ADHD is not real
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Often confused with other disorders
ADHD is not a valid condition, and is frequently confused for other mental disorders. The signs and symptoms of ADHD are very similar to other disorders, causing a misdiagnosis. The repeated diagnosis of ADHD can be harmful, as it may be putting an easy solution or label on a condition that should be more closely monitored.
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The Argument
The symptoms associated with ADHD are exceedingly similar to other brain-based disorders. Since the symptoms are so similar, it is possible that ADHD is confused for other disorders. Symptoms include restlessness, difficulty concentrating on a task, and frequent mood swings. These are all closely related to other disorders as well, leaving the possibility to have a misdiagnosis. [1]
Research has also suggested that ADHD goes hand-in-hand with other disorders and illness. Those who are diagnosed with ADHD often have a co-existing condition, such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities, and even personality disorders. [2]If these individuals diagnosed with ADHD already have a pre-existing condition, it would make sense that the symptoms associated with ADHD are from their original diagnosis alone. Why is it necessary to give multiple diagnoses?
Millions of people are diagnosed with ADHD, and with such shockingly high numbers, especially in children, many researchers and psychologists have presented the theory that ADHD does not really exist, and that it is often confused with other disorders that have mirroring signs and symptoms.
Counter arguments
Misdiagnoses happen quite often, as many symptoms of one disorder can be closely related to another. For example, bi-polar disorder is often mixed up with depression or anxiety disorders, causing bi-polar disorder to be under-diagnosed. The same goes with ADHD. Individuals who were previously diagnosed with an anxiety disorder are often found to have ADHD later on. This can often confuse the patient, as they are not given the correct treatment.
Unfortunately, these mix-ups occur quite often, as symptoms of one illness tend to overlap with others. This doesn’t mean that ADHD doesn’t exist at all. Yes, there are a number of misdiagnoses, and while many could argue that the disorder is under or over-diagnosed, the same could be true for a number of different conditions.