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Telly addicts

Is nobody watching the Great ADHD Myth?

278 replies

ILikeTrains · 18/08/2026 20:37

I was expecting to see lots of chatter about this. 1/2hr in - interesting!

OP posts:
Manho · 20/08/2026 14:24

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 13:55

But we are seeing a massive explosion of diagnosis and dishing out pills and I grew up the 80s and you didn't come across any families that didn't just get on with normal life so why suddenly do so many people suddenly need drugs to function! Like I said on other posts, this mass consumption of drugs has ruined lives for newly diagnosed ADHD sufferers because everybody wants to be on these drugs and there's not enough supplies. Nobody newly diagnosed can get the drugs!

You’re talking nonsense. ADHD is under diagnosed in the UK and under treated. New patients are not under a ban for medication and only just over half choose to use medication anyway. Sometimes there are supply issues and wait lists for psychs to prescribe and titrate. My dc have never had issues getting their meds although sometimes they have to change pill size. For years women, girls, people of colour and those with autism were shut out of the diagnosis process, now they’re not so those groups coming forward is a good thing. There is still a long way to go to revert the under diagnosis levels in the UK and the NHs has recognised that making NHS diagnosis and treatment more accessible is crucial.

Re families having it ADHD is strongly genetic and frequently runs in families. Research estimates that the heritability of ADHD is between 74% and 88%.

Benefits are allocated on need not diagnosis. Many many people with autism and adhd don’t receive PIP and are paying taxes the same as everybody else.

Manho · 20/08/2026 14:27

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 14:24

You are deliberately being obtuse! What I'm saying is that yes ADHD exists but what I'm questioning is why we are expected to believe that half the country has got it all of a sudden and every single one of them needs drugs to manage it. You look at that documentary and that lad didn't need the drugs, his issue was focus at school and surely schools should be adapting learning styles for those kids, he was literally just put on drugs to pass his SATS!
I'm not saying some don't need meds, but what I am saying to you now is that no newly diagnosed people are getting any meds and are having to cope without meds whilst kids are taking them just as a very easy fix to improve school grades.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/report-of-the-independent-adhd-taskforce-part-1/

Educate yourself!

In the UK, estimated true ADHD prevalence is about 3% to 4% for adults and 5% for children. However, official recorded clinical diagnosis rates are much lower—roughly 1.2% to 1.6% for males and 0.9% for females—indicating that a vast majority of cases remain undiagnosed.

NHS England » Report of the independent ADHD Taskforce: Part 1

April 2025

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/report-of-the-independent-adhd-taskforce-part-1

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 14:28

Imdunfer · 20/08/2026 14:16

You came across plenty of families with boys who never went to school, boys who went to prison, boys who were badly hurt or killed looking for risk taking thrills, girls who got pregnant or worse young from risky sex, boys and girls taking drugs looking for thrills, boys and girls who constantly got into fights ........

No I didn't know of or see any! That's the thing, it wasn't really like that back then! Kids were disciplined in them days, parents gave a shit and behaviour wasn't anything like it is now! Discipline stops and suddenly every other kid needs ADHD meds to behave! See the issue there? That's what the documentary is highlighting! ADHD drugs are being used in place of discipline!

SleeplessInWherever · 20/08/2026 14:30

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 14:24

You are deliberately being obtuse! What I'm saying is that yes ADHD exists but what I'm questioning is why we are expected to believe that half the country has got it all of a sudden and every single one of them needs drugs to manage it. You look at that documentary and that lad didn't need the drugs, his issue was focus at school and surely schools should be adapting learning styles for those kids, he was literally just put on drugs to pass his SATS!
I'm not saying some don't need meds, but what I am saying to you now is that no newly diagnosed people are getting any meds and are having to cope without meds whilst kids are taking them just as a very easy fix to improve school grades.

Oh.

So your problem is people who aren’t your brother getting a new diagnosis and people who have that diagnosis getting meds that he could have.

Right, got you.

Manho · 20/08/2026 14:32

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 14:28

No I didn't know of or see any! That's the thing, it wasn't really like that back then! Kids were disciplined in them days, parents gave a shit and behaviour wasn't anything like it is now! Discipline stops and suddenly every other kid needs ADHD meds to behave! See the issue there? That's what the documentary is highlighting! ADHD drugs are being used in place of discipline!

