We're in a crisis of overdiagnosis | Sophie Spital | Battle of Ideas 2024

From the Battle of Ideas Festival 2024
DEBATE: Neurodiversity to gender dysphoria: a problem of over-diagnosis?
Details: www.battleofid...
Full programme: www.battleofid....
Speaker: Sophie Spital
SOCIAL MEDIA
X: x.com/acadofideas
Instagram: / acadofideas
TikTok: / acadofideas

[@oceanofoil]

I think the main issue with misdiagnosing these kids is that instead of teaching them how to deal with people and their emotions, you're enabling bad behaviors by telling them its a disorder causing them to act out. I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 15, and for a few years, I used to act like I was special when, in reality, I was just an anxious teenager. Nowadays, you have full-grown adults in the workplace who can hardly function, and when confronted about it, they list off all their "disorders" as a shield for their shitty behavior.

[@ramseykent5612]

So true

[@jimmythecrow]

exactly, i dont care if you have "anxiety" everyone feels anxious.

[@RebeccaGogovcev]

YES! I'm in my late 40s. My psychologist has suggested that I most likely have ADHD and ASD but I grew up in an era when only the most severe cases were diagnosed. We were just taught how to manage our 'quirks'. Consequently, we were never 'disabled '.

[@three11creatures]

I can attest to this. My nephew is mildly autistic and is constantly screaming and complaining when something doesn’t go his way because his mother never disciplines him and lets him do whatever he wants because she’s convinced he has no control over it. Strangely, he listens to me when I ask him not to do something. Here’s an example of the kind of parenting she exhibits: She gave him presents at MY daughter’s birthday party (not even his) and then he complained about the presents and she took him out of the party to buy him different ones. It’s absolutely abhorrent.

[@stevecarter8810]

@@three11creatures I think the diagnosis is a symptom not a cause here

[@HBDuran]

I was always a tomboy. I still get along better with men than women. I didn't hit puberty until 16 and talk about feeling like there was something wrong with my body. But it was never suggested that I was supposed to be a boy. Thank goodness. These kids need support systems, not blind affirmation.

[@proudatheist2042]

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@photoboyjet]

A good friend of mine works for a woman who has a "trans" child. The (biological) girl wanted to attend a concert recently, but her mom wasn't into that sort of music and asked my friend to take the girl to the show. My friend said that after spending time with the girl, it became obvious that she was on the spectrum, a tomboy and had no friends at school due to her weird hobbies and interests. Being trans made this girl "special" and part of the cool crowd. My friend said that she was just like this girl at that age. Instead of being told that she was actually a boy trapped in the wrong body, my friend embraced being a tomboy, being weird and was a competitive athlete in high school.

[@meaningfuldebate]

Exactly. Totally agree with you.

[@honeybunch6473]

As a mental health practitioner ive been saying so much of this for years. Shameful that this has been reinforced by proffessional bodies.

[@abcxyz2927]

How the APA and RCPsych were lobbied into changing their professional position statements on Gender Dysphoria by non medical activists is indeed a badge of shame

[@elizaj4431]

There was money in it. Its the problem with even well meaning social programs or anything incentivized in some way.

[@abcxyz2927]

@@elizaj4431 The moneymaking by private healthcare companies and big Pharma is only to be expected and a short term issue.. The bigger issue is what comes next..see what the IVF industry are getting up to for that..!

[@danirichard470]

@@abcxyz2927 Then change in professional organizations was due to actual experience of patients against the prevailing theories. Just as therapist that are homosexuals lobbied for change so did therapist that are transsexuals lobbied for change.

[@abcxyz2927]

@@danirichard470 No it wasn’t the DSM-5 was rewritten due to activists targeting those responsible for writing it. Odd how it benefited cosmetic surgery and Pharma companies financially the most and sidelined psychiatrists to rubber stamping duties.. ..for a fee of course!

[@woody1380]

I always wonder how a person can say they feel like the other gender when they have no reference fof how that feels. At best it can be how they imagine it feels to be the opposite gender.

[@abcxyz2927]

Exactly, it would be like someone identifying as a horse, how the hell would they know what a horse feels like?

[@angiesmith5995]

How can you know what any other person feels like? You cant, its impossible. You can only imagine what they feel like and try to compare it to your experience. So lacking knowledge of a persons thoughts, feelings, and biology taking their word for it is all you ever have.

[@abcxyz2927]

@angiesmith5995 When that person says they feel like an inanimate object what do you do take their word for it or call a psychiatrist?

[@angiesmith5995]

@@abcxyz2927 Inanimate object have no feelings. All humans are animate and have feelings. I have no idea what your point is, it has nothing to do with my comment. I suspect you simply don't have the intelligence to follow this discussion but still have feelings about it that you need to express.

[@angiesmith5995]

@@abcxyz2927 Well now you know.

[@paulilott2478]

Are we also over diagnosing ADHD, Autism and depression? The exponential rise seen in the stats might suggest so. I work in a Special Needs school and there are increasing applications from the worried well who think that there child's inability to focus and sit still for 5 minutes, is not because of poor parenting and their lack of moral authority, but because of a syndrome diagnosed through a tick box analysis. No doubt there are genuine cases, but if over diagnosis continues Special Needs will no longer be considered special and resources will fail to reach those most in need of them.

[@malificentpurple]

That would make an excellent book. You write well - maybe consider it, because you have a great point. Special needs is for special needs, not worried people who are well.

[@MAGNUM2F]

I don't think we are overdiagnosing on autism. I think it's rife out there and the services could not cope if everyone who had it was diagnosed.

