AD/HD fakers | ADHD Information

Have you ever come across people who obviously DON'T have AD/HD but claim that they do? Those people piss me off!

I used to know this girl in college. I'll call her "Jane". Jane was my close friend's roommate so I spend a considerable amount of time around her. She was diagnosed with AD/HD last year. All she did was go to a doctor's office, pay some $$$ and after half an hour she came out with an AD/HD diagnosis and a prescription for Adderall. She does poorly in school and tells everyone, "Oh I have AD/HD." This girl is just a lazy pig who doesn't even try and has a very convenient excuse.

You might think I'm just being judgemental but this girl obviously does NOT have AD/HD. I can tell by the things she says and the way she acts. Sometimes I would be at my friend's appartment venting about my AD/HD problems, usually frustrated, furious, on the verge of crying and talking about how I couldn't sit down and concentrate and get my paper done or read a book for class, etc. And she would just nonchalantly pop her gum and say, "So why don't you just do it? It's simple." I would stare at her completely dumbfounded because that is the LAST thing an AD/HD person would say. She had NO clue what I was talking about because she DIDN'T have AD/HD yet claimed to suffer from it. She did not "get" it. When I talk to the people on this board you all "get" me because you actually have AD/HD.

It makes me so mad. I've been trying and trying to get a diagnosis and treatment and I haven't been able to yet she can. Oh and this chick also sells her Adderall for .00 per pill. .00 during the end of the semester. A real AD/HD person wouldn't sell their meds because they actually need them, unlike this girl.

It's people like her who make AD/HD look like a fake condition. When people see those LAZY-a$$ AD/HD fakers making excuses it makes them think that we're also just lazy people trying to make excuses. It de-legitimizes and trivializes the experience of REAL AD/HDers. Everytime a person with a legitimate AD/HD case tries to get help they are viewed with suspicion because there are so many fakers on the bandwagon.

I have no patience for people who pretend to have AD/HD and use it as a crutch.
scarygreengiant38469.8651967593Hi Scary,

I'm sorry that you're frustrated and hurt. Once in a while a person can get to me too!

Don't focus on her--and I know it's VERY HARD and seems very unfair, but she's not worth it.

Wouldn't it be something if someone were to go out and get some of Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Chunky Monkey ice-cream. Let it melt a little or melt it in the microwave a bit, remove the chocolate chunks as best as possible, then replace them with ex-lax chocoloate looking chunks. Really put it in there good. Then wait for an evening or day she'd be hanging around. Maybe someone might tell her they could really use a "friend" to talk to about something...whatever it takes to get her to join them in a big bowl of yummy chocolate-take-a-sh*t ice-cream.

Remember, if she gets you mad, you give her power over you and she doesn't seem like she should have that pleasure.

Just hang in there and keep doing the best you can. That's all that does matter

People like that make me mad.

ANYONE who is claiming to have ad/hd and claims "just do it, it's simple" THAT LITTLE PHRASE IS A BIG TIPOFF to the fact that they don't have it.

I have seen one or two people come to this forum before, with a "stop using ad/hd as a crutch, people, just do it" attitude, and it makes me sick because if you feel that way, then you probably don't have ad/hd. And if you don't have ad/hd, then WHY IN SAM HILL ARE YOU ON THIS BOARD PREACHING TO US????

but we are here for you. Don't discuss your ad/hd with her no more. just come here and talk to us...

our culture has become one of no accountability. and adhd, like autism, is a media darling. this gives everyone the idea and they plug it in and play.

example-jane is watching cnn and they are reporting that an epidemic of ADHD has been uncovered and it's effects millions, -now commercial break-do you find yourself losing focus and your thoughts wondering? then you may have ADHD, contact your doctor and ask them about strattera, -back to cnn-millions of ADHD cases have gone undiagnosed and it is the downfall of our culture,( not that much, but the sensationalism crap) so jane goes to the doc a nd say i have ADHD give me some meds.

don't forget who owns this country......the FDA and drug companies. pop a pill and you'll be fine. fat, take this to be thin, depressed, take this to be happy.

don't get me started on the media

[QUOTE=goldenmoment] [QUOTE=flyingwoman]
proud traveling carnival worker, a.k.a "carnie".

[/QUOTE]

LMBO!!! Yeah, I think its really unfair to say we have an 'illness' or must appear completely different or have no social life...ie, be complete outcasts to have 'real' AD/HD.

