ADHD Advice Gone Bad
January 4, 2009 
2 Comments
As I started writing this post, I got to wondering… What percentage of the population does NOT understand ADHD? How many people are convinced of all the myths and misinformation about this complex condition? How many people are trying to offer advice that is totally inaccurate?
Could we say 90% ? Is that too high? I mean, I think it’s pretty fair to say that it’s more than 50%.
I don’t know the answer, but it makes ya think… What else don’t we understand? What else are we really confused about because of popular belief?
Well, I’m not here to be philosophical this morning. I actually am just here to share that I continue to be amazed at what people are willing to share with others about ADHD (when they clearly just don’t get it).
This morning I came across the following question: Is It Bad To Have ADHD?
The question came from what appears to be a young adult — maybe even teen or younger — whose friends all think he has ADHD. He described being hyper, having a difficult time paying attention, and not being able to sit still for very long.
Sounds like ADHD – but is it based JUST on this information?
Question: Is it so hard to say, “I don’t know” instead of offering an opinion that is fueled by totally inaccurate information?
Here’s what some people offered up:
- A girl in my class has it, and she’s really and she has no friends.
- Yes, probably…
- Just have your Dr. prescribe you Ritalin and you’ll be fine.
- If you want to control it, just ask for more pills.
- It’s just ADD now – and not every kid has it.
- Just get some meds for it.
- It’s a mental disorder, it’s not a good thing
Well – I suppose there is some accurate information in there, but what happens when most of it is bad information (especially when children are asking the questions)?
What Do You Think?
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I freely admit that I know little to nothing about ADHD. It’s all anecdotal experience for me. I have a friend who swears medication was the answer for her now-17-year-old son, but as I don’t live with the boy, I don’t know what has changed. Not as hyper anymore, perhaps? Same with a few other parents I know who swear by medication. Who am I to tell them otherwise?
I recently subbed for 2 weeks in a 5th grade class with a boy on meds. His teacher told me the meds wear off in the pm and he then has a hard time sitting still and focusing. Honestly, I saw no difference between the am and the pm. He is a very lively, intelligent boy. But the thing that broke my heart was that he worried about being in trouble. That’s what he knew: his behavior got him in trouble. Fortunately, he verbalized it often so I was able to reassure him that he wasn’t in trouble, or that I wasn’t picking on him. Which brings me to another point: he was so focused on his own behavior that he was unable to recognize that he was not the only child in the class who struggled to stay on task and/or follow directions, so he felt unduly picked upon.
Did I answer your question, or did I wander off on a tangent?
Ok, for some reason that smily face is in a weird place. It was supposed to be after the word tangent. Maybe you should remove it?