Part 7/11:

Cultural Shifts and Overdiagnosis

There's concern that overdiagnosis, particularly in children and young adults, results from societal discomfort with non-conformity. Conditions like ADHD are now diagnosed at unprecedented rates, often leading to lifetime medication without sufficient exploration of societal factors—such as the nature of modern education or the structure of the workforce—that might contribute to behavioral issues.

Historically, behaviors once considered normal—such as hyperactivity in young boys—are now medicalized. This trend medicalizes natural developmental quirks and changes how society perceives normalcy, potentially fostering a sense of inadequacy and chronic dissatisfaction among individuals who fit these diagnoses.