ADHD on the Internet
Added 2022-02-04 04:45:02 +0000 UTCNote: Some listeners have pointed out that in our attempt to discuss the rise in armchair ADHD commentary online, we participated in some of the damaging parts of that discourse ourselves. We hear you and are sorry. We will be keeping the episode up for now for the sake of transparency. Thank you for all of your thoughtful feedback.
Show notes:
- r/ADHD_partners
- #ADHD on TikTok
- Darcy and Jer (TikTok)
- Connor DeWolfe (TikTok)
- KC Davis (TikTok)
- Dani Donovan (TikTok)
Comments
Honestly it makes perfect sense to me (diagnosed shortly before 29) - not just binge eating but ED in general because of impulse control, restlessness, forgetfullness + task paralysis (so forgetting to eat and/or being too overwhelmed to prepare food resulting in either not eating enough/eating unhealthy foods that don't require preparation), rejection sensitivity, and depression and anxiety common in those of us diagnosed as adults (due to decades of being called lazy, a slob, stupid, etc and internalizing those characteristics). As for John (if you haven't saught out diagnosis still) or anyone else who feels similar, the fact that you find the idea of seeking out an assesment so overwhelming tells me there is a good chance you do have ADHD (combined with the other things you connected to). Try thinking about your younger years to figure out if the pandemic broke down your coping skills or if you're only now having ADHD related symptoms because of other factors. Even if you did well in school, did you lose or forget homework? Get in trouble for messy room, backpack, locker etc frequently? Fidget a lot and/or have racing thoughts? I remember suspecting in high school that I had ADHD and even wondered about ASD (which I suspect more now that I know a lot more and my 5 yo's been diagnosed but it's almost $3k for an adult assesment in Canada - no way through public health 😒) but because there was such little information about all the different ways they could present and the concept of masking - especially in girls, I shrugged it off. Then I got a BA in PSYCHOLOGY (I did okay but I'm sure I could have done much better if I had been diagnosed), read the DSM V and was even more sure but STILL didn't look further into it. It was only after having my second child a month into the pandemic and my older one (3 at the time) starting to show more signs of both conditions pushing my coping/masking skills past their breaking point and the Tiktoks helping me understand the ways they can present that I finally did the research into getting assessed. Turns out the ADHD assessment really wasn't that hard to figure out. I paid $250 for a private virtual assessment (so I didn't have to try to convince my gp who isn't well informed in that area or wait for a year for the public health assessment) then sent the diagnosis and med recommendations to my gp afterwards. Sorry, that was long and late. I subscribed recently and am listening from oldest to newest
Elizabeth Little
2023-06-27 22:41:54 +0000 UTCThere is a lot of unacknowledged privilege in this conversation. The two female hosts clearly came from families with the knowledge and financial ability to seek a diagnosis and come across as condescending to anyone who doesn't have that level of access. The reddit community is odd but I wouldn't say the norm the premise that it's harmful to get tips for organization strategies is ridiculous- it can help anyone. If a person can find comfort and help from these videos I really didn't hear the case in the episode why it's harmful beyond the two female hosts complaining they actually have an official diagnosis and no one else should access potentially helpful information unless they are also able to seek and pay for a diagnosis.
Chris
2023-02-26 19:20:45 +0000 UTCJust listened with the caveat at the start. I come from a LONG line of diagnosed family members with ADHD and I’m also a developmental therapist. I was paying close attention and honestly didn’t find any information that was misleading or insensitive. I actually think for for the uneducated, it could be incredibly informative. Especially the repeated sentiment of how important it is to get an ACTUAL diagnosis with a qualified medical professional. The only thing I’d like to clarify, that was briefly addressed is that a person can have a diagnosis AND be an asshole and be an asshole and not have a diagnosis. As a mom of a kiddo with ADHD, I take a vested interest having him understand that although it can be challenging it’s not a “get out of jail free” card.
