NuttierThanEver: DNRTFA but my opinion has been

So, Asperger's?

I was out and about in the 'burbs today and passed a strip mall with a store called "The Autism Shop". A retail outlet, presumably for all your autism needs. At that moment (I was in a dark mood to begin with) I was instantly convinced that the diagnosis of autism, like diabetes and probably numerous other, once-legitimate health issues suffered by a minority, has been assimilated by the medical-industrial complex and is now a exclusively a money-making enterprise to be foisted upon a hapless, uneducated populace that has been conditioned not to think for themsleves and to cower in fear.

I know autism is a factual condition and that, for the families of those statistical few who truly suffer its worst effects, it is a hard life, but: seeing that store has flipped a switch in me.

Obvious tag unavailable because it watching Wapner?

Interesting tag filling in for absent Farking Duh tag.

FTA:"

They live in households, sometimes alone, sometimes with the support of their parents, sometimes even with spouses. Many were bullied as children and still struggle to connect with others. Some managed to find jobs that fit their strengths and partners who understand them."

It could be worse. I love these researchers. Do they stop to consider that from "afflicted's" point of view, life might not be so bad. You work a job, you pay bills, you raise a family, take a few vacations, take up a hobby... This isn't called "fighting your disease". This is called living a nice life.

It sometimes seems that diagnosers won't be happy until they have diagnosed EVERYONE with something, and then of course prescribed a medication for that diagnosis to make them "normal"

Does this seem like a bad idea to anyone else?

Big Pharma literally drugging every person living in the first world?

Oreamnos: a hapless, uneducated populace that has been conditioned not to think for themsleves

Good thing a smarty like you is around to show them how to think for themsleves.

Oreamnos: I was out and about in the 'burbs today and passed a strip mall with a store called "The Autism Shop". A retail outlet, presumably for all your autism needs. At that moment (I was in a dark mood to begin with) I was instantly convinced that the diagnosis of autism, like diabetes and probably numerous other, once-legitimate health issues suffered by a minority, has been assimilated by the medical-industrial complex and is now a exclusively a money-making enterprise to be foisted upon a hapless, uneducated populace that has been conditioned not to think for themsleves and to cower in fear.

I know autism is a factual condition and that, for the families of those statistical few who truly suffer its worst effects, it is a hard life, but: seeing that store has flipped a switch in me.

Wow. I just googled it, and you're not kidding...

RexTalionis: Theaetetus: Oreamnos: a hapless, uneducated populace that has been conditioned not to think for themsleves

Good thing a smarty like you is around to show them how to think for themsleves.

If that guy's brain is so binary that one stimulus can flip a switch in him, he's probably not the sharpest bulb in the deck.

Not the brightest bunny in the bundle?

NuttierThanEver: DNRTFA but my opinion has been that current interpretation of criteria for diagnosis has become more broad. We have seen an increase in sensitivity with a corresponding decrease in specificity and increase, in false positives

I'd add to that the tendency of people to put off having children to later in life. It's not uncommon for women to be having children in their late 30's and 40's now.

thrgd456: FTA:"

They live in households, sometimes alone, sometimes with the support of their parents, sometimes even with spouses. Many were bullied as children and still struggle to connect with others. Some managed to find jobs that fit their strengths and partners who understand them."

It could be worse. I love these researchers. Do they stop to consider that from "afflicted's" point of view, life might not be so bad. You work a job, you pay bills, you raise a family, take a few vacations, take up a hobby... This isn't called "fighting your disease". This is called living a nice life.

It sometimes seems that diagnosers won't be happy until they have diagnosed EVERYONE with something, and then of course prescribed a medication for that diagnosis to make them "normal"

Does this seem like a bad idea to anyone else?

Big Pharma literally drugging every person living in the first world?

I'm actually struggling with this right now. I think I'm dealing with a pretty deep bout of depression so I intend to see someone, but the prospect of being medicated is very unappealing, knowing that it's pretty much the first move of most doctors.

