Published Feb 28, 2015
eatezak
2 Posts
Do you all believe ADHD is just mental or pathological? I know there are many different thoughts on this topic! Please share!
RescueNinjaKy
593 Posts
I'm gonna go with pathological. I think most mental illnesses can be traced back to a disruption in the brain. Neurotransmitter play a huge part. There are people who have difficulty concentrating at times but that's just from other aspects such as stress, health, environment, etc. Those with clinically diagnosed adhd have something else going on imo.
A side note, I am very annoyed at students who say I can't concentrate, I'm failing, I think I have adhd. No, you don't. You're just not studying or putting any effort into it. I see you on instagram, texting, tumblr, and sleeping. What I don't see is you reading your textbook. My sister is an example.
JustBeachyNurse, LPN
13,957 Posts
What are your thoughts rather than posting what appears to be homework on message boards.
Actual add/adhd is a neurobiological disorder some feel it's related to the autism spectrum
ShelbyaStar
468 Posts
There is a fantastic thread over on nursing with disabilities called I'm Not Flaky, Lazy, or Stupid. It's the kick in the pants that finally got me to go get diagnosed at 27 years old.
Honestly, I get offended when people mouth off on it being a fake disorder that's overdiagnosed and stuff. I had to jump through a lot of hoops. I saw a nurse practitioner, who wanted to rule other things out so first put me on an antidepressant and ordered blood work and if I'd reported trouble sleeping would have ordered a sleep study. Then I went to the psychologist that I had to see on three separate occasions for a battery of tests. Along with all the surveys I took, I gave one to my husband and was supposed to give one to my mother but didn't feel comfortable with that. The tests have safeguards in place to check for exaggeration of symptoms. My husband's survey barely passed that, lol.
Then back to the NP to get a prescription based on the psychologist's recommendations. I have to see her once a month for a while until we get the exact dosage figured out, then every few months after that. My rx is a controlled substance II so I had to sign paperwork agreeing to drug tests (both to make sure I'm not abusing and that I am indeed taking it vs selling it), I can only fill the prescription at one pharmacy and no more than 3 days before running out, I need to give them a physical slip of paper as opposed to calling it in, etc. All in all, I probably spent around a grand out of pocket for all of this.
Finally my official diagnosis is unspecified inattentive ADHD, the unspecified is because I didn't get the information with my mother so they can't give me a "real" diagnosis because of that. While some people like me do not get diagnosed until adulthood, there is no such thing as adult onset ADHD. There must be evidence of symptoms in childhood, which I did self-report but they need confirmation from someone else.
I have always felt different. Interesting about the link to autism as my sister is autistic. ADHD is not simply a lack of attention span or not trying hard enough. It often makes it difficult to make friends- I have always had trouble with that. It often accompanies symptoms of depression or anxiety, both because of problems from the ADHD and because they seem to be linked physically.
Our brains work different. That's why stimulants calm us and focus us, while "normies" (as my husband and I call them, ha) get jittery and a burst of unfocused energy. We self medicate with caffeine or worse until getting a prescription. I can drink a pot of coffee and go right to sleep. I am on Adderall and all it really does it help me think about one thing at a time. Otherwise intruding thoughts is like getting swarmed by mosquitoes, making it impossible to enjoy oneself or concentrate.
Our brains look different too. I did not go through brain scanning due to cost but would like to eventually out of curiosity. There is a facility that does a fuller battery of tests for ADHD but it's very expensive and I have crap insurance, so I didn't go that route.
Specifically, less activity in the frontal cortex which is responsible for impulse control.
I am in no way calling people with adhd flakey lazy or stupid. If that is what I'm coming across as, I apologize. My issue is with the people who don't have it yet claim to in their attempt to rationalize their academic failings. They give actual people with adhd a bad rap and I can't condone it.
Exactly. It's those that joke they must have ADHD/ADD as an excuse for lazy behavior or poor choices. I knew what you meant. ADD is not a choice. It's not an excuse of convenience. It's a chronic neurobiological condition that can be managed, if an individual so desires (some like the extra "energy" of ADHD) with medication, behavioral and/or cognitive therapy.
There are cross overs with autism and bipolar disorder which is why it's important to be screened & diagnosed by a licensed, qualified professional.
SNurse, I wasn't posting about you. I know what you mean and I can't stand those people either. I meant the general rhetoric of the general public when ADHD is brought up.
It does need to be diagnosed very carefully since depending on how it's manifesting, it can appear to be bipolar, depression, borderline, ODD, OCD... just about anything. It often comes along with dyslexia or other disabilities as well.