I mean, many of us hid it so well, or succeeded so much in life that we are now diagnosed as adults! I mean I went through some TAG (gifted) classes in school, and was repremanded for 'distracting other students' but I fit in so well, nobody knew what my problem was until I was past 18!!!

Just because some of you have a harder time coping, don't say the rest of us aren't as 'affected' or don't suffer....or need help. sheesh.

Much love...

I wonder if most add fakers know that they're faking. Of course, the person who sells her medicine must know she doesn't need it. However, I wonder if some of other fakers have sort of attached themselves to the add diagnosis as a kind of denial for some other problem.

Someone mentioned the stigma attached to mental illness. What if someone had another condition or problem considered a mental illness or other problem considered "worse" than add or something unknown, perhaps these people would want so badly to believe that they had add (if their condition had some mimicking characteristics), that they really believed it.

TheDog38473.4523842593

Did not mean to offend anyone, but seems everyone is upset that I pointed out that ADHD is a mental illness. Please note, it is not I who qualified this human difference as a mental illness but the medical authorities.

Please look it up on the DSM IV and check websites on ADHD - especailly those where the articles are written by medical professionals. Think about it. If ADHD was not considered a mental illness, will you be presribed meds by a psychiarist? Do they prescribes meds to people with dyslexia?

For those of you who are offended when I state that people with the disorder suffer social, work and school live. Once again I recommend you look at websites on ADHD. - especailly those where the articles are written by medical professionals. Having problems in these areas is the hallmark of ADHD. In fact, if you do not have severe problems in these areas than maybe you do not have ADHD or ADD.

Having ADHD does not mean you cannot be successful nor does it mean you are completely void of social skills. It does though means that your difference makes it difficult for people relate with you and for you to fit into this world with very a narrow definition of what is acceptable.

I have met and know many sucessful people with ADHD. In fact my very successful psychiarist also has it. Though successful, there is a noticeable difference about these people. They are very engergetic but their actions appear purposeless. They are spacy and often jump from one topic to the next. There offices consists of piles of disorganized clutter........

I am not criticizing anyone.

[QUOTE=flyingwoman]

Question: Do you have it?

[QUOTE=flyingwoman]

I am not criticizing anyone.

[/QUOTE]

Everyone here accepts you, mental illness and all.

I'm sure your radiant personality and possible future positive contributions will add a lot to this web site. We can all learn from one another.

I could also be one of the few who sees how your intentional "polite" negative impact could possibly effect some in here who have self esteem issues that frankly don't need that crap. You do nothing more then want to remind people of only any possible negative issues regarding it and for them to never forget how they should view themselves in society.

Personally, I think you're kind of weird, pointless, and passive aggressive. It is not I who contributed to that conclusion alone, my mental illness helped a little too. (THERE GOES MY ADHD AGAIN!!)

goldenmoment38472.0484606481

I decided to make my initial ramblings into a topic on the main page.

Karen N38472.1425347222I don't know why everyone is so offended by Flyingwoman's post. I don't agree with the "mental" illness part but I thought a lot of what she said was accurate. She wasn't saying that people with AD/HD are all miserable and pathetic. I think she was just saying that having AD/HD makes life considerably harder. What's so outrageous about that? After all, it's a disorder. If it didn't have a significant affect on our lives then we wouldn't be AD/HDers. I know this stupid disorder has definitely affectedmy social life, work and school. [QUOTE=flyingwoman]

Seems to me many people think having ADHD or ADD is the coolest thing. People who experienced any of the symptoms want the diagnosis.

ADHD or ADD is not fun. It is a mental illness. People with this difference really suffer in social, work and school. They usually appear, talk and act differently from the average person. They have trouble gaining respect from anyone and usually have few friends.

Most normal people will experiences ADHD and ADD symptoms when they are under stress. For ADHDers, these symptoms do not appear only when under stress. They are always there.

[/QUOTE]

I think some people may think it's the coolest thing because of the media emphasis of the similarities to Einstein and the like. The truth is that people with add come in all levels of intelligence, from the highest to the lowest - because add isn't about intelligence at it's core.

Part of a diagnosis often consists of looking at the potential of a person based on other qualities (including intelligence level), and comparing it to the success of the person. It is often this discrepency that shows that add may be present. Then, other possibilities are eliminated.

