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Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

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Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#61

Post by DestroyADHD »

vanderZwan wrote: post #38
DestroyADHD wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I never denied the existence of ADHD. I am only genuinely curious if it is an actual disorder or a consequence of our modern overstimulated world.

I hope sincere curiosity is permitted. Good luck to you. Hope you are able to find help :)

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#62

Post by nisegami »

nefitty wrote: post #5

I got new glasses a few weeks ago. As I was being fitted, I asked the guy if there were any tools I could buy that would help me adjust my glasses myself. He asked me what I do for a living. "I'm a programmer." "Well, would you want an optician messing with your code?" People that specialize in mental health, psychiatry and brain research have concluded that ADHD is a diagnosable mental disorder. I'm glad they're doi…

>Some lay people think they know better than the medical community and won't hesitate to tell you their unqualified opinion.

The medical community doesn't have a great track record. Things have largely improved where most parts of the body are concerned, but I think psychiatry and psychology are still in their "four humours" phase.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#63

Post by davzie »

gocartStatue wrote: post #50

Some psychiatrists consider it a trait and not a disorder. It should only be "treated" if it affects one's life negatively (which it often does in the modern world, unless you are guerilla herding sheep / living a generally interesting life). So, people "born that way" can suffer more in modern world than they did say 20 or 200 years ago. There is evidence that medication helps. There is an interesting book on the to…

I've found this such a helpful way to frame it and the book you reference is a fantastic read too.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#64

Post by jb1991 »

I’m not sure where you’re located, but I will guess the United States. I believe that ADHD is in fact real, but I also believe that Americans in particular are way over-eager with its diagnosis, which is the case with most medical diagnosis in the states.(As an aside, this is one of many reasons why American healthcare is so exorbitantly expensive compared to the rest of the world.)

That’s a common problem of diagnosis, but you have the same problem with those you receive the diagnosis. Americans are often much more interested in finding labels to describe problems in life, and I’d be very careful not to consider any label ascribed to you as being a limiting factor for your own personal growth.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#65

Post by DestroyADHD »

annie_muss wrote: post #26

I had similar feelings when I was diagnosed. It takes time for something like this to sink in. It's also worth remembering that you don't have a point of comparison because you've always been like this. You can try therapy. Or not. You can try medication. Or not. The diagnosis is simply more information about your situation. Talk to professionals, explore your options, reflect back on what works for you.

Thank you. I appreciate your response. I am not sure why some other comments are being hostile towards a genuine question.

I had internalised my lack of structure and focus as a moral failure. It’s hard to uproot it. I still feel like a fraud (as in trying to escape my moral failure with an ADHD diagnosis)

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#66

Post by DestroyADHD »

gocartStatue wrote: post #50

Some psychiatrists consider it a trait and not a disorder. It should only be "treated" if it affects one's life negatively (which it often does in the modern world, unless you are guerilla herding sheep / living a generally interesting life). So, people "born that way" can suffer more in modern world than they did say 20 or 200 years ago. There is evidence that medication helps. There is an interesting book on the to…

Thank you for your response. Just to let you know, Dr. Russell Barkeley, who is a famous ADHD expert seems to disagree with “Hunter in a farmer’s world” analogy. In a recent podcast appearance he mentioned that it is quite false and misleading. I cannot seem to find which podcast it was. Will link it here if I find it.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#67

Post by DestroyADHD »

artdigital wrote: post #37

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 emotionall…

You want to punch someone with a genuine curiosity about a disorder they were diagnosed for?

Didn’t expect HackerNews to be this hostile.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#68

Post by DestroyADHD »

nisegami wrote: post #62
nefitty wrote: post #5

I got new glasses a few weeks ago. As I was being fitted, I asked the guy if there were any tools I could buy that would help me adjust my glasses myself. He asked me what I do for a living. "I'm a programmer." "Well, would you want an optician messing with your code?" People that specialize in mental health, psychiatry and brain research have concluded that ADHD is a diagnosable mental disorder. I'm glad they're doi…

>Some lay people think they know better than the medical community and won't hesitate to tell you their unqualified opinion. The medical community doesn't have a great track record. Things have largely improved where most parts of the body are concerned, but I think psychiatry and psychology are still in their "four humours" phase.

Thank you. This is precisely my concern. A lot of medications that were given away like candies for depression are now turning out be harmful over the long term. So, I am not sure why HN is being so hostile to a sincere question I asked
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