In reference to the awful /r/ADHD subreddit which is the most anti-ADHD place online I have ever seen I would like to know if this place will follow their horrible example or actually allow neurodivergent people with ADHD to consider it a home?
Based on this from the sidebar it seems positive and I look forward to interacting with you all.
"Encouraged:
Funny memes. Welcoming and accepting attitudes. Questions on confusing situations. Seeking and sharing support. Engagement in our values."
I remember it being very negative in that most posts that you’d see just scrolling through it were complains along the lines of “ADHD is the worst” and “just been fired for the fifth time” and it wasn’t until my husband noted that he had heard it being a terrible sub that I realised the atmosphere was purposely that way. They discouraged self-diagnosis to the extend that seemed unhelpful, even though it could be argued that how can someone seek a diagnosis if they don’t first self-diagnose? And generally seemed to consider ADHD as a curse or a disability, regardless of whether and individual would feel that way. They were openly against neurodivergence as a term:
“We consider the neurodiversity paradigm to be harmful to people with ADHD, both directly in terms of its stated goals and indirectly via constant attempts to silence us for disagreeing with them.”
Yep the subreddit was so depressing all the time, and they also hated the term “neurodivergent” which I mean I don’t know, let people identify the way they want to? I like queer for me in terms of my sexuality, but some don’t like it, I don’t like it/its as a pronoun, but I’m not gonna stop someone identifying that way.
And it’s not like subs can’t be a place to vent, because hey, sometimes ADHD does suck. But also the fact that it was constant depressive posts, or “my doctor doesn’t believe in ADHD” or “my relative is stealing my meds”. And it’s just like… yeah so depressing. And like I see ADHD as a disability, because it is, but yeah… it’s just… a sub to be helpful for those with ADHD, sure fuckin’ hates those with ADHD.
Yeah it’s not like I’d want people to feel bad for having negative feelings about their ADHD, but it might be more helpful to channel those feelings to a more positive change rather than wallowing in it. Had the sub been named r/ADHDvent I don’t think people would’ve been so annoyed but I’ve heard it was difficult to post anything positive as it would get deleted under the rule of “no toxic positivity”.
ADHD is such a personal thing as well it should be up to the individual to define their feelings on it. Currently I don’t like to consider mine a disability mostly due to feelings of being an imposter and having one therapist suggest it may be more of a trauma related thing, but I think that should be my right to define how I feel about my ADHD and how it affects my life since it’s a question of my experiences. For someone else it will affect them a lot more and they’ll struggle a lot more.
Yeah I think if there was a venting place it wouldn’t be so bad. And again, like not saying that ADHD is all sunshine and rainbows. But iunno dude, I just want to see how people make their ADHD work for them, or what apps they use, or whatever.
Like yes toxic positivity is a real issue, but there’s a difference between “hey I finally made my bed!” And toxic positivity. Then there’s also my own gripes of it being too American for me, but that’s mostly because my local ADHD sub was pretty dead tbh.
I found that subreddit really depressing too, so I only occasionally popped in and out. In theory, an online support group is great, but compared to an in-person (or structured online) support group (discussion led by moderator, meets maybe once a week, etc), it was just too heavy to read daily. I honestly don’t know how you make it better, though, especially once a sub grows reaches a certain size.
how can someone seek a diagnosis if they don’t first self-diagnose?
That’s the problem I had there. I’ve been waiting on an official diagnosis for almost 3 years now, but I certainly do tick all the boxes for having it, to the point I’m like 99% certain I do. But I’ve always been made to feel like I shouldn’t be posting there or claiming I have ADHD until I can get the official verdict.
Which is especially weird considering the recent news regarding private ADHD clinics and whether it’s too easy to get a diagnosis privately in the UK. Similarly I have a diagnosis for ASD from Finland but have had a therapist say she didn’t think I was autistic, so if I can’t then discuss that in a very large and popular subreddit where should I go. It all seems rather silly.