It is possible to be successful with add. However, at least based on my experience, I believe it would have been much easier without it. I've suffered a lot with it. I have learned to cope and I also have gotten treatment for the condition.

There are also some aspects of myself that I like that may be related to add. For example, I've done many more adventurous things than most of my peers and I can often be very resourceful.

For me, I've developed a little more self-esteem as I've been more realistic. I consider add part of myself that I live with. I do consider it a kind of disability but not necessarily a devastating one. I look more at the whole picture and this helps.

I didn't see too much wrong with flylady's post, it's just that I agree with mark, in that, it just kind of feels like she came with a slightly "holier than thou" "let me really brake it down to you, because I don't feel you understand" feel to the message; ALTHOUGH pretty much everything in it was true.

So it kinda makes me wonder about Mark's question:

Flylady, do you have AD/HD? Or, do you have a loved one with ad/hd?

Are you speaking from experience from your own life, or are you just quoting written facts that you simply read somewhere on the net?

(if that message sounded harsh, please excuse me, I did not mean it in a negative way...)

I too have ADHD. I was responding to the original post when I wrote. It bothers me when people who experience some of the ADHD sypmtoms start labelling themselves as ADHD. Everyone on earth have these symptoms to a certain degree. It is part of being human.

When other people sees these self labeled ADHDer having no significant problems with their working, socail and or school life as a result of the ADHD symptoms, the suffering of people who really have this human difference is greatly undermined. We do not get the their accomondations or understanding we need.

Mark, when I made the "these people" comment on the second post, I meant the the very successful folks with ADHD. I have a lot of respect for folks with ADHD.

flyingwoman38472.4082523148[QUOTE=flyingwoman]

Mark, when I made the "these people" comment on the second post, I meant the the very successful folks with ADHD. I have a lot of respect for folks with ADHD.

[/QUOTE]

OK, I forgive you.

I may have taken some of this the wrong way, but I feel the need to toss in my 2 cents on the topic. (I don't mean anything personal to anyone, I'm just stating my opinion.)

I am actually more offended that people are upset about the term 'mental illness.' I get really upset of the horrible stigma attached to that word, for the same basic reasons we all get upset about how people perceive our ADD... I have several people I love dearly, friends and family, who have bipolar, OCD, depression, anxiety, etc...incl my own ADD & OCD. And it is people who act like 'mental illness' means a person is some kind of freak or something that make us feel bad about who we are.

Mind you, it's called 'bipolar disorder' and 'obsessive compulsive disorder' and 'personality disorder' and so on....but most people would call those 'mental illness'...so why is 'attention deficit disorder' so different? The levels of how each of those 'disorders' effects people can or cannot require medications. (And I do believe that it is susupected that ADD is also due to some chemical imbalances, isn't it?)

I'll admit, I originally balked at the 'mental illness' tag until I gave it actual thought, and my opinion changed quickly. There are slight differences in disorder vs illness, but the words are basically synonyms....it's the connotation more than the denotation we hear, or so that is my opinion.

I checked www.dictionary.com and here's what I found.. (I'm assuming this is OK to paste..?)

Mental Disorder:
Function: noun
: a mental or bodily condition marked primarily by sufficient disorganization of personality, mind, and emotions to seriously impair the normal psychological functioning of the individual called also mental illness

n : (psychiatry) a psychological disorder of thought or emotion; a more neutral term than mental illness

Mental Illness:
Any of various conditions characterized by impairment of an individual's normal cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning, and caused by social, psychological, biochemical, genetic, or other factors, such as infection or head trauma. Also called emotional illness, mental disease, mental disorder

Any of various disorders characterized chiefly by abnormal behavior or an inability to function socially, including diseases of the mind and personality and certain diseases of the brain. Also called mental disease, mental disorder.

Function: noun
1 : MENTAL DISEASE
2 : a mental condition marked primarily by sufficient disorganization of personality, mind, and emotions to seriously impair the normal psychological and often social functioning of the individual called also mental disorder
n : any disease of the mind; the psychological state of someone who has emotional or behavioral problems serious enough to require psychiatric intervention [syn: mental disease, psychopathy] [ant: mental health]

[QUOTE=scarygreengiant]I don't know why everyone is so offended by Flyingwoman's post. I don't agree with the "mental" illness part but I thought a lot of what she said was accurate. She wasn't saying that people with AD/HD are all miserable and pathetic. I think she was just saying that having AD/HD makes life considerably harder. What's so outrageous about that? After all, it's a disorder. If it didn't have a significant affect on our lives then we wouldn't be AD/HDers. I know this stupid disorder has definitely affectedmy social life, work and school. [/QUOTE]

That was my thought exactly.

