Adults with ADHD live shorter lives than those without a diagnosis, a new study finds

so don't get diagnosed, got it.

"People with handicaps and disabilities typically have shorter lifespans due to the lack of assistance and resources needed for their specific ailment. "

This is it, folks. ☝️

Barkley's study found that the biggest predictors of shorter life expectancy in adults with ADHD were factors including lower incomes, fewer years of education, a greater likelihood of smoking, shorter sleep duration, less exercise, poorer nutrition and risky driving. He notes that most of these factors are linked to impulsivity — which can be treated.

"These factors – virtually all of them can be changed," Barkley says. "Change the factor [and] you change the life expectancy. So none of this is cast in stone."

[...]

"It's not the ADHD, it's the impact of the ADHD on how you live," says Wiznitzer, who is also co-chair of the professional advisory board for CHADD, a nonprofit education and advocacy group for people with ADHD. "Because you're impulsive, you don't make the best choices."

So basically... diet, exercise and regular sleep... the bad news is, it's advice you've heard all your life and you probably aren't following... the good news is that the science on this is pretty definite, and a lot of it is stuff you can do for free (well, no financial cost - it will cost you time though).

This made me think of

Also, fuck trying to inflict ABA sort of bullshit on ADHD'rs as well as autists, it's ableist from the core and is all about making us "productive members" of ableist capitalist society, rather than happy well cared for individuals, and is a huge contributor to stress and feelings of inadequacy and of being burden.

Sure, coping strategies are good and important, but they should solely be to benefit the patient, not make the patient more beneficial (and acceptable) to others.

The more inclusive and accessible society is, the less stress marginalised people are exposed to for being "other".

Finally, some good news!

Maybe stress of living in a world that places pressures and punishments on people who have a hard time conforming might also have something to do with it.

Sick, let’s get this shit over with

Finally, some motivation to get a diagnosis

Sick meme

The article is not all doom and gloom though!

He notes that most of these factors are linked to impulsivity — which can be treated. "These factors – virtually all of them can be changed," Barkley says. "Change the factor [and] you change the life expectancy. So none of this is cast in stone."

And later in the article a pediatric neurology professor underscores what most of us (hopefully) know; it takes a combo of medication AND therapy to get proper treatment (I feel for those still getting either of those sorted, it's rough out there).