I find myself leaning towards the constructivist approach more and more. Not only are diagnostic criteria far from perfect (ADHD criteria for example has been mostly created using only white men) but there are also biases in society that bleed into diagnosis processes. I‘ve heard multiple times that ADHD is such a trend diagnosis right now, from psychiatrists who should know it‘s the most common neurodevelopmental disorder. I‘ve had one certified expert tell me that women almost never experience ADHD and that I can‘t have it, because I could sit still in a chair. The overdiagnosis myth has also made its way to many professionals, resulting in more stigma being put onto patients when they ask for an evaluation.

As someone who studies social sciences it never seized to amaze me with how much confidence these doctors proclaim you can or can‘t have X,Y,Z before even taking tests. I know that this results from their positivistic education but as a patient, it‘s hurtful to be seen as needing a box to fit rather than looking specifically at your individual symptoms and the best treatment for them.

Yeah but like…isn’t that the ultimate power move? Like, I don’t want the worst people I’ve met to have so much power over me. Frankly, they don’t deserve it.