What Every Parent Should Know; Dispelling the Myths of Common Childhood Illnesses

About the ADHD drugs, I hear you cant join the armed forces if youve taken them. It doesnt sound too important until you consider that this is probably the best place for hyper kids, a structured environment that (I'm sure Orph will agree) whips you into shape. Of course, if they actually have the disorder, then they should be on the proper meds, but if they are misdiagnosed they could lose the opportunity.

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"If you talk at all during this lesson, you have detention. Do you understand?"

• My yr11 Economics teacher

If the person in question really does have ADHD then I imagine the military would be the worse place to be. I imagine them either withdrawing into themselves, killing themselves or worse, becoming extremely violent.

I am not exactly sure what mindset an ADHD person takes in life.

As for purely hyperactivity, I'd say it would be near perfect.

It is my understanding that hyperactivity is in the body, and ADHD is in the brain. Both look similar because of the activities the child displays but both are as dissimilar as they can possibly get.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Before we had these medications, the ones with ADHD either ended up in jail or addicted to illegal drugs. They usually fail in school and end up as criminals.

The kids who just need some discipline? The medications will make their behavior worse, and their behavior will not improve one bit.

That's how you know you've got the wrong diagnosis.

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"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." -- Toulouse-Lautre, Moulin Rouge

Doc, you had several occasions within this thread to either show your concern over these kids misdiagnosis, or your grief that many Doctors are doing it and yet... In each instance you only made excuses to cover up for them. I am left with only one conclusion. You must be one of these Doctors too.

No one can deny that the misdiagnosis of ADHD is a problem that needs a solution and yet, either through self absorption or professional courtesy for your peers you have avoided commenting at all on the ever growing problem. In fact, I am still confused as to why and quite frankly am left with the question "Are the Doctors the cause of this, or merely a symptom of a bigger issue???"

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quote:</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>But as parents, they have two options. They can either believe the myth and refuse to do anything about their kids' condition, and just have them failing through life and have low self-esteem, or they can allow their kids to reach their true potential by helping them to focus better with these medications.</DIV></DIV>

Wrong, there is a third option. They can seek out another opinion, then afterward shell out the necessary dollars to find a qualified professional who specializes in this condition. Putting the child on the wrong medication through trial and error is never the ideal course of action. Taking the word of only one Doctor and/or an unqualified non-specialist is NEVER the only option.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quote:</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Before we had these medications, the ones with ADHD either ended up in jail or addicted to illegal drugs. They usually fail in school and end up as criminals.</DIV></DIV>

So, since we now have proper techniques the prison population has diminished or been restructured to only have "real" criminals now? Personally, in the last decade or so, I have noticed no decline in the prisons populations at all. In fact, these children who used to be happy and energetic are now violent because they are permanently addicted to very expensive drugs. It seems to me that this would be a driving force to become a criminal. How else will the support the habit?

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quote:</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>That's how you know you've got the wrong diagnosis. </DIV></DIV>

Yup, sure thing. All the children I have ever seen are nearly catatonic from the drugs. Sure they do better in school. They have no choice since sitting and drooling is more favorable to learning than bouncing around like they are on speed.
There has simply got to be some middle ground. Children do not need chemical lobotomies to be taught in school. NO MATTER what the teachers may intimate otherwise!!!

In the end, I am simply a concerned parent who has noted a problem that seems to be growing by leaps and bounds. If you cannot motivate yourself to address this serious issue within your book, I see no reason for you to write about anything else either as it would show an excessive unconcerned attitude to "real" myths.

Misdiagnosis of ADHD is real. Do your part in preventing it. Avoiding the problem within this thread... Frankly its losing you points not gaining them. :sad:

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Orpheus, you know satchmo is an MD. You know he's gone to school for years and worked for many more. He's exposed to children daily. I think its a little much for you to take the position of an expert and tell Satchmo what's so wrong about everything he's said, since in reality he is the biggest medical expert on this site.

