is no evidence to support sugar or any other foodstuff can cause any chemical changes in the brain.

Sugar can indeed cause "rushes" when ingested in large quantitites, that's not a myth. But it has nothing to do with your brain. What happens is that your body finds itself with a large quantity of quick energy that it can't store, which makes it feel as if you get a "rush". Especially if you've slept badly or haven't eaten properly in several hours. This is basic nutrition knowledge.

This is another thing that makes people doubt its existence. Sugar causing hyperactivity is widely believed to be a myth in the medical field, there is no evidence to support sugar or any other foodstuff can cause any chemical changes in the brain.

Really? I eat sugar, rush and then crash and I can't think straight.
Always seemed like a bit of a change to me, but I could be quite wrong.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/unhealthy-but-the-sugar-rush-effect-is-dismissed-1.897716
http://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a2769.full

 

[Gethsemani_v1legacy]

http://www.heraldscotland.com/unhealthy-but-the-sugar-rush-effect-is-dismissed-1.897716
http://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a2769.full

That's definately interesting, but it seems you and I are adressing different things. You are talking about hyperactivity in children while I am talking about the fact that you can indeed get an energy rush from ingesting sugar while sleep deprived or hungry. They are not the same, but I would agree with you that sugar causing hyperactivity seems pretty bogus.

 

[suitepee7]

So are we psychologists now or something? Just because some dumbfuck on the internet thinks ADHD doesn't exist doesn't mean that's true. And physicians aren't psychologists either, for that matter.

pretty much this. no offence but ADHD is a disorder that isn't lightly made up. psychologists come up with disorders after time and investigation. leave it to the professionals who know what they're doing. we can speculate, but not much more.