3 ms·

Myth #4: We’re just over-diagnosing quirky kids with a trendy disorder. I'm sorry but this is true. I know plenty of (diagnosed) autistic people and they seem

by Kenji 11y ago

Myth #4: We’re just over-diagnosing quirky kids with a trendy disorder. I'm sorry but this is true. I know plenty of (diagnosed) autistic people and they seem to cope okayish with their daily lives. The real deal - and I've read heartbreaking articles about it - is when the (even grown up) autist cannot take a shower on his own, and when he is asked a question he is merely capable of repeating fragments of things he heard before, over and over again. No normal communication is possible. A severe disability. Mental disorders are massively overdiagnosed these days, it's a business with little backing of solid science, and I ask anyone who claims the opposite to show me solid evidence and research papers.

danharaj 11y ago
You also probably know plenty of depressed people who cope with their daily lives; that there are people who suffer from catatonic depression does not invalidate their depression. I don't think you know what you're talking about, which is confusing because you have expressed a very strong opinion about the subject.
- Kenji 11y ago
  All I'm saying is that we pathologize people who could lead a normal, happy life. By pathologizing them, we reinforce the perception in them that something is wrong with them. Which in turn reinforces worries and social paralysis. A vicious cycle. Please be aware that almost all diagnoses of psychological disorders are entirely symptom-based and thus extremely subjective. The trend of giving young kids strong psychoactive drugs during one of the most important periods of brain-development is disgusting me.
  - overgryphon 11y ago
    Many people lead normal happy lives with a mental health diagnosis. Something is wrong with everyone. Putting a name to the common class of struggles you struggle with most can be empowering. It makes it easier to find resources more tailored to you, and connect with others that have similar experiences.
    - sageabilly 11y ago
      One of the most powerful moments of my life was realizing that I had binge eating disorder. Not "a lack of willpower", nothing that could be cured by just "trying harder", nothing that would respond to counting calories and bootstraps, but an actual DISORDER. A fucked-up wiring in my brain somewhere. Once I knew what the hell was actually going on I could then take steps to fix it correctly, scientifically, using proven methodology and techniques that worked for me. Instead of just throwing whatever at the wall and seeing what stuck I was seeking treatment that was targeted at exactly my issue and I could connect with others that were going through or who had gone through therapy for BED and who could relate to what I had gone through/was going through. Being able to name what's going on is an enormously powerful moment. Look at all the stories of people who have had some mystery illness or cancer or some rare diagnosis: they all talk about the relief they felt when they finally were diagnosed, even if the diagnosis was grim or didn't have an available treatment. There's a huge relief in knowing because then you have a starting point, somewhere to begin from, somewhere to rally yourself and set out away from, somewhere to call your personal "ground zero".
  - cwbrandsma 11y ago
    It isn't pathologizing people, it is diagnosing. With diagnosis comes acceptance and coping stratagies (read as: "Yes I'm different, and that is ok"). The coping stratagies are there to help someone with those issues lead a happy, healthy life. But what it really takes is people like you to stop thinking that being different is bad. Being different is good. I'm dyslexic, I have a daughter being tested for autism this month. I want the diagnosis to help better understand her and help her adjust to have a happy life. She isn't even that bad, she has cousins that are far worse, but they are still all autistic (in my daughter's case, still probable). Some autistics kids can't talk, I have a cousin who is very autistic but can drive to work. Another just gets panic attacks. The range and scope is huge.
    - 6stringmerc 11y ago
      Do you think there's a genetic component to Autism? As in, it's an inherited condition? The reason I ask is because if you don't, then it would seem your family tree actually supports the over-diagnosis theory. To check on this, I did a quick lookup. One source says the prevalence is 1 in every 88 children in the US.
    - fecak 11y ago
      I couldn't help but notice your words. You ask the commenter to "stop thinking that being different is bad", but then say your daughter "isn't even that bad, she has cousins that are far worse". Are her cousins just "more different" in your mind, or do you think perhaps that certain "differences" are indeed bad?
  - Gibbon1 11y ago
