Comments on: ADHD Myth #2: An Excuse for Irresponsibility

By: Gina Pera

Gina Pera — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:09:38 +0000

Hi Valerie, Congratulations on finally solving the mystery as to why you weren’t “living up to your potential.”

As far as sharing the good news with your family, maybe you just want to hold off on that for a while. Instead, shore yourself up with support from people who do understand ADHD and can cheer on your treatment progress.

I encourage you to check out any local support groups for Adult ADHD. Online support is great, but flesh-in-blood people talking about their stories can be even more validating.

Good luck!

By: Valerie

Valerie — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 08:28:50 +0000

Wow… old post but I’m compelled to reply.

Regarding the “excuse” myth. If anything, I’ve been most critical of myself all these years, and have felt like such a failure most of the time. My recent diagnosis at the age of 50 is far from an excuse, it’s a relief! It confirms that I am not just a bad person and a loser, and that “potential” that I was told I have just might be realized with proper treatment.

If not for the people I work with and have become friends with who, through their unbiased perception of who I really am (unlike my judgmental family) I might have gone to my grave thinking I was just a “bad seed” and there was no hope to live any kind of “normal” existence.

I’m still afraid to tell anyone because most people are not accepting of psychological disorders, or any mental illness for that matter. I’m afraid the relief I’ve gained from this diagnosis will give way to even more self-degradation given the likelihood of harsh criticism from family.

What to do?

By: Isiah Palanza

Isiah Palanza — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:52:15 +0000

a proper good see of ADHD Roller Coaster: “Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.?” · ADHD Myth #2: An Excuse for Irresponsibility Comfy love it

By: Jaelle n'ha Gilla

Jaelle n'ha Gilla — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:51:07 +0000

Gina, I’m glad you included that sentence “Yes, it’s true that some adults with ADHD use the diagnosis as an excuse”. I think actually everybody uses one or the other excuse to behave in a way they would not want to see in others. I include myself into that equation. Haven’t we all been more bitchy because we were sick that day, and rationalized later “Oh, but that was because I was sick”?
I don’t like the generalization much that this is a “myth”. It’s not. It’s human behavior and some people use it more, some less, and some have to work harder than others if they want to avoid it. I’m not saying it is always avoidable. All I’m saying is that it is there all the time.

I get the idea though, that ADD patients have other mechanisms of running decisions.

By: Gina Pera

Gina Pera — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:43:28 +0000

Thanks for the kind words.

Readers of your blog learn a lot, too!
http://www.beforeyoutakethatpill.com/

By: Gina Pera

Gina Pera — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:25:42 +0000

Dr. B — Don’t we use the rat model because rats are so similar to humans?

Re: the impaired appetite. Decreased appetite was just one of the common problems with IR Ritalin (and other IR stimulants), which is why the current thinking advises long-acting, gradually released medications like Concerta, Vyvanse, Daytrana, etc.

Anecdotally speaking, I don’t hear that complaint from parents as much as I used to. And there are workarounds. I’m no expert in this, but I see the same kind of poor medication protocols with kids as I see with adults: often too high a dosage (or not high enough) on IR stimulants, which just cause more problems for most people; no way around it. So, it’s hard to know, from these studies, what’s the result from poor clinical practices or best clinical practices.

As for the growth suppression, I think the latest word on that is covered by Dr. James Swanson, on Web MD: http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/news/20070720/adhd-drug-does-stunt-growth

By: Gina Pera

Gina Pera — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:13:30 +0000

That’s a great story, Monica — and a prime example of how adults with ADHD often have to “self-advocate.”

By: Doug Bremner

Doug Bremner — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:12:00 +0000

But you have a lot of good stuff here. I am learning a lot of new stuff and I am a shrink!

By: Doug Bremner

Doug Bremner — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:11:32 +0000

Yes indeed. Sacrificing themselves for science, poor little things. I used to do research until I had a dream about a giant rat knocking on my door. Anyhoo impaired appetite with ritalin is a big deal for moms trying to get their boys to eat and grow. The whole kids and meds thing is a big guilt trip no matter what you do. From what I remember the growth thing amounts to about an inch over the lifetime and your point that the negative effects of the disorder is a good one.

By: Gina Pera

Gina Pera — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:45:57 +0000

P.S. As far as long-term effects on brain function — rat or human — I’ll have to get back to you. As far as I’m aware, no research has demonstrated negative effects on brain function, and the impact on height, etc. seems to be miniscule at best. But I’m not remembering the latest research on this.

But, as ADHD experts such as Yale psychologist Tom Brown like to point out, we do know the risks of untreated ADHD are significant and severe.

I had to look up the ACNP (American College of NeuroPsychopharmacology). I’m betting many rats gave their lives for those poster sessions, bless their little rat hearts.