ADHD is not real

You say: "You say that these are not specific traits, then what defines specific. Also one of these traits might not be specific on its own but the more and more traits you add, the rarer the combination is." This is true, so if the symptoms where specific, such as hearing voices, severely impaired social skills and fits for example, then yes. If sufferers of all three symptoms where sparsely divided into the society, and over a wide range of social backgrounds, then it would be considered a biological problem. But the symptoms of ADHD go hand in hand. Difficulty paying attention in school, hyperactivity and high energy levels all go hand in hand. Its not like you wouldn't expect to see one without the other. This also suggests that it is organic, as its typical of a person who has a lot of energy too struggle to sit still for hours on end and learn about boring stuff. Its not like hearing voices or having down syndrome, its just a personality. You say: "You show the example of one gene that is changed by environment, but fail to mention hundreds of others that are for the most part not." Im sorry but where have you learned this? Genes are not set, the are like an instruction book for things that is only consulted when needed and is adapted to the environment. If genes where set then why, if I had an incredibly traumatic experience tomorrow, would the genes of my second child be different to that of my first? Also how do you think animals have evolved without genetic malleability? I cannot go into the details of genes and their relationship with the brain and the brains effect on personality. But let me tell you its not what 99% of people think, its far more complex. Almost ALL psychological conditions can be avoided. I accept that many people will never change, but this does not mean that there behaviours are built in from birth. Indeed they are built in, their brains are hard wired to that personality and their genes even reflect it, but it DOESNT mean that they HAD to peruse that route. The gene evolves in life in order to mean the requirements of the environment. Watch (humanbehaviouralbiology. Sapolsky) Or anything with Robert Sapolsky. Genes are read by other systems in the body that 'choose' what to read. For example if you put the gene that says 'put eye here' from a mouse into a fly, the fly will grow the eye there, but it will be a fly eye, not a mouse eye. Gene biology is still very much undiscovered, and so to simply say that hyperactivity and a low attention span for children in school is some kind of new unavoidable genetic condition, that needs medication and cannot be avoided, is ridiculous, lazy and even damaging. You say: "being in the womb does affect personality, but only a tiny bit." This isn't very scientific, we don't know how much it effects personality. It could even be a lot as this is the time when a person needs to learn as much as they can as quickly as they can about the world they are about to enter. But who knows, such a claim as you have made is not very accurate. You say: "Every morning they would provide intense exercise of the children for an hour. Then the children were provided with specially trained private tutors, every hour they would have a break. And every Friday they would spend all day outside. That sounds pretty far from normal to me." It doesn't too me. No offence to the school its doing its best and its not a bad approach, but they are not thinking outside the box. For pupils could only come to school once a week and pursue one of their interests at home or somewhere more appropriate depending on their passion. Who knows, the point is its still school, just more relaxed. And also there are other factors, general ignorance amongst the population about human psychology and human health, also media that makes children not see the point of an education, as so many their role models are violent action hero's or sluty women. You say: "You say that the classroom caused it. Then why don't all children have it? Do some have some genetic predetermination that could be causing this? " No. All children do have it, just not as much to be labelled as having it. And the reason why some children are less and more energetic than others, is because of their life. They all have had totally different lives. Everybody gets bored in class and looses attention at times, and we all can have days where we have more energy. Its not like schizophrenia where nobody can relate too you as your symptoms are things like hearing voices and other, alien behaviours. You say: "ADHD might be becoming more common is genetics, if parents pass down ADHD to their children then it should be increasing exponentially." It takes generations and generations for genetic disorders to spread throughout a population. And it would not be growing more and more in the more developed countries now, for such a trait would have been much more useful hundreds of years ago and so it would of spread now and not be on the increase right now. Summary. So a lot of people think ADHD is real because they no somebody with it, or even have it themselves. I don't mean to offend anyone I actually don't believe ADHD to be a bad thing. And by that I mean, I don't think having an energetic personality which is very spontaneous and creative is a bad thing. School is boring and we all know that, we know that we can be interested in science, but not like sitting a desk for hours on end learning about a specific piece of information at 9 in the morning. When all your mates are there and its sunny outside, and you live in a society with less authority than 50 years ago. Its hell for most students, don't be fooled by people saying they loved school when they are 22 or older. They are exhibiting positive memory syndrome, most of them really didn't like it 80% of the time. (20% being break time). (I must admit as you probably know, these figures are made up for no such research has been done, I ask the readers to ponder this point and comment with your opinion on this idea, its lazy I know). So people like this need to be properly engaged more than the rest of us do. 40% of people don't get 5 grade a to c in the UK at GCSE level. (1). Many of these are forced to do it anyway, and not necessarily because they actually have a passion for any subject. Most people get there heads down and endure it, others flunk it and don't really care, others cannot take the $h!t, and this is perhaps where the ADHD sufferers come in. They are not badly behaved children for this is nonsense, they are misunderstood and probably more effected by the obscenities in our society, for if they have the right environment and circumstances they can thrive more than 'normal' people. So to treat it like a disorder, a genetically determined 'problem' is wrong, it should be a sign to the government that we need change in our education system and change our culture. No that there is some fluke disorder that is spreading like a disease or something that means we must drug our children and sedate them! Insane. There is no evidence for ADHD. None at all. It is a term given to children who exhibit normal behaviours to an extent that is created by the observer. All it is, is a child struggling to concentrate (because they don't want to) in school, and having high energy levels. I believe the growth of ADHD in society is actually a result of growing disinterest in education (due to many factors); less discipline; a culture of instant gratification and comfort; a decrease in obedience to our elders and less value given to hard-work and thriftiness. Even somebody totally sceptical of this new understanding cannot argue that these factors potentially increase the chances of the symptoms of 'ADHD' occurring. We all know that the children of this generation are different with the way technology and culture is changing. Schools haven't changed its no wonder there is conflict. Do you really think its more likely that a fluke genetic disorder appeared and is now spreading across the country? Also genetic disorder that supposedly changes brain function, a thing now understood to be much much more complicated than that, something that is a reflection of the life it leads.