    You are arguing against a wall dude. I mean you are 100% correct. Human brains are very complex, and there many many thing that can go sideways. Lumping a mass amount of those under the term Autism makes everyone feel good because they think it means 'understanding' and 'progress' but really it's bullocks. Seriously the mess that is psychiatry is going to take another 50 years to clean up+. It's problems are part of the academic madness that took hold after WWII when every field decided it needed to be 'a science' and tossed out all the ad-hoc knowledge and went straight to theory. + Like all fields that ran amuck the current guardians of the truth in psychiatry ain't going to change their minds. So progress is measured in funerals.
46Bit 11y ago
> Mental disorders are massively overdiagnosed these days, it's a business with little backing of solid science, and I ask anyone who claims the opposite to show me solid evidence and research papers. When stating your opinion as fact, the onus is on you to give evidence. I ask you for solid evidence and research papers.
- Kenji 11y ago
  So wait, the burden of proof is not upon the one making the diagnosis, it's on me? That kind of science is new to me. Thank you for your input. I did plenty of research, I only hear of the keywords 'chemical imbalance in the brain' (or for autists 'atypical brain structure' or whatever) but whenever I dig deeper, I return empty-handed because nobody can explain to me coherently what is missing, what is wrong, and how it's supposed to be fixed. I actually have a great interest in psychology so my request for information was genuine.
  - 6stringmerc 11y ago
    Where you're coming from is a valid avenue, to me, considering that you're starting from a skepticism position and asking for some quality materials to review. I'm going to share some personal perspectives that might be relevant to your interest. As it's not peer-reviewed or an empirical study, but rather one based on 30+ years of experience, I do feel it's kind of in line with a personal psychology study. I don't get too specific out of personal reluctance. For reference, I've got a physical handicap that is part of a spectrum. There are folks like me who can't go a couple weeks without medication, and others who have such a minor expression they would never know they had the condition unless in certain medical circumstances. In reality, some of those who would fit the diagnosis on a medical basis have lifestyles which would indicate they do not have the condition. On the flip side, my lifestyle has been forced to conform to the condition, so to speak, in order to appear "normal" on a day-to-day basis. Because I received some special accommodations over the years, I got first-hand interactions with kids/youth with other conditions as well. When looking back at those years, I'm reminded of the (very real) condition labeled Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Again, it's a disorder along a spectrum, not necessarily testable by blood, but there are methods for a diagnosis. As the condition itself got more commonly known, the phrase "I'm a little OCD" started to seep into the US lexicon. In my experience, these were (most often) people who genuinely didn't have the condition who felt that by saying they had some symptoms, but, more than likely, would never fit the diagnosis. This was brought to my attention by a drummer friend in college, who genuinely had OCD tics (silverware arrangement before eating) and shared with me his frustration at the, well, minimizing of his condition. The whole gist of this musing is that based on my upbringing, I've never wanted my condition / disability / handicap, nor would I want to be public about it and seek special treatment as a habit. As society in the US has changed to be more understanding and accepting of individual issues (to an extent), be it a handicap, socially progressive sexual preference and expression that used to be highly taboo, or a food-type allergy, I see there is a genuine trend towards special accommodations as a right to be fought for. It's a benefit to those who need it, but it's also an avenue for exploitation by those who feel compelled to do that...and when criticized, there's an immense push-back. So, without being too glib, first it was OCD, then it was ADHD, and now it's Autism. Each one is genuine, and each has measurable symptoms with respect to functioning in daily life. However, unlike my condition, which nobody in their right mind would want or advertise unless for straight up bullshit sympathy, there are some benefits to over-stating one's personal affliction. I've no doubt some people would take issue with this perspective, but if I'm framing it properly, that would potentially be the avenue for more research via psychology: Studying human behavior relating to adopting a negative for access to a positive. In the most extreme case, I'd reference when a person fakes cancer for sympathy and/or financial gain (of which there are documented cases), and compare that to parents who simply want to understand their child and will look all over for answers, or convince themselves that somehow what they've come across is the answer.
overgryphon 11y ago
Mental disorders are often internal, not external. What to others looks like someone coping okayish or just a bit quirky can have a huge negative impact on that persons quality of life.