[@yootoob1001001]

Yes.

[@yootoob1001001]

@@MAGNUM2F We are seeing the first generations born into a completely different digital age. Their development is going to be different. So, yes, a normal change is being pathologized/medicalized.

[@johnnyecoman9121]

I don't think there are genuine cases. These are not valid explanations of why people struggle, they distract from the causes of distress.

[@michaelirish1445]

Love this, Woke is killing people, This woman is helping to fight back.

[@CEOofPirateInc]

Who? Who is the woke killing? Like can you really name one person that the woke has killed? I can read you off lists of transgender people who have been beaten, and killed for being transgender, but that was by conservative maniacs not the woke. Like what nonsense are you on about? And what is this woman fighting back against? Most major medical organization? Gender dysphoria and the treatments of it are accepted so much that American health insurance companies will pay for it.

[@thEannoyingE]

Mental illness is complicated.

[@jimmythecrow]

woman? Thats a man in a dress. None of these people who think theyre women are helping

[@Ma-official_]

@@CEOofPirateInc‘American insurance companies are paying for it’ Not for much longer with Trump back at the helm.

[@MrMastadox]

But, if you carry can demand special treatment, and have a whole cult waiting to embrace and welcome you. Its hard not to want to be celebrated, instead of just being the awkward one out. This mostly starts off with a "self diagnosis".

[@markcounseling]

What a delightful woman. I always find this with detransitioners, or those who started down the road of trans and then pulled back before it was too late. We are all unique and interesting expressions of our sex, no need to change anything, wonderful just as we are.

[@shebear7542]

she is delightful, isn't she? she's my daughter, but of course I am not biased in any way.....

[@markcounseling]

@shebear7542 Beautiful! Congrats on your parenting! 😊

[@Ayverie4]

It takes humility to change your mind on a major life course

[@ThornAppleton-cx3lw]

Well, sterilising people you don't want breeding against their will, is bad. So just imagine, if these people could not only be persuaded that it's their own idea, but a multi billion dollar industry (investment vehicle) could be created as well, so these people aren't only removed from the gene pool, but are now economically "useful"? Kind of similar to how wage, rather than chattel slavery makes the "voluntary" slave responsible for his own upkeep...

[@Merrypotter6542]

Ugh… I hate that this devilish reasoning is plausible. How awful!

[@JaysTVRN]

@@Merrypotter6542It’s crazy that y’all write crazy shit like this rather than admit you don’t understand. Gay/trans/nom binary people have been around forever. We won’t be phased out of the gene pool. obviously us being able to procreate does not impact our existence. 😂

[@princezzpuffypants6287]

This

[@proudatheist2042]

Notice how it seems to be mostly white people who are in to the gender blender ideology. It's as if the transgender ideology is set up against whites mostly. So, it's like anti white racism is another factor behind all of this, too.

[@abcxyz2927]

@@JaysTVRN Not for much longer, you’re just the intermediate stepping stone..whatever made you think you were the end game?

[@basildog007]

"It's a crisis of over diagnosing"... Yes, you can say that again.

[@hospitalsgivingpatientsdan8894]

The people who are to blame are the therapist and doctors for not being extremely cautious and making sure they not medicalising patients who don’t really need this treatment which can be dangerous to your health

[@SweatinSixty]

And the parents forcing/allowing this to happen to their children.

[@Muskeljudentum]

Some parents. Many parents are told by doctors that their kid will kill themselves if they parents don’t allow them to transition. So they’re emotionally blackmailed into it

[@jimmythecrow]

not the parents who push them or take them there? uhh

[@LebanonBologna40]

The ones who are get blacklisted, fired, forced to retract studies and have their names and reputations dragged through the mud unless they “get on board.” Whistleblowers have their pasts examined with a fine tooth comb and people spend more time attacking them to deflect away from the fact that what they say should concern everyone and kids are getting hurt.

[@LebanonBologna40]

@@SweatinSixtythey are often coerced into accepting it and signing off. The “you don’t want a dead teenager!” Card gets pulled, coincidentally the same thing they do to moms who question things in childbirth like not getting induced or waiting until your due date - “you don’t want a dead baby; do you?”

[@chrishavill6458]

It is an insane statistic that half of people who want to transition are ADHD or autistic. I'm glad people are talking about not affirming this, and instead looking deeper into it, it's just like this person said, you don't affirm self harm. I think there's been a major overcorrection in the handing of gender dysphoria, this more balanced thinking is much much better for society. The amount of people whos mental health does not increase with the transition is hard to calculate, the suicide rate is still much higher than average, and there are people coming out every day de-transitioning and dealing with life long and life limiting side effects. In short, the treatment doesn't appear to be working for many, and for the people that it didn't help the side effects are catastrophic. Certainly time to slow down and start thinking a little harder before we give people medications and surgeries. The fact that a saw a wheelchair bound non-verbal "FTM" person who couldn't speak, but apparently communicated their desire to be a man will enough to consent to at the least top surgery makes me feel ill. How that meets ethical standards of care I have no idea.

[@amarthurfurniture860]

Horrible food supply and eating habits, and too much screen time are scrambling the brains of our children.

[@AlbertBalbastreMorte]

We've been saying that about screen time for decades, so I'm not sure about it.

[@samhughes1601]

It’s the new algorithm based devices and apps that are on the screen. Be sure about it, kids do not needs screens and when they do they need to monitored extremely well. See “the Anxious generation” by Jonathan Haight.

[@amarthurfurniture860]

I think it’s more the pace of the content and total immersion that are contributing.