And now knowing how other people feel and what they deal with, it's hard for me to not know if I'm normal or if something is legitimately wrong. Either way I'm not leaving the house today.

Didn't the UK's NHS do a first-of-it's-kind census of mental disorders, where they re-diagnosed a large sample of people with mental conditions, using the same, modern standards, and found that (though they had a small sample at the end) the rate of autism in older people is the same as in younger people?

Yes, yes they did. (new window)

Oreamnos: I was out and about in the 'burbs today and passed a strip mall with a store called "The Autism Shop". A retail outlet, presumably for all your autism needs. At that moment (I was in a dark mood to begin with) I was instantly convinced that the diagnosis of autism, like diabetes and probably numerous other, once-legitimate health issues suffered by a minority, has been assimilated by the medical-industrial complex and is now a exclusively a money-making enterprise to be foisted upon a hapless, uneducated populace that has been conditioned not to think for themsleves and to cower in fear.

I know autism is a factual condition and that, for the families of those statistical few who truly suffer its worst effects, it is a hard life, but: seeing that store has flipped a switch in me.

So, schizophrenia?

INeedAName: thrgd456: FTA:"

They live in households, sometimes alone, sometimes with the support of their parents, sometimes even with spouses. Many were bullied as children and still struggle to connect with others. Some managed to find jobs that fit their strengths and partners who understand them."

It could be worse. I love these researchers. Do they stop to consider that from "afflicted's" point of view, life might not be so bad. You work a job, you pay bills, you raise a family, take a few vacations, take up a hobby... This isn't called "fighting your disease". This is called living a nice life.

It sometimes seems that diagnosers won't be happy until they have diagnosed EVERYONE with something, and then of course prescribed a medication for that diagnosis to make them "normal"

Does this seem like a bad idea to anyone else?

Big Pharma literally drugging every person living in the first world?

I'm actually struggling with this right now. I think I'm dealing with a pretty deep bout of depression so I intend to see someone, but the prospect of being medicated is very unappealing, knowing that it's pretty much the first move of most doctors.

And now knowing how other people feel and what they deal with, it's hard for me to not know if I'm normal or if something is legitimately wrong. Either way I'm not leaving the house today.

Not knowing your condition (I am not expecting an answer nor am I prying) I understand your concern. As someone who has suffered from depression through various stages of my life, especially now, I hate psychologists and other doctors who throw drugs at the problem. Drugs are not going to fix me, but I do know that they can help alleviate the darkest of the symptoms. In my case, the anxiety and horrible feelings of hopelessness.

I ended up on Cymbalta as a treatment for my lupus, and the other marketed use is for depression. While the pain management side of it is still out for the jury, the anxiety management is wonderful. The only bit of advice that I can offer is to acquaint yourself with the types of drugs (if any) that a doctor wants to prescribe to you. Oh, and demand samples, like a month's worth... before you get a prescription. That way you are not out the cost of the drug should it 1) not work or 2) if you have an allergy. Most doctors are more than happy to supply a good "starter" sample to get your body acclimated to the drug. That being said, it does take a bit of time before you will notice any changes... usually about two weeks.

I wish you the best of luck. It sucks when you find yourself needing the medication, but there are a lot of doctors now who seem to understand that drugging you out of your gourd just makes things worse.

Autism spectrum: It's like a rainbow that includes everyone!

/Some days, most of us are on it somewhere.
//Most days, some of us are on it.
///Parents are infinitely alert to even the vaguest sign of snowflake-isn't-so-clever syndrome.

mgshamster: I've seen some FDA approved meds that treat specific symptoms of autism, such as irritability, aggression, anxiety, and seizures, but those were just drugs that were invented for those specific symptoms derived from other conditions, and have been co-opted for use because certain autistic individuals also have those symptoms (and not all autistic people have these symptoms). I haven't seen any drugs that are specific to autism.

I guess I don't really get why we'd be making a huge effort to label people as autistic in terms of a big pharma drug push. This isn't quite the same thing as ADHD and Ritalin in the 90s.


