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.

@dizzydizzydizzy

You are not powerless with your “physiologically altered brain”. You can change it yourself without stimulants if you decided to put the work in. Neuroplasticity. It doesn’t need to be permanent.

Some of us do that instead of relying on a label and a prescription for stimulants.

As has been said, I think it’s because when the symptoms and consequences are described they can sound like normal every day things.

We all have trouble concentrating if we haven’t slept well, drink too much caffeine or there’s loud music playing. We all forget or misplace things from time to time. We all know people who seem to run perpetually late for agreed meeting times. These are normal human things and if you haven’t seen someone with adhd unable to finish reading a paragraph without getting distracted, forget to renew their home insurance and regularly miss job interviews and international flights then people don’t really understand what adhd means.

This is offensive. Do you not think that if it were possible to eliminate ADHD through effort alone that many people would have done that? Not everyone is lazy and looking for excuses.

it is known that ADHD has a genetic factor because it runs in families.

Sure you can learn coping strategies, have therapy and implement lifestyle changes, all of which might hell.

You’re so naive.
This course provider offers one day online assessor courses at a starting cost of £795. It’s open to all HCPs including all allied health professionals. So someone who’s a podiatrist, for example, can become an ADHD assessor in just one day.
*The fourteen allied health professions:

1. Art therapists
2. Dietitians
3. Dramatherapists
4. Music therapists
5. Occupational therapists
6. Operating department practitioners
7. Orthoptists
8. Osteopaths
9. Paramedics
10. Physiotherapists
11. Podiatrists
12. Prosthetists and orthotists
13. Radiographers
14. Speech and language therapists*

Which course provider?

This is not what I meant. I clicked the link to the ‘ 2021 study’ and it’s a narrative literature review of not very much literature. There is no evidence to back up this theory as things stand. It’s an attractive theory but still a theory.

https://www.globaladhdnetwork.com/product/diagnostic-course

Maybe not powerless but your words are offensive. You don't have a bloody clue.

It’s widely accepted among psychiatrists who treat ADHD. Mine insists on reviewing my ADHD. The evidence may not be 100% conclusive but it is strong enough for doctors to take it seriously.

Yep. Drs who believe in the link which is a subset of Drs likely to be found working in private ADHD clinics.

@BurnoutBee ADHD doesn't come from trauma and neither is it an attachment based presentation. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder rooted in genetics and brain chemistry. Note the word disorder in that description. No amount of breathwork or yoga fucks it off unfortunately.

Yes it's something you are born with.

Like trying to say dyslexia can be treated with yoga. Offensive.

Hilarious. The irony is that one of the most debilitating problems people with ADHD have is the ability to stick with a routine. It's not a lack of self discipline. It is a lack of clear neurological pathways that make self-discipline possible. HTH

This thread proves to me that opinions are like arseholes, everyone pretty much has one. Apart from atresia of the anus of course Etc 😉

But seriously, the amount of harmful vitriol that is spewed on here is just awful. Half of you talk like you think you know exactly how ADHD is. It's like autism, on a spectrum. Some have it very severely and some have issues but not as severe.

It is not for you to judge the likes of me or anyone like me. Unless you have experienced what we have then you don't have a clue.

Some Mumsnet people can be severely ableist and spreading misinformation about my condition is just wrong. Don't act like your opinion is fact. Do not act like your experience of one person with ADHD, speaks for us all.

Adjustments are important. I have some but they do not impact on anyone else. I do my work and hit my deadlines every week. I don't harm anyone or cause anyone any issues. So maybe keep horrible observations to yourself.

I have recently had a formal diagnosis and I had to do a hideous screen test for nearly an hour. It made me feel like I was in a claustrophobic tunnel. There was no 'self reporting' it was a test.

You can question it all you want love.

My diagnosis isn't for you to question. I literally have zero impact on you. But harmful words can have a big impact on me and how people view people like me.

I just hope nothing ever happens to you and people question the integrity of that.

My colleague, above me, now drops that exact sentence into every bloody meeting at least twice. He has no idea I was diagnosed as child, because I don't need to keep mentioning it at all and any time. He is now very special with that adhd brain. Keeps telling me how adhd is.... I just nod. That sentence annoys me so much. No way will I ever mention the diagnosis to him because he could try to bond over the adhd brain...

It is yes. But its not 'a lot to ask' that the average person on the Street isn't whipped up by Farge & Co / E Musk on SM to then hold An Opinion as to whether another person's diagnosis or benefits are 'deserved' or not.

Actually, I sympathise with him, even though it is annoying. Because if you weren't diagnosed as a child, but muddled through decades, thinking, and being told, that you were just a bit shit at everything, wondering why you can't do basic things that other people seem to do so effortlessly, being told you are lazy, disorganised, forgetful, careless, thoughtless, selfish when you spend so much energy trying to be the opposite of all these, then it can be a huge relief, post diagnosis, to let people know that you are not just an incompetent arse but genuinely struggling.

He never had that at work. He is highly capable and well respected and always put out excellent level work. Was it more difficult than for others. Most likely, yes.
Let's be also honest diagnosis of that 30 years ago wasn't all about getting support and understanding either.

So “I can question it all I want” but also “it isn’t for me to question” ?

Ok, love. I’ll continue questioning it.

@Tonissister

You find it hilarious that someone had the self knowledge, the will, and the resilience to really work on themselves? To increase their distress tolerance? To practice meditation, mindfulness even though it was excruciating at the beginning? To put themselves through therapy to understand themselves better in order to increase their attention, concentration and executive function? To read tonnes of literature on ADHD, including a psychology degree from the OU.

Which in no way makes me an expert by the way, but someone also said my opinions were offensive. Why’s that? Because it threatens their sense of specialness when it comes to their “label” and executive function deficiencies. Which by the way can be improved by the very process of physiological neuro plasticity. Not everyone needs to feel special, but a large part of the neurospicy brigade do.

Yeah, absolutely hilarious 👏. You’re triggered because someone who could have quite easily been diagnosed with ADHD worked on themselves, and was determined not to get a label and live on medication for the rest of their days. Very much a you problem dear. Hilarious!

@Justanopinionnothingmore

I do not believe it is something you are born with. And plenty of other experts and academics don’t either. If that was the case, why are you statistically more likely to have a diagnosis of ADHD if you are from a poorer socioeconomic background? ADHD can develop in infancy and childhood due to attachment difficulties and relational stress between parent and child. The first year of life our brain is environmentally shaped which can make an ADHD trajectory much more likely in the event of maternal stress etc.

This I’m afraid.

I agree. We’re causing this in kids as a society. Technology, social media, too much traffic so kids can’t play out, lack of opportunities for risk taking and problem solving on their own, coddled children, terrible schooling, diet, lazy parenting. Technology in particular is rewiring the human brain.

It can be labelled adhd or whatever you like but kids’ brains are just being mangled. Middle aged women deciding they have adhd is a different phenomenon and, from my experience, simply an excuse for problems most people have in life and just get on with.