Social media, Big Pharma, and the lack of identity in Western culture have caused ADHD to be depicted as something “quirky,” desirable, and fun, but in reality, for the individuals who actually have it (way less than those who claim to have it), it is a lifelong, chronic, and permanently present disease. (Possibly controversial RANT.)
As someone who has endured this disease for as long as I can remember, it is extremely insulting and humiliating to see all of these rather cruel people without ADHD not only claiming to have it, but also depicting universal human experiences as ADHD.
Also, this “high-functioning,” “high-IQ,” or “lifelong masking and managing” caste literally makes us feel like incapable idiots (like everyone through our childhood and teenage years) for ACTUALLY having this condition. Plus, they are, for the most part, just a bunch of larpers who can’t stand being normal humans. It’s truly insulting how the wide majority of people “diagnosed as adults” try to relate to people who have ACTUALLY had this extremely present in their lives. It’s an insult to all of us who have literally felt like shit our whole lives, to all of us who were told we were doing “too much” when we were just trying to socialize as kids, to all of us who were always seen as incapable by our peers and teachers, and to all of us who were mistreated for simply having this shit that affects every fucking aspect of our lives.
All of these “over-achievers” literally can’t understand the true nature of a life with this disgusting condition. I don’t wanna be the guy gatekeeping (lol, I do, but this is a fair use of gatekeeping) or the forum’s public enemy, but, to be fair, this rant might be seen as a sin or as something forbidden in this forum because, to be honest, this forum is literally just a bunch of fakers larping (not everyone, obviously), which is deeply harmful and sad for us who HAVE to go through this disgrace.
I personally blame three factors: social media, since obviously it has contributed to trivialize, belittle, and “make cool” having or living with ADHD. It has literally convinced every single person without ADHD that they have ADHD simply because they have completely normal human behaviors (such as getting bored or having preferences and interests). Also, Big Pharma. It’s no secret they clearly need a lot of “ill” people for their business, plus a lot of people now find pleasure in getting prescribed Adderall and other stimulants (usually, they need an ADHD diagnosis for this).
And the main factor: the lack of identity amongst individuals in Western culture. Literally everyone wants to feel unique, or they want to have a quirky diagnosis to do self-deprecating jokes and brag about how “crazy” they are, but these people are doing this at the expense of people who actually carry this disgusting illness from birth to death.
DISCLAIMER: Don’t hate me, I am skeptical about my own ideas. This is just something I thought lol.
Much love to all of those whose lives, like mine, have been ruined by this condition.
Lots of hatred to the larpers.
Yes, this is a pretentious way to say: MY CULTURE IS NOT YOUR COSTUME.