Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder

Interested in what impression / opinons / experiences you have with this mental disorder.

I'm curious about where it "came from."  Why was this not around in the past?  I think it's all made up.

While I don't doubt for a second that there are people out there who legitimately have ADHD, I think that it's a cop-out a lot of the time.  The fact that treatments of ADHD nearly quadrupled between 1987 and 1997 strikes me as extremely suspicious.  The symptoms of ADHD are so vague that practically any 'bad' behaviors can be interpreted as signs of ADHD.  It's a lot easier for parents to say, "John's misbehaving in school because he has ADHD.  Give him some medication." than to say, "John's misbehaving because we did a poor job of raising him.  We'll work harder as parents and make a lot of sacrifices to straighten him out."

Ever get nervous? Worry about things?  Have trouble concentrating sometimes?  Other perfectly normal human frailties?  Give the ADHD test at WebMD a try.  I can almost guarantee that you'll be diagnosed with at least moderate ADHD.

My English teacher was telling me that in the late 1800's when opiate use was common in America, parents would often use cough syrup that also happened to be full of opium to make their kids behave.  When you take this into account, it's not that far of a reach to making your kid pop Ritalin pills everyday.

Wow, I got a 36 out of 25, I should be bouncing off the walls, that test is bull.

Did anyone notice that at the end,  Mild ADHD was 16 points or below? That means that no matter what you put in, you will be diagnosed with at least mild ADHD.

IIRC it says mild ADHD behaviors, which doesn't mean you have ADHD per say, only that you share behaviors.  Hell, I share sociopathic behaviors, but that doesn't mean I'm sociopathic

Zomg, I was classified as having moderate (18) ADHD by this test.  I think anybody who has read one of my ahem, longer, more um... mathematical posts should have no trouble believing that I have no trouble concentrating.  I answered no to all but perhaps seven questions.

Daniel's right.  The "symptoms" of this disease are pretty much common frailties of many human beings.  Basically if your life is not a constant utopia, you have moderate ADHD.

The big problem with this test is that so many of the questions are loaded.  Like they ask, "Did your symptoms start in early childhood?"  That's like saying, "Did you start being a terrorist in early childhood?"

If there's one thing the Scientologists are right about, it's that this is a made-up disease (oh and, of course, all that stuff about the Dark Lord Xenu... he's badass).

This is how you described your home life
# You tend to worry and feel that things won't work out for you.
# You have problems managing your finances.

This is how you described your work life
# You are easily distracted.
# You often have difficulty getting things in order.
# You often fidget or squirm when You have to sit for a long time.
# Your school report cards had comments like "not performing up to potential".
# You feel you should have done better in school.
# You feel that you should be further along with your career.

This is how you described your relationships with family and friends
# You often have problems remembering appointments.
# You sometimes interrupt others when they are busy.
# You sometimes find yourself finishing others' sentences.

It seems to me that most kids that are diagnosed with ADD are only victims of poor discipline, too much sugar, and not enough hydration (thus the lack of concentration).

But I'm sure there are legitimate cases of disorders like this out there, though.  Probably mostly due to long term exposure/deficiencies of the above factors mentioned.

But I'm sure there are legitimate cases of disorders like this out there, though.  Probably mostly due to long term exposure/deficiencies of the above factors mentioned.

There are definitely legitimate cases out there, just as there as legitimate cases of autism out there.  I have had experience with two.  One was a self-described (not inaccurately) "brilliant mathematician" who just could not hold a conversation with anybody for more than a few seconds.  He wasn't hyperactive but he definitely had a deficit of attention.  The other is a fidgiting, drooling, illiterate, unmotivatable fifteen-year-old who sadly was not also brilliant; he didn't have impetus to do anything and didn't enjoy any activity at all; he was never really taught how to interact with people properly, and while he had some instinct about how to behave in public, in one-on-one situations he was basically a troglodyte.

I am diagnosed with a rather bad case of non-impulsive ADHD.  The reason behind it is not because of a diet or the lack of discipline; it is because my cognitive reactions are hopelessly slow.

Consider this:  Fred gets up in the morning and leaves himself enough time to get to his job by going the straightest route with no detours.  Instead of going the straightest way, Fred takes the scenic route, goes 20 mph below the speed limit, and decides to watch a movie at the nearest theatre.

