ADHD Largely Bullshit

[photolite]

https://curiousmindmagazine.com/harvard-psychologist-says-adhd-largely-fraud/

[podfish]

https://curiousmindmagazine.com/harvard-psychologist-says-adhd-largely-fraud/

some other compelling articles on that site (and not from the back pages - but prominent on the home page):

• 12 Zodiac Couples with the Best Chance for a Long-Term Relationship
• What Toxic Person to Avoid This Year, According to Your Zodiac Sign
• Prepare for the Magic of March - The Two Full Moons will Change and Shape Your Life

.. not necessarily a site I'd expect to find a serious discussion of issues in mainstream psychology, particularly one that sounds to be a direct challenge to his profession.
That being said, it's a perfectly reasonable article, despite the modestly hyperbolic language in it. The headline aside, though, his key observations seem to be that it's over-diagnosed and, more importantly, over-medicated. Even though that's about as far as the article's claims and facts go, I have a strong suspicion that many readers will take it farther and think, "yeah, I knew these snowflake kids just need to get over it". The author kind of leads you there without quite making that explicit.

[occihoff]

Hurray! Dr. Kagan expresses beautifully what I have long felt, and seemed to feel all alone. Enough with the rigid, pseudo-intellectual labeling! Deal with the underlying emotions and characterological defenses of each unique child as he or she copes with the pressures and difficulties of life in their family, school, and the wider society!

I hear nothing in this article about "snowflake kids." On the contrary, Kagan is full of compassion for the children and what they go through. His scorn is for the sickness of the society that damages and labels them, and with which they have to cope.

some other compelling articles on that site ...

[Shandi]

Labels of any kind can be confining, but we do need ways of identifying behaviors that seem to be out of the norm, so that people with various afflictions can be treated. Although what's accepted as "normal" these days seems to be a stretch of my imagination.

For 4 years,I worked in a wealthy home with 3 boys, ages ranging from 11 to 17. They were all on Ritalin. They were given anything they wanted, except for time and attention. I could see that much of their undesirable behavior was probably a result of very dysfunctional parenting.

I was the estate manager, and made sure that the "compound" ran smoothly. I also did some cooking, pet care, and transportation, among many other things. The father was controlling and cruel to everyone, including his wife. One day I heard him say to the oldest boy "I wish you'd never been born!" I felt that pain in my own heart. The mother was self absorbed in buying stuff and beautifying herself and her home. They spent $350,000 to remodel their kitchen.

When the youngest boy was 13 he told me that I was the only mother they ever really had. Having a mother or father who isn't really lovingly present can be very damaging, and medication isn't the answer. But it can seem like the easy way to avoid confronting the truth.

This is not to say that every case labeled as ADHD, along with others, is a result of poor parenting, but in many cases I believe it is.

Hurray! Dr. Kagan expresses beautifully what I have long felt, and seemed to feel all alone. Enough with the rigid, pseudo-intellectual labeling! ...