Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental condition that most people do not want to experience. Those who have ADHD find themselves struggling to pay attention when they know they need to and might even catch themselves interrupting others without truly intending to do so. ADHD is an invasive condition that impacts a person’s quality of life.
So why would someone want to learn how to fake ADHD? There are a few reasons, but the biggest revolves around obtaining ADHD medication.
What is ADHD?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that typically manifests in childhood and, contrary to popular belief, can persist well into adulthood. ADHD tends to be genetic in nature, meaning that it can be passed along from parents to their children.
Estimates show that approximately 5% (or 11,000,000) American adults have ADHD. There is actually no way to simply outgrow ADHD since it is neuro-behavioral (in other words, impacting the brain and how it controls behaviors).
ADHD occurs in three different types: hyperactive, inattentive, and a combination of those two types. It is important to note that those with ADHD all tend to operate a little bit differently, so spotting a legitimate case can sometimes be just as difficult as figuring out whether someone has learned how to fake ADHD.
Is ADHD Part of the Autism Spectrum?
One of the questions that often crops up when learning about ADHD is whether or not it has any connections to Autism Spectrum disorders. The truth is, a lot of ADHD and ASD symptoms overlap. While ADHD is not a part of the Autism Spectrum, ADHD has a high co-morbidity rate with ASDs.
Someone who is faking ADHD could potentially have a diagnose-able disorder. Therefore, it is important to bear in mind that, even if they are making up ADHD symptoms, something else could be causing them to construct these false symptoms.
Is It Easy to Fake ADHD?
Just how easy is it for someone to fake ADHD? The answer might surprise you. It is easy for some individuals to learn how to fake ADHD symptoms. Since ADHD is such a common and highly-studied condition, there is a wide range of resources available for observing behavioral patterns of ADHD.
Even if you do not personally know someone with ADHD, the questionnaires that doctors tend to hand out when evaluating clients are rather easy to manipulate. Unfortunately, this is a major downfall for many simple diagnostic tools. There is also the question of whether the professional proctoring an exam has the proper qualifications and is aware of how someone might fake ADHD.
Why Would Someone Want to Fake ADHD?
Most of us have no desire to fake ADHD symptoms. However, some people have pretty profound reasons for learning how to fake ADHD. At the heart of the matter is the access they get to prescription stimulants. Stimulants work to increase levels of neurochemicals (which are also hormones), such as norepinephrine and dopamine. Ritalin, Concerta, and Adderall are some of the most commonly-prescribed stimulants.
Stimulants increase a person’s attentiveness and energy, making them attractive to high school and college students who feel like they are struggling to keep up with school, work, and their social lives. When taken, stimulants create a temporary euphoric rush. The craving for this rush can reflect the individual’s desire to alleviate their psychological and emotional distress through self-medication and should be taken seriously.
Additionally, college students who are diagnosed with ADHD can receive benefits, such as extended testing time and testing alone in a private room. Most students use these services because they truly need them. However, the management discovered some students who were faking symptoms in order to access these benefits.
How to Fake ADHD
If you are thinking about trying to fake ADHD symptoms, be aware that well-trained psychologists and psychiatrists will be on the lookout for feigned symptoms. Simply trying to mimic its common symptoms might not work with them. However, you should be aware of the key symptoms.
Start by monitoring people who actually have ADHD and learn to differentiate between inattentive- and hyperactive-type. How often are they staring off into space? Are they having difficulty following directions? Are they overlooking obvious details? These would all be symptoms of inattentive-type ADHD. Hyperactive-types will be constantly on the move and highly talkative, impatient and often interrupting others’ conversations or work.
It might help to study the diagnostic criteria listed in the DSM-5. Note that doctors might be skeptical if you exaggerate having a high number of serious symptoms. Aim for the moderate level instead.
Prepare to take a diagnostic test. If you are an adult, you will receive an Adult ADHD Test. To best prepare yourself to answer the questions, you can read a copy of a questionnaire.
Finally, don’t reinforce your desire for medication. A doctor might become skeptical if they see that their patient is keen on taking ADHD meds.
How Can You Spot Fake ADHD?
Children and adults alike can learn how to fake ADHD. They can also learn how to spot someone who is faking it. One of the biggest indicators to pay attention to is whether or not your loved one’s behaviors have changed. It is far more difficult for a doctor to spot behavioral changes since they aren’t around this person all the time, so it is up to you to be alert. Do any of the behaviors seem forced? Does your loved one seem to be seeking a reward or benefit? Is your loved one actively trying to gain access to prescription stimulants?
Monitoring behavioral changes should also include noting the speed at which your loved one responds to verbal commands or performs tasks that are not new to them. Also, take note of how your loved one seems to let their mind wander or “zone off into space”. If these behaviors are not typical of them and there seems to be no obvious reason for these sudden changes, consider whether they factor into your loved one trying to fake ADHD.
If this person is in school, try talking with their teachers or college professors. Let them know about your concerns and ask if they have noticed any behavioral patterns while your loved one is in school. Comparing notes is important and might highlight serious distinctions in how your loved one behaves around you (that is to say, behaving as though they don’t have ADHD) and how they behave in an academic setting (where they might be more likely to feign their symptoms).
Talk to Your Loved One
The most important thing you can do while sussing out if your loved one has learned how to fake ADHD is to talk with them. Let them know about your concerns and that you are there to help them without judging or condemning them. If you suspect that your loved one is abusing stimulants, educate yourself, your loved one, and your mutual friends and family on the dangers of stimulant abuse, which can be deadly if an overdose occurs. Help your loved one reach out to a professional counselor who can assess their actual psychological condition(s).
Learning ways to fake ADHD isn’t rocket science, and it might surprise you just how many people have tried to feign it. Regardless of their intentions, there are deep issues at the heart of the matter, and we should take seriously the feigning of any health condition.
Images source: depositphotos.com