Obviously, Fred would be fired.  I, however, cannot fire Fred, since if I did, I'd probably be a vegetable.

Non-impulsive ADHD is what was formerly known as ADD.  Rather than an outward display of fidgeting and talking too much, people with this type of ADHD are quiet, inattentive, forgetful, and usually passive.

Impulsive ADHD is the disorder Daniel is referring to.  Impulsive ADHD is easily found in just about everyone, but it really becomes a problem the more serious it is.  People diagnosed with ADHD make up a large percent of people currently in our prison system.

It seems to me that that test was assuming that people taking it already had adhd rather than testing if you actually had adhd or not.  I scored 19 and there is no way that I have any kind of attention disorder - except maybe being obsessive compulsive.    What I mean is that I can easily sit down and spend 5 hours doing a very mundane task like moving forum posts from one subforum to another (I did this a while ago) or just sit and think about a situation for 3 hours without getting bored.  While I don't actually think I have OCD, I'd say that's much more likely than having any form of adhd.

It seems to me that that test was assuming that people taking it already had adhd rather than testing if you actually had adhd or not.

I would agree... and I am concerned that other ADHD-related tests share that fallacy.

Quote from: "beast"

It seems to me that that test was assuming that people taking it already had adhd rather than testing if you actually had adhd or not.

I would agree... and I am concerned that other ADHD-related tests share that fallacy.

It's also important to think about who is going to take that test seriously.  People like us?  No, probably not.  Parents of badly-behaved children?  Absolutely.  If the test says their children have ADHD, the parents can say, "See?  It's not my fault.  It's a medical thing!"  

It reminds me a little of a documentary I saw a couple years ago called The Fat Virus.  Some researchers thought they had isolated a specific virus as the cause of obesity.  A number of extremely obese people agreed to be screened for that particular virus.  At the end of the show, they were given their results.  They all came up negative.  The funny thing (funny sad, not funny ha-ha) was that they were all so disappointed to find out that they didn't have it.  One woman almost started crying because having that virus would have absolved her of all responsibility for her weight and any other problems stemming from it.

ADHD in my opinion is a lack of self-control...whether this lack of self-control is medical, or maybe some people just lack self-control and they decided to give these people a reason for acting the way they did...a disorder...

personally having watched all those "today tonight" specials, it always surprises me how the child just happens to be from a lower-middle class family who always gets wat he wants by acting like a complete bastard, or has a drunk as a father, and a fatty as a mum...maybe this is a genetic disorder given by the parents? but more likely its a behavioural addaptation to exploit their surrounds, or give themselves a small bit of happiness.

im not in any way judging them! they, along with many medicos seriously believe that they have a disorder, and perhaps they do as result of their surroundings. but i am skeptical of the causes, as i doubt it is truly neurological, but mainly behavioural

ADHD in my opinion is a lack of self-control...whether this lack of self-control is medical, or maybe some people just lack self-control and they decided to give these people a reason for acting the way they did...a disorder...

personally having watched all those "today tonight" specials, it always surprises me how the child just happens to be from a lower-middle class family who always gets wat he wants by acting like a complete bastard, or has a drunk as a father, and a fatty as a mum...maybe this is a genetic disorder given by the parents? but more likely its a behavioural addaptation to exploit their surrounds, or give themselves a small bit of happiness.

im not in any way judging them! they, along with many medicos seriously believe that they have a disorder, and perhaps they do as result of their surroundings. but i am skeptical of the causes, as i doubt it is truly neurological, but mainly behavioural

Please read my second post.

ADHD is entirely neurological for me.

ADHD in my opinion is a lack of self-control...whether this lack of self-control is medical, or maybe some people just lack self-control and they decided to give these people a reason for acting the way they did...a disorder...

personally having watched all those "today tonight" specials, it always surprises me how the child just happens to be from a lower-middle class family who always gets wat he wants by acting like a complete bastard, or has a drunk as a father, and a fatty as a mum...maybe this is a genetic disorder given by the parents? but more likely its a behavioural addaptation to exploit their surrounds, or give themselves a small bit of happiness.

im not in any way judging them! they, along with many medicos seriously believe that they have a disorder, and perhaps they do as result of their surroundings. but i am skeptical of the causes, as i doubt it is truly neurological, but mainly behavioural

Today tonight is a load of crap at the best of times. ADD or ADHD as it is now technically known is a real disorder.

