The diet traps and 6 other common ‘triggers' that make my ADHD worse – plus the expert tips that help me cope
Born in the 70s, I was somewhat dismissive and naive about a lot of neurodivergence. But when a newly diagnosed friend assured me I had it, she joined a long list of people in the last decade who have suggested the same.
9
Clare O'Reilly was diagnosed with ADHD aged 46
Credit: Lorna Roach
While I initially laughed off her advice, I did some research and realised I have pretty much all the traits.
I'm
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Daily Record
33 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Over 260,000 Scots out of work due to long term sickness or disability
EXCLUSIVE: The figures have prompted calls for the SNP Government to give people the support they need to get back to work. Over a quarter of a million Scots are out of work due to long-term sickness or having a disability after a rise caused by the pandemic. The SNP Government has now been urged to invest more in mental health and the NHS to help people back find jobs. Keir Starmer's Labour Government recently proposed tightening eligibility for disability and sickness benefits in a bid to slow the rate of social security spending. But the bulk of the plan was ditched amid claims people who genuinely need to be on benefits would be harmed. Despite the u-turn, Labour sources believe action will have to be taken by the UK and Scottish Governments to get people back into jobs. New figures reveal there are an estimated 269,000 people in Scotland aged 16-64 who gave their reason for being inactive as long-term sick or disabled. It works out at around one third of Scotland's economically inactive people in the same age group. This includes 35,200 people in Glasgow, 16,100 in North Lanarkshire, 14,100 in Fife, 14,000 in Edinburgh and 12,800 in South Lanarkshire. Critics say First Minister John Swinney needs to use his devolved powers to help people who can work into jobs. It was recently reported that Scots on disability benefits for conditions such as anxiety and depression are costing the taxpayer more than £1.3bn a year. Lib Dem MSP Jamie Greene, who uncovered the 269,000 figure, said: 'These figures show that across Scotland there are huge numbers who are economically inactive because they are off long-term sick. 'Of course, there will always be some for whom paid work is not a feasible option but for many more, if they got the right care, the right mental health support or the right career advice, they could find a role that fits them and their needs. 'It seems ridiculous that around five times more is being spent on social security payments for people with mental health conditions than is being specifically dedicated to helping them through the NHS and back into the workplace. 'Similarly, people waiting on autism and ADHD diagnoses are facing waiting lists that stretch into the years. 'We should be investing in the NHS to bring down these long waits. Not only is that the compassionate approach, but it would also be the sensible one economically, allowing people to get back to work. "The Scottish Government need to work urgently with health boards and local authorities on a new plan to support those who are long-term sick; one that tackles long waits for care, invests in mental health and offers tailored advice and support for those who need it.' Labour MSP Daniel Johnson said: 'It's clear far too many Scots are being locked out of work as a result of the SNP 's disastrous mismanagement of our health and social care systems. 'Under the SNP almost one in six Scots are stuck on NHS waiting lists, over 100,000 people have been waiting over a year, and ADHD and autism services have been effectively privatised. "As someone with ADHD, it makes me angry that the SNP is consigning people with ADHD and autism to the employment scrapheap. 'The SNP is robbing hundreds of thousands of Scots of their livelihoods and holding back our economy – it is time for a new direction.' However, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said: 'Jamie Greene is correct that the Scottish Government should invest more into occupational health services and our healthcare system more generally. 'But he risks robbing Peter to pay Paul if he thinks that investment in mental health can come from social security budgets. Disability payments are a lifeline and prevent people falling into further ill-health. He is misguided to think that government savings should therefore be borne on the backs of the sick, disabled or those living with long term health conditions. 'With a growing blackhole in the public finances, projected to be £2.2 billion by 2030, the Scottish Government, if they properly use their powers of taxation, can afford to both give dignity and security to the long-term sick whilst fully funding our public services and creating well paid, secure jobs for those who need it. 'Progressive income and wealth taxes could enable the best of both worlds: a route into gainful employment whilst still providing a safety net for those in need of assistance. That's the route out of economic inactivity and we would encourage Mr Greene and his party to turn their attention to the wealthy instead of those on welfare.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'There will always be some people whose health conditions mean they cannot work, and they should be supported with dignity and respect. It is unacceptable that the UK Government is introducing a two-tier system which reduces the health element of Universal Credit for new applications and will see people losing around £3000 per year by 2029-30. Removing barriers for those who can enter the workplace is a priority for the Scottish Government. 'This is why we are improving our employability support services, including enhanced specialist support for people with disabilities and long term health conditions across all 32 local authorities in July 2025, and increasing access to health board services which support people in work.'