Wrong again.

ADHD differs hugely in presentation,it’s a myth that only naughty boys have it .And actually the ridiculous programme in question wasn’t advocating more discipline but suggesting schools do more creative subjects.

As I said educate yourself before spouting nonsense .

Imdunfer · 20/08/2026 14:34

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 13:31

My brother has had signs of ADHD all his left and was diagnosed last year at 51. ADHD exists without doubt but is everybody that has been part of this mass diagnosis in recent years a genuine case?
The issue is that newly diagnosed people can't get meds because the supplies can barely cope with the people already diagnosed. My brother and my friend were both diagnosed last year and can't get meds!

It's worrying for the rest of my family because he's been disorganised professionally with his business since my dad died ten years because he was in the same line of work and was his organiser. He only seems to work here and there, he recently went through the whole recruitment process to be a retained firefighter, actually passed it all and pulled out because he didn't realise he'd have to stay near the fire station when on call and they call outs aren't guaranteed. He jumps from one impractical idea to the next, he wanted to give up his rental property he has a good deal on and live in van recently, he then changed his mind and now wants a houseboat - it's annoying that he can't get meds because it's like his brain filters out impracticalities and hard realities. We don't know if he pays any NI, he has no workplace pensions and all this scattiness might helped before he ends up destitute in his older years if he could get the meds but right now there's no sign of it even a year on from diagnosis.

i've searched the current updates from several health authorities and Google AI and the really severe supply problems were in 2025. The current situation according to up to date information from NHS trusts is that some brands and strengths may be difficult to source in local areas, but can be found by shopping around pharmacies or accepting a generic substitute.

I think your brother needs to go back and push harder, what he's been told isn't acceptable given the impact on his life. It isn't up to prescribers to ration prescriptions, it's up to pharmacies to source supplies.

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 14:34

Manho · 20/08/2026 14:27

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/report-of-the-independent-adhd-taskforce-part-1/

Educate yourself!

In the UK, estimated true ADHD prevalence is about 3% to 4% for adults and 5% for children. However, official recorded clinical diagnosis rates are much lower—roughly 1.2% to 1.6% for males and 0.9% for females—indicating that a vast majority of cases remain undiagnosed.

Funny that because it doesn't mirror the amount of people online claiming their entire families have it! So every other person online claiming they and their kids have ADHD is likely to be full of shit! Those figures are highlighting that most of the issues with kids today is just lack of discipline and not ADHD, and those figures are confirming it! Those figures confirm what the documentary was saying and that most kids have not got ADHD or require the drugs, the drugs are being used to manage poor behaviour.

Imdunfer · 20/08/2026 14:38

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 14:34

Funny that because it doesn't mirror the amount of people online claiming their entire families have it! So every other person online claiming they and their kids have ADHD is likely to be full of shit! Those figures are highlighting that most of the issues with kids today is just lack of discipline and not ADHD, and those figures are confirming it! Those figures confirm what the documentary was saying and that most kids have not got ADHD or require the drugs, the drugs are being used to manage poor behaviour.

No figures were given in that documentary. It was a data free zone.

You cannot extrapolate a few social media posts to the whole of society!

Manho · 20/08/2026 14:39

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 14:34

Funny that because it doesn't mirror the amount of people online claiming their entire families have it! So every other person online claiming they and their kids have ADHD is likely to be full of shit! Those figures are highlighting that most of the issues with kids today is just lack of discipline and not ADHD, and those figures are confirming it! Those figures confirm what the documentary was saying and that most kids have not got ADHD or require the drugs, the drugs are being used to manage poor behaviour.

Here’s a thing. Maybe don’t base your knowledge on the people you come across on social media. They do not speak for the country as a whole. Maybe get your info from facts provided by experts in the field.

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 14:40

Imdunfer · 20/08/2026 14:34

i've searched the current updates from several health authorities and Google AI and the really severe supply problems were in 2025. The current situation according to up to date information from NHS trusts is that some brands and strengths may be difficult to source in local areas, but can be found by shopping around pharmacies or accepting a generic substitute.

