Why is adhd not as "respected" as other ND conditions?

[elliejjtiny]

I'm wondering if it's because autism can mean anything from what used to be called Aspergers syndrome and profound autism with profound learning disabilities and people with adhd are more likely to either not have learning disabilities or have learning disabilities with a separate diagnosis.

But Nigel Farage has been in the news again saying he is going to get rid of PIP for people with mild anxiety and adhd as their primary diagnosis. I don't think anyone gets PIP for mild anxiety, I certainly don't anyway. But adhd can be extremely debilitating and require PIP.

Because so many people have it (or claim to have it). It is hard to make such large scale accommodations.

Also, particularly in a school setting, there is a trade off between the needs of those with ADHD and the rest of the class whose learning is disrupted. This is very difficult to manage - at my DS’s senior school there are 300 kids formally diagnosed. (He is one).

Partly down to the huge rise in private diagnosis, and people typically being quick to jump to the conclusion this is some form of attention-seeking or mischief-making, rather than the reality of the NHS in many places either expecting people to suffer for 8-10 years before being referred, or simply not taking any new referrals whatsoever in a few cases.

I've got ADHD.Ive worked all my life.Ive also had severe anxiety and bouts of depression because of it.I don't get pip.Its v hard to prove even with a diagnosis.

There are suspected to be 2.6 million people with ADHD but only around 800000 have an official diagnosis. How on earth is that considered 'sheer amount of people with adhd' - it can be debilitating and until I was medicated I had tried all the depression and anxiety drugs, therapy etc. - anxiety went overnight.

I don't, but well played on just perpetuating the stigma for those who absolutely do 👏

I thought you ‘didn’t need a diagnosis’ for PIP? TikTok is full of tips and buzzwords to use on the application anyway. I can’t see how ADHD warrants extra money to meet the needs of the condition, but that’s a thread for another day.

Are you talking about ADHD? If so, it’s odd that you’re calling it a disease.

But this is the truth, every second person seems to have ADHD now you only have to read MN to come to this conclusion.

You can be in ft employment and even a millionaire and be eligible for PIP.

I can’t see how ADHD warrants extra money to meet the needs of the condition

Well if you are awarded PIP, it's because you meet certain criterion re your condition or illnesses impairing your day to day life and basic function, so there isn't really any basis for turning around to someone with an award and suggesting they do not merit it, unless you believe that your layman's knowledge and understanding is somehow better suited to ascertaining how that person's life is impacted by their diagnosis. Which is a bit pompous, to say the least.

Then you haven't met anyone with severe ADHD. I have spent 1000s on medications/therapies to keep my child safe. Life is very hard for them and they will only wear certain clothes so I need to buy in bulk, need lots of stimulation so extra clubs, extra support in school. I don't get PIP by the way but costs add up so I can see why people do - I'm lucky that my employer is flexible, I'm sure I would have lost my job with school refusal/being late every single day.

No, this is nonsense.

It's not anywhere remotely close to "every second person" claiming to have ADHD, and even if you are exaggerating for effect, I'd just say the same thing to you that I did in the post you quoted - think carefully to yourself about why you are seemingly quite happy to continue to promote myth and stigma.

Because of social media, as usual.

Every bloody person on there supposedly has it. "Oh my ADHD brain...." It's constant and really harmful to people who genuinely suffer.

I have ADHD and my colleagues would think the same about me. However, before diagnosis and medication I was chaotic, I had debilitating anxiety, could barely leave the house, my house was a mess as well as my inability to manage money, I couldn't cope with my children, if I had more than one thing to do in a day I was literally paralysed with inaction. I'd work ridiculous hours to make up for procrastination and not wanting to be seen as incompetent.

It's not nonsense at all and you must live in a bubble. It's become cool to have it so the amount of people self diagnosing is outrageous. Then they use it as an excuse to be a crappy person/friend/employee etc.

DS mid 20s has ADHD, inattentive type. Diagnosed age 7 and medication has helped him acheive his potential in school, 6th form and Uni obtaining a good degree. However life has been tough for him in the workplace. He still takes his meds, but is exhausted from the focus used each day to deliver workplace expectations. Homelife is chaotic as meds have worn off and everything gets left until later. I see his struggle, I see his frustrations and my heart breaks when he talks about never wanting to start a family because he doesn't want to inflict his struggle on his child (yes he is married). He wasn't the naughty kid, he was the dreamy quiet kid, meds give him the focus he needs. Clearly he has ADHD as the meds work. He had PIP removed at 21 after Uni, however he needs the additional support to be a functioning member of society, to contribute and make a difference, the support PIP could give him would make a massive difference to the quality of his life. His review at age 21 reassessed him to zero points. They didn't listen. He didn't challenge it because he is too disorganised to do so. ADHD is real.

No, you are being sucked in by media propaganda.

I honestly don’t believe Farage is any more excepting of autism than ADHD.

Of course it's nonsense.

Are you seriously suggesting that the claim that 50% of people are now reporting that they have ADHD is grounded in fact, or are you also just mindlessly repeating offensive, stigmatising nonsense that you think makes you sound big, clever, and edgy?

I think this is so true. It’s very sad to see so many children glued to screens - some from being sat in their pushchairs. I feel shocked at the lack of parenting. It’s become quite a crisis.

You're clearly very sheltered.

It is not nonsense.

Yes it absolutely is.

Just on this page alone the claim has gone from "everybody" having ADHD, to "every second person" having ADHD.

So that's approximately 35milllion people claiming to have ADHD in the UK alone, and yet there are people in here queueing up to exclaim that this is not just hyperbolic shite and sheer ignorant guff.

I often wonder this about my hemorrhoids. Why does no one respect it?

Isnt PIP based on need rather than diagnosis? How something affects you day to day?