However, the 'these people' comment in the second post got my back up a bit.

Mark Goode38472.3259490741

OK, I understand now, flylady, you were saying this to the very first original post...perhaps more directed to the "ad/hd faker" described in that first post...

Yes, I agree with you, the things you mentioned may not be realized by that idiot who is going around saying "i have ad/hd" and selling her pills...maybe she does not realize just how bad ad/hd can be..

[QUOTE]OK, I understand now, flylady, you were saying this to the very first original post...perhaps more directed to the "ad/hd faker" described in that first post...

Yeah. if someone is going around saying, "I have AD/HD" it's a big tipoff that the person is probably a faker. A real AD/HDer knows how bad it can be and does NOT want to have it versus a faker who thinks it's cool. scarygreengiant38472.6067708333

some one who immediately throws around the fact that they have ad/hd, and automatically offers up this info to everyone they meet, to me, seems to be using it as a crutch.

most real ad/hders (although, i'm willing to admit not all) would want to keep this to themselves and be viewed by every one else as normal as possible until it becomes necessary to disclose the info, or until you develope a friendship and it reaches a certain point where the info is shared...

i.e. at work, most of the people in this forum don't automatically offer up the fact that they have ad/hd. most of them would like to be viewed as "normal" (whatever "normal" is) for as long as possible....i guess this is only human nature..

sonya_h38472.6256712963I have heard there is a healthy market on college campuses for Ritalin and other ADHD drugs. The reason she is charging at the end of the semester is beause kids use it to stay up for finals. There is a myth that non-ADHDers can hyper-focus while on "Vitamin R." And after all, Adderall and the other stimulants are pretty much legalized speed. Your "friend" could be making quite a bit of $ with her prescription. [QUOTE=JerBer]Your "friend" could be making quite a bit of $ with her prescription. [/QUOTE]

Which is precisely why she is faking the whole "ADHD" thing.

[QUOTE=scarygreengiant]Hey guys and girls. Thanks for listening.

Maybe I'll try the anonymous tip thing. I didn't even really think of that. This kind of thing is hard to prove though, isn't it? I don't really have any proof and she can always say that the tipper is lying. Still, I could try it and see what happens with it. [/QUOTE]

Make sure it's worth it to you to ruin her life though. People do kill each other over such things. Be prepared for war. If she's just annoying, let someone else be the ratfink.
[QUOTE=floofthegoof] Make sure it's worth it to you to ruin her life though. People do kill each other over such things. Be prepared for war. If she's just annoying, let someone else be the ratfink.
[/QUOTE]

She's already ruining her life - she's a drug dealer. Eventually she will sell to the wrong person and get caught, and by then her list of offences may be worse and she will get a harsher punishment.

Better to take her out now, before that happens. She may luck out with a slap on the wrist and a little fear put into her.

This is something I feel very strongly about - drug dealers of any kind are right up there with thieves, rapists, and pedophiles in my book. Not only do they cause innocent people harm, but they turn them into criminals themselves. Not only do they ruin thir own lives, but the lives of their victims too.

Not saying this case is that extreme... but who's to say it eventually won't be?
[QUOTE=GarbagePailKid] Have any of you ever used your ADHD like a crutch? Used it as an excuse
even though the reason you did/didnt do something was because of
something else?

I believe that I have ADHD, inattentive very severe, hyperactive less
so. Many things that I mess up are because of listening problems,
impatience...ADHD symptoms.

But occasionally, very rarely, I find myself pretending that something
I did carelessly was because of adhd, just because I did not want to do
that thing...