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
Is the huge rise in autism diagnoses really good news? We're not so sure
Prof Gina Rippon dismisses too easily the genuine concerns about overdiagnosis of conditions such as autism and the medicalisation of normal behaviour (Why the antagonism over the rise in autism diagnoses? It's actually good news, 21 July). She correctly observes that there has been an astonishingly large increase in diagnosis rates since 1998. She also notes correctly that, before the 1980s, autism was diagnosed infrequently because of its 'overly narrow' definition. However, in arguing that many children consequently missed out on the help they needed, she draws the wrong conclusion. She fails to mention that other diagnoses were available for such children, including social anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning disability, among others. Children needing help were frequently diagnosed with one of these, and with sufficient reliability to enable help to be offered within available resources. Moreover, it is well known that the diagnosis of autism by itself does not indicate any specific kind of intervention. Rippon also welcomes the soaring rates of diagnosis, assuming it somehow explains the behaviour of those given it. However, autism is just a descriptive diagnosis. The diagnostic criteria comprise a large cluster of behaviours, such that two people with the diagnosis may display no behaviours in common. The common underlying psychological or neurological abnormality, if one exists at all, is simply not known. I recall during my clinical career in child and adolescent mental health services (Camhs) being asked by parents of a boy with an autism diagnosis: 'We know he has autism, but why does he behave the way he does?' The only available explanation would be an individual assessment of the child concerned and the settings that trigger any behavioural difficulties. Rippon ends by claiming the high rates of autism diagnoses are simply a reflection of human diversity. However, in doing so, she inadvertently reflects what those concerned about overdiagnosis are actually saying. It's precisely because we welcome human diversity that we wonder why such high levels of diagnosis are necessary to understand Richard HassallKnaresborough, North Yorkshire As there are so many references to a 'bad old past' in Gina Rippon's article, I thought it might be helpful if I commented on some of the misapprehensions she expresses. I worked as an academic child psychiatrist from the 1960s to the 1990s, including as a psychiatrist to a school for autistic children. First, the rise in diagnoses has been even greater than Rippon suggests. In the first edition of my textbook, published in 1986, I give the prevalence as three to four per 10,000 children. It is now at least 100, a 30-fold rise. Second, the rise is either entirely or almost entirely due to a redefinition of the condition. So-called Asperger syndrome has been abolished as a diagnosis and merged into 'autistic spectrum disorder'. Third, I do not recognise the supposed difficulty in diagnosing girls with this condition. Certainly, I had no hesitation in doing so when it was indicated. Whether the redefinition of autism is good news or bad news, I, like many others, would find it difficult to say. Alongside the change in definition has come a welcome reduction in stigmatisation and greater willingness to attend relevant services. On the other hand, child mental health services are overwhelmed and many parents are frustrated by their incapacity to obtain what they, quite unrealistically, see as life-changing help. Rather than seeking a definitive diagnosis, many would be better served by encouragement to see their problematic children as 'different' and needing an upbringing tailored to their particular strengths and GrahamEmeritus professor of child psychiatry, University College London Gina Rippon presents the astonishing rise in autism diagnoses as evidence that more members of marginalised groups are benefiting from being diagnosed. It is true that growing numbers of people are suffering mental distress, and the evidence links this with increased poverty and inequality. It is also true that access to services and welfare typically still requires a psychiatric diagnosis. But it is entirely unjustified to describe autism as an incurable, neurodevelopmental brain disorder, except in the case of a small number of individuals who will require lifelong support and may never live independently. The extension of autism diagnoses to potentially include billionaires like Elon Musk, along with celebrities and others with successful careers, is unsupported by evidence. In fact, despite Rippon's claim of 'stunning advances', no neural or genetic factor robust enough to aid diagnosis or predict treatment response has ever been found. Additionally, there are significant disadvantages to framing diagnostic labels as identities to be celebrated. The experiences described by many people now claiming to be autistic are better explained as consequences of the rootlessness and individualism that characterise everyday life today, the effects of what sociologists call 'victimhood cultures', the invidious influence of social media, and the contribution of abuse and other adverse experiences to distress of all forms. We do not need yet another way to individualise and commodify the grossly uneven impacts of these social pressures. Instead, we need to fundamentally transform our profoundly unequal society, dismantling the myths that make inequality appear John CrombyHonorary professor of mental health and psychology, University of Nottingham Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
The diet traps and 6 other common ‘triggers' that make my ADHD worse – plus the expert tips that help me cope
ASKING Google 'what is ADHD?' will yield over 131million results. I know because I did exactly that when I was diagnosed in March this year. Born in the 70s, I was somewhat dismissive and naive about a lot of neurodivergence. But when a newly diagnosed friend assured me I had it, she joined a long list of people in the last decade who have suggested the same. 9 Clare O'Reilly was diagnosed with ADHD aged 46 Credit: Lorna Roach While I initially laughed off her advice, I did some research and realised I have pretty much all the traits. I'm