I think your brother needs to go back and push harder, what he's been told isn't acceptable given the impact on his life. It isn't up to prescribers to ration prescriptions, it's up to pharmacies to source supplies.

Edited

He says he's waiting for titration to see what dose he needs but this has gone on since December and that's even trying to go private to get them, my friend is on the same boat and I think he was diagnosed a year ago.

My mum has mental health issues which makes her quite mentally abusive at times and it's a lot for him to deal with when he can't sort his own head out.

Manho · 20/08/2026 14:42

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 14:40

He says he's waiting for titration to see what dose he needs but this has gone on since December and that's even trying to go private to get them, my friend is on the same boat and I think he was diagnosed a year ago.

My mum has mental health issues which makes her quite mentally abusive at times and it's a lot for him to deal with when he can't sort his own head out.

The wait will be for the psych to do the titration.

Imdunfer · 20/08/2026 14:45

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 14:40

He says he's waiting for titration to see what dose he needs but this has gone on since December and that's even trying to go private to get them, my friend is on the same boat and I think he was diagnosed a year ago.

My mum has mental health issues which makes her quite mentally abusive at times and it's a lot for him to deal with when he can't sort his own head out.

That makes sense, there are reported long titration queues. If he can travel he has a right to choose if he can find a shorter wait elsewhere. I've a vested interest here I'm about to try and get onto one!

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 14:50

Manho · 20/08/2026 14:39

Here’s a thing. Maybe don’t base your knowledge on the people you come across on social media. They do not speak for the country as a whole. Maybe get your info from facts provided by experts in the field.

How can I speak about it! I can't even speak expert about the fibromyalgia I've been diagnosed with so how do you expect me to access an ADHD expert! That is just being silly! We have no choice but to gain our insight into how things are in society from what we get constantly get shoved down our throats and whether you like it or not, it seems abnormal how many people claim all their kids have a string of bloody syndromes!

Do you know what I had to do to see a Rheumatologist with expertise and finally get a diagnosis after 8 years of pushing the NHS for one? I had to pay £300 for a private appointment so don't insult my intelligence by telling me I should talk to ADHD expert? Get a grip!

Manho · 20/08/2026 14:58

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 14:50

How can I speak about it! I can't even speak expert about the fibromyalgia I've been diagnosed with so how do you expect me to access an ADHD expert! That is just being silly! We have no choice but to gain our insight into how things are in society from what we get constantly get shoved down our throats and whether you like it or not, it seems abnormal how many people claim all their kids have a string of bloody syndromes!

Do you know what I had to do to see a Rheumatologist with expertise and finally get a diagnosis after 8 years of pushing the NHS for one? I had to pay £300 for a private appointment so don't insult my intelligence by telling me I should talk to ADHD expert? Get a grip!

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/report-of-the-independent-adhd-taskforce-part-1/

I gave you a link. Start with that.

NHS England » Report of the independent ADHD Taskforce: Part 1

April 2025

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/report-of-the-independent-adhd-taskforce-part-1

Metalmotha · 20/08/2026 15:31

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 14:28

No I didn't know of or see any! That's the thing, it wasn't really like that back then! Kids were disciplined in them days, parents gave a shit and behaviour wasn't anything like it is now! Discipline stops and suddenly every other kid needs ADHD meds to behave! See the issue there? That's what the documentary is highlighting! ADHD drugs are being used in place of discipline!

So what you’re saying is, these kids were beaten into masking and pretending they didn’t have adhd.

fid you come across girls like me, slightly”weird” day dreamed a lot, very high achieving academically? Because I have she (and autism) fitting in has nearly cost me my life!

deepersleeper · 20/08/2026 16:32

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 14:50

How can I speak about it! I can't even speak expert about the fibromyalgia I've been diagnosed with so how do you expect me to access an ADHD expert! That is just being silly! We have no choice but to gain our insight into how things are in society from what we get constantly get shoved down our throats and whether you like it or not, it seems abnormal how many people claim all their kids have a string of bloody syndromes!

Do you know what I had to do to see a Rheumatologist with expertise and finally get a diagnosis after 8 years of pushing the NHS for one? I had to pay £300 for a private appointment so don't insult my intelligence by telling me I should talk to ADHD expert? Get a grip!