by Kenji 11y ago

danharaj 11y ago

You also probably know plenty of depressed people who cope with their daily lives; that there are people who suffer from catatonic depression does not invalidate their depression. I don't think you know what you're talking about, which is confusing because you have expressed a very strong opinion about the subject.

Kenji 11y ago
All I'm saying is that we pathologize people who could lead a normal, happy life. By pathologizing them, we reinforce the perception in them that something is wrong with them. Which in turn reinforces worries and social paralysis. A vicious cycle. Please be aware that almost all diagnoses of psychological disorders are entirely symptom-based and thus extremely subjective. The trend of giving young kids strong psychoactive drugs during one of the most important periods of brain-development is disgusting me.
- overgryphon 11y ago
  Many people lead normal happy lives with a mental health diagnosis. Something is wrong with everyone. Putting a name to the common class of struggles you struggle with most can be empowering. It makes it easier to find resources more tailored to you, and connect with others that have similar experiences.
  - sageabilly 11y ago
    One of the most powerful moments of my life was realizing that I had binge eating disorder. Not "a lack of willpower", nothing that could be cured by just "trying harder", nothing that would respond to counting calories and bootstraps, but an actual DISORDER. A fucked-up wiring in my brain somewhere. Once I knew what the hell was actually going on I could then take steps to fix it correctly, scientifically, using proven methodology and techniques that worked for me. Instead of just throwing whatever at the wall and seeing what stuck I was seeking treatment that was targeted at exactly my issue and I could connect with others that were going through or who had gone through therapy for BED and who could relate to what I had gone through/was going through. Being able to name what's going on is an enormously powerful moment. Look at all the stories of people who have had some mystery illness or cancer or some rare diagnosis: they all talk about the relief they felt when they finally were diagnosed, even if the diagnosis was grim or didn't have an available treatment. There's a huge relief in knowing because then you have a starting point, somewhere to begin from, somewhere to rally yourself and set out away from, somewhere to call your personal "ground zero".
- cwbrandsma 11y ago
  It isn't pathologizing people, it is diagnosing. With diagnosis comes acceptance and coping stratagies (read as: "Yes I'm different, and that is ok"). The coping stratagies are there to help someone with those issues lead a happy, healthy life. But what it really takes is people like you to stop thinking that being different is bad. Being different is good. I'm dyslexic, I have a daughter being tested for autism this month. I want the diagnosis to help better understand her and help her adjust to have a happy life. She isn't even that bad, she has cousins that are far worse, but they are still all autistic (in my daughter's case, still probable). Some autistics kids can't talk, I have a cousin who is very autistic but can drive to work. Another just gets panic attacks. The range and scope is huge.
  - 6stringmerc 11y ago
    Do you think there's a genetic component to Autism? As in, it's an inherited condition? The reason I ask is because if you don't, then it would seem your family tree actually supports the over-diagnosis theory. To check on this, I did a quick lookup. One source says the prevalence is 1 in every 88 children in the US.
  - fecak 11y ago
    I couldn't help but notice your words. You ask the commenter to "stop thinking that being different is bad", but then say your daughter "isn't even that bad, she has cousins that are far worse". Are her cousins just "more different" in your mind, or do you think perhaps that certain "differences" are indeed bad?
- Gibbon1 11y ago
  You are arguing against a wall dude. I mean you are 100% correct. Human brains are very complex, and there many many thing that can go sideways. Lumping a mass amount of those under the term Autism makes everyone feel good because they think it means 'understanding' and 'progress' but really it's bullocks. Seriously the mess that is psychiatry is going to take another 50 years to clean up+. It's problems are part of the academic madness that took hold after WWII when every field decided it needed to be 'a science' and tossed out all the ad-hoc knowledge and went straight to theory. + Like all fields that ran amuck the current guardians of the truth in psychiatry ain't going to change their minds. So progress is measured in funerals.