[@CDbiggen]

​@@amarthurfurniture860, definitely the pace and quality of the content.

[@KevinMakins]

@@AlbertBalbastreMortemaybe we've been right all along.

[@grahamt5924]

My sons mother ( my ex) and her phyciatrist diagnosed him with autisim when he was 9 year a old, and they ended up putting him on drugs. When he was 11, he came to love with me full time. I took him off the drugs, took him off phones, and got him into bed by 9pm. with a diet low in sugar. I changed schools for him, and within a few years, his teachers had forgotten that he even had an autisim statement. Now he is 17. I was recently chatting with his teacher, who saw the diagnoses on a school form, and he was shocked as he preaents with none of the characteristics. I bet loads of boys diagnosed with adhd and autisim comes from mothers who can't control their sons.

[@spicyskyraisin7745]

I think what you mean is that challenges of autism and adhd are exacerbated by anxiety and stress. This is absolutely a known thing. Many children cope better often to the point of appearing sub clinical when their environment is less anxiety provoking and stressful.

[@Holydiver88]

100% there is a drive to diagnose and put kids on medication rather then look at other possible causes of problems and solutions that don't involve drugs

[@iZ-the-Egoni]

You mean neurotypical adult females don’t empathise with or relate to neurodivergent child males? Shock horror!

[@aprilthomas1489]

Or fathers

[@West1Think]

Absent fathers

[@platypusgov]

It is impossible to be born into the wrong body. That simply isn't a possibility.

[@angiesmith5995]

I've never met a trans person who describes it as being in the wrong body. That's an ancient trope that outdated mental health professionals used to insist that trans people regurgitate in order to be taken seriously and be treated with any amount of respect. Trans people quickly learned that if you just repeated back the correct things to therapists you could get on with your life. We gave up a long time ago on trying to get any actual help from any of them, they where just the gatekeepers we had to get through in order to live our lives.

[@abcxyz2927]

@@angiesmith5995 Then you should go tell the thousands of “Trans Allies” to stop telling everyone Trans are “born in the wrong body” as we all know that’s impossible..

[@robertsmall1657]

@@angiesmith5995”being born in the wrong body” is used all the time by trans people and trans activists.

[@abcxyz2927]

@@angiesmith5995 btw who elected you as spokesperson for every trans person? Speak for yourself..

[@stevecarter8810]

​@@abcxyz2927did you have anything to add apart from the ad hominem?

[@sophianewtown]

OMG, it's like she's telling my story! I was such a tom-boy, so much that I wanted to be at the Shop and not the Household class at school (learning to saw instead of sew ;) ). I was laughed at, told it's only for boys. Every time people reminded me I was a girl\female - it felt like an offense. Yes, I have ADHD. I am now happily married, we have two daughters, I am so grateful I grew up in the 90s, no one took me seriously and I never got any kind of surgery... And I grew up to discover that as a woman in XXI Century I am allowed to be a woodworker, silversmith, glass blower and whatever else I want to be!

[@missjey13]

Very well said, "you're just a rarer type of woman." I hope this is comes more the norm than just agreeing blindly with patients.

[@soviet9366]

I work in community mental health and have seen a rise in young autistic girls, often same sex attracted, identifying as men. Im glad there is a growing awareness of this issue. Hopefully videos like this will be shared in the ASD community to provide a counter narrative to blanket affirmation / peer pressure of life changing surgery/hormone treatment

[@gaycha6589]

Cut sugar. Processed food Screen time. Have loving structure and discipline in life.

[@proudatheist2042]

You are absolutely correct. Funny thing is, even if the environment is dysfunctional and not optimally loving, the vast majority of people didn't think "they were trans" until this became a fad within the last ten years and everyone started talking about it. I was raised in a dysfunctional home, but I never thought "I could be trans! I think I am a boy/man!" The trans lobby really didn't exist and wasn't mainstream in the 80s, 90s, and 00s.

[@iseeonlylove]

It’s a maladaptive stress response

[@amandah2490]

It's like everyone nowadays has to have a disorder in order to be normal. This seems to lead to nobody taking responsibility for their actions because they can blame their bad behaviour on a "disorder.". It's utterly ridiculous.

[@ThornAppleton-cx3lw]

Pretty good analysis. I was unpersoned on 2016 from autistic advocacy , Monique Craine decided I was "neither socialist nor queer enough for be considered a real autistic" 😂 A lot of the "senior activists" out there are simply horrid, mentally ill groomers. I could tell tales.

[@mistahsusan2650]

it's either down to some kind of warped social status granted by being given the official title of "xyz disorder"; or society is so fundamentally broken that you have to become mad in order to deal with existing within it.

[@abcxyz2927]

Often wonder how much of it is parents trying to gain access to schemes with funding/grants for them if they’re diagnosed with x y z conditions? Ie. SEND schools and even car parking Blue Badges for those parents with ADHD children

[@amandah2490]

@abcxyz2927 Yes, and schools also get extra funding for each "special" child.

[@dhammaboy1203]

This is pretty poor logic. Show me evidence that links diagnosis of Neurodivergency to a lack of responsibility. I have lived with Autism for 47 years and it's ignorant comments like this that make the challenges of Neurodivercity harder. My guess is you actually know next to nothing about Neurodivergency. I have had a career, relationships, I'm currently ppst graduate - doing a PhD studying human cognition. I've always paid my bills, paid tax, I have done a lot of volunteer work. I have more emotional maturity than most people I come across. Given your judgmental nature here - definitely more than you! How exactly does my Neurodivergency have any relationship to a lack of responsibility for my actions? In your ignorance you're simply noticing a) more people being diagnosised, b) young people being young people - as immature as every generation where at their age. And you're linking the two in your head. Things you make up in your mind aren't evidence! That's just your own BS projected onto the world. Why don't you take responsibility to not have ignorant views about Neurodivergency?

