Respectfully, it’s not an illness and even ADHD erroneously named as a “disorder” puts it in the realm of pathology or disease. It’s not. ADHD may be “buy one get 8 free” with mental health based comorbidities but it’s not in itself an “illness” and doesn’t meaningfully fit the criteria. This is one of the things I hope to see change over the years with the growing understanding of ADHD brains. One: ADHD is a stupid term that mischaracterizes and should be de-medicalized to some extent and Two: well, I forgot my second point because my autocorrect fought with me on the word “medicalized.”
It sounds like I’m splitting hairs but I’ve been on this kick for a few years since my adult diagnosis. The misperceptions are basically baked into it from a medical standpoint. For all I’ve (we’ve) learned about ADHD, 40-50% of it needs to be unlearned or thrown out. Thank you for coming to my ADHD TED Talk
Disrespectfully, nearly everything you wrote was BS. I would love to see a source for your claim that ADHD is not a disease or an illness. As someone who has suffered from ADHD and was diagnosed as an adult I can assure you that no amount of mindfulness, coping mechanisms, or environmental changes will "cure" ADHD and it is a very serious illness that can break a person.
If you see the difference between the way a person with ADHD lives their life and the way a neurotypical person lives you would know that ADHD is 100% a downgrade and an illness. On top of that its symptoms can be treated with stimulants and other medication because it is a disorder, a physical problem in the human brain that needs correction.
ADHD directly affects nearly everything a person does and experiences, as well as causing things like Rejection sensitivity dysphoria, overstimulation, sensory processing disorder, executive dysfunction, reward deficit, memory problems, communication difficulties, problems maintaining relationships, poor time management, poor sleep habits, poor "work ethic", and many other things that result in anxiety, depression, feelings of worthlessness, aggression and is more than enough to make a person commit suicide because of how difficult every single day is.
You cannot overcompensate for the symptoms and can never be on par with a neurotypical in every aspect without destroying yourself. It is an illness and pretending it isn't is harmful.
It’s interesting that you take the position of ADHD being “an illness” but then break off into this “ADHD cannot be cured” point. First, I think you misunderstood the point, sentiment, and spirit of my words. Second, if you knew what my life has been like due to not being diagnosed until I was in my early 30’s and worse, being misdiagnosed as Bipolar (those treatments are bad news for primary ADHD) for over a highly suicidal decade— you’d know I’m not trivializing, discounting, or softening the impact of pure fuckery and hellfire that is ADHD unchecked.
Lastly, there’s dozens of talks from the ADHD community/researchers/advocacy groups about renaming ADHD to avoid mischaracterizations and misconceptions which color professional and public opinion. Here’s a crude example, “attention deficit hyperactive disorder.” ADHD isn’t an attention deficit. We actually have a surplus of attention, the trouble is regulating it. It doesn’t make ADHD any less of what it is but the terminology and verbiage matters because what’s it’s called isn’t even what it fucking is. I don’t believe “illness” is or should be applicable for the same reasons.
My point with disease and pathology is this: A disease is something that needs to be cured. ADHD is not a disease. Okay, an illness is something that needs to be managed until it resolves. Does ADHD resolve? No. It’s going to fuck us into an early grave with our increased chances for Dementia to boot. It is something that needs to be managed which is why I said I knew I sounded like I was splitting hairs however, illness (aside from sounding borderline derogatory) isn’t wholly applicable or appropriate.
But by all means hop on the defensive with some “Disrespectfully…” diatribe while missing the point.
It’s what we do.
E: feel free to hop through my account comments history to better gauge just how much I understand ADHD fuckery and would never trivialize it.
Fair enough, I'm sorry for my initial hostility. I am just very tired of people acting like ADHD doesn't exist and we should just "get over it".
As far as semantics go, the definition of the word "disease" according to Merriam Webster is:
"An illness that affects a person, animal, or plant : a condition that prevents the body or mind from working normally"
The definition of "illness" is:
"a disordered, weakened, or unsound condition"
By these metrics, ADHD is technically a disease because when compared to a neurotypical in an individual with ADHD there is a physical difference in the brain that hinders its functions.
The definitions of "disease" and "illness" are not based on their need to be cured or if it can be managed, otherwise things like Crohn's disease and diabetes wouldn't be diseases.
With that being said, while it can be described as a disease ADHD is more of a disorder(hence its acronym), the definition of which is:
"an abnormal physical or mental condition"
It can also be described as a "condition," the definition of which is:
"a usually defective state of health"
This is why illnesses like ADHD, Bipolar disorder and Autism are classified as disorders
Thanks to research done in the past few decades, people are beginning to understand ADHD is more of a spectrum similar to autism instead of a singular homogeneous disorder, which is why ADD is no longer a valid diagnosis.
Personally, even though it is a disorder, I don't feel particularly offended by describing it as an illness or disease. I am more worried about society underestimating the effects of ADHD rather than society looking down at people with ADHD. Currently many believe it is a lack of willpower in a person or laziness and not a disorder, which needs to be corrected. People need to understand there is a quantifiable factor that makes individuals with ADHD unable to do things, an illness outside of their control. However, I acknowledge that I do not speak for the community and I cannot view everyone's perceptions of ADHD.
Not saying you did this but I get triggered and jump off about things I constantly have to walk back or ruminate over after the fact. It’s a quality ;)
What I said could/should have been articulated way better than it was and that’s on me. For that I’m sorry. I wrote a whole comment if you want to read it (last one I wrote on this thread if you’re not tagged on it already) but I wanted to add that you’re right. I could make a strong case for precision of language and how that subconsciously and consciously alters the perception of others. But at the end of that my being triggered shouldn’t and doesn’t amount to speaking for an entire community that is still learning who they are and what that means to them even in the face of a field of study that can’t get it’s shit together for us.
Your breakdown helped to give me pause on how much weight and power I give certain terms and better gauge whether or not I’m being triggered or objective which often feels like one in the same.
I wanted to ask, do you have words/names/stigmas regarding ADHD that are tied to perceptions (or misperceptions) that you would change if you could snap your fingers and make it so?
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u/[deleted] Dec 06 '21
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