I think the poster is suggesting you get your facts from the many credible sources of information published by experts that are available to everyone online. There are mountains of research and statistics created by professionals in various fields and they're quite easy to find. ChatGPT can usually give you a starting point and some suggested links to read or you can just use Google.

Often the media narrative we're being fed is very different to what the actual data tells us, to the extent that even I, someone with a degree in economics, have come to believe things that just aren't true because they were said so many times by so many people in authority and nobody in the media was doing their job and challenging the assertions made (so I hadn't even realised it was something I even needed to check - I check more or less everything now!). I was shocked to find out some things weren't true.

For example, the welfare bill isn't rising - it's been steady for the last 5 decades or so if you look at it as a percentage of GDP (national income). Which isn't to say that some parts of it aren't going up, but given that other parts are going down by an amount that balances this out, overall there has actually been no change. And ADHD diagnosis rates, as has been pointed out upthread, are still incredible low. They have only increased so dramatically because diagnoses for adult women were virtually zero until recently and because until relatively recently it wasn't even seen as something that adults could have at all. People with agendas are very good at spinning a narrative that just isn't true so checking these things for yourself can actually be quite fascinating!

That said, it is interesting to hear reports from teachers and professionals working on the frontline (even if anecdotal). It does sound like something is going on but it's definitely not all ADHD.

PensionPTake · 20/08/2026 16:48

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 13:37

But these are kids being influenced by their mothers for the cash! Why does a fit healthy lad need to be classed as disabled or any money paid out! The lad in question is not incapacitates at all! Read the post I was responding too, he has nothing he needs money for but mummy wants that pay out so she's influencing him and she's going to do it the daughter as well. It's system playing and you know it! They'll grow up wrong minded because mummy has told them they are disabled all their childhoods! It's not sustainable for the country to be like this!

All I know is you are incredibly ignorant about autism and pda.

Imdunfer · 20/08/2026 17:32

deepersleeper · 20/08/2026 16:32

I think the poster is suggesting you get your facts from the many credible sources of information published by experts that are available to everyone online. There are mountains of research and statistics created by professionals in various fields and they're quite easy to find. ChatGPT can usually give you a starting point and some suggested links to read or you can just use Google.

Often the media narrative we're being fed is very different to what the actual data tells us, to the extent that even I, someone with a degree in economics, have come to believe things that just aren't true because they were said so many times by so many people in authority and nobody in the media was doing their job and challenging the assertions made (so I hadn't even realised it was something I even needed to check - I check more or less everything now!). I was shocked to find out some things weren't true.

For example, the welfare bill isn't rising - it's been steady for the last 5 decades or so if you look at it as a percentage of GDP (national income). Which isn't to say that some parts of it aren't going up, but given that other parts are going down by an amount that balances this out, overall there has actually been no change. And ADHD diagnosis rates, as has been pointed out upthread, are still incredible low. They have only increased so dramatically because diagnoses for adult women were virtually zero until recently and because until relatively recently it wasn't even seen as something that adults could have at all. People with agendas are very good at spinning a narrative that just isn't true so checking these things for yourself can actually be quite fascinating!

That said, it is interesting to hear reports from teachers and professionals working on the frontline (even if anecdotal). It does sound like something is going on but it's definitely not all ADHD.

For example, the welfare bill isn't rising - it's been steady for the last 5 decades or so if you look at it as a percentage of GDP

That's far too narrow a view though. Disability benefits have rocketed in that time and continue to rocket. And although some of those are in work many are not and every person who takes themselves out of the workforce is a double whammy because they are then also paying no income tax.

Then you must also add on the social impact of tax payers having to pay to support so many people who, for whatever reason, are signed off from having to seek work.

deepersleeper · 20/08/2026 17:53

Imdunfer · 20/08/2026 17:32

For example, the welfare bill isn't rising - it's been steady for the last 5 decades or so if you look at it as a percentage of GDP

That's far too narrow a view though. Disability benefits have rocketed in that time and continue to rocket. And although some of those are in work many are not and every person who takes themselves out of the workforce is a double whammy because they are then also paying no income tax.

Then you must also add on the social impact of tax payers having to pay to support so many people who, for whatever reason, are signed off from having to seek work.