[@margotbw4660]

Thank you for helping us think through this, it is affecting everyone I know.

[@benjamin4894]

The over diagnoses is isn't merely due to unscrupulous GPs and publicly funded financial incentives. Popular culture has also popularised the notion that this so-called 'autism spectrum disorder' isn't so much a disability as some kind of superpower denoting creative genius status.

[@whoputyouontheplanet3345]

I hate this. I'm autistic, and it's not an easy, superpower filled, creative or successful life. Just the opposite in fact; and I'm a femcel to boot.

[@benjamin4894]

@whoputyouontheplanet3345 You either have autism or you don't. There isn't some absurd 'spectrum', which implies one is profoundly disabled at one end and Sheldon Cooper or Elon Musk at the other. How often have you heard about people who're just a little quirky, introverted, or otherwise socially awkward, essentially bragging about being on the 'Down's Syndrome spectrum'..?

[@benjamin4894]

​@whoputyouontheplanet3345 Did anyone actually establish that you were neurologically atypical using, say, an FMRI machine? Or were you merely asked to complete one of those ridiculous and entirely subjective questionnaires..?

[@chrisjackson9626]

If these people had to live with it 24/7, they probably wouldn't draw this conclusion.

[@benjamin4894]

@@chrisjackson9626 Anyone claiming to be on the so-called 'autism spectrum' should be forced to spend a day caring for someone with genuine autism... 😉

[@chai7501]

Thank you.

[@emilydeeren4946]

This gives me so much hope.

[@k956upg]

My friend was diagnosed with adhd & since that she has felt sorry for herself constantly & used it to explain why she can’t succeed in things but she was doing much better before she had this excuse to give up & now she spends days in bed in self pity blaming a condition on everything..

[@thisguy4505]

No one is "born in the wrong body."

[@kwilson8452]

But even in what she's saying, there is much that would discourage a family from seeking help. If families are going to be accused of abuse, pedophilia, etc, then they have to be very careful which professionals they seek out, and it may prevent them from seeking help at all.

[@wombo_samu4420]

The was a lovely address and the personal story was touching. I hope more people can get the help they truly need. Life is so precious, we all deserve a fair shot at it.

[@rupert8606]

Beautifully put! Thank you

[@nomadheros4663]

Spot on 👌

[@deaconsyxx322]

Wow....sense! wonderful!

[@thedripdrop9826]

Theres a lot of self diagnosing going on as well. Ive never in my life known so many "autistic" and "neuro divergent" people.

[@damienalvarez2957]

We have coddled these kids into thinking the world has to accommodate and move mountains for them. Back when I was growing up, it was my responsibility to manage my behavior. Now, it’s everyone else’s responsibility to tolerate entitled brats.

[@proudatheist2042]

Bingo! You absolutely have it right.

[@TheGenbox2]

Affirmations therapy is a betrayed of the therapeutic process. Last seasons (my generations) culture bound issue was False Memory Syndrome (FMS), aka Recovered Memory Syndrome to quote Helen Joyce's 'Trans'. (pls correct me if I'm wrong) Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) was the issue being raised consciously by feminism. Cultural space invaded therapy space, without caution or critique for some. The Trans issue seems to be a reply of that, but aided by the internet has become a forest fire of much visibility. (I) Wish that 'autism on-line' would get this. 'Autism on-line' has become an unrepresentative 'frontline' for Autism (AS) and Trans-Activism (TA). AS has been hijacked by TA (or has been flattered into bed with the TA with a co-operate of Definition of Antitheses, thus framing itself as a frontline internet TA platform. KZbin commentary and comments show that TA have convinced (some) AS, that the idea that they are being 'Trans-groomed' is the 'Neurotypical' (the norms) infantilization of autistic folk. I don't think TA will easily give up it's vassal state and chattel of Autism without a fight, and not all (if many) autistic folk are so resilient to take up platform position.

[@AlbertBalbastreMorte]

Am I wrong to assume CSA was something that almost exclusively happened to girls, not boys?

[@rolytnz]

ADHD and autism were not things when I was a kid at school - sure there was the odd kid who was a bit of a hyper-annoying d-bag, or a bit weird,, but that was also back in the day when we used to go outside a lunchtime and run around such that any hyper-activity was burned out so they settled for the afternoon. We ate way less processed food and we ate food with fat. The "fat-free" obsession, for example, means the fat in yoghurt is replaced with sugar which is not healthy, so you have kids eating way more sugar and wonder why they can't sit still? Fat is not bad - it's essential for health and development and there is a correlation to lack of fat in the diet to underdeveloped brains. - the kids who are fat today are not fat from eating fat, they are fat from eating more calories than they burn off each day. Pretty simple, you'd think.

[@CherryDreamer96]

Children at GIDS are 10% more likely to have a parent on the sex offenders register.... I think we need to be speaking about that more...

[@Kshwhdigwffekk]

This drives me crazy. I’ll mention that my girlfriend has an autistic child (Non-verbal, requires adult care and supervision for life) and someone will say “I know what you mean. I have it too.” Then they’ll go start their car to go to work.

[@brendanalbertson9462]

Its is a little crazy a kid with severe autism cant speak and someone with a bowlcut dyed green will be like yeah thats me 😂😂😂

[@Bathygnostic]

Good Girl!

