Is ADD bullsh!t?

[d3n]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Amazingly, give most of the kids diagnosed with ADHD a game to play (xbox, etc.), and they suddenly have no problem with attention for hours on end. Most ADHD kids only have trouble paying attention when it's something they don't want to do. In my opinion, that's a disciplinary problem, not a medical problem. I HAVE, on the other hand, seen a few kids who genuinely did have ADHD. I coached one on a youth soccer team; I had to keep my eyes on him non-stop. "Okay, dribble the ball to the cone over there." kick kick kick kick "ohhhh, butterflyyyyyy" run run run "ooooooh, pretty flower" run run run... The result of those occasions where I've been able to interact with such kids makes me realize that ADHD is real, but over-diagnosed in the vast majority of cases. Hey, none of us wants to pay attention when we're not interested in something... accepting that you have to is part of growing up.

Games actually have a physical effect on the brain similar and to drugs. I think the Game takes the place of the drug in this case.

 

[child of wonder]

Originally posted by: Legend
Not BS. I tried for a year to break off Ritalin, and I did, but I could never concentrate like I could with Ritalin. It really cripples my ability to program for example. My mind will wander as I struggle to remember the locality of certain variables in a project I'm working with that has hundreds of files.

It's not diet. I'm a total health nut...I eat primarily fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whey, nuts, fish, green tea, etc. I workout frequently and get ~8-9 hours/sleep a night.

I see that people continue to blame caffeine. Caffeine isn't going to mess you up. It's the high glycemic and insulin spiking sugary substances found in sodas and fruit juices that cause fatigue. Green tea contains caffeine, and is considered one the healthiest things that you can drink/consume.

I'm the same way. I've never been diagnosed with ADD nor have had any treatment for it but it's extremely frustrating how my mind will wander all on it's own when someone is talking to me, I'm working on a project, in a meeting, etc. It's not that I'm not trying to focus, it's just that my attention will veer off course all on it's own.

All I can do is adjust it as fast as I can before I miss too much.

I do think, however, that many people use ADD as an excuse to not push themselves harder or to be held accountable for their actions.

 

[slsmnaz]

Originally posted by: d3n

Games actually have a physical effect on the brain similar and to drugs. I think the Game takes the place of the drug in this case.

BS! That is just...

 

[d3n]

I'm sure we could name studies all day to prove or disprove. So here goes. This one talks about a study where video games were used to replace the fix that addicted gamblers get. It also makes a link that the same hormones produced through video games could be used to counteract the type of attention deficits traits that affect addicted gamblers. A type of drug therapy by video game proxy.

I'm not saying games or destructive like drugs but they defiantly seem to have a drug like effect on the brain.

 

[Legend]

Originally posted by: slsmnaz

Originally posted by: d3n

Games actually have a physical effect on the brain similar and to drugs. I think the Game takes the place of the drug in this case.

BS! That is just...

I'm guessing the similarity is the artificial sense of accomplishment. Both drugs and games do that. But it's not the same thing.

Then again some WoW addicts may be the exception.

 

[bennylong]

I have ADD. I can't stop thinking about sex or porn. I need to get on some med. and go on disablilty for the rest of my life.

 

[bennylong]

The medicine my dad gave me when I was a kid was a nice belt to my butt and hands.

 

[CKent]

Absolutely not. It's wonderful that we're making advancements into the realm of mental maladies now, in addition to physical ones, but sad that people refuse to believe what they can't see (and ironic that they mostly instead believe in a big guy in the sky who made them, who they can't see either).

 

[xanis]

My mom has been working as a special education teacher for 23 years. She's worked with all manners of mental disabilities including autism, Asburger's Syndrome, and a whole lot of other disabilities that you've probably never heard of. She firmly believes that ADD and ADHD are real disabilities and medicine plus some hard work by teachers, parents, and the student themself can lead to great success. As for me, I have ADHD with some abscure learning disorder, therefore I'm a believer as well.

 

[Staples]

No, it isn't but people can get over it.

Just like addictions, it is not a disease that one can't overcome. Saying you have it is an excuse for nothing.

 

[crystal]

Of course it BS. 1 + 1 = 3.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: lyssword

Originally posted by: zinfamous
It is mediclaly diagnosable. But it in the end, it's more attributable to modern dipshit parents that choose to raise their kids with video games and IM rather than personal attention. They then choose to drug their kids to reduce their own instances of headaches.

I grew up without video games and tv for the first 13 years of my life (2nd world country). And I've had plenty of leather belt. Still I have ADD.

Yeah, I didn't intend to overgeneralize (even though I did, based on my post). I think there are legitimate cases, but the larger problem is that it becomes over diagnosed. Until the drug companies stop sponsoring the major international medical or psychiatric conferences, this won't go away anytime soon.

 

[AndrewR]

Hell yes -- I would have been "diagnosed" with ADD in grade school because I was bored most of the time with the difficulty level (not bragging, just stating). I got into enough trouble that they would have surely decided I needed some medication!

 

[SirStev0]

Need an absolutely

 

[Brainonska511]

I believe it is a real disorder, but it is over diagnosed and often "kids being kids" is misinterpreted as ADD/ADHD.

