Make ADHD Work For You!

If you have been reading the previous posts regarding several experts/individuals that feel that ADD-ADHD is a figment of our imaginations.

ADHD - Are We Making This Up? - Part 1
ADHD - Are We Making This Up? - Part 2

Rebecca (not her real name) wrote a very passionate post regarding this subject (please refer to above links). Specifically, she had spoken to Bob Collier, a Australian author & a stay-at-home parent who has vocally emulated this position - inspired by Dr. Fred Baughman, a retired adult & child neurologist, in private practice for 35 years.

To briefly recap, Rebecca, a successful mom of three children and business professional was not diagnosed with ADHD until her late 30’s. She went through a personal hell, which we discussed previously. While her parents were well intentioned, they did not understand her ADHD and that Rebecca’s condition had drivenher suicidal thoughts on at least one occasion.

Since reading Rebecca’s posts and reviewing the Bob Collier and Dr. Baughman websites, I wanted to give myself a day to think about this before posting today. Being ADHD myself, this hits so close to home for me. Without diagnosis and medication, my ADHD issues would literally control me. Now, I am working positively towards the reducing and/or eliminating my ADHD medicine.

I think it would be a very assumption that none of us ADHD’ers are thrilled about having to rely on any type of medical stimulate to help us properly function. I also don’t think that there are any of us that have chosen to be ADHD. From our early childhood days, we all knew we were “different” but couldn’t understand why we did not “conform.”

As my fellow blogger Jeff so wonderfully states it on his home page: If A.D.D. is a gift . . . can I return it for something else?

However, I feel there is some limited, common ground of agreement with Regarding Dr. Baughman and Bob Collier . . .

The pharmaceutical manufacturers charge a considerable amount of money to manufacture their prescribed products. Granted, they pour a lot of money into research and development, but when is the last time you heard about any of these companies having any cash flow problems? The FDA is inarguably very political in the medications they approve, and the stonewalling of any “natural,” proven alternatives. Probably, one of the worst enemies of anyone that has to take medication, are the “lobby individuals and groups” that put their personal agendas and gain above a person’s best health and welfare.

Then, there are those medical professionals that are either not informed, or”afraid” to provide their patients with alternatives to control their ADD-ADHD. These individuals may also be the same people that charge $250 an hour or more and wish to ensure their repeat business. They also may be paying a lot of money for their malpractice insurance policies too.

And, granted, that there are so many harmful food additives and excess sugars in our food intake that aggravate ADD-ADHD is also a huge given.

However, this is not a carte blanche for Dr. Baughman to assert that a bunch of doctors met behind closed doors to dream up ADHD. Given that there have been a limited amount of fatalities resulting from stimulants being administered, what would have happened without a ADD-ADHD diagnosis and medication? How many more divorces, unemployed workers, criminals, and suicides would there be? (Read Rebecca’s post if you haven’t already)

I also concur that there is clearly a misunderstanding of ADD-ADHD. Because Johnny can’t sit still in class doesn’t mean he is automatically ADHD? Of course not!

We would all have to have our minds “below the water table” if we deny that there is a rampant abuse and crime of students reselling their prescription drugs to another student for the wrong reasons.

But don’t you dare tell Rebecca, Jeff, or any properly diagnosed person that our ADD-ADHD is all made up!

This blog whole-heartedly commends and supports Rebecca for having the guts to confront Bob Collier and to offer a challenge to prove the legitimacy of ADD-ADHD. While this challenge may go unanswered, Rebecca has gone to the front lines on our behalf. We know very well that once anyone (especially our employers) know we are ADD-ADHD, that we quickly labeled and in trouble (usually).

In reviewing both Dr. Baughman, unless I missed it, I fail to see where he has concretely addressed, or treated his patients that have the symptoms of ADHD. And one can’t help but be amused that Bob Collier hasn’t met any individual that is ADD-ADHD.

This blog enthusiastically embraces the work and efforts of Dr. Phil Bate, a retired Orthomolecular Psychologist who both recognizes and has concrete options for controlling ADHD, Autism and other brain disorders. One big difference between Dr. Baughman retired from his practice denying ADHD - Dr. Bate unretired to HELP people to solve ADHD.

Dr. Baughman’s citing a handful of fatalities that may, or not be related to prescribed pharmaceutical stimulatants like Adderall and Ritalin, physician Dr. Frank Barnhill (dr.huggiebear.com) , gives a factual synopsis of the Side Effects with ADHD medications, and what to do if you have any concerns. I am proud to have a link to his website from this blog, as I also have for Dr. Phil Bate.

I would like to close by saying I feel that Dr. Baughman and Bob Collier may both have good intentions, but that they have hoodwinked themselves into a fantasy world of ADHD denial - and, they are trying to misdirect everyone

Neither one is ADD or ADHD. Neither one can come close to comprehending what it is like for someone who is ADD or ADHD. Neither one has experienced these symptoms that have robbed so many ADD or ADHD persons of their self-esteem to the point of suicide, such as in the case of Rebecca.

But like Rebecca, we do not deny or sweep our ADD or ADHD under the carpet.

However, Dr. Baughman and Bob Collier, we will solve our issues without your “exhaustive” research or “help.”