[@Krayziekeegs]

Why did we stop telling people there is nothing wrong with them and help address the trauma clearly presented with the dislike to their body or "image" and actively encourage them to be worse and live a false identity bases on stereotypes

[@chewface]

The worst thing about autism....is that if you take your kid to enough doctors, you can get one of them to diagnose your kid with it if you really want them to.

[@user-kv5zd8hf3t]

Listen to Yuri Bezmenov to understand the full picture and how machine learning algorithms are being weaponized.

[@justinvanburen8259]

Some great information!!! Thank you!!

[@user-of8gd2ix5i]

thank you

[@TheIndigoKnight]

I was fiagnosed with adhd esrly on then once again as an adult. Then i took a break from phones and computers for a month and had essentially cured myself of adhd. My attention span lengthened significantly, i could focus on and do things unthinkable before, and when i went back to using phones and gaming my attention span rapidly became much shorter.

[@mariepicard8385]

Being gender non-conforming is a normal part of growing up with autism. This needs to be said more often.

[@lettersclinical]

Great points. The other mimic of gender dysphoria is borderline personality disorder, which still goes under-diagnosed in younger persons.

[@Buddhamaniac]

if by "younger persons" you mean children I don't think it is considered valid to diagnose a personality disorder in the very young as their personalities are still developing and are subject to changes.

[@lettersclinical]

@Buddhamaniac I was thinking more along the lines of puberty and beyond, yes, where someone isn't yet 16 years old to make the diagnosis, but still presenting with that symptom cluster and core identity disturbance seen in both conditions

[@donna-marie9100]

​@Buddhamaniac I agree. I've worked in adult mental health facilities and clinicians don't like to give an official diagnosis on personality disorders until the person is around 20/21, for the reasons you stated.

[@honeybunch6473]

In what way are they similar???

[@1stIsOnlyInCash]

@@honeybunch6473people with bpd can’t escape the feeling of not knowing who they are, which can lead to believing that they belong to a different gender

[@jons9721]

The over diagnosis of autism /ADHD is part of the problem as well. When it comes to mental health in generally there should only be question that should be asked initially 1) Are you a threat to yourself? 2) Are you a threat to others ? 3) Are you incapable of holding down a job and paying bills ? If the answer to all those 3 questions is no then there should be no medical intervention or classification in anyway Now you may be miserable, you may not be able to do things you want to do or cope in situations that you would like to cope with but the reality is that is what it means to be human. You might want to seek counselling or some sort of life coach, you may want to completely rethink your life but that's not a job for doctor. One of the biggest issues with doctors is when you see a doctor they rare or ever say 'Maybe you are in the wrong job' or maybe you need to change your life because they passes the issue to the patient (who isn't really a patient) Put it another way I really doubt the person speaking was autistic a it at least appears to be a no on all 3 questions through maybe I'm wrong and when she leaves the room she is a threat but more likely she is just seeking identity from others which is not healthy

[@edroberts2042]

Is the full discussion available anywhere?

[@shebear7542]

I asked Sophie and she said sadly not but you might be interested in her interview on Triggernometry. if you search Triggernometry Sophie Spital you will find it.

[@david3000coffey]

Well said

[@spandex7055]

How much of it is self diagnosed from social media, their friends and family?

[@happybenjful]

What a sensible video

[@FrankyD41]

Problem's with your restless child who sits around on the tablet that you got him? No problem! Here is a diagnoses and an education plan that holds them to their own standard.

[@svtinker]

Diagnosis is where the money is. Label the symptom, find a “cure”, insurance will pay for it. Connect the dots people.

[@burgercide]

Thank you

[@lanebo6329]

It’s not by accident, “take your vitamins”

[@AWilliams-m1u]

Every second kid I know has assiduous or adhd and there is no way that they all have it. Some really are just badly behaved and I'll disciplined. They have no boundaries and weak parents.

[@inokeyeva]

I think there are, but you need to look at cohorts too. Females were greatly under diagnosed for the higher functioning autism as, same with other issues, females generally present differently than males so it often was caught as adults vs kids. Autistic females are able to mask a lot better. So there may be some over diagnosis in some things and in other groups they're being caught due to screening earlier.

[@StephenSternforPresident]

Religion is not literal for your interpretation it is a parable to understand and reflect

[@proudatheist2042]

Unfortunately, billions of theists in the world don't get that. After all, that's why we have countless Islamic terror groups all over the world and Muslims men who harass and rape women and girls at will in the west.

[@winggoddess]

Sometimes the patient goes in for one problem, and the doctor diagnoses them with several things, which they may or may not have. My ex was talking to his therapist about his difficulty with holding a job. The therapist diagnosed him with anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Having known my ex for a decade, the ADHD label is laughable. My ex just had a certain personality type (ENTP) which likes new/fun things and detests routine. Many people are like this. They have no problem focusing on what they enjoy. This proves they have no ADHD.

[@abcxyz2927]

“certain personality type (ENTP) which likes new/fun things and detests routine.” Or in other words..a short attention span Or in other words..Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder!

[@omigod1186]

I think the diagnosis is correct the majority of the time. I don’t think we should be so concerned about the diagnosis, it is the causes associated with autism that need to be addressed.