Sometimes I want to pretend for a minute that I did not have adhd-
didnt KNOW that it existed, pretend that I didn'[t BELIEVE in it, so
that I would not stifle potential by claiming- I tried so hard in the
past and this/that did not work and any further attempt is futile
because of brain disorder.
[/QUOTE]

Well, I've never used it as a crutch because I really push myself, but I have told two different people that I had ADHD and it was because I was getting confused on something--something highly detailed and was doing it but it was not within 10 seconds. I have to tell you, they laughed and thought I was kidding around. So, I just laughed too and went with it...Sheesh!

goldenmoment38470.344224537

When you have days at the office you don't realize you have been staring at the same sheet of paper for 2 hours, then thats ADHD. 8)

I hear that, I don't know why people who deal with any condition talk about it all the time and blame every problem on it. I guess I'm the opposite...I will totally deny (to myself) that my chronic tardiness, having to buy new car brakes all the time or overlooking simple errors have anything to do with my problem..but when I really "sit down" they all stem from the same brain mechinism right? Sigh, I'm not embarrassed really, just don't wanna be stigmatized ya know? As of now most people think my 'energy' and random comments/talking are "cute."

People who immediately tell new people all about their (depression, anxiety, bad mother, webbed feet) and how it makes them challenged or special or thats the sole reason why their life is in the toilet...ugh. Guess I just prefer to duke it out internally...and on message boards, with more annonomity

LOL, but do you know the one thing I wish complaining about ADHD would get me? That my bank would give me that automatic bill pay for free!!! Hee hee, I think it should fall under the disabilty act and waive the 15 bucks per whatever it cost. Just kidding, but that would rock my face off. 15 bucks is better than umpteen late fee's and bad credit though....

Sorry for the rambling...I'm just bored and got goooood news that my company will exsist for a few months yet.

Those people are why it's so hard for us to get treatment. I can't believe she's stupid enough to sell the pills. That's prison time if I'm not mistaken. Hardly worth . Word, but it makes me wonder what non-ADHD people feel like on Adderall if they are willing to pay 10 bucks a pill? Holy crap! Because I know my feelings/adjectives of 'awake' and 'calm' are NOT worth 10 dollars on the "street". LOL. [QUOTE=wickedmeowmer]

most people think my 'energy' and random comments/talking are "cute."

[/QUOTE]

I get this A LOT. They think we're fun, cute, cutsie, or just a clever way of humor with us....or something like that. [QUOTE=wickedmeowmer] Word, but it makes me wonder what non-ADHD people feel like on Adderall if they are willing to pay 10 bucks a pill? Holy crap! Because I know my feelings/adjectives of 'awake' and 'calm' are NOT worth 10 dollars on the "street". LOL.[/QUOTE]

Well, from what I've understood and read, Concerta is pretty much, more or less, a legalized form of Cocaine, Ritlin too I suppose. I saw a thing on the news the other day about how kids are buying Ritalin off the street because, in non-ADD people, it simulates the "high" gotten from cocaine. Nice.

If abused, people can die from that kind of sh*t.

Perhaps Adderall does something similar. That girl is by all rights a DRUG DEALER. I'd call the police with an anonymous tip. She wouldn't have to know it was you - any of her "junkies" could have ratted her out.
bcgirl197838470.3719560185Wow, upon a little 'googling' research reselling controlled presciption drugs carries an 'up to' 7 year jail sentence and ,000 fine. Thats more revenge than poop ice cream. Serious stuff. Thanks for sharing. [QUOTE=wickedmeowmer] Thats more revenge than poop ice cream.[/QUOTE]

YOU CRACK ME UP!! LOL!! I guess some people actually do read some of the crap I write :) Hey guys and girls. Thanks for listening.

Sadly, I still find potty humor insanely funny. So, I zero in on it. Plus, I mean who is more fun to a person with no attentin span, than ANOTHER person with no attention span. My friend Holly and I get a long famously because we don't care if we interrupt each other and can spend hours doing absolutely 'nothing' but laughing about costuming her cat...15 minute break...Nintendo...20 minutes later...'hey, you wanna go somewhere?'.....lets walk the dog....okay...30 minutes go by...'hey, you wanna drive 7 hours to see a band?' "when!?!" "um, it's tonight" "hmmmm, okay, why not?"

Yeah, so off track, but I'm not even procrastinating today. I have nothing to do. Deeeaaaaath.....

Have any of you ever used your ADHD like a crutch? Used it as an excuse even though the reason you did/didnt do something was because of something else?

I believe that I have ADHD, inattentive very severe, hyperactive less so. Many things that I mess up are because of listening problems, impatience...ADHD symptoms.

But occasionally, very rarely, I find myself pretending that something I did carelessly was because of adhd, just because I did not want to do that thing...