Did you experience strained relationships with your close family members?

What the fuck? Of course, every teenager goes through that.

The fucking bullshit.
I put EVERYTHING as no, it said 0

I put ONE thing as yes, it gives me 16 points.

That's fucking bullshit.

Edit: IT appears there is some sort of structure. I fucked around with it, it gave some good head, and turns out that if you have 3 symptoms, you're at 7 points.

:\

Anyways, I believe that there are real cases of ADD/ADHD, but most of the time? It's just bullshit because the parents 'care' but they don't know shit! It's the fucking unethical doctor that goes 'pill here, solve problem lol'.

And that's the bottom line, the MONEY you make from selling the drugs.

>_> therefore, no. I do not support the doctors /health system of America, but I prefer Canada's alot more xD mostly since my dad IS the head of the Ethics Board at Sunnybrook. Which just kicks major ass.

Alright hold it. I have this disorder, and I deal with it daily. I have been head injured, and th childhood racing of the mind is back just like when I was a kid.

ADHD is actually if used correctly a gift. one that we can use to our advantage, as we think faster than the norm. It just takes discipline that you would learn during childhood to teach yourself to work within it, and you can do great things.

My son has it, and now he is doing great. He is off the medication, and he can focus for a period, then he knows to go for a cup of coffee. It helps him remain on task.

he medication if used properly is just to slow the child down enough to where he will listen to you long enough to teach him how to deal with it. which is what I did with my son.
ADHD is real, very real.

It has been around for a long time, it just was not known all around. It was just called hyperactivity when I was a kid

Alright hold it. I have this disorder, and I deal with it daily. I have been head injured, and th childhood racing of the mind is back just like when I was a kid.

ADHD is actually if used correctly a gift. one that we can use to our advantage, as we think faster than the norm. It just takes discipline that you would learn during childhood to teach yourself to work within it, and you can do great things.

My son has it, and now he is doing great. He is off the medication, and he can focus for a period, then he knows to go for a cup of coffee. It helps him remain on task.

he medication if used properly is just to slow the child down enough to where he will listen to you long enough to teach him how to deal with it. which is what I did with my son.
ADHD is real, very real.

It has been around for a long time, it just was not known all around. It was just called hyperactivity when I was a kid

I believe you mean to say impulsive ADHD.  Impulsive-type ADHD is an increase in the speed of your congnitive reactions whereas nonimpulsive-type ADHD (what I have) is the decrease in the speed of your cognitive reactions.

Ya know, most people have a problem with government control, but I find it just as likely that pharmacutical companies can/will control people as much as the government could ever control anyone.  By creating drugs that are addictive and diseases that are never cured, they hold the whole world in their hands.

Alright, let's get a few things straight about ADHD (formerly ADD).
First of all, I have it, and have suffered/benefitted from it my entire life.
It DOES exist, regardless of what you believe. It is linked to(quite possibly caused by) a disorder of the frontal lobe, the area where concentration, moods, self-control, and self-awareness are controlled. In people who have ADHD, this area of the brain is slightly smaller, or not fully developed. This means while people with ADD are inhibited in their ability to control themselves and their attention spans, they are usually very creative and brilliant, usually having their own way of looking at the world. It is also a fallacy that people with ADD could pay attention if they just tried harder. It's like telling a blind person to squint harder to see. Because the symptoms of lack of control of their attention are linked to certain physical features of the brain, they cannot just "force" themselves to pay attention. It's also misleading that people with ADD cannot focus on anything. It's not that they can't pay attention, it's that they can't really control it. They can spend an entire day just daydreaming through work, and then come home and superfocus on something they really enjoy. It's sort of all or nothing. It's a disorder of contradictions, not of simply a lack of attention.

