ADHA - Real or just an excuse?

[MassiveGeek]

So I was wondering what you guys think. I?d love to hear your thoughts on this and any experiences you may have had.

I have no fucking clue what ADHA is but...

I have ADD.
My mother had ADHD.
My brother has mild autism.
My cousin has aspbergers.
It's real, I know, because I have it and I know people who have similiar problems.

I don't doubt that there are cases where the kid doesn't actually have any problems that can be classified as ADHD or such, but saying that it isn't real at all because of it is powerful stupid.

Let me explain to you how ADD has affected me and my life:
1. Terrible short-time memory. This is pretty self explanatory, I have an awful short time memory, I can forget things in a flash, I have to recheck things constantly because I forget and it has really affected me, especially in school, particuarly in math where I have to remember all the different rules and ways to count things. This is a real problem that I have to live with everyday. Know those annoying instances where you go into a room and forgot why you went there? Yeah, that happens almost everyday for me.
2. Short attention span. I have issues with focusing, for example I can't write and listen to someone talk at the same time, if I try to it all just becomes a mess in my head and I forget what I heard and what I was going to write. It takes me tons more energy to focus for longer periods of time, and because of this my energy is drained very quickly and I very easily get tired. This I take medicine for, and while it helps, the problem doesn't just go away. It makes it easier for me to focus, but I still easily lose focus and this is a nightmare when it comes to listening excerises in school.
3. Issues seeing the whole picture. I very easily misunderstand or misread things, written things especially since I can't hear your tone of voice or body language, and instructions can sometimes be difficult to understand. I easily pick up on and focus on smaller details, but that only intensifies this problem.

Because of these, which are the most major issues for me, I thought I was stupid for three years when I was in grade school. Imagine going three fucking years, trying and trying and trying to do your best in school, but it all just falls apart over and over. It wasn't until the month I started high school that I got my diagnose - and now my life is tremedously improved. I can get the help I need, and things are going so, so much better now.

tl;dr: Read it all and you'll maybe understand this. But in short, ADHD and ADD are real.

 

[Darkauthor81]

My younger brother has ?ADHA? I personally think that this is just and excuse my mum uses when he is out of control. He can get what he wants and act how he wants no matter what she or anybody says. (I have some pretty mind-boggling stories about his ridiculous behaviour if anyone?s interested.) I?ve spoken to several people about ADHD, including Doctors who don?t believe it exists.
So I was wondering what you guys think. I?d love to hear your thoughts on this and any experiences you may have had.

It's real. My dad has it and you don't want to be around him when he's forgotten to take his meds.

 

[katsumoto03]

Over-diagnosed? Sure. Real? You bet your ass. It's a recognised brain defect.

I've found that there are almost no real cases of ADD or ADHD (not sure what ADHA is...) in the world. Most of the claims are bullshit, either students choking out an excuse for their laziness or parents looking to excuse their shitty parenting.

Source?

Experience.

I may come off rather strong, but I'm just so fucking fed up with how over-diagnosed these disorders are.

experience doing what?because unless you are a professional, your experience isnt worth shit, no offence.

ummm...i always thought i was likely add, but never bothered to get diagnosed because i could manage to some extent. i definatly have an attention deficit problem, if not disorder

I never claimed to have working experience with them. I just end up listening to them ***** and whine.

that doesnt make it not real

That's true. It's a dream within a dream...

 

[DarkJesta]

Being diagnosed with ADHD at the late age of 27, I'm offended by this thread. My meds are sure as hell making a difference.

good on you mate for speaking your mind, i was diagnosed with add and aspergers at the age of 7 and then at 17 a mild form of both insomnia and bi-polar. this thread is sickening and should be taken down purely because of all of the hateful comments from uninformed people out there

 

[mew4ever23]

OP: Has he been been diagnosed with ADHD? If not, you do not and should not have to put up with that garbage. That said, ADD and it's variants definitely do exist - and they are diagnosed by psychologists. I should know - my Mom's a SNTA in a school full of messed up kids.

Spoiler

I can't even express how much I hate ignorant fucks like you. Please consider fellating a shotgun, both of you.

Very classy. Mod - It might be a good idea to lock the thread to prevent additional drama.

 

[Truehare]

Does it exist or doesn't it?

Well, it's pretty simple really: I don't have cancer, so I could say I don't believe cancer is real.

Which I don't say, because I'm smarter than that. It's pretty easy to judge others based on our own experience and feelings rather than trying to put ourselves in their place.

For the record, my son was diagnosed with ADHD at the early age of two, and I honestly don't believe he was making any excuses back then... Nor do I believe he faked that seizure which drew our attention to the problem. And I could be in denial, but I don't believe it was my bad parenting that drove him to that either.

EDITed for the sake of clarity.