Ritalin and other ADHD drugs don't give kids chemical lobotomies. I don't know how many kids you know who are on these drugs, but I have many friends who are and with them they can finally function on a high level academically. These kids are some of the brightest people I know, and if anything negative is to be said about them, it would have to be that perhaps Ritalin gives them an unfair advantage over me and others who don't have a drug to help them study. But I say that only to come up with a negative side to the drug so it wont seem like I'm a paid employee of the drug industry :smile:

In other words, I only see the positive effect it has had on their lives, and they are far from drooling catatonics now. Quite the opposite.

You seem to think that the kids who had ADD before drugs came along were just happy and energetic, and now with drugs they are violent. I think you're wrong about that. I think the ones that needed the drug were hyperactive and unfocused before, and now they're able to function normally. I've gone through public high school, a private new england boarding school, and I'm at a small new england college now. I've been around lots of kids who come from families wealthy enough to get their kids the help they need. I would agree that it's overdiagnosed, and I see Ritalin getting bought and abused by kids who don't have a perscription, but you can't use its abuses as a way to ignore its benefits. In the end, I think more people are helped than harmed by Ritalin and ADHD drugs.

Morph.. Don't oppose me on this. MD's make mistakes, just like anyone else does.

I drive for a living. I could teach every single one of you things about driving but you know what? Each and every one of you would think "Stuff this s**t"

If I have to be a Doctor to be a part of a conversation, then you have to be an adult with children to be part of mine.

Now, that may seem out of line, but in essence, its exactly what you just told me.

If I were you, I would study the situation and find out just how many people/children are misdiagnosed and then get back to me.

AGAIN LET ME REITERATE.. I believe in ADHD. I do NOT believe that all the children diagnosed with it, HAVE IT!

My main issue at this point is, Satch never once said "Yeah, its sad that ADHD is blamed for everything"

At least give some sign that he has a clue.

[edit] Besides, it is a parents DUTY to question everything that deals with their children. I believe that no stone need be left unturned in a situation that will IMPACT A CHILD FOR LIFE!

In every case, where a child has been successfully diagnosed, if one child has been misdiagnosed, it has to live with that.. FOREVER. I think that any decent parent should make certain.

anyway, do not assume me merely argumentative just because I seem to be only arguing. I KNOW what I am talking about with regards to hyperactivity and its daily woes it creates.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Orpheus said:
If I were you, I would study the situation and find out just how many people/children are misdiagnosed and then get back to me.

I will if you do too :smile:

growls

You are either deliberately ignoring my comments, or tempting fate. I am not sure which but...

Do not assume that Satch knows about this just because he is a Doctor. For one reason, You do not know for a certainty that I am 43. You only have my word for it.

I do not doubt for a second that Satch is faking, but you cannot side with anyone just because they say "I am a Doctor and I build maps for Half Life" I believe he is a Doctor, but Peds are not Specialists in the field of the mind. I would never assume that a childrens Doctor knew the signs a cures for ADHD.

Seriously, wait till someday you have a child and someone, maybe a Doctor, maybe not tells you your child is broken. You'll see things differently if you are any parent of note.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

I definitely agree that misdiagnosis is bad, I was just under the impression earlier that you were completely anti-ADHD drugs. I see now that's not what you were saying.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Addicted to Morphine</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>. I see now that's not what you were saying.</DIV></DIV>

You were fully within your purview to call me on this. But, I had assumed you understood where I was coming from.

Sad, you assumed me erroneous on the basis of you not reading the thread through.

Also, I have talked with Satch on a limited basis via PM's. I believe 100% that he is a Doctor. That was never in question. However, my belief that he didn't show the proper attitude where these children and their misdiagnosis stands. I fear that he didn't display a proper Doctors attitude. I fear, he displayed,.... "I went to school for this, who the f**k are you to question me?" attitude instead. :sad:

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Orpheus said:
Sad, you assumed me erroneous on the basis of you not reading the thread through.

Well -- when you said this I just assumed you were anti-ADHD drugs:

Orpheus said:
Yup, sure thing. All the children I have ever seen are nearly catatonic from the drugs. Sure they do better in school. They have no choice since sitting and drooling is more favorable to learning than bouncing around like they are on speed.

I responded to this since its ridiculous to say that the drug causes children to be catatonic droolers, when in fact it does just the opposite: it allows them to focus and mentally engage. I just jumped on your poor choice of words, even though I now see what you were trying to say.

