I’ve been gathering my thoughts about the much-discussed upcoming “documentary” from Channel 4, which, based on the title and press release, appears to be yet another piece of absolutely irresponsible ragebait content, “challenging” the validity of ADHD diagnoses. As always when neurodivergence is questioned, and the rights of neurodivergent folk to access accommodations and treatment from early on is attacked, I ask myself: who gets to profit from spreading disinformation and hate? And how long will we neurodivergent folk have to put up with these damaging discourses for?
It took me 30+ years to become formally identified as ADHD. There are many complex reasons for that immense delay but one salient reason is that, even in adulthood, even when I became better infomed about ADHD, I kept questioning myself, my own lived experiences, and my right to ask for accommodations in any context. I questioned myself and didn’t pursue formal identification for years because whenever I brought up the possibility of being ADHD with those around me, with former partners, the reaction was always one and the same: immediate derision. Even now that I have my formal identification, I find myself having to “defend” its legitimacy to family and friends on a frustratingly regular basis.
“But how could you have ADHD, look at you, you’re such a high achiever!” I hear. Or “But why do you need to put a medical label on your quirks?” or “ADHD? How so, you seem to be doing fine.” And yet it’s some of these same people who then ask:
- why are you constantly scratching yourself and picking at your skin until you’re bleeding, are you ok?
- why are you doing puzzles while we’re watching this film, aren’t you enjoying it?
- why are you so annoyed at the loud people on the bus, can’t you just ignore them?
- hey, I’ve been waiting for that document you promised to send a month ago, can you please make an effort and send it?
- watch where you’re going, why do you keep bumping into the furniture? you’re always covered in bruises
- why are you zooming around the house, talking to yourself? that’s so cute
- why are you already so tired, it’s only 6 pm and it’s not like you’ve been lifting weights?
- you seemed ok all week, why are you suddenly so deeply depressed at the weekend? It’s disconcerting
And when I answer that it’s executive dysfunction / dysfunctional proprioception / the result of constant masking in social situations: “Nonsense, you just need to pay more attention / take it easier / set up reminders on your phone!”
Listen, this constant questioning of people’s lived experiences, intimate struggles, and needs for support (which will be different for everyone) really has to stop. If this is you doing the questioning, what are you getting out of it? Will it make your life any better if I or some child or some other adult did not access medication or additional support? Do you really think you or someone else is set to lose something if neurodivergent people ask for basic accommodations? Or is it that your comfort is built on someone else’s discomfort, and you’re not willing to address that imbalance? Or is it that it’s easier to judge people who raise their hands to ask for their lived experiences to be acknowledged and respected than it is to make a little extra effort to picture life from their perspective?
I’m tired of being questioned, as are millions of other people. Large media companies like Channel 4, whose content is distributed widely and has a large audience, should demonstrate a lot more care and responsibility in what they choose to disseminate, and how they choose to influence public opinion.
I don’t know if I’ll have it in me to watch this so-called “documentary” when it comes out. For now, I’ll try and gather the energy to file a complaint, which I hope you will, too.
Encyclopaedia Vanitatum 