[@danirichard470]

As a post transition a transgender woman (post op 27 year) and autistic, my 1st gender therapist was very aware of my multiple conditions. We talked about my transgender expression for about 10 minutes and then the next three years working on my lack of boundaries due to autism. His approach was to address all the other problems BEFORE transition. I also went to additional therapist for cross check my diagnoses, including MMPI II and treatment. After working through these other issues, I was able to do a year of hormones, two years of full time living while working in my profession, and then had gender confirming surgery. I am a professional software developer. The more issues addressed before transition, the easer the transition. BUT there has be support, not denial, of the gender dysphoria. The real crisis here is authoritarians want to deny that transgender people exist. For denying personal choice is impose authority over people bodies.

[@abcxyz2927]

No ..the REAL crisis happened when TRA’s decided to take their campaigns into schools and target children as young as four! That’s when it all went sideways..

[@kevinfischer4869]

Thank you OP for sharing! This was very enlightening for me :)

[@danirichard470]

@ Unlike more modern diagnosis, wanting to change genders is recorded in over 4,000 years of written history. So it is a condition that unlike other conditions. From personal experience, when gender dysphoria is not addressed, there is loss of the ability to function in daily life. Life becomes hopeless and joyless existence where one's only hope is the release of death. In my case, heading for over work and not taking care of myself. To equate gender dysphoria with anorexia is false logic and a political statement of authoritarianism to remove personal choice.

[@abcxyz2927]

What you seem to be forgetting is that YOUR OWN (non medical) lobbyists had Gender Dysphoria reclassified as NOT a mental health disorder! Thereby leaving the ONLY route open as medicalisation and surgeries and making a lot of money for Big Pharma and the cosmetics industry along the way.

[@JoeCurran-s4x]

Thanks for an actual fact-based example! It makes a nice change from most of the comments here. I hope all goes very well for you in the future

[@mylilpc]

Why is over-diagnosis of neurodivergence the assumption and not and influx of neurodivergence potentially due to idk common medical practice or the expansion of research in the scientific field that for many years primarily discussed neurodivergence in white males and used research findings on this particular subgroup of people as a diagnostic criteria?!

[@ArtyAntics]

I think she is saying that gender dysphoria is over diagnosed when kids are actually neurodivergent.

[@abcxyz2927]

@@ArtyAntics Then you need to ask WHO is pushing that over diagnosing? Try Gendered Intelligence, Mermaids & Stonewall for three

[@CherryDreamer96]

I just dont understand how any of this became normal... when did the switch flip ?

[@abcxyz2927]

Around 2012 money was pumped into the Transgender agenda by 10 billionaires..unfortunately for Trans this is now being diverted to their real goals

[@cikame]

I don't know when but it's easy to see how, it's easy for someone to be labelled a bigot for having criticisms in discussions about identity, if you have concerns about trans issues you're a transphobe, immigration you're a racist, gender rights you're a sexist, it's an extremely effective way to shut down any discussion because those labels are dangerous and can have real costs to people labelled as such. It's not only limited to groups enacting "justice" on social media as we've seen laws passed especially in the UK that have turned these kinds of opinions into crimes, so anyone including teachers, doctors and police officers are at risk of losing their jobs and going to prison if they say the wrong thing, so of course the best way to avoid saying the wrong thing is to not say anything, everyone receives inclusivity training to not offend anyone and the steps put in place to help and protect people before gender transition treatments disappeared.

[@Danno-tl4rp]

We’re on a crisis of bad parenting. That’s it.

[@StephenSternforPresident]

As somebody with all three you can't believe your doctor you got to just understand common sense and if it's not politically correct who the hell cares act like a normal human being that is your job if you have behavior problem

[@blissinchains]

Also, “”anxiety.””

[@jimmyconway8025]

All of it ! No one had this BS 💯 years ago. To much free time Not working No sports To much online

[@angiesmith5995]

This is simply false. If you google Nazi book burning you will find that the first targeted library's to be burned was that of Magnus Hirschfeld's Institute of Sex Research. This was at the time the largest repository of knowledge and research on transgender people that had ever existed, the research there dated back several decades. The institutes library was burned in 1933, just about a hundred years ago. There are accounts of transgender people existing in society dating back to the very early days of written language, although their existence in many cultures dates back much farther. Your opinion is simply wrong.

[@abcxyz2927]

@@angiesmith5995 Magnus Hirschfeld aka the king of ..make it up as you go along! Is that all you’ve got?

[@angiesmith5995]

@@abcxyz2927 LOL How do we know he was making anything up? You guys burned up all the research.

[@abcxyz2927]

@@angiesmith5995 And yet the guy who gave Ernst Röhm a job as head of his paramilitary forces..couldn’t stomach him

[@angiesmith5995]

@@abcxyz2927 Im not sure what you're trying to say. Yes, gay nazis existed then and still exist today. Being gay doesn't exclude someone from being evil too. Hitler detested Hirschfeld and came to detest Rohm. Hirshfeld fled Germany and Hitler had Rohm murdered. I dont think you are making the point you think you are making.

[@OrwellsHousecat]

25% of the cases had spent time in government provided "care" guardianship. If the gov is your parent, they're gonna trns you if they can

[@RachelDavies-wn7ir]

I don't think that was the point. Children in care have often been abused and are traumatised.

