February 19Feb 19 Author 8 minutes ago, little whitt said: Over 500 kids a day being referred for anxiety. If the current trend continues it won’t be long before every kid is being treated for it. Plenty of PIP for man and dads
February 19Feb 19 No doubt covid played a part recently, and also the medical identification and recognition of problems and subsequent diagnosis. Without doubt though, the increasing availability of "labels" tends towards overuse. Add in social media...
February 19Feb 19 4 hours ago, little whitt said: I'd say it's a good thing that issues are now diagnosed and treated properly thanks to medical science. But obviously there's a balance and the breakthroughs and changes in diagnostics are there to be exploited when it comes to mental health area. Lack of resilience to face and deal with life's problems isn't mental health. Being restless at home and being a bit of a scatter brain at times is not ADHD. It seems the diagnosis process is getting more stringent for stuff like that which can only be a good thing.
February 19Feb 19 Interesting and worrying for all sorts of reasons. Increased incidence? Increased reporting? Increased diagnosis? Seems a couple of clusters in the list around mental health and allergies. The former could be around improved diagnosis, the latter around more cases? Dunno. Would be good to know absolute numbers as well, as some of these percentages may in reality be small numbers of people. Overall though a fine balance between getting folks the help they need, being realistic what that help does/doesn’t need to look like, and what society can afford.
February 20Feb 20 12 hours ago, gonzo said: I'd say it's a good thing that issues are now diagnosed and treated properly thanks to medical science. But obviously there's a balance and the breakthroughs and changes in diagnostics are there to be exploited when it comes to mental health area. Lack of resilience to face and deal with life's problems isn't mental health. Being restless at home and being a bit of a scatter brain at times is not ADHD. It seems the diagnosis process is getting more stringent for stuff like that which can only be a good thing. aye am a bit torn on it but surely it's better to understand ADHD now for what it is rather than just thinking a kid was disruptive or naughty in class at school in the 80s and sending them home once upon a time someone with dementia was probably just labelled as mad parkinsons probably possessed autism just a bid odd on the other hand everyone gets a bit anxious and stressed and a bit down at times it doesn't mean you have a clinical condition so got to make sure they don't think they are something they're not, which in turn might make it worse tough balancing act like you say, the key is diagnosis and that process will only improve as more folk go through the process
February 20Feb 20 No doubt. As gonzo says though- can it all be attributed to an improvement in medical understanding? I don't believe so.
February 20Feb 20 12 hours ago, Zico said: aye am a bit torn on it but surely it's better to understand ADHD now for what it is rather than just thinking a kid was disruptive or naughty in class at school in the 80s and sending them home once upon a time someone with dementia was probably just labelled as mad parkinsons probably possessed autism just a bid odd on the other hand everyone gets a bit anxious and stressed and a bit down at times it doesn't mean you have a clinical condition so got to make sure they don't think they are something they're not, which in turn might make it worse tough balancing act like you say, the key is diagnosis and that process will only improve as more folk go through the process Speaking purely from our families knowledge of ADHD and autism, unless you were overly disruptive in class then these things weren't picked up in the 80s/90s. Doesn't mean kids didn't struggle, just were able to scrape by without raising any alarms. For me I was able to fly by the seat of my pants though school and get C grades with last minute coursework and smashing my exams. Once I lost the structure and restrictions of school and was left more to my own devices in college and my failed attempts at uni I struggled massively. Had this been picked up when I was a kid and I'd got the support that's available nowadays I could've gone on to be 'much more successful' in my education and thus life. I love my life now and I wouldn't want it any different but there is still that thing of 'what if' about it all.