 

[NezumiiroKitsune]

I'd go read some medical articles on the subject before you assume a illness isn't real. Over-diagnosis isn't synonymous with fiction. The evidence supporting it is undeniably vast and further validated by repeated trials by qualified psychological practitioners. The flu is highly over-diagnosed given it is the more likely of potential causes for headaches, aching limbs, and fatigue, but it could non the less still be meningitis. This doesn't mean that the flu isn't real.

Aderall however is fantastic for intense study, it's questionably ethical since it gives you an unfair edge when you don't suffer from ADD or ADHD, but it can't be denied, Aderall makes long pre-exam study binges so much easier to dedicate yourself too.

 

[thisismyonlypost]

Over-diagnosed? Sure. Real? You bet your ass. It's a recognised brain defect.

I've found that there are almost no real cases of ADD or ADHD (not sure what ADHA is...) in the world. Most of the claims are bullshit, either students choking out an excuse for their laziness or parents looking to excuse their shitty parenting.

Source?

Experience.

I may come off rather strong, but I'm just so fucking fed up with how over-diagnosed these disorders are.

That's your problem bolded right there. No doubt that it's overdiagnosed, but I doubt your experience encompasses the entire world. Experience is usually a really shitty thing to go on, considering the relatively small area we actually live most of our lives in.

Oh noes, I used an exaggeration! So sorry to have offended!

It's not that, it's just that in a discussion it's a silly thing to do.

Now that's out of the way though, I wonder, what kind of experience do you have with it? Seen it in the family, or are you a doctor yourself?

They could have omnipresence, you don't know! You know what makes it even more suspect? Treatments work, and the same treatments give normal kids extra-motivation to do school work and study.

Ahhh yes, the power of the placebo effect. The human psyche is such an interesting thing.

Actually, stimulants do affect people without an ADHD diagnosis the same way they effect other people. A difference in our neural functioning doesn't magically change the way our bodies interact with stimulants like methylphenidate and amphetamine salts. A look at the control group in this study: Effect of Methylphenidate on Executive Functioning in Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Normalization of Behavior but Not Related Brain Activity

As well as several others will show the increased neural activation for normal patients on stimulants. The difference is that people with ADHD often need stimulants to function on a "normal" level while people who do not have a real need for them can also use them to get high or to get an edge.

 

[thisismyonlypost]

I've met a girl with ADHD, she seemed perfectly normal... then I found out she was taking the max dose of Ritalin.
She then proceeded to ingest sugar without realising it until she had done so and started motor-mouthing.

I think it's real, but as with Asperger's there's probably a lot of self-diagnosed and misdiagnosed patients, as well as some fakers out there.

This is another thing that makes people doubt its existence. Sugar causing hyperactivity is widely believed to be a myth in the medical field, there is no evidence to support sugar or any other foodstuff can cause any chemical changes in the brain.

Have you looked for scientific evidence that discusses sugar's interaction with stimulants? Because stimulants DO affect the brain and they seem to be playing a large role in this case.

 

[twistedmic]

I don't know if this has been said yet, as I haven't read all of the posts, but ADHD (attention Deficit Hyper activity disorder) is real. Mom mom is a psychologist ( has a doctorate in psychology) and has seen people who really have ADHD.
Though while ADHD is a real disease/disorder it is vastly over-diagnosed. so the OP's brother may be genuinely ADHD, or he may have been misdiagnosed and is just a brat.

 

[Popadoo]

Even if it does exist, which I doubt, we are treating them wrong. If we want them to act normal, don't treat them different. There was a kid in my school a few years ago that had it who pushed a kid with a broken arm into a wall, severely damaging his arm FOR FUCKING LIFE, and he goes into a separate room and is given a laptop to play around on. Fucking justice please?! Fuck ADHD.

 

[Stasisesque]

I've met a girl with ADHD, she seemed perfectly normal... then I found out she was taking the max dose of Ritalin.
She then proceeded to ingest sugar without realising it until she had done so and started motor-mouthing.

I think it's real, but as with Asperger's there's probably a lot of self-diagnosed and misdiagnosed patients, as well as some fakers out there.

This is another thing that makes people doubt its existence. Sugar causing hyperactivity is widely believed to be a myth in the medical field, there is no evidence to support sugar or any other foodstuff can cause any chemical changes in the brain.

Have you looked for scientific evidence that discusses sugar's interaction with stimulants? Because stimulants DO affect the brain and they seem to be playing a large role in this case.

Then it would be the stimulant affecting the brain. Sugar's only a bad guy in the sense it rots your teeth and gives you diabetes*.

*Note: I am being facetious, I am aware the risks aren't extortionate.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Most cases of ADHD are just excuses for boredom, laziness or the result of terrible parenting.