Mandy
2022-02-15 13:36:23 +0000 UTCcompletely agree with this! re: pt 4 - i actually have read a lot about the relationship between eating disorders and ADHD - and there is some research around it (though definitely more to do) but it's also another example of something that should not be taken out of context or attributed exclusively to any one thing etc. - (regina)
Underunderstood
2022-02-04 16:59:57 +0000 UTChey, we’re really sorry this episode hurt. you’re absolutely right — it’s super hard to get diagnosed, and getting diagnosed or not doesn’t change how real the impact of it on your life is. and we definitely don’t want to invalidate anyone’s experience. our intent was honestly to highlight a lot of the internet armchair diagnosis stuff we’ve been seeing, but we totally understand if we did not accomplish that in a good way. we are learning and we really will take this to heart — we left in the conversation about spastic for that reason — we want to be transparent in our learning process. thank you for reaching out, and we genuinely apologize for being a bummer
Underunderstood
2022-02-04 16:52:23 +0000 UTCBeing from a family that has a large number of diagnosed members with ADHD, I can report several things: 1. ADHD is very real and has serious real-life consequences for many people who struggle with it. 2. It is MUCH harder for girls and women with ADHD to be diagnosed than it is for boys and men. This has been true since it was identified in the 1980s and is still true today. 3. I think there are many people who are reluctant to treat it, still, because there are side effects to taking the meds that are not great. 4. For those of us who live with and love people with ADHD, it's a matter of learning what they're good at and what they need help with or reminders about. I have seen no correlation with domestic abuse or eating disorders. That seems abnormal and not at all what most people's experience is. 5. There are many very real correlations between ADHD and sensory integration issues that occur with people both with and without an autism spectrum disorder. This is not to say that those with ADHD are on the spectrum or that those on the spectrum have ADHD, but it is certainly possible to have both ADHD and a sensory integration disorder (like my husband). For what it's worth, we had no idea about the sensory integration disorder until our youngest was diagnosed with one in the late 90s. But when we were working with her (for years and with lots of occupational therapy) and reading books about it, my husband recognized things from his childhood that he didn't know weren't just "normal" actually were issues that could have been addressed. Except that no one knew about sensory integration disorders or ADHD when he was a kid in the 60s. I hope that everyone who is struggling with ADHD gets the help they need to manage life in the best way possible.
Caren Helms
2022-02-04 14:51:57 +0000 UTCOk so I thought it was just an algorithm that thought I have ADHD.
Shelby Best
2022-02-04 13:16:58 +0000 UTCDisclosure: I'm diagnosed with ADHD Inattentive Type. This episode felt really weird to me. What is the mystery? I had the impression this is just an interrogation of people claiming to have ADHD, bordering on "that's not a real mental illness, everybody does that". I'm really tired of having to prefix every time I speak on the issue with "I'm diagnosed", especially as my illness was real for the 38 years I wasn't. Far worse than ADHD being trendy (not sure it really is), to me, is the constant onslaught of disbelieve and armchair-diagnosis by neurotypicals. I flinched when the phrase "yes, he has real adhd" was uttered while discussing a TikTok creator. It's hard enough to get diagnosed and living with the symptoms and blaming yourself before you do without a non-professional deciding who has "real" ADHD. And yes, using spastic as derogative is ableist, even if American culture at large hasn't realized it yet. Sorry to be a bummer but this episode really hurt.
mʌp
2022-02-04 06:45:44 +0000 UTCGood ep , y’all. I get a lot of these vids https://youtube.com/c/HowtoADHD in my YouTube algo. Definitely watched some cause, like john, I’m always like, “ya I’ve probably got adhd“, but I don’t wanna do all the stuff to get an official diagnosis, I’d rather just live with the symptoms and watch my entire life fall apart and every relationship get driven into the ground. https://youtube.com/c/AspergersfromtheInside I also subscribed to this dude, cause I’m also always wondering if I’m on the autism spectrum, and he’s got all these “25 signs you’re on the spectrum “ or whatever.
Ryan Manning
2022-02-04 06:38:44 +0000 UTC
