I'm not saying that all psychologists and psychiatrists are unaware of mind's complexity and are sloppy/mechanical when applying diagnoses. But I would definitely say that some of them are.
However, my main point was not to attack a profession, but rather to point out that the claim that "ADHD exists" is somewhat weak, given some evidence (like differences in percentage of diagnosed cases among continents, official guidelines that seem arbitrary on some points and open to various interpretations on other points, and the fact that some of the symptoms typically assigned to ADHD are present in all sorts of mixes and magnitudes in almost every human being).
I would rather see the medical community substitute this claim with a more saner "there exist a lot of diverse psychological symptoms, and they all have roots in problems that people have".
Therefore, we need more psychology (as in "let's talk, see what's wrong, and get to the causes, to the roots, and try to solve them") and less "medicine done wrong" (i.e. "let's see what symptoms you have, let's see in what box you fit, and let's stuff you with pills for the rest of your life without ever getting to the root of your problems").
And I would like a society which is more aware of the importance of mental hygiene, of introspection and communication as ways to solve problems (which should almost never be solved with pills), and that is more educated and mature on drugs (I would love to see less kids being stuffed with Ritalin and other meths, and more adults instead experimenting with these drugs for productivity and psychological self-exploration, aware that they are doing amphetamines and aware of the risks and benefits involved).
Your objections are based on spending a few minutes looking at guides intended for the general public. May I suggest spending some time with the professional literature? These issues are canvassed by researchers and practitioners in enormous depth.
But if you'd like to know the broad conclusion so far from decades of research with multiple lines of evidence: ADHD exists.
However, my main point was not to attack a profession, but rather to point out that the claim that "ADHD exists" is somewhat weak, given some evidence (like differences in percentage of diagnosed cases among continents, official guidelines that seem arbitrary on some points and open to various interpretations on other points, and the fact that some of the symptoms typically assigned to ADHD are present in all sorts of mixes and magnitudes in almost every human being).
I would rather see the medical community substitute this claim with a more saner "there exist a lot of diverse psychological symptoms, and they all have roots in problems that people have".
Therefore, we need more psychology (as in "let's talk, see what's wrong, and get to the causes, to the roots, and try to solve them") and less "medicine done wrong" (i.e. "let's see what symptoms you have, let's see in what box you fit, and let's stuff you with pills for the rest of your life without ever getting to the root of your problems").
And I would like a society which is more aware of the importance of mental hygiene, of introspection and communication as ways to solve problems (which should almost never be solved with pills), and that is more educated and mature on drugs (I would love to see less kids being stuffed with Ritalin and other meths, and more adults instead experimenting with these drugs for productivity and psychological self-exploration, aware that they are doing amphetamines and aware of the risks and benefits involved).