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Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

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Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#31

Post by nefitty »

dataflow wrote: post #22
nefitty wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I should have added smiley faces or something because our exchange was pretty cordial. I cracked up when he told me the coding thing. I knew from years of firsthand experience how easily and badly messing with glasses frames can go lol

Oh I didn't mean to say it was impolite. I just meant the logic in his reasoning isn't really sound. If it was only intended in jest then it's a great conversation maker, but I thought it was worth pointing out the issue with the logic given that the ultimate goal was to apply similar logic to the OP's question.

Ah yeah, I get that. I guess the optician's comment just struck me as deep in an abstract sense. It's like he pointed at some truism about specialization in contemporary society. That's completely counter to the extremely-online punk/hacker DIY ethos that resonates with me, so the effect was like getting my spine realigned.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#32

Post by afarrell »

liminvorous wrote: post #17

Disorder basically just means something that causes problems in your life, I don't think we know enough about psychology to have great ideas about how different environments could affect stuff like this. Scott Alexander has an interesting post about the nature of categorising stuff like this in general and ADHD in particular: https://astralcodexten.substack.com/p/ontology-of-psychiatri...

> Among the conditions that were very strongly found to be dimensional only were depression, anxiety, and ADHD.

which makes sense if those are abnormal levels of neuromodulators like serotonin, cortisol, and dopamine.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#33

Post by greggsy »

FridayoLeary wrote: post #4

It's got nothing to do with the web. Put bluntly, it means your brain is wired slightly differently. This isn't a 'bad' thing but it means that you may struggle with things that others find simple. But this can be mitigated greatly with proper counselling. I'm sure you will find there are advantages to having ADHD but it's crucial to understand exactly what it is and how it affects you in many different ways. Also ha…

It has been argued that it’s prevalence has risen in the digital age, with increased (and easy) access to stimulation right in your pocket - it’s difficult to ascertain whether it’s a cause or a symptom though.

The term ‘variable attention stimulation trait’ (VAST) has also been proposed by Hallowel to describe this theory, and may more accurately describe the condition than the term ‘ADHD’.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#34

Post by davzie »

None of these commenters are talking about the positives of this for you. Now that you have a "label", for good or bad, you can start to understand a bit more about yourself, why you tick the way you do and you can build systems to help you more in your life.

You'll also discover that you have innate strengths and creativity that will be way above your peers who do not have ADHD and you should and can harness those strengths and creativity to further your career or passions in life.

Now that you know a bit more about yourself, you have an exciting journey ahead of you to discover your true potential.

I'm not downplaying how hard having ADHD can be with regards to certain aspects of your life, but try not to focus on the negatives that people are posting; you'll have a great road ahead!

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#35

Post by nefitty »

emteycz wrote: post #27
nefitty wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cool. I have a consumer-grade Muse EEG thing. I learned about theta and ADHD links and thought it was probably bullshit. I figured out how to get the raw data with nodejs after years of using their app. The patterns were jaw-dropping. My graphs were all theta. It's like I'm driving my brain around with the handbrake on. It was pretty startling. I dropped that EEG project after a few hours lol I should get back to it…

None based on the EEG itself, I was referred to a psychologist who did a questionnaire with me + attention tests - I was building patterns out of small bricks based on images, repeating numerical series forwards and backwards, listening to a story and talking about it, etc. I got a much more final conclusion (the report says "ADHD confirmed") there and now I'm supposed to go to a psychiatrist with that.

Right on. I hope you quickly find something that helps. Kick some ass.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#36

Post by teamonkey »

Not a consequence of modern life. It's more probable that it's a condition which has always existed but which is particularly badly-suited to modern school and worklife, where attention and directed focus and scheduled productivity are demanded and ADHD-presenting traits are punished.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#37

Post by artdigital »

I want to punch people asking this question. I would pay a lot of money for a cure, but there is none. Medicine makes it a somewhat better, but I still struggle daily with ADHD.

The first step is the diagnosis, the next step is to actually learn how it affects you personally and where on the ADHD spectrum you are. Some people are horrible with concentration, some others have no issue with that but are very emotionally impulsive. Some people lose interest on things extremely quick and jump around hobbies they obsess, some can’t sit still, some are very emotionally sensitive to rejection and and and.

I can also recommend reading /r/ADHD on reddit and listening to talks by Dr.Berkley to understand what ADHD actually entails

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#38

Post by vanderZwan »

DestroyADHD wrote: post #29
dr_dshiv wrote: post #18

As a heuristic, assume that it is never the right question to ask "Is ___ real?" Asking how it is measured, what kind of effect it has, whether the effects are meaningful, how it can be explained, whether there are more appropriate labels, what kind of alternative explanations exist, etc. Asking whether something is "real" fails even when talking about fundamental physical phenomena like gravity, math or consciousnes…

With all due respect, I have done my research on ADHD and still couldn’t come to a conclusion. The opioid crisis was a manufactured crisis by the greedy big pharma, right? Looking at how anyone and everyone is being prescribed stimulant medicines these days, I have my reservations about this disorder

How about looking beyond American borders.

Signed, someone with ADHD in a country without an opioid crisis and who out of necessity manages to live without medication but who definitely benefitted from them when they had them.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#39

Post by InfiniteRand »

One way to think about this is like an extra toe, is an extra toe a problem? Inherently no, but if you want to be able to expose your feet it could be embarrassing and it might cause shoes not to fit. So if it affects your life, yes it could be a problem, and then it might be worth cutting it off.

With disorders of the brain that lack an understood cause I find it useful to think of things in this way.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#40

Post by artdigital »

dmitryminkovsky wrote: post #28
depressionalt wrote: post #16

It is real. I've dealt with it since before the internet was a big thing. Before the web, people used to tell me that books were too much of a distraction. I highly recommend you treat it as an actual disorder because the sooner you address it, the less it will affect important parts of your life, especially your relationships.

Thank you for you answer. What effects does untreated ADHD have on relationships?

Can be different things depending on the person. Some examples could be: Not doing house chores and your part, lack of empathy, not preparing things like trips with your partner, “out of sight out of mind” when they’re not in front of you, emotional impulsivity or overthinking small things into problems
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