To think that not everyone has ADHD

Nobody is referring to people who genuinely have ADHD/Autism/OCD etc. But it is a fact that there are many people out there who self-diagnose, sometimes for attention and sometimes to feel like they're part of a group. There have been a few famous cases of "influencers" faking Tourette's, if you're looking for a prominent example.

Willyoujustbequiet

You can,it’s discussed during diagnosis and posters have posted links that illustrate how widely know it is that it can be masked.

Whole not hole 🙄

@Namddf okay so I just wrote out a hole post and it disappeared so I’m going to summaries what I can remember haha.

1. I said my inner child is jealous in honesty because parents I see now who have kids with adhd or asd etc are able to support and nurture their kids for who they are not who they think they should be. They can work with the teachers and ensure their child is getting help. The teachers have a REASON for the behaviour so don’t get what I, and others like me, did (called bone idle, difficult, lazy, etc)

2. and I’m only going to speak for my experience of adhd here, but it is not as simple as ‘I’m forgetful or I lose stuff or whatever’. The condition, combined with the build up of feeling like an outsider/being treated like an outsider/being called lazy etc, causes exam failure, toxic relationships, anxiety, depression, mood regulation issues, abusive relationships, unwanted pregnancies, risk seeking behaviours, addiction problems. All of these and then some I have personally experienced.

i don’t regret getting diagnosed but if I had been earlier there very likely could have been a lot of damage limitation and even prevention of any of these things occurring.

@Willyoujustbequiet apologies, this was in answer to your post

@Willyoujustbequiet I suppose it depends on the person looking. When I think of people like my parents they would never in a million years be conversing with someone and thinking ‘they’re neurodiverse/have ADHD’. It just wouldn’t enter their heads. Maybe they’d just think the person was a bit odd, if anything at all. Even me, who just fucked up over and over again from a young age, they just weren’t looking for it. Someone from my generation would probably be more aware of it.

@Redlarge
Disagree. I have always been aware of my deficits but intelligent enough to carefully construct my own interventions to appear "normal" - it absolutely can be masked.

1. A move to a more inclusive society.

2. “opting” for home education is still unfortunately very high for children with SEN due to many reasons has been a move to include them more in mainstream settings. There is also huge deficit in places available at special schools. This is another controversial minefield.

3. Medical understanding has also increased, which inevitably leads to more children being diagnosed.

Obviously not. Which is exactly why questionnaires are just the screener - a qualified doctor would make the professional judgement between sometimes/often in the actual diagnosis.

You weren't specific in your post. You simply observed that "everyone is on the spectrum"
Not sure how you expected that to be taken with no context.

Yes i totally hate the self diagnosis but if you really have it you live half a life

I agree. You just can't hide it.

@AuDHD4Me I am talking about posts on Mumsnet from posters who suggest someone is on the spectrum when they can't sit still. That kind of nonsense.

Do calm down.

I think almost every recent new starter at work under 35 yrs old has self declared as having ADHD, being autistic, on the spectrum etc and have wanted accommodations whilst not being clear about an official diagnosis or being prepared to see the occupational health team.

The only new young starter who has not self declared clearly is on the spectrum, did see an occupational health therapist at their request, but won't consent to the report being shared which we respect.

It's hard to know what the real situation is. We want to help our staff but tricky when it's so unclear.

Its definitely a little chicken and egg, but even if that is the cause their difficulties exist. What is your point? They shouldn't get support? Only people from that background can get ADHD? It's not 'proper' ADHD?

Ive had a terrible life. Riddled with anxiety paralysis imposter syndrome. Finding every day tasks overwhelming its ruined my relationship housing job opportunities and mental health i never knew why life was so challenging and difficult. Ive had 3 nervous breakdowns that impacted on me financially so severely. Then at 40 i was diagnosed with adhd and pdsd and i heavily rely on my psychiatric support. I dont think its trendy or fun in any form and god knows i pray i never had this and could just be normal

It used to be called "the naughty table"
Or "the thick table"

Seriously? You get nothing. Living with an ADHD child actually costs a fortune due to their ability to loose absolutely everything & be so picky about other stuff that you buy plenty of stuff they won't then use - too scratchy / itchy / heavy etc
And they break everything.
My other child is a lot cheaper to raise

But ... but according to @Loulou599 EVERYONE who ever met you could tell!

My DS who has ADHD can mask for periods of time but not long term.

Lots of our family have ADHD traits but he’s the only one for whom it’s been a barrier to learning at school, and so he’s the one who’s got a diagnosis.

I brought him up the same way as my NT daughter who flies academically and behaves extremely well in all settings (she’s a teenager now but was the same at primary), so I don’t really think it’s poor parenting on my part. Sorry to those who love the blame game.

Interestingly, DS was the much easier baby.

Ok, let me educate you.
Not everyone is "on the spectrum"
Some people are neurotypical. Some people are autistic.
There is a marked difference between the two. There are diagnostic criteria for autism. Ableism at its worst.

I just wonder where all this was when I was growing up in school. All through my school years, from 5 to 18, I never came across anyone who displayed ADHD or Autistic traits. Never. Yet I read on these threads that it’s common to have at least half a dozen or more in each class. There must be something which has caused this huge increase over the last 30 years.

@WanderingWitches

I don't need Googling, I can see the World around me. I'm neurologically driven in completely different ways from an Autistic person. I'm like an annoying Alien to someone with Asperger's (and ADHD apparently).
My behaviours overlap equally with neuro-typical people, with men (maybe I'm a man? ), narcissists, psychopaths, and Donald Trump.

For the Google masters - is it widely accepted then that the Autistic brain has impaired dopamine processing? That seems to be the root cause of ADHD.

If it's not the case, then what even is ADHD? Are my textbook dopamine seeking behaviours not ADHD then?

Why is everyone 1000 % percent sure that there is no way I'm on the Autistic spectrum if it allegedly overlaps so much?

This and/or ADHD is what really makes me think - who is benefiting from this? Someone, somewhere definitely is.

I’m sorry, I was only repeating the attitudes I had come across.

I know young adults with ADHD and see their struggle, both male and female. I wasn’t being dismissive or disrespectful. Not my beliefs but found it interesting what others believed.

AuDHD4Me

think you’re confusing me with somebody else.