The ADHD “Self Diagnosis” Epidemic

It seems like everyone now "has" ADHD...
Noticeably on TikTok, ADHD has shifted away from a serious mental health condition to just another quirky personality trait.

I explore the true nature of ADHD—a complex mental health condition often misunderstood and misrepresented online. From its historical context to the modern criteria for diagnosis, I unravel the intricacies of ADHD and discuss the fine line between general distractibility and the clinical disorder.

I also investigate how TikTok's algorithm might be influencing our perceptions and diagnoses, amplifying traits that are relatable to many, yet only seriously debilitating to a few. With insights from psychiatrists and experts, we'll look at the real impact of having ADHD and how social media might be skewing our understanding of it.

Do You Think You Have ADHD?
Here's What You Really Need to Know and Why it seems like Everyone Now "Has" ADHD.

Timestamps:
00:00 The TikTok-ification of ADHD
01:06 The Rise in ADHD Diagnoses
01:47 ADHD, explained
03:45 TikTok and Relatability
05:13 Identifying if you have ADHD
07:09 Has TikTok turned ADHD into a Quirky Personality Trait?
08:14 TikTok has ruined my attention span!
09:29 Modern Society and ADHD
10:40 The Current Problem

Follow Christina on Youtube
@ChristinaAaliyah

More about Ralph:

#adhd #tiktok #genz

References:

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WHO AM I?

Hey, I'm Esh - a medical doctor, podcaster and video journalist on a mission to tell stories that help us better understand our health. Please subscribe to join my journey!

Disclaimer:

The video content on this channel is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never ignore professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read or seen on this YouTube channel. The information provided in this video is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health conditions.

[DrEshTatla]

I want to emphasize that while this video discusses the broad and sometimes casual references to ADHD on social media, it’s important to recognize that ADHD is a real and serious condition for many. My goal is to shed light on the nuances and complexities of ADHD diagnosis and to encourage anyone who relates to these symptoms to seek guidance from a healthcare professional. Let’s continue to support and understand each other ❤

[ChristinaAaliyah]

I've definitely noticed more people identifying as having 'ADHD' and when getting a legitimate diagnosis can take forever, I can see why everyone runs to Dr Tiktok to find answers 😅Great video! Thanks for having me on Esh 🎬

[ReliaRainIsAwsome]

as someone who's been diagnosed since as i was a kid its been weird watching as my generation went from making of fun of the kid who literally can't sit in his chair and keeps getting out to move, the kid who would answer questions at the teacher is still talking to suddenly all wanting to jump on this boat of "i Have ADHD t0o why were so alike" to a degree it upsets me when someone talks about having it because TikTok said they did. to a degree it feels like some people have started self diagnosing in hopes of using it as an excuse for things. i have had a few friend try to say the have ADHD too because they just keep pushing off doing the dishes, and i have to explain the ADHD isn't not wanting to do the dishes, ADHD is doing laundry, cleaning the dryer, taking a door off it hinges to try to fix a squeak the whole time find ways to not do the dishes by doing other things until you make dinner and realize you have no clean dishes feeling so stressed out to the point you want to cry because the one task you needed to get done never did. because your brain won't give the proper dopamine signals to go do the dishes, yet i have friends who will just claim they have ADHD with LITREALLY no symptoms because they don't do dishes, they don't do anything else productive, they don't struggle with the fact their brains stopping them from doing the dishes, theirs no internal struggle its a quick use to excuse their behavior so they don't seem lazy. of course this is just one instance but true ADHD fucking sucks to have, and seeing everyone try to put a claim on it can be really irritating to those who do have it, more so by those in the bottom of the "bell?" curve who don't know shit but act like they know it all.
this is a really well put together video that needs to blow up, straight to the point and real information like this is extremely helpful for helping us in the fight as humans blindly rush into the future

[phillialevine]

May your channel reach the right audience and support you the way you deserve ❤

[giota-scienceandtech]

incredibly well researched video! Great work Esh

[TransVoiceCoach]

I dont know how far this is true for people more generally but I do tend to think that people might gravitate towards that label when they feel there is a problem, but they don't know what that problem is or how to get the support they need. I've had people tell me that they think I have adhd, I don't really think I do I just have that vague sense of "something's up" the idea of identifying with a label like adhd is really tempting because that somewhat offers a roadmap of at least something I can try to make things easier, whether that's medicating or just following advice meant for people with adhd.

I feel as though there would be fewer people gravitating towards self diagnosis in general if it was easy to get support when needed.
I went to the doctor one time seeking support for anxiety issues. All i got back was a diatribe about not being in a two parent household growing up. While I doubt that's reflective of most doctors I do feel like getting support can feel like pulling teeth.
Even with other doctors I would find that i'd get handed forms to fill out to see if I fit diagnostic criteria but sometimes it seems like it might actually be more appropriate/relevant to acknowledge that if I havent been able to leave the house for two weeks due to anxiety that something is having a meaningful negative impact on my life.

I feel like it is that impact on your life that should be important like you somewhat acknowledged in the video, but it can just be very difficult to translate that into support, guidance or treatment.

Somewhat inversely. Now due to where I live and the current living situation I feel way less anxious and often wont go out for days at a time, just because I simply dont have any reason to. But this does feel like the emotional equivalent of someone who gets agonising knee pain if they try to do anything more than a slow walk. It can feel a little bit sometimes like healthcare leaves people behind. I don't think that "I can pretty much avoid the things that make me the most anxious right now" translates to "this person is fine" especially if anxiety stops me from doing things.

I guess what I'm trying to say is labelling stuff can make it easier to navigate healthcare so maybe people get trapped in the need to identify with a label to get care because healthcare sometimes seems to prioritise labelling and categorising over adressing issues? So its basically a complex issue? There's probably some people that use the term ADHD in a ooooh look at me im quirky way much like others do with OCD but I cant help but feel there's probably a pretty decent proportion of people that are really struggling.

[snarkyalyx]

ADHD is not well understood yet, like many things in neuroscience. I've been properly diagnosed with ADHD about a decade ago, and even I know that. It's something that only recently is starting to get understood in the medical framework. You didn't really look into the science part that much, please do that next time. I think that ADHD is something you can *get* and not just have genetically, and technology being designed around addiction resulted in people getting it. Good video though!