Reply To: The issue of who to tell and who not to tell about my ADHD

[Pallist]

I am in 100% agreement with Scattybird and those who want to change the terminology of this “disorder”. I was hyperactive when I was a kid, now my hyperactivity is all in my mind (literally). But paying attention is the least of my problems as most of us can attest to.

I think those of us with this issue (disorder? neurological abnormality?) need to start a movement – no, seriously – that would give this condition the title it deserves, like Impulse dysfunction, Adrenaline deficit, Neurotransmission defect or Executive Function Failure or something similar. More accurate and more about what is actually happening.

I now engage in a a minimum of 30 minutes explaining what I mean when I say I have ADD to those not familiar with it and why it really isn’t Attention Deficit that’s the cause of all my weird inconsistent behavior, but something more sinister and pervasive.

I have quite a few family members (siblings, cousins) who have
undiagnosed ADD and they’ve spent their lives in misery, never knowing why everything is so difficult, from relationships to jobs, substance abuse and money. Most of them don’t believe in new fashionable disorders and/or mistrust the medical profession outright. Attention deficit just means they need to work harder and drink some coffee.

Some of them nod their head, and say it sounds accurate after I’ve lectured them for a while on what the symptoms are, but they never seek treatment – because they have a motivational deficit (another term) and they’ve pretty much given up.

I think we need to start some kind of campaign to change this misleading name.
Thoughts anyone?

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