Do you believe that ADHD, ADD, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder exist?

Question

Is it possible that by labling a child one of the three that it makes it easier for the child to release responcibility for their actions... and by drugging the child.... further complicates the situation because the child is told that they cannot "fix" themselves without the aid of drugs.... hmmmmmmm....

Answer 1

I was diagnosed with Adult ADD about 10 years ago. I tend to agree with Thom Hartmann's "Hunter" and "Farmer" metaphor to describe the difference between people with ADD and "normal" people. I believe both people have the right to live in ways that allow them to live best and with the most satisfaction and love they can.

The shortest summary I can present from this perspective is that early in our evolution, humans evolved to be Hunters. Therefore humans had skills that allowed us to be good Hunters. When humans began to farm, we adapted as a species to skills that helped us farm better. However, the Hunter traits still exist within our species. These people diagnose as ADD.

Now, Thom doesn't necessarily think of this as literal, although I have heard of studies that support this concept. It's meant as a metaphor which recognizes people with ADD function differently than anyone else is several ways, not assume they're just diseased or disordered and need fixed.

I further believe because this culture is dominated by Farmers, us Hunters tend to suffer. We're expected to function like Farmers, but we're not. We're Hunters. We're not "disordered".

Does this create difficulties for Hunters? Definitely. Perhaps we need to do things to help improve our functioning and gain help from others. However, I won't condemn another Hunter for taking drugs if this help them live better lives. However, I think we must question the assumptions we have to leads us to necessarily take drugs because we think we're broken. We're not broken. We just need to evaluate our lives and how we live them.

So do I exhibit ADD symptoms? Yes. But I see it as much of wound as I do as a gift. I will not simply take drugs to mask this gift or this wound. If I decide they can help me, I will consider them. But to assume we all must be drugged is offensive to me. This should be the decision of each individual.

Answer 2

Before you write something like this -- you need to learn that these Disorders are REAL - - yes, REAL -- because I am the SINGLE PARENT of TWO children with Disabilities -- and that Includes ADHD!

This is not a label -- but a real problem that affects everything from the way they socialize to their ability to care for themselves, their education, and can affect their ability to maintain or establish independent lives.

It is NOT a cop out for Responsibility for Actions -- the Individual needs to be aware of their ADHD and CAN learn Responsibility -- through therapy and medical intervention, through support services, and through learning HOW the ADHD affects their life skills. They CAN be helped (sometimes) through the use of medications -- but every parent with an ADHD or ADD or ODD child learns that the Medications can NOT help with what is missing in their bodies in the first place -- it is a way to HELP the child or individual cope enough so that they CAN accept responsibility for their actions.

Answer 3

I believe it is real. I believe adults and children alike suffer from it. I also believe it is no different than asking if chemo would be a "fix" for cancer.

Personally, if I know something is wrong with my body or me, then for me not to go to the doctor or have it checked out is me not taking care of myself.

I do not believe anyone expects the drugs or medicine that ADD,ADHD sufferers take to help them, fix them. On the contrary, people who deal personally with this matter, know there is no "fix" or excuse. Just a means to get by and live a decent, normal life as best as we can.

There is no excuse for bad behavior but there may be causes for that behavior. And persons with ADD, ADHD are not necessarily behavior problems. Many times it is organization and keeping on task that is the concern.

Answer 4

These are categorizations of illness, not excuses. Just because some shrink writes a paper that labels a behavior "Oppositional Defiant Disorder" does not mean that this is not just a fancy label for brattiness, and is not an excuse or a release from responsibility. And no, while drugging is not always the answer, it can be a useful tool in dealing with a teen who has come seriously un-spanked.
Thank God for Prozac.

Answer 5

The following conditions are very real because my children have them. They are caused by the lack of some chemicals in the brain. They do better with the medications and vitamins so they can learn how to cope with their problem. Medication is just not a lifetime thing because the older they get it becomes more addictive to them. Children are defiant because they don't know how to control their behavior. They can be taught to do this, but meds keep them calmer so they can better understand what you are teaching them.

Answer 6

Yes and No. ODD sounds like an excuse to me, but I can’t judge what I do not know. But for sure the others are neurological problems. Hopefully people do try to overcome them ‘without’ drugs and early on in life.

I don’t know how useful cognitive therapy would be for someone who has unknowingly coped with it for years though – eg. adults. Usually there is a lot of hope for children to train themselves in the way that is best for them – adults are usually slow progressors with cog therapy, aren’t they? Their lives have already been pretty much shattered.

Answer 7

Our moral compass is sometimes troubled by strong passionate feelings for issues that we feel are wrong or difficult to understand. I think diagnosis is something a doctor must do and we must find enough information to determine the best course of action. The result maybe that there are no workable solutions for this problem. Then we must find a way to sort out our acceptance of the issue. I feel frustrated and angry at the labelling and people avoiding responsibility in the name of mental illness. Yet, how true is it for me and what are the consequences for the child? As a parent, the buck stops with me. What do you think?

Answer 8

I don't believe in ADD or ADHD or any other form of those "disorders" I believe that the child's attention span is just shorter than anothers. Which means that the parents have to spend more time with their child to figure out how to attract their childs attention. Some children maybe hyper than others, which means that the parents should enroll them in sports or activites that shall tire them out. It's all in how you raise your child and giving them drugs is just a lazy and short term way of "fixing" the childs natural behaviour.

Get off your butts and play with your children!!

Answer 9

i believe they exist because their symptoms are real to a lot of people.

it doesn't mean that people have no responsabilities for their actions. in fact, it means you need to pay more attention to yourself and your actions, as to train yourself to be like people around you.

it is wrong and false to tell anyone they cannot fix themselves without the aid of drugs. how do they know, have they tried a natural way with love and patience for the person? how pathetic of them! they just want the money and to discourage a person.

good luck : ]

Answer 10

I have it, I know its real 0_0.You do not want to see me off of medication, believe me. There are some cases though, where its misdiagnosed, or the wrong med is prescribed. I was on one once, and got into the most fights that I had got into since high school.