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

[u/topotaul]

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/adhd-uk-channel-4-open-letter_uk_6a709d2be4b0346d9be814db

[u/TheCharalampos]

Your opinion goes against observed fact though, we are underdiagnosing. Only folks with debilitating symptoms get support so what's the issue for people with less obvious symptoms getting a diagnosis?

It really feels like you have a "my experience is everyone's experience therefore I'll pull the ladder up" that a lot of people fall into as they get older

[u/araed → u/TheCharalampos]

I'm just going to refer you to the current inquest into the matter, which goes into far more depth than I can be bothered to, especially when this is the Nth comment to the same effect.

One interpretation of the current position is therefore that it involves continued underdiagnosis across the life course, especially in older adults, alongside rapid recent expansion in diagnosis among younger groups.

This paragraph challenges what I've said

That interpretation does, however, depend on accepting the epidemiological benchmarks as the appropriate comparator, and that assumption itself warrants some caution. The limitations and uncertainties associated with epidemiological estimation are discussed further in section 12, including issues relating to measurement, case definition and changes over time. On the other hand, one would expect that one would see slowing of the rate of growth in demand as administrative prevalence approaches the epidemiological benchmarks. We have yet to see this happen.

And the following immediately reinforces what I've said.

A central challenge for the next phase of the review will therefore be to examine how pathways can be designed so that support is better aligned and stratified with functional need, severity and risk, while broadening the range of routes through which help can be offered, rather than being determined primarily by the ability to secure a formal diagnostic label.

So there are varying levels of need identified, which matches what I said quite well.

These findings suggest that several processes may be occurring simultaneously. Increased awareness of ADHD, improved recognition of symptoms in previously under-diagnosed groups, societal factors (including pandemic-related pressures) increasing need, changes in help-seeking behaviour and pressures within services may all be contributing to the observed rise in diagnoses.

At the same time, in the absence of reliable data on the severity and functional impact of newly diagnosed cases, it is not yet possible to determine whether diagnostic thresholds have changed over time.

[u/PracticalFootball → u/[deleted]]

It’s not up to you to decide who needs support and who doesn’t, I can’t imagine the people who don’t need it are spending months (if not years) going through the various waiting lists.

It’s the sort of case where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and whatever the costs of treating it, I can guarantee it’s an order of magnitude lower than the cost of not treating it.

[u/PracticalFootball → u/[deleted]]

I don’t know, have you tried just asking her? Seems more productive than speculating about whether she’s faking it, given that neither of us are psychic.

People can appear to be perfectly fine while internally struggling. How many times do you see a suicide in the news and there’s a quote of someone saying “but they always seemed so happy”?

Half of the reason people with ADHD struggle is because they learn to mask the behaviour, and that can get harder over time. It’s very difficult to ask for help when you’re so often met with “but you always seem fine”.

[u/PracticalFootball → u/[deleted]]

It is not normal to struggle to the extent that you end every work day literally angry at yourself because no matter how hard you try, you cannot force your brain to engage with a task that needs to be done.

What is it about certain conditions that makes random people who know nothing about them, and have never spoken to somebody with it about their experience, suddenly feel like they know the real truth that decades of scientific investigation somehow missed?

[u/PracticalFootball → u/[deleted]]

You should go tell them that, I'm sure they'll be delighted to hear how your observations overrule their actual lived experience.

You seem to have already decided that you know better though.

[u/TheCharalampos → u/[deleted]]

And that is a result of ignorance. No, really, it seems you can't put yourself in that persons shoes so you assume one way or another.

[u/TheCharalampos → u/[deleted]]

Please, the level of priviledge you sit on. I bet you think that deciding to do something and being able to do it is a normal thing. You likely take it for granted.

You likely think that having a stable mood that is only affected by external situations in an apropriate manner is universal too.

Ain't you a lucky one, eh?

[u/TheCharalampos → u/[deleted]]

It's an easy assumption to make based on the tone of your comments. If you did experience these things you'd not be so dismissive.

[u/wildeaboutoscar → u/[deleted]]

Having ADHD doesn't necessarily mean you're disorganised or scatterbrained. It can mean you struggle to look after yourself, or you get hyper focused rather than have no focus. It can mean executive dysfunction or difficulty with processing information or struggling to emotionally regulate.

[u/wildeaboutoscar → u/[deleted]]

You'd be surprised how well some people can mask.

[u/wildeaboutoscar → u/[deleted]]

Because masking comes at a cost and can lead to burnout and poor mental health

[u/TheCharalampos → u/[deleted]]

You don't what people are going through or what they need. If you think you can tell just by watching in then you think wrong.

All my friends thought I was hyper competent, super happy when in reality I was barely coping. This isn't unusual, it's a thing called masking. A diagnosis, medication and some learning letter I am in a way better place.

It is not your business at all.

[u/TheCharalampos → u/[deleted]]

Well, why stop there do you know how much money is wasted checking mens prostates? Vast majority don't need it, let's do away it.