[@OrwellsHousecat]

@RachelDavies-wn7ir which makes kids more susceptible to gov pressure on them to turn trns. I guess that's one way to prevent their DNA being passed on

[@JoeCurran-s4x]

Thanks for the video.If I might raise a couple of questions/points in case they are helpful? Did the speaker ever actually receive an official gender dysphoria diagnosis or are they simply assuming they would have received one? Reading the Cass Review reports in detail the big lesson to me seems to be that there is much we don't know and it seems to caution against any side of the debate making very definite conclusions. It seems that some of the more extreme Gender Critical commentators (not everyone, and I don't mean the speaker in this video) initially read conclusions they wanted to see into the Cass Review rather than understanding its actually conclusions (hence their disappointment with Cass's support for clinical trials for puberty blockers). Similarly there is a lot we don't know about the correlation between autism and gender dysphoria - questions that might need to be answered include (1) whether the gender dysphoria in individuals with autism is the same as what is seen in those without autism (2) whether the gender dysphoria common today is the same as the (physical sex) dysphoria seen in individuals diagnosed under the more stringent regimes used in the past (3) whether correlation means causation - might gender dysphoria and autism have similar causes (rather than autism causing dysphoria). I don't know the answers but I think one of the big problems is a failure of people on all sides of the debate to recognise what they don't (yet) know

[@abcxyz2927]

Yet oddly “they” know enough to charge tens of thousands for operations to irreversibly alter a person’s body for life..based on evidence where you yourself admitted..”there is much we don't know and it seems to caution against any side of the debate making very definite conclusions” Somewhat contradictory statements wouldn’t you say?

[@JoeCurran-s4x]

@@abcxyz2927 I didn't say the lack of knowledge was on one side only, nor did I say what the outcome should be. I accept the Cass Review which indicates careful medical interventions in some cases may be may prove to be appropriate. It seems you are otherwise assuming my position. I have sympathy for all medical professionals trying to make judgements in good faith in a difficult area where more research is needed. I don't accept there is a big conspiracy on either side. Another desire express by Cass in the Cass Review is to move away from the really toxic debates on these issues. I hope I can be part of that process

[@abcxyz2927]

@@JoeCurran-s4x What qualifies you to be “part of that process” ? What is your ‘skin in the game’ for want of a better expression

[@JoeCurran-s4x]

@@abcxyz2927 the same as anyone discussing the subject. I think we should all do this in a calm and respectful manner, and accepting that we might be wrong. Surely that's fair?

[@abcxyz2927]

@@JoeCurran-s4x So you think you’re the same as me ..a geneticist working on what’s coming after Transgenderism! I don’t think so…

[@dai19721]

its a middle class thing.

[@EmmaGoldman1312]

Not entirely, but it does seem to be more prevalent in middle-class schools.

[@OrwellsHousecat]

Bourgeoisie neurotic sensibilities bring trickled down to everyone

[@LilRyRyYT21]

It’s more of a white people thing tbh

[@SweatinSixty]

First world problem brought on by poor parenting and social media.

[@-Thunder-Warrior-]

Enunciate properly.

[@joemiller8393]

What’s with the yellow cards?

[@003998]

Timekeeping. It seems at this conference, there is a strict policy on keeping contributions short.

[@seasonedbeefs]

Lazy discipline at every level

[@lunaumbra5179]

The Cass report!??? Ugh

[@abcxyz2927]

Yes a killer scientific review of ALL available data.. Which didn’t find in your favour of course you’ll love it

[@inevski]

Gender ideology based on gendered conformity is the prob.

[@NeighborhoodOfBlue]

An influx of diagnosis is because we're finally better able to recognize the symptoms in women. It's so much harder to be diagnosed as an adult.

[@williampope2487]

Completely agree. We panic because it’s really an intangible disorder. But reality is that no one really seeks to want autism or adhd. Not if they truly are or have it

[@kryptofreak74]

Rather than "overdiagnosed" I would say it is overPATHOLOGIZED. A lot of people on the spectrum require very little assistance and can function rather normally in society. I also wonder: if so many people are "neurodivergent," can it even be considered "divergent" anymore?

[@AlbertBalbastreMorte]

​@@kryptofreak74 Indeed. If everyone in on a shortlist, then the criteria of the shortlist should be more stringent.

[@SH-ry2xi]

@@kryptofreak74it’s not a spectrum

[@robjob9052]

conditioning to ignore a cry for help? Evil.

[@scooble]

Some of us were left undiagnosed way before it was even cool! We were called a dunce back then and had to sit in the corner wearing a cone shaped hat whilst everyone riducled us until we were sufficiently shamed. Kids these days dont know how easy they've got it. Ahh, those were the days!

[@Dalabombana]

That’s so horrible. I’m so sorry you went through that. Humans are cruel. ❤

[@johnwilliams4545]

Common sense?

[@SomeDumUsrName-b3e]

Would someone ELSE present this info please. This person's speaking ability is just unbearable. GEESH! I'd rather listen to nails on a chalkboard.

[@Cherryblossm628]

Well duh

[@JaysTVRN]

This person is not qualified to speak about these topics in any manner of authority.

[@StephenSternforPresident]

Here's a thought Read the ten commandments and act like a decent person

[@katieandnick4113]

Nobody is born autistic either. Well, some male infants may be born predisposed to developing autism, but that’s probably due to hormonal influences on the brain during fetal development. Aside from the fact that what gets referred to as autism now is nothing like what autism was believed to be prior to 2013, when the DSM made autism a “spectrum disorder”. Just about any supposed “abnormality” in child behavior can be attributed to autism, which in my opinion, is not much different than the concept of original sin, and the impact that was intended to have on the masses. If our “abnormalities” are attributable to an inherent defect, then nothing will be done in the way of looking at our environment and society as a whole as the source of our suffering. I wonder who might not want us deciding, collectively, that our current society is causing us to suffer intensely? Could it be the very small group of people who benefit, economically, from the way things currently work in society, and who have ultimate control over all institutions and what we are taught?

