Ok, back to it and posting again after a little time out.
Channel 4 will soon be screening what already looks like very provocative called ‘The Great Myth – Is ADHD real?’ It’s hard to see anything but harm in the title alone and all of the press and social media commentary upon it’s announcement. I do think however that this presents an opportunity for discussion.
Whenever I read of people questioning whether ADHD is real it does give me a jolt. Have I conveniently leaned in to the ADHD diagnosis machine fuelled by big pharma? Are they stoking this up to continue enjoying the profits of growing numbers of prescriptions for stimulants?
When attempting to answer the question of whether ADHD is really a thing or not there are a few things to consider:
- What is the angle? When a provocative title comes up we know that there is an agenda
- Why is this a question? What other medical issues that are recognised by international medical organisations and NICE/ICD/DSM attract so many doubters?
- Why do we often find focus or improvement in executive focus due to stimulants? In somebody without ADHD wouldn’t you expect undesirable results?
- If it’s a social construct as suggested what does it mean? It’s something agreed on by society giving it meaning – like money. It doesn’t occur naturally. This argument ignores evidence around imaging, truly destructive behaviours around hyperfocus, risk taking, compulsive behaviour etc.
- Why is there such a strong genetic link? The prevalence of ADHD suggests a biological connection. Many argue that nature and nurture both affect how ADHD appears and with what severity
- If it’s a social construct why are so many people now becoming aware of their own traits? Isn’t it more that we are actively interested in this where we have been struggling all our lives? It explains so much to so many of us and importantly we haven’t opted in, it’s been observable since before the age of 12.
I have already met so many people with ADHD and seen a wide spectrum of people in terms of how severely it affects them. As a social construct it would be a very wicked one. Those with ADHD are said to be up to five times more likely to take their own lives than without, and what about those with no idea that they are ADHD? There is a lot of research noted on the link here.
From a personal perspective I never suspected it in myself but now it’s clear to me. When I researched the traits it was like someone had been following me taking notes and I am taking action to try to work with the most difficult aspects.
ADHD is not a choice, not a fad, not a fun phase or a social construct.
It’s a neurodevelopmental condition from what I can understand and often we see the results of it rather than the disorder underneath – chaotic drinking, promiscuity, dabbling with drugs, gambling, taking out high credit/loans, impulsive purchases etc. Problem is that all humans show ADHD traits at times but with ADHD it can seriously impede people from living more happily – it’s on another level for so many of us.
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