Seizures I can understand, but I'm not sure if I'm not sure if we should classify what essentially amounts to "being pissed off" as "symptoms" that require medication. I think the point was that doctors have created some abstract notion of being "normal" and anybody who deviates from that idea, (which is probably most people) has a "disorder" that needs to be "treated" with psychoactive drugs. I'm not suggesting there's any conspiracy - I'm sure the doctors' are doing what they feel is best - but at some point you begin to move away from treating people with genuine medical problems towards social control of "undesirable" behaviours.

Bad_Seed: mgshamster: I've seen some FDA approved meds that treat specific symptoms of autism, such as irritability, aggression, anxiety, and seizures, but those were just drugs that were invented for those specific symptoms derived from other conditions, and have been co-opted for use because certain autistic individuals also have those symptoms (and not all autistic people have these symptoms). I haven't seen any drugs that are specific to autism.

I guess I don't really get why we'd be making a huge effort to label people as autistic in terms of a big pharma drug push. This isn't quite the same thing as ADHD and Ritalin in the 90s.


Seizures I can understand, but I'm not sure if I'm not sure if we should classify what essentially amounts to "being pissed off" as "symptoms" that require medication. I think the point was that doctors have created some abstract notion of being "normal" and anybody who deviates from that idea, (which is probably most people) has a "disorder" that needs to be "treated" with psychoactive drugs. I'm not suggesting there's any conspiracy - I'm sure the doctors' are doing what they feel is best - but at some point you begin to move away from treating people with genuine medical problems towards social control of "undesirable" behaviours.

Yeah, but that's all stuff that can SERIOUSLY impair your ability to function. Can't get much done if severe anxiety is making it impossible to leave the house. Irritability and aggression raise your risk of getting jailed or murdered significantly, and can also leave you fairly socially isolated. You'll be socially isolated enough just from other typical effects of Asperger's.

thrgd456: FTA:"
Big Pharma literally drugging every person living in the first world?
A gramme is better than a damn.

Theaetetus: Not the brightest bunny in the bundle?

All it takes is one bad banana.

forgotmydamnusername: Yeah, but that's all stuff that can SERIOUSLY impair your ability to function.

Just a layman here, but isn't that one of the criteria for deciding if someone should be classified as having a disorder? Meaning, if the person complains himself that life is being impacted, he can't function, that guy will be diagnosed with a disorder, but if someone else with the same(?) objective symptoms says he's getting along okay, they just leave it alone as idiosyncrasy?

Obviously the really extreme cases like smashing everything in the house over a rage that you can't even tell the source of are going to be on the "impairing daily life" for pretty much everyone, but in the more borderline cases...

That was a really good article.

THANKS, FARK!

I can't wait for them to find a "cure". Then rates will really skyrocket. Just like with the invention of Ritalin.

I think Autism could be the middle step toward a new level in brain evolution.

mgshamster: GIS for bad banana:

Ha!!

thrgd456: Big Pharma literally drugging every person living in the first world?

I've asked and asked for free opiates but they refuse.

There's a reason they decided to use an umbrella as imagery.

Bad_Seed: Seizures I can understand, but I'm not sure if I'm not sure if we should classify what essentially amounts to "being pissed off" as "symptoms" that require medication. I think the point was that doctors have created some abstract notion of being "normal" and anybody who deviates from that idea, (which is probably most people) has a "disorder" that needs to be "treated" with psychoactive drugs. I'm not suggesting there's any conspiracy - I'm sure the doctors' are doing what they feel is best - but at some point you begin to move away from treating people with genuine medical problems towards social control of "undesirable" behaviours.


The point is that a psychiatric condition means that not only do you have those symptoms, you have them to such a degree that they're preventing you from living a normal life.

It's precisely the same kind of distinction between "I enjoy a drink with friends" and "I'm an alcoholic who will do whatever they can to drink". Same emotion; enjoying alcohol, but in the latter, it negatively impacts their life.


