On Trending with Timmerie, family physician and psychologist Dr. Leonard Sax raises concerns about what he calls the medicalization of normal human differences.
Dr. Sax points to the dramatic increase in autism diagnoses without intellectual disability and argues that changing diagnostic standards have made it easier for ordinary struggles with social interaction to be labeled as disorders. His concern is not with people who genuinely need support, but with treating every difficulty as something that defines a person.
“People being told that they are on the spectrum when in fact that’s just kind of who they happen to be,” he said. “And it’s not fixed. You can change who you are.”
Dr. Sax sees a similar problem with ADHD. He tells Timmerie about a boy whose declining grades led to an ADHD diagnosis and prescription for Vyvanse. When Dr. Sax investigated further, however, he discovered that the boy was staying up until 1:30am playing video games in his bedroom.
“Sleep deprivation perfectly mimics ADHD of the inattentive variety,” he explained.
His advice for parents is practical: keep video game consoles and phones out of bedrooms and be willing to establish firm boundaries. He recommends that parents take their children’s phones at night rather than expecting teenagers to resist social pressure on their own.
“You have to find the courage to be the evil parent,” he joked.
For Timmerie, there is also a deeper Christian lesson. Our weaknesses and struggles do not diminish the dignity and beauty God has given each person. Instead of allowing a label to become an excuse for avoiding growth, Christians are called continually toward greater discipline and virtue.
As Dr. Sax put it, “That’s the Christian walk. That’s the challenge that each of us face, is to improve, to be better.”
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