Don't like school, Billy? Have some pills!

Macawmoses · January 04, 2009, 12:34:33 AM

I don't feel like making this an SD topic, but this is a topic that I'm half stealing from NS2, half making as I go.

What is it? The overuse of ADD/ADHD/Aspergers/etc...typically on the internet.

Now, by all rights, I have ADHD, at least, according to the doctors. I don't think I do, and I can practically guarantee it. The drugs they gave me made me sick, and without them, I was better off.

In fact, I know tons of people in my town with one of the above. I strictly believe that these disorders DO NOT EXIST. While I can't deny some people have mental issues, the above are....not. They thought I had Aspergers because I could rattle off tire identification numbers like nothing. In fact, I was prescribed for it. Guess what? My dad is a Service Manager, and I played in tires a lot as a kid.

Doctors are typically morons. I know, this is opinion, and remember that. However, to me, no kid as ADHD. Kids have energy. Who wants to learn about math on a nice day unless it interests them? Not I? Social Studies? Well, I do, but that is of interest to me. So because I have a weird fascination, and almost encyclopedic knowledge...I must have Aspergers!

Wrong. Ritalin, and all of that other nonsense are given to people for no reason at all. It's terrible stuff...but that's just me.

I want to know your stance. Do you have these disorders (that I'd say half the internet has)? Do you take pills? Do you think it is bs? Go.

Shujinco2 · January 04, 2009, 12:47:58 AM

Me, I KNOW I have one of the above. I'm too old to be 'kid' hyper, and yet I still am. Even more so than I was as a kid. :-\

However, I was still better off without the medicine. And yes, I agree, doctors in general (At least in this field) are morons.

phatyo · January 04, 2009, 02:29:13 AM

I think the pills don't work and they just take your money. In the fourth trade this kid was banning his head against the table like he had a spare at home. Like if he would of banged just a tad stronger blood would cent out his pore! The teacher told him to stop but his excuse was my Ritalin didn't work. Keep in mind ouce social studies time came around the kid was normal and actually learned was one of the best students to chest off during that period. I personally believe humans as animals don't geneticly want to sit around and do something boring. There antcestors that hunted intercourse ing mamoth genectics is telling them to do somethings more intersting to pass the time.

Doodle · January 04, 2009, 08:41:21 AM

Well, everyone is different.
I knew a kid in 3rd grade who had something like ADHD. He was SO hyper, and always got into trouble. Then he moved away, or was getting home schooled, or something.
Now, 9th grade, he's in one of my classes. He is NOT hyper at all. He's pretty quiet. My brother says he has been taking some meds for his ADHD. So, it helped him out.

Kilroy · January 04, 2009, 11:43:08 AM

ADD just means you're not interested. ADHD means you're not interested, and you're very enthusiastic about it. And, now that I've read the Wiki article on Asperger's, it seems that all Asperger's is is that you're just bad around people. There's no need for a specific "disease" or whatever you want to call it for any of these. At all.

I honestly hate it when people use these as excuses. You know, when you tell someone to shut up, they say "LOL I CAN'T BECAUSE I HAVE ADHD AND I'M TOO RETARDED TO TAKE MY MEDS XD". They've basically been brainwashed.

The only thing that I can say might actually exist, is ADHD. People who supposedly have ADHD have opposite effects with things that would make someone either hyper or drowsy. Basically, caffine would make someone with ADHD sleepy, and, oh, I dunno, Sudafed would make someone with ADHD very hyper.

Tupin · January 04, 2009, 12:35:59 PM

Sometimes people can trick themselves into thinking that the pills work or that they have the disorder in general.

Kids are naturally energetic, some more so. I had lots of anxiety when I was younger, but it got better as I got older.

Nayrman · January 04, 2009, 12:40:55 PM

Quote from: Byte on January 04, 2009, 11:43:08 AM
ADD just means you're not interested. ADHD means you're not interested, and you're very enthusiastic about it. And, now that I've read the Wiki article on Asperger's, it seems that all Asperger's is is that you're just bad around people. There's no need for a specific "disease" or whatever you want to call it for any of these. At all.

I honestly hate it when people use these as excuses. You know, when you tell someone to shut up, they say "LOL I CAN'T BECAUSE I HAVE ADHD AND I'M TOO RETARDED TO TAKE MY MEDS XD". They've basically been brainwashed.

The only thing that I can say might actually exist, is ADHD. People who supposedly have ADHD have opposite effects with things that would make someone either hyper or drowsy. Basically, caffine would make someone with ADHD sleepy, and, oh, I dunno, Sudafed would make someone with ADHD very hyper.

Aspergers is basically a genuine lack of understanding of social activity (I guess bad around people, like you said).
I would greatly fit into that category.
Most of these "disorders" are imaginary. Some kids are just hyper. Also, even I would have ADD because I find it hard to concentrate in school. It's not that I'm not smart (I got into the top engineering school in the country), it's that I don't care about most of my classes.
ADHD does help from some minor medicine use, however finding a good outlet (sports) is a much better option.

