About three years ago, my wife was accusing our oldest of being ADD, because he was too energetic and impulsive for her to control (at the age of 3). Everyone jumped on board the idea with almost no question. I was the only person protesting, and everyone thought I was just being stubborn. I was horrified, but had to give in because everyone was against me. I finally told my family that doing this was going to plunge me into depression, but that wasn't a problem because they could just give me pills to fix that too. I then posted to everyone on facebook my prediction that the world would end in a neuroholocaust. The dominant culture would finally agree on exactly what style of mental functioning and emotional state was considered best, and make a pill that everyone would be required to take that would lock them into that state permanently, turning the entire human race into a single person. Some people were very unhappy with me for voicing that thought.
Then came the appointment at the children's hospital. My wife told the doctor that she thought our kid was ADD, and we were given an assessment form to fill out about his behavior. A few minutes after we turned that in, a doctor came into the room ready to fill out a prescription. I don't think she had even looked at the form. I started talking about how I didn't think our kid was ADD and how uncomfortable I was with this form of medication, and the doctor tried to talk to me about it but my discomfort with the issue seemed completely alien to her. She just stared right through me. I talked about this for probably 15 minutes, with my wife just rolling her eyes and the doctor responding with thinly veiled retorts of "what?... you are so wierd..." Just as things were wrapping up and we were about to walk away with a prescription, a very intense and caring pediatric therapist burst into the room to object. She put a stop to the whole thing immediately and scheduled a couple sessions for us. I am so very thankful for her.
I've experienced something similar to this.
I was taken (Under the pressure of my Grandmother) for a psychiatric evaluation at the ripe old age of seven or so, solely for the fact that I wasn't 'Acting like a normal kid'. I liked comic books and video games. I even played outside, with other children even.
Apparently, preferring my own company the majority of the time led to a diagnosis of Severe Clinical Depression. At seven. -Maybe- eight. About the only thing I wasn't remotely content with was the fact that I didn't have the latest Final Fantasy.
So, they put me on Prozac, against my Mother's wishes. It definitely had an effect, and I won't go into specifics.
Needless to say, not only is unnecessary administration of medication common; it's been going on for a while.
Glad there was a sensible person at the hospital you went to, and good luck with the sessions. Hopefully a helpful therapist can talk some sense into the oddballs... seriously, what kid -isn't- hyperactive at three?
Truean:
I can sympathize, in a way.
I won't bore anyone with specifics (It'll probably sound juvenile anyway.), but it sounds like you're leading a successful life, and that's more than most people can say. Yours truly included.