Sometimes I want to pretend for a minute that I did not have adhd- didnt KNOW that it existed, pretend that I didn'[t BELIEVE in it, so that I would not stifle potential by claiming- I tried so hard in the past and this/that did not work and any further attempt is futile because of brain disorder.

[QUOTE=floofthegoof] [QUOTE=scarygreengiant]Hey guys and girls. Thanks for listening.

I knew people in college that sold their ritalin and such. I actually went to get diagnosed because a friend used to give me his, and I liked the way it made me feel. Of course, in retrospect...it did what it was supposed to do! I didn't really understand ADD, always thought it was an "excuse" for laziness (even in myself)...but I've grown up a lot since then, too.

If all she does is sell Adderall, I'm sure she isn't a "big time" drug dealer...? Not to say she wouldn't turn into that, of course. Could you give an anonomous tip to the local authorities or school faculty...? I guess it's a judgement call..for me, I'd just stay out of something like that.

Also, I think many people use various things as a crutch...I'm sure we are all guilty of it at one time or another. But in the real world, my ADD isn't going to let me have less responsibility than other people...you know? It may give me reasons, but it's not an excuse for me. That drives me nuts, too..makes those of us that have ADD and work to overcome the negative aspects look bad.

[QUOTE=goldenmoment] [QUOTE=wickedmeowmer]

most people think my 'energy' and random comments/talking are "cute."

[/QUOTE]

I get this A LOT. They think we're fun, cute, cutsie, or just a clever way of humor with us....or something like that. [/QUOTE]

Not me. They call me irritating and annoying lol 8)

[QUOTE=scarygreengiant]That makes it easier for fake people to say that have AD/HD and get pills. I wish there was a better way for doctors to diagnose AD/HD so this stuff would be a lot less likely to happen. [/QUOTE]

They have been doing some things w/ the pills. For those that abuse it, many kids/people snorted them... and the "newer" Adderal and Ritalin are made to change that. They have been trying to make it tamper proof...as well as making it VERY painful to snort (I read that recently...? I thought that was pretty inventive, LoL.). Of course, anyone can just take a pill...

I know since I started taking med's 7 years ago, a lot has changed. The process to get them is stricter & the pills themselves have changed, but at the same time...it always seems like those of us that do things the right way, have a lot more trouble! I wasn't on med's for a while because I couldn't get them, yet I knew people w/o ADD that had them...grrr.

[QUOTE=wickedmeowmer]Word, but it makes me wonder what non-ADHD people feel like on Adderall if they are willing to pay 10 bucks a pill? Holy crap! Because I know my feelings/adjectives of 'awake' and 'calm' are NOT worth 10 dollars on the "street". LOL.[/QUOTE]

I read that Ritalin is sold at college for studying. Like really powerful caffeine.
it doesn't make me speed anymore but at first it did. but a cool dose of pwerful caffeine might be worth . ? I don't know. They call it the smart drug too (I read).
[QUOTE=bcgirl1978] - drug dealers of any kind are right up there with thieves, rapists, and pedophiles in my book.
[/QUOTE]

My rankings:
I am a father, pedophiles fill me with homicidal rage.
Rapists nearly as bad.
Thieves suck but a sneak thief is (usually) not a rapist nor pedophile.
Selling a few Adderall gets a very disapproving tsk tsk.
(unless it is more dangerous/addictive than I think it is)

It's wrong but reporting her to the authorities is, in my opinion, a big overreaction.

LOL!!

[QUOTE=goldenmoment] ***I think the way you responded to this question shows that you are under stress, Oh Master Yoda of the ADHD knowledge.[/QUOTE]

Actually, I thought the Flyingwoman's post was OK, and pretty much on the button.

Maybe I should read it again in case I missed something.

Mark -

[QUOTE=flyingwoman]

Seems to me many people think having ADHD or ADD is the coolest thing. People who experienced any of the symptoms want the diagnosis.

ADHD or ADD is not fun. It is a mental illness. [/QUOTE]

I think the people who think AD(H)D is 'the coolest thing' are those that don't really have it and/or get away with using it as an excuse to be 'lazy.' They don't live w/ the frustration the rest of us do. (On the flip side, I know some of us also like having AD(H)D, but there's a difference in how we look at it.)

