20/08/2026
Re ADHD, is it a Myth?
I'm probably going to be unpopular with this gaging from the response I've seen on social media as a whole.
I found this interesting. Along with the Utra ASD lecture that has been spoken about, questioning too. It's good to question.
Firstly, I need to point out that I'm interested in the brain scan point of view, as this was first spotted in the 90s and talked about in the most recent King's College ADHD research I've attended so, I'm now interested in that contradiction I've seen tonight and would like to understand that further.
Not sure where to start with my 2nd point. I've seen ADHD grow and change from the mid 2000s to now. I'm going to focus on the 1 experiment with the young boy.
When we first met him, as we all see, there was a lot of unhealthy food removed and technological equipment.
I'm 50, female, and diagnosed with ADHD 2 years ago.
I am going to preach, back in my day...
I wasn't allowed snacks; fizzy pop was a treat, and we had no screen time, apart from Saturday nights and 2 hours after finishing school.
I'm 50, and I'm about to sound like Peter Kay... we had to go out to play; staying in was a punishment, and we couldn't come home until the streetlights came on. This gave me imagination, timekeeping skills, challenges, problem-solving skills, etc.
They took the screens, meds, and treats away from this little lad all at the same time, which at first I thought was too much, but he had similar experiences from my childhood and felt human. He was allowed to be him....
But
He underperformed in school.
I underperformed in school. I didn't get it. I tried so hard; I failed again and again. I was told I wasn't good enough; try harder. Sharon, you're s**t!
And that's the message I've carried around all my life.
It was lovely to see this little lad be him. He is him. Just because he struggles now doesn't mean he always will. He will find his niche.
I was in my 30s before I went back into education and trained.
We need to get rid of this pressure we put on kids and just let them be kids. Is comparison helpful?
I'm not saying ADHD or ASD doesn't exist. It explains a lot for me, the way I was growing up and acting like I have been an adult, as it does for many.
The guy took meds as an experiment. I have too in a way, as I didn't want to lose my spark, but I wondered if they'd help.
For me, it's been like driving a Porsche with the brakes of a bicycle, and I'm only on 30 mg, but I can feel I've been given some adequate breaks to stop and think before being so impulsive. I'm able to focus better on my work. I start a job and complete it instead of another 5 on the go that I forget about, and I'm not losing or misplacing stuff anymore.
Times have changed. Parents work more, less time is spent with the kids, you don't get a thick ear or a backhanded slap anymore, there are no more bobbies on the beat, there's no respect for authority figures, there's no fear, there's less discipline, there's an overload of technology, there's s**t processed food, there are more takeaways, and there are snacks. No milk or paper rounds to help young people learn important life skills.
BUT
Even though I had all the above, it did teach me how to survive and I have, eventually.
I'm now a therapist, and I specialise in disability. There are lots of strategies to learn and help. I've worked with young people who have chosen to come off their meds, and with guidance, they've achieved a first in their degrees. This is with both ASD and ADHD.
I don't feel this program tonight was a fair assessment. It shows how busy lives neglect our children. There should be a fair comparison that includes girls, women, and men who have been diagnosed as adults.
I also think there needs to be some research, as Utra has said, in terms of what a neurotypical is these days as times have changed. I know it hasn't for me at 50, but is technology creating neurodivergent behaviours or even adding to them? I'm also well aware of the fact it's more out there now. Give a man a telescope and he'll see more stars, which is true. Knowledge is power.
From what we've seen tonight, a young boy, I'm a bit confused, as the program, which is talking about ADHD being a myth, seemed to have concluded it is a myth as he can behave at home, so he doesn't need the meds, yet it's the school's fault for being impatient as he doesn't conform to rules and fails exams but then did better on exams when he had the meds to concentrate???
Screams ADHD still to me, but with better strategies to help him regulate with everyday life. I'd be looking at what the barrier is with his learning next and how to engage him.