Addicted to Morphine said:
I responded to this since its ridiculous to say that the drug causes children to be catatonic droolers, when in fact it does just the opposite: it allows them to focus and mentally engage. I just jumped on your poor choice of words, even though I now see what you were trying to say.

You were only working from the pretense that I was talking about "ALL" children. As I said repeatedly, I was only commenting on the misdiagnosed ones.

I am finding it difficult to believe that you have not seen the children I am referring to. You have not seen some near catatonic children, and wonder why?

Could it be the chemical baby sitting that I fear?

Seriously Morph, the case is not as clear cut as you want to believe it to be. If a child truly has ADHD, then it most definitely needs its medication. THATS A GIVEN. If the child however doesn't respond according to plan, in this case "Acting Normal" then clearly it is either on the wrong meds, or is clearly NOT an ADHD patient.

Both of my nephews sit and are stoned. I know that you know what Stoned means. They sit and do nothing more than SIT....

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Orpheus said:
I am finding it difficult to believe that you have not seen the children I am referring to. You have not seen some near catatonic children, and wonder why?
Could it be the chemical baby sitting that I fear?

What are you trying to say? That I'm taking ADHD drugs and are trying to defend myself?

Orpheus said:
Seriously Morph, the case is not as clear cut as you want to believe it to be. If a child truly has ADHD, then it most definitely needs its medication. THATS A GIVEN. If the child however doesn't respond according to plan, in this case "Acting Normal" then clearly it is either on the wrong meds, or is clearly NOT an ADHD patient.

I agree with that. I was just confused before about which group you were talking about. The kids who were misdiagnosed or just kids in general.

Orpheus said:
Both of my nephews sit and are stoned. I know that you know what Stoned means. They sit and do nothing more than SIT....

I didn't realize that misdiagnosed ADHD caused that type of behavior. I just haven't seen it, but I feel sorry that your nephews have to go through that.

Addicted to Morphine said:
<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Orpheus</DIV>
<div class="quotetext">I am finding it difficult to believe that you have not seen the children I am referring to. You have not seen some near catatonic children, and wonder why?
Could it be the chemical baby sitting that I fear?

What are you trying to say? That I'm taking ADHD drugs and are trying to defend myself?

</div></div>

Even allowing for text and its inability to convey clearly, how did you derive my saying that you were ADHD?

Its a clear cut question, one that I am finding difficult to believe but its clear that you have either not seen children misdiagnosed, or you are assuming that their life "as you are seeing them" is normal.

Its most likely because the patient you are witnessing is one that you had never seen before their advent onto the drugs.

It seem clear to me that this is the only possible answer because I feel that you would not deliberately oppose me on so clear cut of human decency.

I would NEVER wish a young child to needlessly take these drugs but, perhaps someday you will find a child before they are diagnosed ADHD and then notice their supposed "better" lives afterward. The ones who are misdiagnosed live cruel and boring existences. My nephews are, no longer normal. Normal for them was happy, highly energized lives. Now they are either stoned, or mean. And when I say mean, I mean physically violent. They "like" hurting others now.

</div>

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The best things in life, aren't things.

This thread reminds me why I stayed away from the SnarkPit.

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"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." -- Toulouse-Lautre, Moulin Rouge

I'm sorry Satch. :sad: I don't mean to scare you off with these threads. I'll try to keep it light from now on.

Snarkpit is literally the most free thinking site I have ever visited. And rightly, it can claim to be so. If this site, or anyone within it is discouraging you away from it, by all means, stay away. But be it known that most sites are far and away worse and even though we are free thinkers, most of us are unforgiving in our wrath.

Morph, never ever apologize for your viewpoint. Be sorry if its harmful but never apologize for it.

If you have to watch your mouth to retain Satches presence, its way to high a price in my book.

If I scared you away Satch, good. You needed to be gone. If you remain, I will not cut you any slack but, I will respect you for remaining.

Tis your choice. I will not miss you, but I will wonder why.

In the end, I will ascertain that I was indeed correct. And that I can always live with.

Make your choices, wisely.

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The best things in life, aren't things.