February 20Feb 20 My sister has to home school her youngest. He's autistic, the LEA are useless. Unless you are going through this, maybe listen and don't jump to silly conclusions. Edited February 20Feb 20 by Not in Crawley
February 21Feb 21 On 19/02/2026 at 20:47, gonzo said: I'd say it's a good thing that issues are now diagnosed and treated properly thanks to medical science. But obviously there's a balance and the breakthroughs and changes in diagnostics are there to be exploited when it comes to mental health area. Lack of resilience to face and deal with life's problems isn't mental health. Being restless at home and being a bit of a scatter brain at times is not ADHD. It seems the diagnosis process is getting more stringent for stuff like that which can only be a good thing. A lot of ADHD is diagnosed if you score more than certain number on a the ADHD questions. There's no blood test or brain scan and I've absolutely no doubt this gets taken advantage of by a small number of people for exactly this reason. But as I've said before. I'm on the pathway for an ADHD assessment. My counsellor spotted it really - and suggested I see my GP first for a referral. I've been treated for anxiety and depression since the age of about 16. But my counsellor thinks that my symptoms could be better explained as ADHD than anxiety and depression (although they're closely related). And the treatments are very different. ADHD treatment is usually a stimulant/amphetamine - which seems counter intuitive. Anyway - I'll let you know how I get on. I can't wait to go on the dole and live the high life for £92 a week! 👍😁 Edited February 21Feb 21 by kent_white Counsellor not councillor
February 21Feb 21 Just now, kent_white said: A lot of ADHD is diagnosed if you score more than certain number on a the ADHD questions. There's no blood test or brain scan and I've absolutely no doubt this gets taken advantage of by a small number of people for exactly this reason. But as I've said before. I'm on the pathway for an ADHD assessment. My councillor spotted it really - and suggested I see my GP first for a referral. I've been treated for anxiety and depression since the age of about 16. But my councillor thinks that my symptoms could be better explained as ADHD than anxiety and depression (although they're closely related). And the treatments are very different. ADHD treatment is usually a stimulant/amphetamine - which seems counter intuitive. Anyway - I'll let you know how I get on. I can't wait to go on the dole and live the high life for £92 a week! 👍😁 In simple terms your brain needs a chemical to focus, ADHD brains break it down too quickly, the stimulant tricks the part of your brain that does this and slows down the process again.
February 21Feb 21 2 minutes ago, frank_spencer said: In simple terms your brain needs a chemical to focus, ADHD brains break it down too quickly, the stimulant tricks the part of your brain that does this and slows down the process again. Thanks mate - I was always curious about his this works! 👍
February 21Feb 21 1 hour ago, kent_white said: A lot of ADHD is diagnosed if you score more than certain number on a the ADHD questions. There's no blood test or brain scan and I've absolutely no doubt this gets taken advantage of by a small number of people for exactly this reason. But as I've said before. I'm on the pathway for an ADHD assessment. My counsellor spotted it really - and suggested I see my GP first for a referral. I've been treated for anxiety and depression since the age of about 16. But my counsellor thinks that my symptoms could be better explained as ADHD than anxiety and depression (although they're closely related). And the treatments are very different. ADHD treatment is usually a stimulant/amphetamine - which seems counter intuitive. Anyway - I'll let you know how I get on. I can't wait to go on the dole and live the high life for £92 a week! 👍😁 Thought you just didn't like shit weather and early dark evenings
February 21Feb 21 10 hours ago, Zico said: Thought you just didn't like shit weather and early dark evenings Who doesn't.
February 21Feb 21 21 hours ago, Zico said: Thought you just didn't like shit weather and early dark evenings No you've got it all wrong. I don't like dark weather and shit evenings 😂
February 22Feb 22 23 hours ago, kent_white said: A lot of ADHD is diagnosed if you score more than certain number on a the ADHD questions. There's no blood test or brain scan and I've absolutely no doubt this gets taken advantage of by a small number of people for exactly this reason. But as I've said before. I'm on the pathway for an ADHD assessment. My counsellor spotted it really - and suggested I see my GP first for a referral. I've been treated for anxiety and depression since the age of about 16. But my counsellor thinks that my symptoms could be better explained as ADHD than anxiety and depression (although they're closely related). And the treatments are very different. ADHD treatment is usually a stimulant/amphetamine - which seems counter intuitive. Anyway - I'll let you know how I get on. I can't wait to go on the dole and live the high life for £92 a week! 👍😁 I've ADHD, plays out in a very different way as i associate work as a coping mechanism as I can't switch off. Hence why as soon as it's in my head that "i don't like work" in which ever way, I have to find a new job, or start a new hobby. As a lot on here will have spotted, this pretty much runs my life. Being aware of it helps, and unstructured time off work is actually worse for me. Despite really liking my new school, I'm thinking what to do in case I get sacked.. And I can't shrug off that thought. First time I ever got 100% on a test though! More people are being diagnosed, which can only help people understand how they tick, but the issue is that in our fast paced modern world, our brains have to conform and work much more than we ever had to. We're pushed and turbocharged with processed food, social media, and an education system that's been tweaked so much that it's not fit for purpose for a lot of people. I started my masters in Inclusive Education in 2019.. The SEN focus was to get kids in mainstream by making reasonable adjustments. Reasonable being the key words. Now that's become childrens "needs", where they shouldn't be expected to try and fit in, towards people wanting Specialist Provision, and not inclusion... The educational system isn't set up for such a huge shift in such a short space of time. We've also got an influx of people home schooling and then sending their kids back into school in year 10/11, at which point they're out of the loop as such, bringing on other issues. It's a mess. This is of course coupled with some (not all), seeking diagnosis for financial reasons. I've spoken to plenty of people who have said they are entitled to "xyz" because of etc..