First of all, I actually am hyperactive and was treated for ADHD growing up. But by no means would I say that I'm incapable of focusing my attention when I want to.
For me, the "hyperactive" part is undeniably true. I love being in motion, moving around, etc. There are some days where I want to do nothing more than just run around aimlessly, climb, or jump. I routinely test my reflexes jumping snow piles, counting steps and distances, and doing generally silly things with the environment while walking around (mostly between classes).
In short: I have sufficient evidence/experience to suggest that "hyperactivity" is real.

It's the "attention deficit disorder" part of ADHD that I have a problem with.

Based on my own experiences, the drug treatments (Ritalin, Clonazapam, Prozac, etc) are largely ineffective and seem to do little other than introduce new problems.
As a comparison, I noticed no change in my bodily behavior/function (apart from the lack of side effects) once I went off the drugs back in 03'. The only thing that I gained from those stupid drugs is that Prozac made a great sleep regulator.

If something interests me, nothing, (no proverbial "passing butterfly") will divert my attention. Yet the condition as described suggests that anyone with it is mentally compelled to divert their attention for even the slightest of causes.
Given the context of my actions, desires, and general mental processes during periods of both boredom and interest, a contradiction arises wherein my alleged "Attention Deficit Disorder".
When I'm bored, I obviously do not want to focus, but I am able to if I want to.
When I'm interested in the subject, nothing compels me to pay attention to anything else (beyond the extraordinary, like a fire alarm or someone making a ruckus).

The only difference between my fidgeting now and when I was in grade school is that I'm more consciously aware of it and much less overtly competitive with my peers (because I'm an adult, duh).

There probably are real cases out there of people who are mentally incapable of focusing their attention on anything for even short periods of time ("chronic distraction" is the best I can describe it), but most of the many, MANY people I've met who claim to have ADHD (Usually ignorantly opening with "I am ADHD", rather than "I have ADHD") do not seem to exhibit any of the usual symptoms.

That is, there is no consistency within these people aside from "I got distracted"; which doesn't say much when it can(and does) happen to everyone.

I'm sure the drug companies that made Ritalin, Prozac, etc loved the 90s though.

 

[Ice Car]

My younger brother has ?ADHD? I personally think that this is just and excuse my mum uses when he is out of control. He can get what he wants and act how he wants no matter what she or anybody says. (I have some pretty mind-boggling stories about his ridiculous behaviour if anyone?s interested.) I?ve spoken to several people about ADHD, including Doctors who don?t believe it exists.
So I was wondering what you guys think. I?d love to hear your thoughts on this and any experiences you may have had.

No, it is not an excuse. I have ADHD. Trust me, I've tried doing that when I was 7 and it didn't work. It's not an excuse if you have it under control. ADHD may make it harder to stay still, concentrate, whatever, but it doesn't mean things are out of your control and it's a proper excuse.

 

[Ninonybox_v1legacy]

[link]http://www.adha.org/[/link]

If your brother is a dentist, cut him some slack. They have the highest suicide rate of all professions.

Edit: Multi-pun, didn't even see it.

you sir made me lol

 

[thethingthatlurks]

Personal experience tells me it is just an excuse, and the people claiming to have it are just in dire need of a spanking to get them back in line. It seems, however, that I was wrong, and that ADHD is not systematically over diagnosed. A quick pubmed search yielded this: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17709814
It is just the abstract, of course, and while it clearly states that ADHD is not systematically over diagnosed, I won't deny that there are exceptions. 'course, given an accurate diagnosis is not everything. Proper treatment is also necessary, but that's a whole other rant entirely...

 

[Ranchcroutons]

I believe I am a misdiagnosed case of ADD. My mom believed I had it because instead of listening to my boring teacher I would drift off into my imagination. The pills were great though. They made me focus and were an appetite suppressor so I went from being chubby to slim. I just now went off the stuff and quickly gained about 35 pounds.

 

[CheesusCrust]

Might exist; probably does, I'm not a psychiatrist so I don't know. What I do know is it is way overdiagnosed and overmedicated. At this point it's a synonym for energetic child. People buy Ritalin which makes the pharmacists happy and parents can avoid responsibility by drugging their kids until they're quiet. Everybody wins, so why not diagnose every kid without an indoor voice? I feel sorry for the kids who's parents shovel pills down their throats for nothing more than behaving like children.

 

[SilverUchiha]

I heard somewhere that there was a study done that shows sugar doesn't actually cause people to get hyperactive. Can't remember where for the life of me.

About 20 posts up the page.

Nope I skipped most of those. I heard it somewhere on Tv. But, hey, thanks for playing.

 

[xWestie]

I think it does exist, but as many people have said it's over-diagnosed.
Someone I know was diagnosed with it, and I do notice they do have "hyper" moments. They're 19 and sometimes act quite childish out of the blue.

I do think though that sometimes people do use it as an excuse to be lazy. =/