ADHD TikTok
At first, as a therapist with ADHD myself, I thought… “YES! This is going to be so helpful.” However, the opposite ended up being true. There are so many people on TikTok claiming to be “professionals” and “experts” on ADHD but they have no credentials, training, or evidence to site to support their claims. The clinic I worked in, including myself started to see referral after referral for “ADHD testing.” Many of the individuals had significant comorbidities that made it very hard to determine if they actually had ADHD or if it was because of something else. There is a lot of overlap between trauma, anxiety, and ADHD. Anyone who knows me how much of a proponent I am of acknowledging that ADHD itself can cause these symptoms but is important to get a thorough history and assess before sending for a referral. I have been very vocal within my organization about the misinformation and lack of knowledge around ADHD, especially adults with ADHD, especially inattentive type. I have held back from losing my cool any time I heard “ADHD cant cause anxiety and/or depression.”
The problem is that thanks to ADHD TikTok we have received a flood of requests for testing. This has backlogged the already overwhelmed and lengthy process. It has just made it harder for those who truly have it to get the assessment and help they need. It has made already skeptical providers even more skeptical about anyone claiming to have ADHD. It has also made it harder for me as well, as a provider with specific training in ADHD to provide feedback to individuals who don’t have it. People come in convinced that they have it and will not take feedback about otherwise. It is a double-edged sword.
For those that already have ADHD, some videos can be helpful. They help us feel more “normal” and even get a good laugh at ourselves from time to time. They can also be helpful in allowing the world to get a better understanding of what it is like to live our life. It can lead to some compassion and more patience. However, many of these videos focus on the superficial and just annoying aspects. It tends to perpetuate stereotypes but there are so many more serious consequences of ADHD. It’s not about not being able to concentrate for long periods of time, forgetting where you put your keys, or interrupting someone. We need to remember that this is a serious condition, not just annoying quirks someone may or may not have. Individuals with true ADHD are suffering, they’re struggling and it’s not as easy as “just don’t be lazy.” There is a higher suicide rate among individuals with ADHD. Individuals with ADHD are also more likely to get in serious accidents. Untreated ADHD can lead to serious substance abuse or other addictions. ADHD can also be comorbid with anxiety, depression, and Bipolar Disorder. Many individuals with ADHD also suffer from learning disabilities such as Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and other processing disorders making life and education harder. ADHD is a brain-based disorder that often needs treatment, either with medication, therapy or coaching, or a combination of both. It’s not as simple as “oh we all have a little ADHD.” No, it’s not that simple. ADHD is a disability recognized by the ADA as such.
It is important to make sure you are watching videos from individuals that have some sort of qualification to talk about ADHD if they claim to be an “expert.” There are a lot of videos of individuals who legitimately have ADHD themselves but they don’t claim to be experts, they are clear to explain their lack of qualifications to be considered an “expert.” Even a licensed mental health professional may not even have enough education, training, experience working with ADHD individuals. Pay attention to their experience, education, training, and/or own personal struggles with ADHD.
If you really want to follow #ADHDTikTok there are a few legit experts worth following:
1) Dr. Ned Hallowell (ADHD expert, Psychiatrist, ADHDer, and co-author of “Driven To Distraction” and “ADHD 2.0” among other books)
Dr. Hallowell answers all of your ADHD questions and provides tips and tricks. He also helps normalize some of the fun quirks of having ADHD. He posts almost daily what he refers to as “NEDTalks.” He also helps to clarify some of the misinformation that is overly abundant. He also has ADHD. Love him!
2) Sheila Henson (ADHD Coach with a Masters in Education and ADHD herself)
Sheila is an ADHD coach who also has an extensive background in education including special education. She has a Master’s in Education and has ADHD herself, so she personally knows the struggle. Sheila offers tips and tools to help manage your ADHD symptoms.
3) Jessica McCabe (ADHDer)
Jessica doesn’t have the training or education as the previous 2 individuals mentioned. However, she has ADHD herself and provides tips and tricks that work for her as an individual with ADHD. Jessica also does her own research and offers scienced-backed information to share her tips and tricks. She is so good that even ADDitudeMag.com thinks she is legit.
4) Chrissy Crowe (Licensed Therapy and ADHD Coach from Canada)
Chrissy is the founder of Dig A Little Deeper Counseling center in Ontario. She is a member of the Canadian ADHD Resources Alliance… AND an EMDR therapist. She is also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Yes, I love her because she is an ADHD expert and does EMDR. Do you blame me? Her TikTok shares tips and triks. She also provides clarification on symptoms and what ADHD is. She provides additional mental health information as well.
5) Dr. Sasha Hamdani (Psychiatrist and ADHDer)
Dr. Hamdani is a psychiatrist with ADHD. Her TikTok is not only helpful but is also funny. She uses humor to relate to her followers. She also shares some personal struggles and feedback. Including the age-old idea that “You can’t have ADHD, you’re too educated/smart/accomplished/successful” mentality. She helps debunk some of those myths and stereotypes based on misinformation.
6) Dr. Kojo Sarfo (Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, host of What Good podcast, and creator of a clothing line to spread mental health awareness)
It’s unclear if Dr. Sarfo has ADHD himself but his TikTok focuses on a variety of mental health concerns with an emphasis on ADHD. He’s an advocate for mental health awareness, mental health issues in men and the Black community.
To summarize this, I am not completely against #ADHDTikTok, however, I want to encourage people to digest wisely. If you’re going to follow #ADHDTikTok, please make sure you’re viewing content from people who know what they’re talking about and have the science to back it up. I’m sure there are others on Tiktok but these are just a few I personally have come across. Check them out!
If you have any additional TikTok content creators who you would recommend for ADHD/Mental Health, if you have questions or would like to suggest a topic for a future blog, you can reach out to me by email at Colleen@ScatteredPotential.com, subscribe to my blog or my newsletter by filling out the form below. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.