 

[Journer]

i didnt read any previous posts...

i think that there may be some kind of chemical problem that causes ADD like symptoms...but i think ADD is grossly over-diagnosed and all the kids need is some good disciplen or different studdy habbits...my teachers used to tell me i was ADD all the time when i was young, but my rents were like, no...he just doesnt enjoy sitting and being bored for 7hours every day, he needs to get out and play...i turned out fine...i do as good as i want ...although my shortterm memory sucks, thats related to a sleeping disorder though :/

 

[yhelothar]

No, but I don't think it's a disorder to begin with. It's simply a personality trait. The traditional education system, however, is bullshit.
Best solution for ADD kids is neither drugs nor a beating, but a more effective education system that actually focuses on learning rather than focusing on disciplining kids to do routine work.
Many geniuses is widely known to have ADD, because of their inability to stay on task and do routine work. However, when they are taken out of this environment, they flourish.
Thomas Edison dropped out of kindergarten. His teacher ostracized him as a troubled student. His mom let him learn on his own, and he flourished as an innovative inventor. Albert Einstein failed all his routine classes. His headmaster declared, "nothing would become of him," due to his poor performance in his classes. He spent his time thinking wildly about how the world around him works, rather than stripping his individuality to discipline himself to do hours of busy work.

 

[MrsBugi]

Originally posted by: Whisper
A few things:

-The official diagnosis nowadays is ADHD, and it comes in one of three varieties; the term ADD is no more
-While it's heavily debated what exactly constitutes ADHD, how prevalent it truly is, how best to diagnose it, and if its subtypes are similar conditions or, in fact, different disorders entirely, not many people in the clinical community argue that it, as a whole, does not exist
-Someone mentioned that it's similar to the autism spectrum disorders; this is true in some respects, but generally the two series of disorders are very disparate; as for the recommendations not to eat high amounts of mercury or receive antibiotics/immunizations, neither of those scenarios has been tied to the development of autism in rigorously-conducted scientific studies up to this point

ADHD is, indeed, a very real condition affecting multiple areas of neuroanatomy, such as the frontal lobes and the caudate nucleus. However, it, just like any other disorder, can be misdiagnosed.

Well said.

Excellent information from someone who definitely knows what he's talking about. :thumbsup:

 

[OVerLoRDI]

It isn't bullshit but it is WAY over diagnosed. Kids that are bored in school and don't focus don't always have ADD. But my best friend most definitely does. Without his medicine he is all over the place mentally. With it he is pretty chill.

 

[Chaotic42]

No, but I think that it's used as an excuse far too often. A ten year old kid can be crapping himself and pulling the feathers off of the birds at the pet store and the excuse is "The kid has ADD, don't judge him."

Not only is it a convenient excuse, but it makes legitimate ADD sufferers look bad.

 

[Compton]

My brother supposedly has ADD. Instead of medication he really needs to get the ****** beat out of him.

 

[judasmachine]

I feel that there are many legit cases, but the drug worked so well that they are giving it to everyone. That and shrinks have gotten away from treating with counselling and noticed that they can save time and earn more money as drug dealers.

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Tiamat
No, its an integral part of mathematics.

:laugh:

roflmao I had to figure out why you put a laughing simile then i LOLed

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Number1

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Let's see, what did my parents do to me...

1) Was only able eat candy on Saturdays.
2) I had a bed time of like 9:00 PM until I was 10.
3) We use to eat mainly home-cooked food, not junk all the time.
4) I only had surprised television viewing in the living room.
5) Was not able to have my own TV or phone or computer until my teen years.
6) When I was 3, my dad and I walked to a junk wood pile where he had me select my paddle stick. I picked it out and he sanded it down and made a handle on one end. He then swatted me with it to get my attention and then hung it high in the kitchen where I could always see it. He used it on me 3 or 4 times between the ages of 3 and 9. First time I think was when I crossed the street alone without looking both ways. He needed an effective way to get the message across. He also used it if I was caught lying to him or my mother. How would he use it? He would first explain why I was being punished. He would then bend me over his knee and spank me 10 times with it on my bare butt. Lastly, he would hug me (while I was sobbing) and tell me he loved me.

I would say all of the above was quite effective. I never needed drugs.

Toutching story. How did you feel about it at the time?

#1-5 was simply habit. I dreaded #6 and that dread kept me in line.

 

[Xyo II]

I thought about this for quite a while. I've seen so many people who are diagnosed as ADD it's ridiculous. There is now a definitive brain scan for it, not that it'll be usually used. The thing is, kids who just don't want to pay attention are getting diagnosed with it. "yeah, I can't concentrate in school. My mind wanders." "oh, you have ADD". <------ This is not a good way to look at it. As for me, I have ADD bad. I will be concentrating on something I'm doing, and then all of the sudden I start thinking about something else. Just like that. Then I stop and think, "wait a second. I was thinking about this.....". It's very frustrating too- it's made school difficult, even when I'm interesting in the subject. When I was a kid, I would read books or watch TV and not be aware of anything around me, even with someone yelling my name in the room. This is what ADD is.

boomerang- that could be ADD. It might not be, but ADD affects a lot of people in different ways.

Adderall is like candy at colleges- doing homework, studying for exams, ground up and snorted for an effect similar to like cocaine, you name it. I was offered $5 a pill for mine... I absolutely couldn't, because I actually Goddamn need them. So what I'm saying is, it's a real affliction, but completely over-diagnosed.