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.

I am including the thousands who self diagnose. I know about ten people who have declared that they have ADHD as a fact despite no diagnosis. Maybe some do. But some, like that post above, struggle with normal parts of life like boring work, juggling work and kids, procrastinating, being late and having lots going through their head and assume they must have ADHD. The numbers are extremely high when you consider self diagnoses as well.

PIP is based on need not diagnosis. Like DLA. My nephew gets DLA for ADHD. No diagnosis. Chaotic home life including lots of moving house. School don’t think he has ADHD but sil had help filling out the form and he qualified. She actually won’t take him to get diagnosed incase he doesn’t get the diagnosis and she loses the DLA. The DLA does not go on the child because he doesn’t cost anymore money than he would otherwise.

Self-ID of everything is the new normal

Saying be autistic is different from saying be adhd though. And lots of people care. But I'm sure many will claim they don't.

I answered some questions on the internet, out of boredom, about wether I had ADHD or not. According to test, I do and it asked me to phone a number and pay £360 pounds for a consultation.

I genuinely think that within the next decade more ppl will have some sort of ‘neurospicy’ (hideous term) condition than without.

It seems nobody can be quirky, a bit scatty, be particular about things, unusual sense of humour, care about specific topics or have uncommon interests, be shy, be outgoing, be intelligent, not intelligent, the list goes on without it being some sort of label.

This.

I feel for the people who genuinely have ADHD to a level it affects their day to day life, but it seems like everyone has ADHD now, at least one person I work with has recently paid to get herself diagnosed with ADHD and won’t stop talking about it, she’s doing things like claiming free theatre tickets for her ‘carer’ ie husband, so I don’t doubt she’s claiming PIP, she doesn’t need free theatre tickets, her and her husband both work full time. It’s like ‘whiplash’ once people know what to say to get free stuff they’ll try it on.

Then my incontinent 9 year old autistic child wouldn't qualify for help as its taking 5 years ( and counting) so far to get a fucking diagnosis. Sorry for the language but it's a scandal.

I was diagnosed with ADHD and autism a long time before it was trendy. With the correct medication I’ve always been able to work but the problem is the gap now between diagnosis and treatment is way too long so people are suffering when they don’t need to be. Instead of going after people claiming we need to be making the process faster and then there wouldn’t be so many people struggling. There’s a reason why so many people with ADHD self medicate with illegal drugs and that’s because the system is a complete shambles. I’m grateful I don’t have to go through the assessment now and apart from a red bull to help me to sleep I can control my ADHD with prescribed meds but I’m one of the lucky ones.

Oh people are always banging on about “person with autism” and changing what’s the “right” way to describe disabilities. It’s tiresome.

Most people don’t give a shit if you say “he/she’s adhd”.

More concerning is the absolute wave of middle aged women now deciding they have it. I swear nowadays people can’t simply grow up. The teenagers of the late 90s/early 2000s have dragged their love of social contagions with them into 2026

Maybe because every second person seems to have it

I'm not talking about people being offended. My point is that saying someone "is ADHD" or "is ASD" is grammatically incorrect and sounds ridiculous yet I see it used more and more. You would say someone has depression or high blood pressure not that they are depression or are high blood pressure.

Anxiety is such an interesting one. I would consider myself to have anxiety since childhood as I have had panic attacks since about 11.

However, there is anxiety and there is ANXIETY. Right now for the first time in years and for only the second time in my life, I am having ANXIETY and it is truly debilitating. Like I am struggling to function as a person let alone as a mother, partner and employee.

I think mental health conditions need way more support than they currently receive. And they also need nuance. Like, avoidance actually makes anxiety worse so automatically leaving someone with anxiety on UC and consigning them to not be able to work doesn't seem ethical.

However, I equally wouldnt want to see people forced into work where they are unfit because they are being treated the same as somebody with moderate anxiety where they can function. Its a nuanced condition and it shouldnt be a condition based process, as per PIP forms it should be based on what you can achieve.

Most people with MH conditions want to work. I have worked since 16, am now 32 and am having to consider taking some medical leave or reducing my hours and it's devastating, I love my job and think on balance it does my MH a world of good to be in work.

Educate yourself on the difference between getting a diagnosis if you are female compared to male. Also have a look at what falling estrogen levels during menopause do to women with ADHD then maybe you’ll get your answer as to why so many middle aged women are getting diagnosed with it. There’s been numerous studies on this but only during the last few years, before doctors understood the link women just suffered.

Could there be a reason for this that hasnt been identified?

It's not easy to just decide you have ADHD. My therapist has asked me to do an ADHD screening and I would not have been interested in considering it otherwise, even though I do have lots of signs. I think ots actually important to understand if you have it because it can help avoid burnout and other complications of unrecognised and untreated ADHD.

Yes I know. I’m saying most people don’t care and it doesn’t matter

“Educate yourself” is up there with “my adhd brain” as one of the most cringeworthy things someone can say

Most people don’t care and it doesn’t matter what phrases anyone uses according to you. I find you hypocrisy cringeworthy.

I don't think anyone should get PIP for ADHD and aspergers type autism, nor should they get it for anxiety or any other mild MH disorder. We, as a country just can't afford it.

I have a child with ADHD and one with mild autism, they know that they need to chose a career that suits their strengths, just as any of the rest of us choses.

Agree, it tends to mean “you need to think what I think is right, and if you don’t you need to change it to what I want”.

I can still cringe at what people say. You don’t like “he is adhd” 🤷🏻‍♀️

Most people are fed up with the wave of self-diagnosed adhders (wrap your grammar around that one) and, as with a lot of modern bullshit, the tide is turning on what people can be arsed pandering to anymore.

Precisely.

Again - why? Why are you questioning my medical diagnosis and treatment plan? Would you do the same for some with chronic pain? Anxiety? Cancer? My life is infinitely better on my medication so why are you so interested in my treatment?

Agree. My sons, early 20s, might just be the only ones in their friendship groups who don’t have it. It’s like people want to have it.

Cancer no but chronic pain and anxiety absolutely

No one I know with ADHD gets PIP