I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 26, because I went to see a psychiatrist, because I was literally unable to focus on material I found interesting and engaging. Yes, I know that sounds ridiculous if you don't have ADHD, but that's exactly my point. If you're not experiencing these symptoms, and you think it's just like what you experience, then you don't have any idea what it's actually like; it's like telling a schizophrenic to just stop listening to the voices. You're not making an interesting point, you're just expressing your outright ignorance of psychatric disorders in general.

It was a good three month process of weekly sessions, and investigating my history through scholastic documents like report cards, before I was actually diagnosed with ADHD. And it was another three months before we even started talking about medication. And in the end, I don't take a drug; I self-medicate with caffeine because it's just enough of a stimulant to help, but that's it. That has more to do with not finding a drug that was more effective than caffeine, though, not because I'm anti-drug; for some people they're exactly what they need.

What about self diagnoses by intrinsically annoying people who want you to think they're smart? That has to be a major contributor.

Thorak: I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 26, because I went to see a psychiatrist, because I was literally unable to focus on material I found interesting and engaging. Yes, I know that sounds ridiculous if you don't have ADHD, but that's exactly my point. If you're not experiencing these symptoms, and you think it's just like what you experience, then you don't have any idea what it's actually like; it's like telling a schizophrenic to just stop listening to the voices. You're not making an interesting point, you're just expressing your outright ignorance of psychatric disorders in general.

It was a good three month process of weekly sessions, and investigating my history through scholastic documents like report cards, before I was actually diagnosed with ADHD. And it was another three months before we even started talking about medication. And in the end, I don't take a drug; I self-medicate with caffeine because it's just enough of a stimulant to help, but that's it. That has more to do with not finding a drug that was more effective than caffeine, though, not because I'm anti-drug; for some people they're exactly what they need.

The process you described is probably what should happen, but rightly or wrongly, most people assume that doctors these days tend to throw drugs at you as the first thing they do.

But it raises an interesting point. You had trouble concentrating - so you drank coffee. This sort of self-medication has been done intuitively by millions of people ever since stimulants were widely available. Going through the official medical establishment, and being diagnosed with a "disorder" just to arrive back at what should be common sense remedy seems like a needlessly roundabout way of doing it.

INeedAName: thrgd456: FTA:"

They live in households, sometimes alone, sometimes with the support of their parents, sometimes even with spouses. Many were bullied as children and still struggle to connect with others. Some managed to find jobs that fit their strengths and partners who understand them."

It could be worse. I love these researchers. Do they stop to consider that from "afflicted's" point of view, life might not be so bad. You work a job, you pay bills, you raise a family, take a few vacations, take up a hobby... This isn't called "fighting your disease". This is called living a nice life.

It sometimes seems that diagnosers won't be happy until they have diagnosed EVERYONE with something, and then of course prescribed a medication for that diagnosis to make them "normal"

Does this seem like a bad idea to anyone else?

Big Pharma literally drugging every person living in the first world?

I'm actually struggling with this right now. I think I'm dealing with a pretty deep bout of depression so I intend to see someone, but the prospect of being medicated is very unappealing, knowing that it's pretty much the first move of most doctors.

And now knowing how other people feel and what they deal with, it's hard for me to not know if I'm normal or if something is legitimately wrong. Either way I'm not leaving the house today.



Get a Golden Retriever. I shiat you not it is the best thing for depression. Take it for tracking training. It give you a pupose, hobby and tons of fun.

CSB: Oddly enough I have a child with autism and it can be damn depressing. He also has a habit of taking off so we got a tracking and aide dog. I think the guy has helped me more than he has helped my son. The dog is a complete dork.

New diagnoses are new. More at 11.

It's a simple conclusion, but I guess when you have to choose between recognizing that human knowledge grows over time, or blaming a coincidence of nature on malfeasance, folks like McCarthy will go with agency every time. Pretty much the same mental place religion comes from, if you think about it.