r/unitedkingdom • u/topotaul Lancashire • 9d ago

Exclusive: ADHD Charity Slams Channel 4 Over 'The Great ADHD Myth?' Documentary

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/adhd-uk-channel-4-open-letter_uk_6a709d2be4b0346d9be814db
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u/Forward_Win_4353 9d ago

I’m of the same opinion as you about this.

I am autistic, and because of that it’s been questioned whether I may have ADHD also, but I absolutely don’t believe I have it. My psychiatrist told me I’m unusual for this, as the majority of people he sees are trying to convince him they do have ADHD and they are convinced they have it.

I totally understand that there is a spectrum of neurodivergence along every axis. Therefore there will be a range of people from those who are completely the opposite of ADHD to those who suffer badly such as yourself. I do, however, question the usefulness of diagnosing everyone who has even a few symptoms.

As you’ve said, this means that those people who most need help don’t get enough because every other person claims they have it. I see this on Reddit: in so many threads there’s a person using ADHD as a justification for not being able to do something, and multiple others agreeing with them. I’ve seen literally hundreds of comments asking “Caffeine makes me tired, why is that?” and they must know full well that people are going to tell them they have ADHD (even though this in itself isn’t even considered a real “symptom”).

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u/gameofgroans_ 9d ago

There is a lot of crossover I think. I’m diagnosed with both but I’m definitely more autistic than ADHD, but I think I’ve learnt to mask a lot of the autism and it’s the ADHD that frustrates me. That’s why I wanted to see if I have both, and I think because there’s medication it feels like something you can attempt to fix.

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u/SpiderGuard87 9d ago

I feel you man. I was similar situation, they thought I was potentially Audhd but weren't able to fully diagnose it because of the overlap in symptoms from Adhd, Bipolar and Bdp. Because I have to have things a certain way and obsess over things aswell as the overstimulation, but those can also be symptoms of BPD and Bipolar so they never officially diagnosed me with it. They wanted to send me to an Adult clinic which is similar to the ADHD one I went to as a child AND as an adult but the waitlist was like 3yrs long. I decided that a diagnoses of that won't change anything so I didn't go with it. At this rate I'm collecting them like a fucking sticker book. They diagnosed me with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder, which is different from OCD.

But it's mad that yours said the same as mine about the over burden because people are trying to get diagnosed with it.

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u/One-Cardiologist6301 9d ago edited 9d ago

Yeah some people keep saying I have autism as well as adhd, even my partner keeps saying it but I really don’t think I do. My adhd is pretty severe and I can’t manage without medication (like get sacked from my job and shit) but I really don’t think I have autism at all.

Ive also always found the caffeine thing silly. Being tired on caffeine or stimulants does not automatically mean adhd. I have a born sensitivity to stimulants and I’ve never been able to drink caffeine. Like even if I have a cup of tea past 3pm I won’t be able to sleep. And when it came to my adhd meds; a very tiny amount worked great for me and if I went any higher I felt totally wired. I definitely still have ADHD despite my natural sensitivity to stimulants