ADHD Authors

[Rob_Royale]

Me on my current story.

https://itsawonderfilledlife.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/screen-shot-2022-01-23-at-7.44.14-am.png?w=1024

 

[Bramblethorn]

Functioning and achieving happiness are two totally different things. That's not just true with respect to ADHD and autism, but with respect to everything. There are "high-functioning" people who are depressed or miserable. I've known plenty of them. I'm not sure that means that the concept of functioning is meaningless, but it has to be kept in perspective as a limited measure of people's "success."

If somebody was terminally ill but still showing up to work, we wouldn't describe their body as "high-functioning", because we understand that one of the body's most important functions is to keep itself going.

When a neurodivergent person is labelled as "high-functioning" or "low-functioning" determined solely on their ability to be useful to society, without consideration of their ability to keep themselves going, the implication is that the latter isn't an important function. This is a message that ADHD/autistic people hear a lot and the consequences are tremendously damaging.

 

[stickygirl]

It may be unnecessary to mention*, but ND people often hear their condition used as a meme for comic value and it gets old fast.

"I wasn't sure I'd locked the house, so I went back. Sheesh, my OCD" or "Those flashing neon lights drive me nuts - must be my autism kicking in." Same with ADHD. Not wishing to stoke another fire but 'woke' and CRT were both niche terms that got distorted by politicians for their own malicious, rather than comic, purposes.

I'm not blind to the lazy way we use exaggeration and irony for comic effect, but in the case of ADHD, it isn't funny. At best it's mean-spirited and it belittles the term and the people who genuinely struggle with it. I guess, because I've spoken out it makes me a snowflake.

*because maybe the thread is supposed to be ironic, I can't tell

 

[Jmanchu]

Dunno about high functioning, but I've got some serious ADHD from childhood of video games and TV flipping.

 

[Winter_Fare]

It may be unnecessary to mention*, but ND people often hear their condition used as a meme for comic value and it gets old fast.

"I wasn't sure I'd locked the house, so I went back. Sheesh, my OCD" or "Those flashing neon lights drive me nuts - must be my autism kicking in." Same with ADHD. Not wishing to stoke another fire but 'woke' and CRT were both niche terms that got distorted by politicians for their own malicious, rather than comic, purposes.

I'm not blind to the lazy way we use exaggeration and irony for comic effect, but in the case of ADHD, it isn't funny. At best it's mean-spirited and it belittles the term and the people who genuinely struggle with it. I guess, because I've spoken out it makes me a snowflake.

*because maybe the thread is supposed to be ironic, I can't tell

But... I am pretty sure being flippant and quick to laugh (or cry) is part of my ADHD experience. I don't think (looking back) that *most* people who get the tone wrong around ADHD are being mean spirited or malicious. I actually find it endearing when people joke about it. Like, bless them. They absolutely are lucky they get to dip in and out of being flakey and crap and I joke about it too. FML.

 

[Winter_Fare]

If somebody was terminally ill but still showing up to work, we wouldn't describe their body as "high-functioning", because we understand that one of the body's most important functions is to keep itself going.

But we would probably call them "brave". Or "strong". Or "inspirational". And I know sufferers and survivors of cancer who love and hate that characterisation. People love to judge.

When a neurodivergent person is labelled as "high-functioning" or "low-functioning" determined solely on their ability to be useful to society, without consideration of their ability to keep themselves going, the implication is that the latter isn't an important function.

Social model of disability, "I am disabled by my environment, not my condition", doesn't always apply with mental health needs. What happens when it's your disability preventing you from accepting help, like with chronic paranoia or anxiety? It affects BOTH productivity AND wellbeing. The very first part of a modern mental health assessment is about self harm risk and a bunch of questions about wellbeing.

This is a message that ADHD/autistic people hear a lot and the consequences are tremendously damaging.

But humour helps a lot of people. Yes sometimes the tone is wrong, but minimising a problem in a joke isn't inherently a "bad thing"

 

[Bramblethorn]

But we would probably call them "brave". Or "strong". Or "inspirational". And I know sufferers and survivors of cancer who love and hate that characterisation. People love to judge.

Sure, there are plenty of problems with how we talk about physical illness too. Stick a quarter in and I'll rant on that topic!

Social model of disability, "I am disabled by my environment, not my condition", doesn't always apply with mental health needs. What happens when it's your disability preventing you from accepting help, like with chronic paranoia or anxiety? It affects BOTH productivity AND wellbeing. The very first part of a modern mental health assessment is about self harm risk and a bunch of questions about wellbeing.

I agree with all this, but the thing I was complaining about ("functioning" labels) isn't part of the current medical assessment framework AFAIK. (Or at least, not the one used for my diagnoses.) I have my criticisms of the medical framework but that's not one. My comments there are about the non-medical use of those labels, which can discourage people from ever getting the help they need by reinforcing that message of "I can mask and hold down a job, therefore I'm 'high-functioning', therefore I don't need help".

But humour helps a lot of people. Yes sometimes the tone is wrong, but minimising a problem in a joke isn't inherently a "bad thing"

Was that comment intended for @stickygirl rather than me? The line from me that you're responding to there wasn't about humour.

 

[stickygirl]

But... I am pretty sure being flippant and quick to laugh (or cry) is part of my ADHD experience. I don't think (looking back) that *most* people who get the tone wrong around ADHD are being mean spirited or malicious. I actually find it endearing when people joke about it. Like, bless them. They absolutely are lucky they get to dip in and out of being flakey and crap and I joke about it too. FML.

I know, I know. I'm not blind to the humour. Making light of something can be described as black humour or gallows humour and it has it's place too. I just wanted to pull a face and say it out loud. I'm not having a massive sulk over it

 

[jsmiam]

… y'all …

Crikey!