Just like how I was raised to think of them as wrong made with mematic
Truth
Yeah, I can't say I didn't ugly laugh at that.
Honestly have to disagree pretty hard.
Our smartphone addiction really seems to exacerbate attention span issues and fucks with our reward systems.
Go for a few weeks or a month without using a smartphone to see the difference, or get an e-ink android phone to try and break the reward loop and see how you feel.
Like, start by outlining the effects of smartphone use and addiction, then lay those effects next to the symptoms of ADHD, and notice the significant overlap.
There are definitely a lot of undiagnosed parents who were forced to develop coping strategies and think their kids need to too in unhealthy ways, but there are also a lot of undiagnosed parents whose symptoms have gotten worse with smartphone use.
It's probably a bit of both. You likely will get downvoted heavily though and to explain: the rule in this community is that whenever something is both normal and yet exaggerated in the case of someone with actual (whether diagnosed or not) ADHD, the latter is presumed.
People get just SO TIRED of neurotypicals taking over EVERY conversation and need a safe space to talk and maybe even vent, yeah?
But in this case it really is worth noting, as you did, that even so, smartphone usage can be a contributing factor in making other/existing things worse off, setting aside things like medication status and whatnot.
I say this as someone who has been diagnosed with ADHD and who has a dad who says exactly the above, and who everyone in the family agrees almost certainly has undiagnosed ADHD.
I just think it's important to not dismiss the very real effects of smartphone usage and addiction. If you struggle with ADHD symptoms, then it's important to not dismiss and justify other factors that exacerbate them and make them even harder to deal with (especially when those factors are changeable, like reducing our social media and smartphone usage).
Ugh, this is my mother. I was diagnosed with ADHD at 37 years old. She still doesn't believe I have it because I was "normal" all throughout my childhood. But I spent my childhood running everywhere, climbing everything, and on the verge of tears if someone made me sit still for 2 seconds. My grades were awful because I couldn't focus on the teacher in a classroom environment, and all my life, I've had the worst time processing auditory instructions.
I see some of the same ADHD symptoms in my mother as well, but she refuses to acknowledge she has it. She just thinks she's highly productive. She has no clue that her productivity is boosted by a need to constantly be doing something.
She's retired in her 70s but still needs to be involved in her community, running organizations or helping with local events. She can't just sit still and enjoy retirement.
My mother believed I had ADHD, but did not believe I had PTSD from how she and father treated me throughout childhood into early adulthood (and never stopped, really). I finally managed to convince her yesterday. It feels like a huge weighted vest of rage has been lifted. I also got her to admit she has PTSD too, from my narcissistic father’s verbal abuse, and I told her I’m virtually certain I also have autism, and she’s watching the videos that helped me to understand this. And she even scheduled a therapy session for herself for the first time in her life. All it took was for me to take an adderall, and plan out my argument with organized bullet points, and present it in a calm and measured manner, instead of yelling at her in disorganized rage. Who knew.
Way more parents need to think if they're sure they're not unwillingly bullying their mentally ill children. That is more common afaik. But ofc this post is appreciated too.
Oof this hit me hard.
My youngest has ADHD, as do I. I wasn't diagnosed until last year though.
Him being hyper stresses me the fuck out. But I was more of a daydreamer/wanderer type. What his body does is what my mind was doing when I was his age.
Anyone reading that bottom box probably doesn't belong on this sub.
Hey, I am offended! I'll give the bottom panel a shot once I have my new glasses.
I'm gonna be honest. It is also the damn phone.
A real problem is that many teachers blame everything on the phone and are like: Well, would like to help, but that kid is too much on the phone. Often, they are not. Often, the ADHD and need for more stimulation causes the use of the phone, not (only) the other way round. They even make up weird shit, like several 7 year olds have been accused of playing / watching Squid Game, which is really, really unlikely. I believe the actual number is 0. Seems to be the result of suggestive questioning, especially since it's always Squid Game.
It's complicated. Apps that are designed to milk or dopamine can cause symptoms that have some overlap with ADHD, and for even neurologically similar reasons. But having ADHD can also make it more attractive to be on the phone while doing other things in order to reach the comfortable level of stimulation.
Yessss. I am going to delearning the masking habits too.
Constantly was told "you can learn not to be like that. Others learned it too. Others managed it too!" Yeaah i have abusive parents. How did you know? :)