Zovistograt · January 04, 2009, 12:54:34 PM

Doctors who overdiagnose with mental disorders most likely belong to the school of thought that says that any and every deviation from the mental norm is explained by a disorder within the brain. I for one would love to see that proven scientifically, biologically, and chemically. Proving it by mere psychology is unfounded. I remember when there were some doctors who thought Internet addiction is a mental disorder, when it could easily be explained as a strong personal preference. I believe doctors should have solid medical facts about the patient (not psychological) before they should diagnose anything. If this isn't possible, it should not be possible to diagnose someone with said disorder.

Lotos · January 04, 2009, 02:25:56 PM

stfu i like my pills :|

Eizweir · January 04, 2009, 06:55:28 PM

oh wow, I qualify for Asperger's then D:

But I've seen people with supposed ADD or ADHD and can keep it under control, if it exists.

I'm confusing myself.

Nine 1 One · January 04, 2009, 07:37:36 PM

Well i have adhd. I take pills. They help, i think. Last year got in trouble at school twice. Both were the only days i forgot to take meds ._.

Eizweir · January 05, 2009, 11:43:25 AM

Quote from: Nine 1 One on January 04, 2009, 07:37:36 PM
Well i have adhd. I take pills. They help, i think. Last year got in trouble at school twice. Both were the only days i forgot to take meds ._.

It could just be that you were brainwashed into believing they qactually do something.
Did you KNOW you forgot to take your meds on those day?

Mack, you're turning me into a psychologist :|

PsychoYoshi · January 05, 2009, 11:48:35 AM

I'd say that ADHD exists, but it's an incredibly overdiagnosed condition, one that pharmaceutical companies view as an easy way to make money (and with other similar suspicious conditions like Restless Leg Syndrome and fibromyalgia). This is why they're willing to advertise on TV and have drug reps visit doctors. Really, though, can you blame the pharm companies for wanting to make money? They're a business, after all. All of these lawsuits from angry consumers about how a drug made them depressed or something similar are usually crocks of crap. It's simply impossible for the companies to list every side effect that a drug causes in a 30-second commercial. Patients themselves need to be more proactive in talking to their doctors about medications, especially when they're on more than one drug at once. Short of releasing a drug that knowing causes problems in a large proportion of the population (see:Vioxx), the pharm companies shouldn't be held liable for every bad things.

It's also not so much that doctors are morons, and more of the fact that they're greedy (or simply couldn't afford to be on their own without the companies' help). Pharm companies often offer doctors kickbacks for prescribing their medications. I don't necessarily mean monetary kickbacks, but I'm sure you've seen drug-branded office supplies when you go into a doctor's office (Claritin or Nasonex-branded Kleenex, Lipitor-branded cardiovascular anatomy posters, etc.). These can save a physician a significant amount of money, especially if he's running his own clinic. With malpractice insurance in some states sucking up more than 60% of a physician's gross income, doctors are quite squeezed these days...even more so when they get served with lawsuit papers by disgruntled patients.

By now, you've probably figured out that I place a lot of the blame on consumers. Ultimately, the drug companies will only continue to sell these kinds of drugs as long as people buy them. And if patients really think there's a problem, they're going to buy a drug, especially in today's wonderful world with its dominant ethic of consumption. Also, people continually suing the poop out of doctors, insurance companies, and pharm companies isn't doing much to help keep costs down. If they have a fair claim, sure, go for it. However, again the issue is that these people are trying to make an easy buck.

tl;dr version: ADHD exists, and a very small percentage of those who have the condition can't control themselves effectively and should be medicated. Everyone else needs to stop believing everything they hear on TV and become more discerning.

RevolutionSoldier · January 05, 2009, 02:34:30 PM

I have ADD and because of it my school experience sucked. I had trouble reading in grade school. In forth grade I was forced to take special ed classes. Since only one grade school in my district teach special ed I had to changed schools and leave my friends behind. I need the help with reading and spelling but I all my classes were special ed. This made me fall behind in every other subjected. When I got into middle school I was still in special ed. It was niche to see my old friends again but the special ed classes were in a complete different part of the building so I was separated from most of my friends. During this whole time I had pretty much the same I had pretty much the same people (no counting the 1 or 2 elective class we get) in my classes which was ok except for this one kid who game me a hard time a lot.

When I got into high school things were much better. I most to mostly regular ed classes except for study skills which is like a study hall. The change was hard since I spent the last five years in classes where they baby you. Since we don't cover as much material in special ed classes there were wholes in my learning. It was like that for just about every subject which was frustrating. I am currently an Juror. and the school decided to cut study skill class this year since no body ever did any work but I am required to have at least one special ed class a week so they pulled my out of my English class to put me in a special ed English class. But I am required to take English so they pulled out of ACT prep another class I need to put me in a different English class. Since I need to take ACT prep I was given it this trimester. But I was pulled out of computer programming a class I really wanted. All this just so I could be put in a special ed class I don't need. My former teacher and current case manager Ms. Neu who help who's been helping me thought out this experience since middle school said if I do good on this standardized test I'm will take latter this year I will be taken out of the special ed program, which I can't wait for.

The whole special ed system hurt me way more than it helped me. Now that I think about it don't make munch since to take a bunch of kids with ADD and ADHD, put them in room together, and expect them to do better then in a regular class. After going through all this I think that if you have a mental disabily you are going to have to work harder then everybody els and there's no since putting you in a class where they baby you. I wish some one told me this back in elementary school.