Why is ADHD everywhere?
Everywhere I look, someone is talking about ADHD. Why is this happening?
It seems like any time spent on social media will quickly turn into an ADHD rabbit hole where you will be convinced in 10 short videos that every day experiences are a sign or symptom of ADHD. What exactly is ADHD, is it being over-diagnosed, and what do I do if I think I might have it? These are questions we will explore so you have a better understanding of ADHD.
First off, why am I even talking about ADHD on this website? I am a clinical social worker who provides therapy to those with ADHD, Autism, and AuDHD as a person living with ADHD. I have many clients and parents who come to therapy asking about ADHD and I believe that the lack of understanding of ADHD historically has led to significant harm for many people. This is not an assumption, it is supported by significant amounts of data for which I will share some harrowing statistics with you, in case you don’t believe me.
A survey of parent reports of children with ADHD from the National Survey of Children’s Health conducted in the U.S. from 2016-2017 indicated that 46.9% of the sample population (N=71,811) experienced some form of bullying (Cuba, et al., 2022). Bullying is known to increase risks of depression, anxiety, self harm, and suicidality for young people.
For various reasons, individuals with ADHD are at higher risks of becoming a victim of intimate partner violence as well as being perpetrators of IPV (Arrondo, et al., 2023). This extends to increased relational stress that adds to relationship dissatisfaction, conflict and divorce.
The CDC identifies that over 70% of children with ADHD have at least one other co-occurring diagnosis from a 2022 survey (Centers for Disease Control, 2024). This statistic does not account for the misdiagnosis and under-diagnosis of ADHD in females and those in BIPOC communities, which is also well documented.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the current official nomenclature provided in the DSM-V-TR and can be specified as inattentive type, hyperactive type, or a combination of the two. Interestingly, it was previously thought that people could have either ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder but not both; research has finally caught up to reality in identifying that this is no longer our understanding and people can have both. Another interesting point, much of the old data was collected mostly on young males and thus we have significantly less data and understanding on the impact of ADHD on girls and women. Diagnosis for ADHD can vary widely on where you are located, what resources you have access to, and your age. For instance, as a licensed, master’s level clinician, I can diagnose adults with ADHD but I cannot diagnose a child with ADHD. Many children must complete a full neuropsychological evaluation that includes a battery of assessments and/or tests for formal diagnosis by a licensed psychologist of psychiatrist. Talking to your provider and insurance can help you decide next steps for evaluation.
Now, a note on social media. All social media platforms use complex algorithms to tailor content to your interests and preferences without you even noticing. Spend longer than a few second viewing a reel on ADHD, BAM! You now will be fed endless ADHD content to determine if you continue to interact with it. Social media has a vested interest in keeping you on their platform as long as possible because time in the platform means more opportunities for exposing you to ads. So yes, there’s more content about ADHD than ever before but that is probably because there is more access to social media and other people’s lives than ever before.
ADHD is definitely a buzz word in pop psychology these days, which means that you need to know how to determine what content is reliable and what content is just, well…content. The tried and true method of seeking information from a reputable source is usually beneficial, however, even experts have biases that can impact how people receive care. For this reason, I’ll share my professional guidance on how to interpret information regarding ADHD the next time you’re doom-scrolling to avoid folding laundry (and yes, I’m pointing fingers at myself here too).
Evaluate who is sharing the information - who are their sources for this information and are those sources reputable. Personal anecdotes might be validating for your lived experience but they may not be representative of a whole population.
Keep tabs on what information is consistent across platforms and resources - good science is repeatable so generalized statements about ADHD should have evidence to support the claim from multiple places. For instance, a study cited in this post evaluated tens of thousands of children, which has a much greater significance than assumptions that come from surveying 10 children. The more data, the better chance you have at preventing outliers from skewing results.
Talk to a professional - I love when my clients and/or their parents bring in something they have seen or read that sparks a question about ADHD. Your healthcare provider should have a vested interest in your concerns and many people get information from social media these days. And, if your provider does not take you seriously or brushes off your concerns, you are allowed to let them know that you do not feel they are listening to your concerns. A short form video on social media cannot diagnose you with ADHD, but it can spark a conversation with a licensed provider that could lead to a greater understanding of yourself or your child.
There you have it, a brief explanation or lay of the land if you will. While you may be tired of ADHD content, those used to living with it and flying under the radar of support are absolutely exhausted by the day to day toll untreated ADHD can cause on daily life. Early detection and evaluation can significantly improve quality of life for an individual and those around them. Treatment for ADHD can include therapy, medication, or the combination of both. The best treatment is the one that you consent to with the support of your health care providers to make an informed decision.
As always, this information is for educational purposes and is non-diagnostic in nature. I am a therapist, but I’m not your therapist…yet. If you are in Texas and looking for a therapist, you can submit a contact request form to request a free consultation. Cheers!
References
Arrondo, G., Osorio, A., Magallón, S., Lopez-del Burgo, C., & Cortese, S. (2023). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder as a risk factor for being involved in intimate partner violence and sexual violence: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 53(16), 7883–7892. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291723001976
Cuba Bustinza, C., Adams, R. E., Claussen, A. H., Vitucci, D., Danielson, M. L., Holbrook, J. R., Charania, S. N., Yamamoto, K., Nidey, N., & Froehlich, T. E. (2022). Factors associated with bullying victimization and bullying perpetration in children and adolescents with ADHD: 2016 to 2017 National Survey of Children’s Health. Journal of Attention Disorders, 26(12), 1535–1548. https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547221085502