But then again... I've met kids who wanted to be bipolar...they thought it was cool...uummm.... I still don't get that one!

chicx0r38471.2828819444

ADHD has both good points and bad points. The bad..I have no friends and everyone hates me because I drive them up the wall. The good..when people need to relieve their daily stress they find my crazy antics funny & off the wall. (however not often) Another good point is that I feel I am not a stick in the mud & enjoy laughing at life, no matter how miserable I can get dealing with it all.

The thing people do not understand is that I like to kick back and relax when I get home from work. They think I should be tidying up or some other boring thing. It takes twice as much mental effort to appear normal at work. It's very draining. For someone to say "oh just get over it & get the work done" pisses me off to no end.

[QUOTE=flyingwoman]

Seems to me many people think having ADHD or ADD is the coolest thing.****Well, I know I'm cool and I have it.****

ADHD or ADD is not fun*****It's not like EVERYONE with it, especially those who have learned coping skills and who may or may not be on medication feel like they are in a living hell every day or the losers of the world. However, something tells me it would be more fun to have then to hang around with someone like you or the way you relate to people.

It is a mental illness. ****I know for a fact I'm not mentally ill---just mental

People with this difference really suffer in social, work and school.***You know, I walk around in public picking my nose all the time. I drool when I talk and I spit on people when I talk--on purpose or because I'm bored. (Guess those letters from the Dean I worked hard to get--a specific goal of mine as an adhd social dork, in college were just imagined...I wonder how some of those lawyers and doctors with it graducated and are in a successful practice....Hmmmmm...) As for myself, I'm an overacheiver as a proud traveling carnival worker, a.k.a "carnie".

They usually appear, talk and act differently from the average person.***Oh yeah, you can spot one of us coming a mile away. We're freaks that stand out. We're like the Morelocks from The Time Machine.

They have trouble gaining respect from anyone and usually have few friends.****LOL!! LOL!! As for me, I try not to go out in public, but the few times I do people throw rocks at me because I have no respect from anyone. Probably because they can tell I'm "one of them" from being able to spot me a mile away, like those dang Morelocks.

Most normal people will experiences ADHD and ADD symptoms when they are under stress. For ADHDers, these symptoms do not appear only when under stress. They are always there.***I think the way you responded to this question shows that you are under stress, Oh Master Yoda of the ADHD knowledge.

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goldenmoment38471.1524305556Get her doctors name and report it to him/her, a simple blood test will prove if she is taking them or not.

Seems to me many people think having ADHD or ADD is the coolest thing. People who experienced any of the symptoms want the diagnosis.

Most normal people will experiences ADHD and ADD symptoms when they are under stress. For ADHDers, these symptoms do not appear only when under stress. They are always there.

OK, I read Flyingwoman's post again. Here are my thoughts (should anyone be interested)

"Seems to me many people think having ADHD or ADD is the coolest thing. People who experienced any of the symptoms want the diagnosis."

It seems to be in fashion at the moment, and a recent poll on this forum concluded that ADHD is over-diagnoded in the US. So I wouldn't argue there. Personally, the only 'cool' thing about ADHD is some of the people I've met on this forum who have it.

"ADHD or ADD is not fun."

I would agree with this wholeheartedly - though there are aspects to it that can be fun - for example, I do not believe I would have developed quite such a sense of humour were it not for ADHD

"It is a mental illness."

Ermmm... I don't think 'illness' is quite the word I would use - it's no more an illness than having only one leg is an illness. But I think I understand what you mean - perhaps 'disadvantage' would be a better word? (though I accept that there are people on here who would disagree strongly with that statement. But I'm right, they're wrong, as always )

"People with this difference really suffer in social, work and school."

Story of my life.

"They usually appear, talk and act differently from the average person."

Yep. That's me. People couldn't look at me and say "He's got ADHD" - but if asked to pick the 'odd one out' from either my work or social associates, they would pick me every time.

"They have trouble gaining respect from anyone and usually have few friends."

Respect is not too difficult - you just have to forget about trying to be friendly, and start being scary - worked for me back when such things mattered.. Someone once wrote: "Bad is better than Stupid". Friends, though - well - I guess I forget about them too easily, and friendships eventually evaporate.

"Most normal people will experiences ADHD and ADD symptoms when they are under stress."

Not just when under stress. When trying to explain (for example) my difficulty reading a page of text, the other person will say "that happens to me too, sometimes". The difference is in the sometimes - it happens to me all the time.

"For ADHDers, these symptoms do not appear only when under stress. They are always there."

Well.. yes, quite. See answer above.