February 22Feb 22 I think I read that ADHD is both overdiagnosed and underdiagnosed The overdiagnosis is among boys from upper-class/wealthy families as there's some benefit with public school asmissions, or at least something like that, and their parents can afford to pay to see a specialist and obtain a diagnosis And the underdiagnosis is among poorer boys who don't have that same advantage
February 22Feb 22 1 hour ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said: I think I read that ADHD is both overdiagnosed and underdiagnosed The overdiagnosis is among boys from upper-class/wealthy families as there's some benefit with public school asmissions, or at least something like that, and their parents can afford to pay to see a specialist and obtain a diagnosis And the underdiagnosis is among poorer boys who don't have that same advantage what about the girls?
February 22Feb 22 6 hours ago, Zico said: what about the girls? Presents very differently in girls (as does Autism), and you tend to find that most girls just come across as overly chatty or talkative, which is a narrative which comes with the fairer sex anyway, so gets missed. Teaching computer science, there's a gravitation of Autism towards my subject (who would have thunk it), whereas Drama and sport seems to have more of a gravitation of kids with ADHD. Then there's the unlucky ones that have both and flit around like a little candle in the wind, loving everything all of the time (for a short spell only though).
February 22Feb 22 7 hours ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said: I think I read that ADHD is both overdiagnosed and underdiagnosed The overdiagnosis is among boys from upper-class/wealthy families as there's some benefit with public school asmissions, or at least something like that, and their parents can afford to pay to see a specialist and obtain a diagnosis And the underdiagnosis is among poorer boys who don't have that same advantage Lots of "tiktok" diagnosis at the moment. People seeing videos where they meet certain criteria and feel they must have it, in truth it's these things all of the time, to a level where it takes control of your life. Being forgetful or distracted Find it hard to organise your time Find it hard to finish tasks Losing things often Being very talkative Making impulsive decisions Most of those are perfectly fine and nothing to worry about, but most people will look at that and can say, "Yes I forget things, I'm terrible with time management etc. What it certainly isn't is "Being naughty", or as i should say "Showing negative behaviours". To give examples, I spent 2 hours last week looking for a document, I MIGHT need if I apply for a course, which I'm undecided if I'm going to do. Issue is that I suddenly decided i needed to do the course at 11.30pm on a Thursday night and had work the next morning. Anyway, there's a new kid on the block APD (auditory processing disorder), which is appearing more and more. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/auditory-processing-disorder/
February 22Feb 22 As more of these conditions are recognised, is there a danger that people become over medicated? Is it better for society, employers etc to provide roles that a more suited to the individual. Not a case of making roles up that have little value, and supplemented by central government, but a recognition of how and difficulties may actually benefit the role. This may actually mean a change of tack from central government in how employers are treated under the law.
February 22Feb 22 On a separate note, a report confirms political pressure applied to the police over "Villagate". Who'd have thought? Wonder if any consideration to "misconduct in public office" will happen.
February 22Feb 22 3 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said: On a separate note, a report confirms political pressure applied to the police over "Villagate". Who'd have thought? Wonder if any consideration to "misconduct in public office" will happen. Hope you don’t mind a bit of gentle Whataboutery on this one Are you the fella who posted HAPPY PANCAKE DAY in the comments? 😉
February 22Feb 22 Went to the lego convention at GMex yesterday and I would say those averages are very low if that was a sample cross section.
February 22Feb 22 2 hours ago, London Wanderer said: Hope you don’t mind a bit of gentle Whataboutery on this one Are you the fella who posted HAPPY PANCAKE DAY in the comments? 😉 Still avoiding acceptance of getting it badly wrong? Councillors and police in dodgy behaviour shocker.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.