social media is convincing all our kids they are nd?

[AuntMarch]

I've just been sat on the bus and the tiktok videos I'm hearing almost have me seeking a diagnosis.
"ADHD TEST" Put a finger down if you've ever focused on something so much you've lost track of time/ sometimes think you talk too much or not enough.."
it's basically covered every possible behaviour and it's video after video.

it's no wonder every kid thinks they have something.

But we can test the hormonal changes in peri and menopause. There's no biological marker test for autism to prove this one way or the other...so it's merely supposition that they've had autism all along but don't know it.

As if there isnt enough damage and dismissal going on generally about the impact of peri and menopause on women, its now changing into 'something else' rather that what it is

If someone has genuinely successfully managed their life until menopause and at menopause it all goes to shit then ergo they have managed and coped and only the menopause is the thing that has caused their difficulties. They havent been 'masking' as such but 'living'. Like everyone does.

I don't disagree with you.

But what I don't understand is why so many people seem to think that grown, capable women in their 50's actually want to have autism or ADHD? It's a fucking shit diagnosis to carry around with you.

And methylphenidate, like amphetamine, is controlled substance (in the US, at least). And yes, these stimulants can be addicting.

They don't fix ADHD. Methylphenidate and speed increase alertness, attention, and energy levels in most people, which makes things easier in the short term.

It's why there's in increase in black market Ritlin and Adderall between teens and young people during exam season.

There's actually some very basic research out there that shows how much hormones can impact on women with autism, and how hormonal imbalances can have an effect on how well you cope.

On the surface, I "successfully managed my life" for over 35 years but that doesn't mean I wasn't autistic for those 35 years, it just means my condition was repeatedly missed by people who kept diagnosing me with other conditions. None of which I actually have.

Again, I'm not sure why so many people seem to think that grown adults actually want an autism diagnosis? It's a fucking shit thing to be diagnosed with and to have to carry around with you. I wish more than anything I didn't have it.

I think they want it to get the prescriptions.

There are no prescriptions to help with autism.

I don't use this SM shite but can imagine it's nonsensical and not helpful with these memes and trends.

Yet, the prevalence is huge, I am sure of that; and is significantly underestimated. But that reality is being undermined if there are silly SM trends misinforming and people are self diagnosing. I do always believe any adult who believes they are. Only if they're old enough and not sheep like. I don't know anyone who said they felt they were ND who I disagreed with to be quite honest.

I have various traits that could look ADHD like. I know I'm NT. I absolutely know this. I don't believe most people genuinely think they're ND with serious conviction unless they really are.

2 long term female friends I know have said to me they think so about these and I suddenly thought, wow, of course! One Autistic ( always seen as the difficult one, really irritated people in the group). I now see clearly, it wasn't her fault.

The other female friend, ADHD. YES, it explains loads, including amazing skills, I add.

In both cases, it was their ND children that raised the flag for them.

Not everyone is in the category wherein significant support/ carers are needed. This apparent explosion in more functional appearing ND declarations can feel very undermining to those who have loved ones dealing with so much.

I believe that being Autistic and or ADHD will become the dominant neurotype down the road. I don't like these classifications yet I refer to level 1 classification of those who are Autistic becoming predominant.

So what's changed? People who masked or were odd or ' difficult ' are now speaking out. And they meet other ND people and have ND children so the population truly has projected off the scale it seems. It's not a fad imo at all.

However, it's probably important we see many people as not actually the minority we had thought before and adjust our approach to that.

Sorry, I was focused on the ADHD.

@Delphinium20 did you really say that? Lordy, help us all......,😭

But why would they wait until their fifties to get their hands on prescriptions? It doesn't make sense to me.

I don't believe most people genuinely think they're ND with serious conviction unless they really are.

Exactly. NT people do not spend hours googling autism or ADHD to justify their actions. They don't sit on NHS waiting lists for months or pay thousands for a private diagnosis unless they're pretty fucking certain. Why on earth would they?

It is shit being ND. It impacts every part of your life.

only in this country, unfortunately. And the USA perhaps. Continentals are taking pride in being independent as much as possible

Because mid-50s can be a struggle going through peri and menopause and if you can figure out how to show some ADHD traits (so easy to find examples) one can get the 21st century version of Mother's Little Helper.

My bff did this. I know SO MANY women my age (live in upper middle class neighborhoods, so for the UK, I think you call that middle class?) who suddenly are ADHD and happily time their meds before the work day and before big days w/ loads planned. It's also easy in the US to get diagnosis if you can pay for the meds.

The UK system for diagnosis is nothing like the US one, so I think you're coming at this from a very different angle to most other posters here.

There are lots of conditions rhat are diagnosed based on patient presentation. Are you also a Schizophrenia sceptic?

There are lots of medications where pretreatment brain chemistry is not checked. Are you opposed to anticonvulsants?

The existence of unethical practitioners doesn't make a condition not exist.

People incorrectly (or correctly) self diagnosing doesn't make a condition not exist.

Re one of your earlier posts, the release profile of lisdexamphetamine means that it is not liable to being addictive.

The NHS is offloading at a dramatic rate.

People can't access an assessment, let alone medication. People are absolutely desperate and forced to try access private prescriptions at great cost. These are people who struggle immensely with the Executive Functioning deficit ADHD brings about. I know many such people. They are not drug seekers.

The private market certainly is profiting where the NHS is offloading so vociferously. They're doing it to children/ teens who might stand a chance in school with access to an assessment and medication.

It's really sad tbh. I will guarantee the majority of kids not in education right now will be this ND population; many undiagnosed.

The existence of unethical practitioners doesn't make a condition not exist. People incorrectly (or correctly) self diagnosing doesn't make a condition not exist.

SAY IT AGAIN.

Of course people take thir meds at times that give the most benefit. What's problematic about that? Bizarre "point".

@Delphinium20 mothers little helper was the term for valium aka diazapam. I've accessed this a number of times when I needed a little ' help'. I'm not ND.

It's not the medication for ADHD. Maybe people you know truly do have ADHD. I know not one person in my sphere ever to say they felt ND and I did not agree.

You sound like a DM reader and very misinformed.

I am glad I see more and more of these threads and the people who are anti-diagnosis more accepted. I have seen people here vilified for holding this view

Thank you

No where did I say that ADHD does not exist. I'm arguing that it's over diagnosed and likewise could benefit from a narrowing of focus.

Similarly, one of the leading researchers for autism says the same thing: Dr. Allen Frances is a psychiatrist who led the American Psychiatric Association’s task force charged with creating the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

No way was I claiming that valium was prescribed for ADHD. But like valium, speed has been prescribed for women in ways that may or may not treat actual conditions.

It's really important to debate and I don't like voices being shut down.

It helps to be very clear and informed though. For example, you say anti diagnosis. That makes no sense. I think it's good to highlight potential charlatans. I bet there will be some and I wonder how many could pop up with the huge growth in ND population.

Let's debate using facts and be precise though.

For example, I have observed an Autism assessment which followed the guidance to the letter set out by the regulatory body. If we are to debate this, I want to know that the ' anti diagnosis ' people at least understand the best practice framework I'm talking about and the name of the assessment framework and the statistics and reality regards accessing medication, assesment and so on? .