Overdiagnosis is not a problem, but misdiagnosis may be as people are driven into the private sector by long waits, and sadly, missed diagnoses remain common —Tamsin Ford
Experts are warning that far from being over-diagnosed, people with ADHD are waiting too long for assessment, support and treatment.


If ADHD is common enough to be prelevant in 5% of population… Then to me it seems like its not something we should be drugging people for, but instead adjust the lives to it?
I mean we don’t give “righ-handeness” drugs to left-handed people. We give them left-handed scissors.
10% of women have endometriosis. Would you take away their pain meds? You can make their work life easier (more sick leave) but then it still affects their personal life.
ADHD is so much more than “can’t pay attention in class”. It affects your personal life too. Usually that’s a deciding factor for getting meds.
Well, the real problem is living in a capitalist society that expects everyone to be a good little capitalist and work a 9-5.
The problem isn’t having adhd, its that society expects me to function in a certain way, and the fact that I don’t makes them want to change how I act.
There are other traits I have from trauma that are considered positive by society, so they don’t give a shit, and in fact encourage those behaviors.
My problem isn’t my job, I am completely fine with that, it’s the way I barely function in my personal life, and a lot of that isn’t related to the structure of our society at all. There could be less friction in a few places yes but that wouldn’t completely fix my issues either.
Sorry but no. 9-5 is hell, but even without that life isn’t pretty. A huge one is rejection sensitivity, that pretty much only affects personal life. Can’t really ask people to accommodate for that.
Thank you for explaining adhd to me. I just wasn’t getting the disorder I have until you came along.
I kinda didn’t? I just don’t buy the “capitalist society is built for neurotypical people”. It’s built by psychopaths and most working class people survive in it, not many are thriving. We’ve got a harder time in it but ADHD would still suck in a healthier society.
Endometriosis is not something that shares symptoms which can be caused by kids being chronically under slept AFAIK. U.S. psychiatrists and therapists are completely incompetent and will not check for basic sleep issues and instead just drug kids. I’m all for finding comprehensive treatment for executive dysfunction of all kinds, but I just don’t think methylphenidate and amphetamines etcetera are suitable for as many situations as believed.
Yes, that’s exactly what the article is about.
My friends and partner are super understanding about my ADHD, I’m unmedicated and there is really no big issue. If you have a culture of understanding and tolerance, it doesn’t feel like a disability. I wish for you to experience that one day, it really is quite amazing.
Left-handed scissors is the perfect analogy. But drugs can be left-handed scissors.
It’s really not.
Not every adhd is equally severe nor do they all affect the same parts of people’s lives. I’m happy this works for you but it does not mean it works for everyone.
I have not said that there is only one possibility. Obviously the tools given need to be adjusted to the individual. But the same way I am not allowed to make general statements and dismiss yours, you are not allowed to dismiss mine. If you treat ADHD less like a disease or something bad, I’m sure it will generally improve outcomes, even if the actual severity is different across people.
Yes. Let’s take your personal anecdote and make it policy. People can just fix the environment to be accepted, change the world for the better and stuff like that.
Your ADHD is not the same as another persons.
“Understanding and tolerance” is an individualized “solution” for decaying welfare states that have lost sight of any political solution other than begging their masters for treats that have been in decline since the end of the Cold War.
No thanks, I’d like to be able to think with a clear head, and do something with my life, not be stuck in one of like 6 suitable work places.
It’s just speed, just stimulants. Caffeine is an example of legal self-titration. When done properly, the doses are not high and it can really help. IMO meth-heads are a symptom of disproportionate availability of the real thing (only sometimes coca-cola).
Having said that, I am not on board with widespread use in developing brains, much as with caffeine