To be angry at the ableism here on MN

[QuitChewingMyPlectrum]

I don't see any threads saying cancer is over diagnosed. Or used as an excuse for something.
More and more ableism is showing up here targeting the ADHD and autistic community and I'm pig sick of it.
Overdiagnosis conversations involving those who have no lived experience (your kids don't count, sorry) suck.
You have ZERO idea what it's like to be us.
And you say WE lack empathy.

It's so tiresome isn't it? But when you think of all of the grammar police on here - despite knowing that dyslexia has been a thing for years , then you realise that people can be just awful - sometimes for fun.

Totally agree

Very true, and I have to admit to having been that way in the past. Then I learned to do better. Language (including grammar and spelling) is my special interest but I don't correct any more. Unless someone asks me.
People need to do better.

Bit of a tangent post here, sorry!

I was on a PD last week run by a neuroscientist. He said there is a whole group of people who have been diagnosed with autism or adhd, and medicated. However, these people aren’t neurodiverse, they’re actually victims of complex trauma, where the ‘symptoms’ present similarly to autism/adhd.

He spoke of doctors who claim parents come into their office begging for an adhd diagnosis for their child in order to get them medicated, and the pressure these doctors are under to conform to those pressures. He spoke of some schools too who push for a diagnosis of their ‘difficult’ students in order to obtain funding.

So I do think there are some people in some places who are diagnosed incorrectly.

I suppose it’s difficult as I guess some parents have blamed neurodivergence for their poor parenting 🤷‍♀️

I am neurodiverse so I do find this interesting.

Surely any doctor worth their salt wouldn't conform to parental or school pressure!

I thought the point of he thread you are referring to was about posters attributing all and any behaviour to ADHD/ASD which I would have thought was insulting to anyone who actually is affected.

I was on a PD last week run by a neuroscientist. He said there is a whole group of people who have been diagnosed with autism or adhd, and medicated. However, these people aren’t neurodiverse, they’re actually victims of complex trauma, where the ‘symptoms’ present similarly to autism/adhd

I had the opposite in summer. PD trauma training and I said that the symptoms were the same for ADHD, so how many children with trauma are being diagnosed incorrectly.

The amount of children with trauma is alarming.

I think what I feel is the general issue is not about people who genuinely have diagnosed labels but any time a tiny thing is mentioned about someone who is 'different' or even just one tiny thing different about them it is 'they have ADHD' or whatever

I can't imagine it working 'I have a tiny spot on my chin' being 'I bet you have smallpox'

I agree OP

I hate the "label" conversation. I agree people make a jump easily but some of these thread are SO insulting to those of us who are neurodivergent.
There does need to be an open conversation around ADHD and ASD but to claim it is "overdiagnosed" "just for the drugs" etc is WRONG

So much this. Do doctors really hand out diagnoses just to shut people up? They have no integrity or professionalism if so.

Yes, OP, I agree... the ableism on here is shocking.

What about people that self diagnose? I've seen countless posts from people on here who say "I have ADHD. I've never been diagnosed, but I have all the traits." Should they all be believed? Or are some people trying to put a label on themselves that isn't warranted?

Worth a conversation with that person to work out why they think they have ADHD. Rather than making sweeping generalisations.

I agree and have commented prolifically on the thread you’re referring to.

I am not going to word this well but I think people just think there’s loads of it because of Tiktok and Instagram? In real life I bet there’s not that many people in their life telling them they have it. It’s like according to my Tiktok/Instagram everyone lives in a huge, gorgeous house with a massive kitchen diner extension fitted with a high end kitchen so I start to think everyone does … then I remember actually no one I know does live like that and I’m just seeing a concentrated view.

No they don't. There are proper diagnostic protocols and assessment tools they have to follow. One look at the SEN boards tells you just how hard it is to get a diagnosis for an SEN.

I wouldn't honestly rate one neuroscientist's opinion here, as I don't know how they would have any insight into how psychiatrists do their job. They're a totally different discipline and neuroscience is academic not patient-facing or even that practical. It would be like a physiotherapist commenting on sports nutrition. They sort of overlap but shouldn't be making claims about the other discipline!

Additionally, one randomer with an idea doesn't make it a scientific theory. They're not doing great science with anecdotal evidence instead of actual studies!

I think the rubbish that people on MN spout about ND people is a reflection of the science illiteracy on here, as already evidenced on this thread.

I agree with you Op. People are very hard and cruel on here.

Why do they care as much anyway? People seem to feel so strongly about it.

Hard agree.

Totally agree. I report posts like that but nothing ever happens.
I'm autistic diagnosed and just totally fed up with it. Why do ND conditions get the brunt?

What examples of cruelty?

Because people don't know what it's like to live like us. Frustrating but yet another thing we cope with. Solidarity.

I'm maybe a bit older and have learnt to bend like a reed in the wind.

People do what they do

I've learnt that people who have a great deal to say about others, much of that is really about themselves.

@AuDHD4Me I'm from a very non-NT family, some diagnosed, some too old. Because it wasn't a thing

You can't be angry about it. It's pointless.

You cannot bash a square peg into a circular hole.

It's alright to be you. It's absolutely ok.

Minimising diagnosis. Minimising the autistic or ADHD experience. Saying we just want drugs/benefits - need I go on?

Agree. But there are more vulnerable. Who are we if we don't try and change things?

I have diagnosed ADHD and i get fairly annoyed with the amount of people say they have ADHD (but aren’t diagnosed) or say it flippantly I.E. doesn’t like paperwork so must have ADHD.