That was extremely well analysed and well spoken. You hit the nail on its head - basically, we all need to give and be given room in our lives to be ourselves. Being that requires no cure, no diagnosis. But misfitting into hostile surroundings and impossible requirements may make us feel wrong - the many popular diagnoses work as a relief; an end of the worries about why we cannot cope with a world that requires us to be everything, everywhere, all the time. A world that requires us to be gods.
A beautiful comment, Jorgen, thank you for sharing. I feel as though in modern life we are so focused on being busy that we forget to be ourselves. And when we do that, we have no strong sense of self and are easily swayed into being "diagnosed" and placed in boxes. Cheers to simplicity!
A great article Aimee. The fact that people are relieved when they receive a diagnosis and given these arbitrary labels is something I find worrying too. This seems to me to be as inappropriate as blaming illness on ‘bad germs’ or ‘bad genes’ or just ‘bad luck’.
Thank you so much, Dawn. It is the same in my view too. We’re so addicted to blaming boogeymen, outsourcing responsibility to others, and living sped up lives that we can’t see the forest for the trees. I see many parallels with psychiatry and virology.
Yes! I prefer to spend my time writing, rather than frittering it away sourcing stock images that always look staged anyway. I like the vibe that AI images bring to my work (even with dodgy hands haha)
Some things right, beginnings of observations deconstructing a naive view of medicine and science used as premises for reasoning to unconnected conclusions (particularly wrt philosophy of psychiatry and ethics). Bookmarked for response.
Thank you for all this research and connecting dots! But the problem is, I don't think people want to give up hectic status driven comfortable consumer lifestyles.
@Aimee Q Devin Even as I read the first lines of your article I was already shouting YES!!!! I too have been noticing the sudden rise in middle-aged women announcing their ADHD, and thinking hold on, what on earth is going on here? Your beautifully written, thoughtful and clear article has helped me clear up all of that confusion - thank you soooo much. I heartily agree with it all.
The introduction alone was enough to make me punch the wall, because Clonazepam is not an appropiate bipolar medication, and nowadays, many people with debilitating anxiety disorders are struggling to receive benzo-prescriptions at all, letalone for the duration, because doctors increasingly refuse to take responsibility for prescribing risky medication. Reminded me of Scott Alexander's argument of how illnesses can be both over- and undermedicated at the same time.
I have the same relationship with Methylphenidate. I genuinely believe it's a universally good substance, and you would struggle to find a person who wouldn't experience a QoL-increase by taking 5 mg XR every morning. The easiest way to get my eyes rolling is telling tales about feeding meth to children or how Ritalin has the same effect on the brain as cocaine does (I'm sorry to hear that, must have been truly awful coke then). Yet, at the same time, Methylphenidate turned out to be a terrible match for my ADHD specifically, which my doctor continuously refused to recognize. Same problem as above: medication is usually good and can be very good. The question is not only if at all, but especially what and for whom.
That was extremely well analysed and well spoken. You hit the nail on its head - basically, we all need to give and be given room in our lives to be ourselves. Being that requires no cure, no diagnosis. But misfitting into hostile surroundings and impossible requirements may make us feel wrong - the many popular diagnoses work as a relief; an end of the worries about why we cannot cope with a world that requires us to be everything, everywhere, all the time. A world that requires us to be gods.
A beautiful comment, Jorgen, thank you for sharing. I feel as though in modern life we are so focused on being busy that we forget to be ourselves. And when we do that, we have no strong sense of self and are easily swayed into being "diagnosed" and placed in boxes. Cheers to simplicity!
Your 7-year-old wakes up exhausted.
Not because he's sick.
Because it's 6AM.
You pour him cereal.
Not because it's healthy.
Because it's quick.
He stares at an iPad.
Not because it's good for him.
Because you need to get ready.
The school calls later:
"He can't focus"
"He can't sit still"
"He needs testing"
The doctor writes a prescription.
Not because your boy is broken.
Because the system is.
The truth?
His brain is FIGHTING:
- Chemical food dyes
- Sugar crashes
- Screen addiction
- Sleep deprivation
- Natural energy
But we medicate the child
Instead of fixing the cause.
Your grandfather's kids:
- Played outside
- Ate real food
- Slept well
- Moved freely
No pills needed.
Modern parenting isn't convenience.
It's warfare. Against your own child.
Give him a chance:
- Clean food
- Real sleep
- Free play
- Natural movement
DON'T give him pills.
The system wants patients.
NATURE MADE WARRIORS.
CHOOSE WISELY...
-Asha Asienka
🥺💗 We have so much work to do!
A great article Aimee. The fact that people are relieved when they receive a diagnosis and given these arbitrary labels is something I find worrying too. This seems to me to be as inappropriate as blaming illness on ‘bad germs’ or ‘bad genes’ or just ‘bad luck’.
Thank you so much, Dawn. It is the same in my view too. We’re so addicted to blaming boogeymen, outsourcing responsibility to others, and living sped up lives that we can’t see the forest for the trees. I see many parallels with psychiatry and virology.
Went to all the work writing and citing this great article but still used AI art! It’s the creepy messed up hands! You can always tell
Yes! I prefer to spend my time writing, rather than frittering it away sourcing stock images that always look staged anyway. I like the vibe that AI images bring to my work (even with dodgy hands haha)
Some things right, beginnings of observations deconstructing a naive view of medicine and science used as premises for reasoning to unconnected conclusions (particularly wrt philosophy of psychiatry and ethics). Bookmarked for response.
Thanks for dropping by. I look forward to receiving your response.
Thank you for writing this! I have been wondering what is really happening behind all the new ADHD labels. Makes so much sense now!!
Thank you for all this research and connecting dots! But the problem is, I don't think people want to give up hectic status driven comfortable consumer lifestyles.
@Aimee Q Devin Even as I read the first lines of your article I was already shouting YES!!!! I too have been noticing the sudden rise in middle-aged women announcing their ADHD, and thinking hold on, what on earth is going on here? Your beautifully written, thoughtful and clear article has helped me clear up all of that confusion - thank you soooo much. I heartily agree with it all.
The introduction alone was enough to make me punch the wall, because Clonazepam is not an appropiate bipolar medication, and nowadays, many people with debilitating anxiety disorders are struggling to receive benzo-prescriptions at all, letalone for the duration, because doctors increasingly refuse to take responsibility for prescribing risky medication. Reminded me of Scott Alexander's argument of how illnesses can be both over- and undermedicated at the same time.
I have the same relationship with Methylphenidate. I genuinely believe it's a universally good substance, and you would struggle to find a person who wouldn't experience a QoL-increase by taking 5 mg XR every morning. The easiest way to get my eyes rolling is telling tales about feeding meth to children or how Ritalin has the same effect on the brain as cocaine does (I'm sorry to hear that, must have been truly awful coke then). Yet, at the same time, Methylphenidate turned out to be a terrible match for my ADHD specifically, which my doctor continuously refused to recognize. Same problem as above: medication is usually good and can be very good. The question is not only if at all, but especially what and for whom.