Wait, did she really write that? My response to Marilyn Wedge's piece in the Huffington Post.

Every time I think that the stigma surrounding ADHD in kids and adults is fading away into understanding and acceptance I read an article by an "expert" or speak with some one and am floored by their ignorance.  Exhibit A today is a piece from the Huffington Post written by Marilyn Wedge.  She is listed as a family therapist and an author, and her piece was titled: "7 Natural Ways to Help Your Child's ADHD".  You can read the full article by following this link. 

I don't know much about this person, and I'm sure she means well.  However, she begins this article badly and gets worse as she goes.  Here are a few tidbits:

1. "Whether ADHD is actually a biological condition (there is no scientific evidence for this), or whether ADHD is a profitable social construction that allows Big Pharma to sell more drugs, is a topic that continues to be debated. (I added the italics).  
Ummm, What?  There are mountains of scientific evidence going back over 70 years.  To say that there is none is either willfully ignorant or dishonest.  Furthermore, I find the statement that ADHD is some concoction of the Pharmaceutical industry to dupe consumers insulting.  I'm a reasonably intelligent person, and I think I can make a sound judgement about my own mental health and well being.  Parents are not just morons who mindlessly do whatever their Doctors tell them to. Furthermore, Doctors and Psychiatrists don't just blindly medicate patients so they will go away.  I'm not sure who continues to debate these points other than Scientologists and Tea Party members who also don't believe in evolution.


2.  "From my point of view as a family therapist, the various behaviors that we group together and name "ADHD".....have a situational, not a biological, cause. Many parents, for example, find that although their child seems to have ADHD at school, when the child is home-schooled he doesn't have symptoms at all."
Oh, ok now I get it.  If your child exhibits ADHD in a public school setting just homeschool them.  I'm not sure what you do with them when they are ready to go to College.  In all seriousness though, to state that ADHD behaviors are situational again demonstrates a fundamental ignorance of how the condition manifests.  When I meet with my accountant to go over my taxes my mind wanders, I'm restless, I'm distracted by the slightest thing, and it takes a great effort to remain focused.  When I'm working with a client, or I'm coaching a game, I'm focused, relaxed, and dialed in.  If you have ADHD you react to situations the way you do because of your biology.  


3. "The parents who find their way to my office through the haze of psychiatric-pharmaceutical propaganda have read the research about the side effects of the speed medications used for ADHD, and they are looking for a saner alternative. These courageous souls are willing to take responsibility for making changes in their own homes to decrease their child's stress and improve the child's emotional health."
I think it's safe to say that this person has an agenda.  I'm surprised that the diabolical Psychiatric-Pharmacuetical forces that she seems to be so against haven't tried to somehow silence her.  Here's my biggest problem with the statement above: she is condemning those parents who decide to try medication to control their children's ADHD as lazy, irresponsible, and unwilling to "go the extra mile" to help their child.  Talk about stigma!  


I don't know Marilyn Wedge, PhD.  Based on the article she published that I have excerpted above I don't think I want to know her.  She doesn't believe that ADHD is a real neurobiological condition.  She clearly feels that the Medical community, the Psychiatric community and the Pharmaceutical industry are conspiring to unnecessarily medicate your children.  I will let you judge the rest of the article for yourself.  In my humble opinion the philosophy of Dr. Wedge, Family Therapist is wrong scientifically, and highly objectionable in its use of moral condemnation.  Let us hope that she is one of a dwindling number of old fashioned therapists that will eventually fade into the realm of history.