ADHD is not real
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Differing personality traits
By diagnosing children was ADHD, we are putting a label on children whose personalities are simply just different. Some children are quiet and shy, while others are more hyperactive and easily distracted. Society should be more accepting of differing personality traits, and stop labeling children as having a disorder.
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The Argument
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is often associated with “symptoms” such as restlessness, impulsiveness, problems focusing, etc. The stereotype of someone diagnosed with ADHD is someone is hyperactive and has trouble concentrating. These are all common traits seen in children, and even sometimes adults. These may be the common signs of ADHD, but what ever happened to differing personality traits? If someone has high energy, isn’t it possible that they are just energetic person?
Research shows that the signs and symptoms of ADHD can also vary depending on gender, with boys showing more “externalized” symptoms, while girls are more “internalized”. These externalized symptoms in boys include impulsivity and impatience, while girls are the opposite, with their symptoms including inattentiveness and low self-esteem. [1]How can the symptoms of ADHD differ depending on gender? The symptoms mentioned are seen in a majority of children, both male and female. These seem more like personality traits, not symptoms of ADHD.
Nowadays, it seems doctors and health professionals are quick to give children an ADHD diagnosis, when it could just be kids being kids. Some children are more hyperactive than others, while some are more reserved and have difficulties focusing. Other factors can cause these behaviors in young children as well, such as anxiousness. ADHD can often be mistaken with differing personality traits, and before a child is given a diagnosis, they should at least wait until their brains are more developed, and more aware of their true personalities.
Counter arguments
The signs and symptoms of mental disorders and illnesses vary. One disorder may look like another, while others are more unique. Yes, some symptoms can appear in everyone from time to time, but when it is for a prolonged period of time, and something that disrupts daily functioning, a diagnosis may be more effective. For example, the signs of depression are feelings of sadness, irritability, trouble concentrating, and disruptions in sleep. [2]These are all things that everyone experiences from time to time, but saying that depression doesn’t exist just because “everyone feels that way sometimes” is harmful to individuals who actually have a real case.
People with ADHD often seek medical help when they are experiencing symptoms. They are doing so because it is obviously affecting them in a negative way, making it more difficult to learn. Saying that someone should not be diagnosed because ADHD “doesn’t exist” can be detrimental to their mental health. Knowing the differences between a real disorder and an individual’s personalty traits are important in these cases.