Essay on "Evaluating Whether ADD ADHD Is a Fake Disorder"

Essay 5 pages (1693 words) Sources: 3

[EXCERPT] . . . .

ADD/ADHD is a fake disorder

The topic of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder has generated a lot of controversy in the recent years, as even though the malady is recognized by the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a series of information point toward the belief that the disease does not actually exist. The DSM-IV regards ADHD as being a disturbing behavior disorder influencing people to employ a series of continual and damaging behavior patterns that put across irregular levels of inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and related symptoms. Some physicians have reported the malady long before it came to be recognized, in the recent decades. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the masses are wrong in believing that ADHD exists.

Because of the somewhat scholarly documentation accompanying ADHD diagnosis, people are inclined to ignore other elements proving otherwise. ADHD was made possible because of a strong collaboration between weak parents, teachers who lacked the ability to address a student's concerns, and the drug industry. Whereas the first two groups are primarily interested in supporting the belief that the malady is real and it is affecting particular individuals they interacted with, the pharmaceutical industry is obviously interested to exploit the situation in order to profit as much as possible from it.

The case of Charlotte Fisher would persuade most people into thinking that it would be wrong to doubt that ADHD is real. The woman reportedly experienced traumatic episodes all across her life, being expelled from six schools, performing criminal acts, and apparently being predisposed to deviant behavior. Matters became critical when she discovered that her two children display similar symptoms and that they cannot possibly be controlled through using traditional methods. This information further contributes to the belief that ADHD is real and that it is apparently hereditary, as both Charlotte and her children put across deviant behavior without any possible explanation. However, when concentrating on the matter one finds out that Charlotte had her first baby when she was 21, consequent to getting in and out of schools and even spending time in prison. Also, the children's father did not stay with the family and leaved them shortly after they were born, making it even more difficult for Charlotte to be able to raise them properly, especially given her background. Although it is difficult to determine exactly what triggered the deviant behavior seen in Charlotte and her children, one can attribute the way the young one's behaved to the fact that the woman was an ineffectual parent. Charlotte claims that the drug prescribed to her and her children (Ritalin) is the only reason for which they are able to behave normally. However, she also claims that the substance is not addictive, even though she admits none of the individuals in her family are able to live a normal life without taking it ("Your Life: Health Tantrums" 28). "A recent study reveals that the drug being prescribed to tens of millions of school-age children for a scientifically unproved mental disorder is more potent than cocaine"(O'Meara 22).

ADHD continues to be widely accepted in spite of the fact that there is no scientific data to prove that the disorder is in point of fact existent. Cocaine is known to induce a feeling of pleasure to its users because of the high levels of dopamine it triggers. This is to some degree the reason for which the substance is addictive. The Dopamine System appears to be more intensely affected when Ritalin is consumed, pointing to the fact that the substance is more dangerous than a Class a drug. This is particularly worrying, considering that millions of children worldwide are being prescribed a type of medication that is comparable and even more harmful than cocaine. The situation is practically absurd, taking into consideration that numerous individuals are being prescribed a dangerous drug with the purpose of treating a malady that did not exist in the first place. One could actually be amused of the circumstances if the respective person were to ignore the gravity involved in the problem. It is obvious that ADHD is not only dangerous because it acts like an excuse that some people use to motivate a person's deviant behavior, as it is also harmful because the individuals diagnosed with it are notably affected because of the drugs they are prescribed, eventually coming to put across bona fide deviant behavior because of their addiction and because of the fact that their brain cells are likely to experience damage from coming in contact with the substance (O'Meara 22).

Individuals who were diagnosed with ADHD go through a great deal of difficulties as they attempt to fight with the imaginary disease that the whole world associates with them. "ADHD is diagnosed through observation -- by the parents, by the school and by a pediatrician or specialist. Treatment involves trial and error with a variety of drugs and dosages. Ryan first was treated with clonidine, a depressant that "slows down" hyperactivity. "It was a disaster," says Raskin. "He was always falling asleep." Kerry Raskin, the mother of Ryan -- a child diagnosed with ADHD, tried to lessen the symptoms in her child through using a series of drugs that doctors believed to be effective in such a situation. Even with the fact that Ritalin seemed to be better than most substances the child had tried before, the medicine rapidly demonstrated its devastating character as Ryan lost significant weight and became increasingly agitated during the drug's withdrawal period. Raskin eventually stopped treatment and discovered that most sources advised against such medication because of the harmful effect it proves to have in most cases (Hunker). If Raskin were to doubt the unscientific diagnose her son received, matters could have been different and her son would not have been subjected to becoming addicted to Ritalin and trying a series of drugs that produced great discomfort.

Whereas a great deal of parents, doctors, and teachers that are in charge of dealing with an individual diagnosed with ADHD are well aware of the fact that the condition may not be real, they are nonetheless supportive toward providing the diagnosed individuals with therapy and medication prescribed in the case of ADHD. Most of them motivate their choice through claiming that ADHD is one of the easiest methods of providing a troublesome person with the special attention he or she needs. Such individuals are expected to score higher grades through school and to experience success later in life because of the fact that they learn a great deal of information regarding their personal identity (Hunker). Even with that, someone who goes through life knowing that he or she suffers from a particular malady can be particularly damaging for the respective person. The fact that dangerous drugs are prescribed to ADHD individuals only contributes to the seriousness of the overall state of affairs.

At a certain point when they can no longer tolerate a child's behavior individuals feel that something has to be wrong with the respective child and thus become less reluctant about accepting the first diagnose they come across. People can easily blame other individuals or factors for their own incapability and parents, teachers, and virtually everyone who is in charge of watching over a child is likely to feel distress if they cannot control him or her. Instead of trying alternatives to the problem, most will be willing to accept an ADHD diagnose, simply recognizing that because they were not able to control the situation no one and nothing can. Having a child diagnosed with ADHD is most certainly troubling for any parent, since this would virtually mean that the individual is not normal and that he or she has to receive special help throughout his or her life in order to cope with… READ MORE

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