46Bit 11y ago

> Mental disorders are massively overdiagnosed these days, it's a business with little backing of solid science, and I ask anyone who claims the opposite to show me solid evidence and research papers. When stating your opinion as fact, the onus is on you to give evidence. I ask you for solid evidence and research papers.

Kenji 11y ago
So wait, the burden of proof is not upon the one making the diagnosis, it's on me? That kind of science is new to me. Thank you for your input. I did plenty of research, I only hear of the keywords 'chemical imbalance in the brain' (or for autists 'atypical brain structure' or whatever) but whenever I dig deeper, I return empty-handed because nobody can explain to me coherently what is missing, what is wrong, and how it's supposed to be fixed. I actually have a great interest in psychology so my request for information was genuine.
- 6stringmerc 11y ago
  Where you're coming from is a valid avenue, to me, considering that you're starting from a skepticism position and asking for some quality materials to review. I'm going to share some personal perspectives that might be relevant to your interest. As it's not peer-reviewed or an empirical study, but rather one based on 30+ years of experience, I do feel it's kind of in line with a personal psychology study. I don't get too specific out of personal reluctance. For reference, I've got a physical handicap that is part of a spectrum. There are folks like me who can't go a couple weeks without medication, and others who have such a minor expression they would never know they had the condition unless in certain medical circumstances. In reality, some of those who would fit the diagnosis on a medical basis have lifestyles which would indicate they do not have the condition. On the flip side, my lifestyle has been forced to conform to the condition, so to speak, in order to appear "normal" on a day-to-day basis. Because I received some special accommodations over the years, I got first-hand interactions with kids/youth with other conditions as well. When looking back at those years, I'm reminded of the (very real) condition labeled Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Again, it's a disorder along a spectrum, not necessarily testable by blood, but there are methods for a diagnosis. As the condition itself got more commonly known, the phrase "I'm a little OCD" started to seep into the US lexicon. In my experience, these were (most often) people who genuinely didn't have the condition who felt that by saying they had some symptoms, but, more than likely, would never fit the diagnosis. This was brought to my attention by a drummer friend in college, who genuinely had OCD tics (silverware arrangement before eating) and shared with me his frustration at the, well, minimizing of his condition. The whole gist of this musing is that based on my upbringing, I've never wanted my condition / disability / handicap, nor would I want to be public about it and seek special treatment as a habit. As society in the US has changed to be more understanding and accepting of individual issues (to an extent), be it a handicap, socially progressive sexual preference and expression that used to be highly taboo, or a food-type allergy, I see there is a genuine trend towards special accommodations as a right to be fought for. It's a benefit to those who need it, but it's also an avenue for exploitation by those who feel compelled to do that...and when criticized, there's an immense push-back. So, without being too glib, first it was OCD, then it was ADHD, and now it's Autism. Each one is genuine, and each has measurable symptoms with respect to functioning in daily life. However, unlike my condition, which nobody in their right mind would want or advertise unless for straight up bullshit sympathy, there are some benefits to over-stating one's personal affliction. I've no doubt some people would take issue with this perspective, but if I'm framing it properly, that would potentially be the avenue for more research via psychology: Studying human behavior relating to adopting a negative for access to a positive. In the most extreme case, I'd reference when a person fakes cancer for sympathy and/or financial gain (of which there are documented cases), and compare that to parents who simply want to understand their child and will look all over for answers, or convince themselves that somehow what they've come across is the answer.

overgryphon 11y ago

Mental disorders are often internal, not external. What to others looks like someone coping okayish or just a bit quirky can have a huge negative impact on that persons quality of life.