[sonnynotsunny]

Anyone heard about Leon Eisenberg the “scientific father of ADHD” claiming that ADHD is fictitious disease? I don’t if I’m happy knowing this, I have ADHD with the possibility of having the Asperger's syndrome. Anyone heard about this?

[glok]

Hello, sonnynotsunny. Cannot say that I have. What does your treatment team say?

[sukothefox]

Hi, sonnynotsunny! ADHD is a real neurobehavioral disorder, and usually people who claim it isn't do so because they fear the implications. For example, they may have a loved one with the disorder, and prefer to think that it isn't real and that there are no issues at hand.
To me, the diagnosis answered a lot of things that have gone wrong with my life. It answers why I am knowledgeable and intelligent, yet disorganized and oblivious to things right in front of me. I used to call myself stupid, but learning about ADHD was a relief. It increased my self-esteem and enabled me to have better insight.
If you are concerned, I would suggest visiting a psychiatrist so you can get a more rigorous diagnostic.
Best regards

[sonnynotsunny]

Hi glok, I was diagnosed with ADHD couple of years ago, my parent were opposed to meds which made hard for me at school, but now I take the meds regularly, sukothefox, I agree with you, I believe ADHD is real! That’s why I wasn't happy hearing that news, plus learning about this disease, it was an eye opening and helped a lot to understand how my ADHD mind works.

[Perna]

It's an email thing going around: snopes.com: Dr. Leon Eisenberg - ADHD Is a 'Fictitious Disease'?

[sukothefox]

I read the article. According to some German native speakers, Dr. Eisenberg wasn't saying the disorder was fictitious, but overdiagnosed, which is true. Apparently, the software translator didn't do a good job at translating correctly the said word. I am not surprised at this. Computers are bad translators of text, since they can take things out of context. Again, not surprising.

The point of all this is this: ADHD is a brain disorder, which can be recklessly diagnosed, and the consequences range from the mundane to the serious. What if the person truly has Asperger's? According to Wikipedia, many people formerly diagnosed with ADHD as children had Asperger's in reality. Others were actually just being kids. What should be done is a very thorough examination of the person using evidence-based diagnostic batteries (believe me, some psychologists still use projective crap which doesn't work).
So, while internet tests are suggestive, the best is going with a professional to get carefully diagnosed.
Best regards.

[Reptarrr]

Sukothefox hit the nail on the head. As having been recently diagnosed with ADD, I did my research on the ailment, and there's an overwhelming consensus from professionals that the disorder is overdiagnosed to an extreme level. Far too many children nowadays have been labeled as having this disorder when the reality is they're just children - they're supposed to be hyperactive and fidgety and constantly looking for things to do.

Honestly, unless you're talking to a professional well versed in what ADD/ADHD actually is, you can bet your sweet behind that a significant portion of the people you meet claiming to have been diagnosed as such have been misled.

[-jimi-]

I really don't believe in ADHD per se. I think it exists but I think it is several conditions not really matching the subtypes.

[brainhi]

I have been taught that ADHD or ADD or whatever - is a set a symptoms and the medical world put a label on it. It may be helpful to understand what is going on in your brain - but you are not the label. The brain did not learn to process effectively.
You brain is figuring out things in it's own way with the circuitry that is most developed. We know now more than ever than you can change the brain - it's circuitry. Even others with other mental health labels can change their brain as well.
Neuroplasticity....
the only problem right now is, this is a "new" science/understanding and not enough professionals are trained to help you....

[Numbed]

I got ADHD dx with suprise ASD dx. (likely Aspie)

If you're ADHD and ASD, do yourself a favour (literally) and use your brains and creativety to figure things out for yourself, and you won't fall nto the trap of relying other so call Pros about info when the field of Psychology is a joke (my Psychiatrist didn't get a literal joke I made, I said Autism? So yeah, tangent kinda points to what I just said. Professionals, they are locked in rigid structures, and become biased, Do freethinking.

and, i've stopped caring about ADHD, since finding out about C-PTSD, they overlap and may even be same thing~

PS I grew up rebelling against everyone and everything, and undx ADHD til 2 years ago, so problems following things, I've always started from scratch in figuring something out in the moment, and i'm at the understand point of life that my previous lust for knowledge etc has disapated. Just realised said don't listen to Pro and i'm Pro, lol.

Don't think for yourself, don't listen to so called Experts, just do.
So many of us are stuck in our heads with choices, it's like everyone has forgot the term information overload.