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ADHD, autism or complex trauma? [pdf]

228 points · 265 comments · skeptical1884

  1. INTPenis · · focus · HN ↗
    The whole ADHD and trauma link is very interesting. I'm not a scientist, but from personal experience every single person I've met with ADHD has had severe childhood trauma. So it really makes you wonder if that old theory is right about childhood trauma triggering an overload to a child's flight or fight response, which leads to ADHD.

    Especially when the trauma involes a caretaker. Parents are like a child's image of god, and for one to turn against the child is devastating.

    1. sourthyme · · focus · HN ↗
      I have some friends that had hard experiences growing up from their parents because of their ADHD. ADHD effects kids earlier in development and requires some extra attention from parents (who also may have ADHD). It might be more likely that kids with ADHD have trauma because of their parents reaction to it.
      1. doright · · focus · HN ↗
        It does happen, and it happened to me. At the same time it doesn't mean you can blanket accuse parents whose children fail to thrive that it's their fault when in practice the truth of what really happened will only be known between the children and adults. Oftentimes before the child is wise enough to gather evidence of their mistreatment, so it is lost to time.

        At the same time not having any definitive sign pointing to parents being the cause of behavioral issues later in life and reluctance to talk about family issues is a reason why the effects of this kind childhood trauma occur and nobody realizes or talks about it. That was certainly the case for me for far too long. I framed my issues myself in terms of medical disorders, not an upbringing that nobody should have to suffer through, largely because of the messages society gave me when I was younger and more impressionable. One is not always preventable, but there is no good reason the other should ever have to happen.

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