People with ADD also seek out and require massive amounts of stimulation for their brains. Whether it be video games, movies, pornography/sex, drugs, alcohol, etc etc. We need to have our minds constantly stimulated to even think clearly. Unfourtinatly, many people who unknowingly have ADD end up drug addicts and give up on themselves. Falling into the trap of believing that they are lazy or stupid, never knowing that they have ADD and just need to take a different approach then everyone else. For example, I live with my girlfriend(who is in law school), who does not have ADD. She studies in complete silence with no distractions. In complete silence, I go nuts. My mind just takes off and doesn't stop. I need to have music or the TV or something going on in the background to concentrate when I study. Also If I've had a rather uneventful day, I'll end up staying up till the early morning playing computer games, listening to/making music, drinking, w/e, just to get that stimulation I need to make my mind happy. Otherwise I just lie in bed for hours with my mind racing non-stop.

But ADD is more then just some kind of attention disorder. Because it is linked to physical abnormalites in the brain, it can cause other effects. For example, I cannot for the life of me stay organized. Everything from my room to the desktop on my computer is in disarray. Well, compared to the average person without ADD is it. Sometimes I will just blurt things out at inappropriate times, not realizing it, which is also another symptom of ADD. What I'm trying to say is that ADD is more then what most people think it is.

If you are interested in learning more about ADD there are a few books written by Edward Hallowell, a psychiatrist that has spent close to a lifetime researching/treating ADD. I read his book Delivered from Distraction and found out that he has a practice within driving distance of Boston. I have actually been to him twice since then and he helped me quite a bit. This guy knows what he is talking about.

Alright hold it. I have this disorder, and I deal with it daily. I have been head injured, and th childhood racing of the mind is back just like when I was a kid.

ADHD is actually if used correctly a gift. one that we can use to our advantage, as we think faster than the norm. It just takes discipline that you would learn during childhood to teach yourself to work within it, and you can do great things.

My son has it, and now he is doing great. He is off the medication, and he can focus for a period, then he knows to go for a cup of coffee. It helps him remain on task.

he medication if used properly is just to slow the child down enough to where he will listen to you long enough to teach him how to deal with it. which is what I did with my son.
ADHD is real, very real.

It has been around for a long time, it just was not known all around. It was just called hyperactivity when I was a kid

This is true, people with ADD think very fast, like a racecar...without brakes...  It's both a gift and a curse. But he's right it is real.

Also, Stimulants have the opposite effect on people with ADD then they do on normal people. They provide the stimulation required for the brain to concentrate for people with ADD. That's why it works.

Quote from: "jaybird39"

Alright hold it. I have this disorder, and I deal with it daily. I have been head injured, and th childhood racing of the mind is back just like when I was a kid.

ADHD is actually if used correctly a gift. one that we can use to our advantage, as we think faster than the norm. It just takes discipline that you would learn during childhood to teach yourself to work within it, and you can do great things.

My son has it, and now he is doing great. He is off the medication, and he can focus for a period, then he knows to go for a cup of coffee. It helps him remain on task.

he medication if used properly is just to slow the child down enough to where he will listen to you long enough to teach him how to deal with it. which is what I did with my son.
ADHD is real, very real.

It has been around for a long time, it just was not known all around. It was just called hyperactivity when I was a kid

This is true, people with ADD think very fast, like a racecar...without brakes...  It's both a gift and a curse. But he's right it is real.

Also, Stimulants have the opposite effect on people with ADD then they do on normal people. They provide the stimulation required for the brain to concentrate for people with ADD. That's why it works.

That's only partially true.

I'm curious about where it "came from."  Why was this not around in the past?  I think it's all made up.

No citizen of The United States of America has died of old age since 1951, the year in which that cause of death was removed from death certificates.

Quote from: "cadmium_blimp"

I'm curious about where it "came from."  Why was this not around in the past?  I think it's all made up.

No citizen of The United States of America has died of old age since 1951, the year in which that cause of death was removed from death certificates.

It doesn't change the fact that old age is essentially what offs them.

Quote from: "Ubuntu"

Quote from: "cadmium_blimp"

I'm curious about where it "came from."  Why was this not around in the past?  I think it's all made up.

No citizen of The United States of America has died of old age since 1951, the year in which that cause of death was removed from death certificates.

It doesn't change the fact that old age is essentially what offs them.

Diagnoses change however.

Age itself isn't a killer.  Hypoxia is.

Age doesn't really kill, but it is the root cause of many deaths.

I read recently in a local newspaper chemicals released from factories, etc. could be responsible for mental illnesses such as ADD and ADHD.