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Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

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Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#91

Post by depressionalt »

greggsy wrote: post #33
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’.

> It has been argued that it’s prevalence has risen in the digital age

I don't understand your response. Are you trying to invalidate the existence of ADHD because its prevalence has risen in the digital age?

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#92

Post by DestroyADHD »

depressionalt wrote: post #89
DestroyADHD wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/12/28/adderall-risks-much-mo...

Did you read the actual article? The way you've written in this thread, you come off as a guy who thinks that he's the only one that did his homework about medication, and that those who take it are your moral inferiors. Why did you even start this thread?

What are you even on about?

Yes, I read the entire post in detail. He clearly mentions that there’s significantly increased risk of parkinson’s with long term medication use.

I don’t believe anything blindly without reading both sides of the argument. Don’t know about HN crowd, but I don’t want to commit to lifetime of stimulant medication without researching the potential side effects first.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#93

Post by DestroyADHD »

depressionalt wrote: post #85
DestroyADHD wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You want to punch someone with a genuine curiosity about a disorder they were diagnosed for? Didn’t expect HackerNews to be this hostile.

It sucks to grow up and see people trivialize your condition. While its effect varies by person, I think most people on this side of the fence would agree that, had their family (and society) was aware of and acknowledged their condition much earlier in their life, it would have saved them a _lot_ grief, anxiety, depression, self doubt, and unnecessary failure. Please don't receive parent as hostile, I can assure you…

Yeah, like I haven’t heard these things. For someone who’s diagnosed and asking questions to understand the disorder better, it seems to me there’s a lot of thin skinned people on HN.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#94

Post by depressionalt »

DestroyADHD wrote: post #92
depressionalt wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you read the actual article? The way you've written in this thread, you come off as a guy who thinks that he's the only one that did his homework about medication, and that those who take it are your moral inferiors. Why did you even start this thread?

What are you even on about? Yes, I read the entire post in detail. He clearly mentions that there’s significantly increased risk of parkinson’s with long term medication use. I don’t believe anything blindly without reading both sides of the argument. Don’t know about HN crowd, but I don’t want to commit to lifetime of stimulant medication without researching the potential side effects first.

You aren’t committing yourself to a lifetime of medication. You can stop whenever you want.

Honestly, you should be having all of these conversations with your therapist without thinking you’re smarter than it all. ADHD is a journey of discovery that you can’t pontificate about without maintaining a relationship with someone qualified to help you out.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#95

Post by depressionalt »

DestroyADHD wrote: post #93
depressionalt wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sucks to grow up and see people trivialize your condition. While its effect varies by person, I think most people on this side of the fence would agree that, had their family (and society) was aware of and acknowledged their condition much earlier in their life, it would have saved them a _lot_ grief, anxiety, depression, self doubt, and unnecessary failure. Please don't receive parent as hostile, I can assure you…

Yeah, like I haven’t heard these things. For someone who’s diagnosed and asking questions to understand the disorder better, it seems to me there’s a lot of thin skinned people on HN.

No post body was provided.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#96

Post by gocartStatue »

DestroyADHD wrote: post #66
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.

Yes, there is some limited evidence both against and in favor of this theory.

Regardless, I found it helpful to see my neurodivergence not as a medical condition or "weirdness". I have trouble living "normal" life, but am still a valid person, be it "brain damage" or "ancestor of night guard / hunter-gatherer".

And here I am, both loving and hating my job as software dev. Got here because of hyperfocus and easy dopamine from quick iteration. Sometimes hooked on being in a different world all day, sometimes dying from being stuck in office chair for 8+ hours a day. Go figure :D

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#97

Post by david38 »

It’s absolutely real. I was diagnosed with it even growing up before internet and without TV.

You could have learned this in about five minutes of Google searching.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#98

Post by antisthenes »

If someone told you it's not real, but you're still experiencing all the symptoms, what would you derive from that?

With diagnoses about mental function, you can never ever just make a simple binary statement. Many ailments come in degrees of severity. Others - come in episodes by time.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#99

Post by errcorrectcode »

Real. ADHD-PI, -PH, and -C are approximations. Each person has a smattering of symptoms of the DSM-5 criteria. [0]

I'm classified closer to -PI because I'm not like a hyper woman friend, but I still have abour half of the symptoms in each area but not enough to be called -C.

My parents believed it was a psychiatry conspiracy theory, which only caused me more problems for years of non management.

0. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/diagnosis.html

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#100

Post by pseudalopex »

xlii wrote: post #14

It’s real unfortunately and not treatable. One can try to manage it but it’s not guaranteed success and has its drawbacks. That’s a lifelong struggle but ultimately I think that having diagnosis is at least something to hook on. I’m slightly confused that person who provided you with diagnosis didn’t provide you with overview of how ADHD works.

It's treatable. Just not curable.
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