Edited

It's not a narrow view. It's what the official government statistics show us. We are seeing a real rise in disability in society, so yes, there has of course been a rise in people claiming disability benefits but if you look at welfare as a whole (or even just working age welfare), we're not paying more than we did in the past - that's what the figures show. We're spending the same amount or less than we were decades ago when nobody thought we were spending too much. Disability benefits have gone up but spending on other welfare has gone down by an amount that is balancing this out.

And our labour force participation rates are also actually very high. We don't have significantly more people out of work than at most points in the past. They're just a different demographic. We are all being misled.

TheCheekyCyanHelper · 20/08/2026 18:39

canuckup · 20/08/2026 03:05

My nephew is diagnosed as autistic/PDA. He's in a special school. His main problem is basically not doing as he's told. He has no verbal/physical issues, his main problem is he finds socialising/being told no very difficult. Academically he's capable.

He gets £340 a month DLA.

SIL now has it in her head that niece is autistic too. She's seems to be trying to get her diagnosed in order to get the money. There's nothing wrong with this kid, at all. SIL has insisted to the headteacher that she can't cope with a full day at primary school, she is anxious, has autism etc etc. The headteacher has basically given in and said, we can't meet her needs. So now she's on the wait list for an ECHP.

SIL just wants another £340 a month.

So yes, I do think there are a hell of a lot of parents who are jumptin the bandwagon to get their kid diagnosed.

Even though it's to the detriment of their child???

I don't get it.

Girls present different with Autism. We're very good at masking in public, behaving how we are "supposed" to. As a result, autism is often missed in girls. You have no idea how she might be struggling at home, with just her parents around. On top of which, Autism and ADHD are genetic, if one child has it, you absolutely should have siblings tested. And extended family should stop being so judgemental. You have no clue the if the struggles that might be happening in their home.

TheCheekyCyanHelper · 20/08/2026 18:42

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 14:34

Funny that because it doesn't mirror the amount of people online claiming their entire families have it! So every other person online claiming they and their kids have ADHD is likely to be full of shit! Those figures are highlighting that most of the issues with kids today is just lack of discipline and not ADHD, and those figures are confirming it! Those figures confirm what the documentary was saying and that most kids have not got ADHD or require the drugs, the drugs are being used to manage poor behaviour.

They claim their whole families have it, because they DO. It's a genetic condition, passed down through families. It isn't a random occurrence.

Imdunfer · 20/08/2026 19:12

deepersleeper · 20/08/2026 17:53

It's not a narrow view. It's what the official government statistics show us. We are seeing a real rise in disability in society, so yes, there has of course been a rise in people claiming disability benefits but if you look at welfare as a whole (or even just working age welfare), we're not paying more than we did in the past - that's what the figures show. We're spending the same amount or less than we were decades ago when nobody thought we were spending too much. Disability benefits have gone up but spending on other welfare has gone down by an amount that is balancing this out.

And our labour force participation rates are also actually very high. We don't have significantly more people out of work than at most points in the past. They're just a different demographic. We are all being misled.

If you don't think it's relevant to separate benefits paid due to disability from benefits paid due to lack of jobs, then we need to agree to disagree.

time4anothername · 20/08/2026 19:16

FlyMeSomewhere · 20/08/2026 14:28

No I didn't know of or see any! That's the thing, it wasn't really like that back then! Kids were disciplined in them days, parents gave a shit and behaviour wasn't anything like it is now! Discipline stops and suddenly every other kid needs ADHD meds to behave! See the issue there? That's what the documentary is highlighting! ADHD drugs are being used in place of discipline!

asking myself where you grew up and how insulated you were because I saw all of that. Obviously not in the majority but if someone experienced that these things didn't happen in the 80s, I truly wonder where this was. If you are saying that you saw more controlled behaviour because there was corporal punishment at school and at home as the only way to control these kids - even if you see meds as a chemical cosh, is that not preferable to a physical cosh? You know that physical punishment is not without long time side effects either? Especially if children were slapped around the head or face.

People keeping on working towards safe experimentation how to help kids without either physical punishment or meds that may have long term side effects is admirable - pretending it is all made up is not and taking away meds from kids who don't have other alternatives is not.

BEAchDays2 · 20/08/2026 19:55

They were really bold with their background choice with the interviews, it put me right off to be honest.