[@hansemannluchter643]

That is factually incorrect. Some ARE born "Autistic". I know, because I've seen it with my own lying eyes. (This woman is clearly NOT "autistic". She has a language!)

[@johnnyecoman9121]

​@hansemannluchter643 medical diagnosis usually are achieved after doing tests, eg X ray to identify a broken bone, not seeing with one own eyes.

[@LilRyRyYT21]

This literally just isn’t true though? people are born autistic because it’s inside the brain and bodies biology, and it’s also hereditary.

[@ButterflyonStone]

@@LilRyRyYT21 Well actually, it's a lot more complex than that, made more so by the DSM changes and expansion of the diagnosis to encapsulate a diverse range of presentations (which, in my experience, could just as easily be due to more likely, common factors including environmental ones). So far, we don't have any specific genes that are not associated with other disorders or learning disabilities or that are not found in the general pop that would not meet the diagnostic threshold. Honestly, in reality, we have conflicting correlational data, not causality, for around 80% of the people who would receive a diagnosis today - the rest have genetic syndromes in their own right unrelated to Autism but which we diagnose as autism based on presentation (that they appear more socially withdrawn/disinterested when compared like for like to someone else with the same syndrome) which is basically a clinically subjective opinion. I'm sorry to say it, but autism and ADHD as neurobiological distinct have been totally over-sold for various interests. However, that is not to say there are no individual differences or that people don't struggle, or that we do not see people with differing rates or trajectories from typical development; they are just not discrete boxes, spectrums or syndromes in the way most people have been taught to categorise to think about them. This brings into question the value of such labels and is part of the reason why they are so susceptible to identity politics nonsense - nobody is claiming diabetes as an identity, for example - why, because it is a discrete, objectively identifiable condition (you can blood test, you can identify the mechanisms, you can objectively monitor the effectiveness of medications) and not a subjective opinion on the cause of someone behaviour or outlook on life, which we have no means to substantiate (no agreed genes, no blood markers, no brain scans, no means to test of even know what appropriate neurotransmitter levels are at any given time, feedback on impact of medication is subjective and is shown to have similar effect whether or not ADHD is present etc.). And I say this as somebody clinically trained in ADHD and Autism Assessment, and mental health. I don't deny there are many studies claiming this, that, and the other, but you have to read 100s of them and be able to step back and look at them as a whole, not cherry-pick one or two. You also have to cross-reference with other conditions and areas of study to check the consistency - for example, you might have one study claiming cortical thickness is responsible for Autism, then read another in ADHD, or a different condition that claims cortical thickness is associated with something wholly contradictory or something that wouldn't make sense, or is inconsistent.

[@iZ-the-Egoni]

As someone who was the sole person diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in a primary school classroom of predominantly medium-to-high functioning autistic 5-11 year olds? No, some humans are obviously born with significant physio-mental divergences which severely impact their day-to-day lives. This is one of a handful of conditions we now group under the banner ASD, though back in the day it was known as "classic autism". A childhood like mine gives you a very clear understanding of who is actually different vs those wanting to use the surface understanding to their own advantage. None of these bandwaggoners would have stood for the way they treated us, because those we were put in the care of gave us the Wrong Kind Of Attention. Not the histrionic sort pick-me types crave. It’s like Down Syndrome, except not as extreme in certain areas. Except y'all notice no-one really fakes having that, or practically can since it’s a very physically obvious thing. Cartman did, cuz he's a douche

[@ChrisJones-ht9zn]

Whenever i see a channel with "ideas" in its name i read "propoganda". I'm yet to be proven wrong.

[@abcxyz2927]

Well if your spoellig is anything to go by..

[@ChrisJones-ht9zn]

@abcxyz2927 remain anonymous

[@abcxyz2927]

Paranoid much..

[@ItsCharlieDude]

Is that a biological man? 🧍‍♂️ hard to tell these days

[@CherryDreamer96]

The person speaking ? No

[@Jaimie-jk1hf]

Woe to the person who would prevent anothers happiness

[@fatmonkey4716]

Woe to the person who thinks their happiness depends on people pandering to their every whim.

[@Jaimie-jk1hf]

@fatmonkey4716 My happiness is eternal and finite. It is kinda opposite my dear. You for no reason are attacking my happiness and I will defend it. I found my kingdom

[@abcxyz2927]

@@Jaimie-jk1hf more like you found your stash

[@Jaimie-jk1hf]

Well I was a boy for nearly 40 years. In the end I was so sad, depressed and never got out of bed. I had no choice but to expect it. My dad's a real man it was hard telling him. It's like a betrayal. I only grow up in the most masculine environments with no influence. I don't know anyone like me but everyone has been nice to me even though they think it's crazy. I don't even know any gay people. This eternal happiness I now feel is worth fighting for 😘 and the funny thing is people think trans are ugly or you can tell we were a boy. 😌 It's not true as time goes on, you can't tell the difference.

[@abcxyz2927]

@Jaimie-jk1hf Don’t let those Ai constructed photos fool you You can always tell the difference..

[@West1Think]

The Cass report 😅🤣😆Give me a break !

[@abcxyz2927]

Your neck sir?

[@honeybunch6473]

You have another body of research and review to share???

[@baconsarny-geddon8298]

Gee, who'd have guessed that a religious cult that REJECTS ALL EVIDENCE, with their demand for "self-ID" (ie, faith-based belief, REGARDLESS of what the actual evidence proves true), would have a problem with evidence-based science? Imagine my shock.

[@tom9764]

Great points.

[@Imperceptible_parachute]

THANK YOU.