Deffo a bit of both. Awareness needs to be shown ofc, but people think they have it.
I think I’m just done with “awareness”. It’s an overused term thrown about by people who want attention but don’t want to appear as conceited as they actually are.
Nothing new tbh, I don’t think it’s too different to when depression or OCD really took off on social media.
Definitely more ‘awareness’ needs to be raised, because I was 30 before someone with expertise let me know that my symptoms/behaviours were typical of ADHD.
But likewise, as awareness is raised more people like to jump on the bandwagon, either because they falsely self-diagnose, or because they like to add a label onto themselves that makes them a bit “different”.
It’s probably best we raise awareness though, the false self-diagnosers probably aren’t hurting too much.
I have ADHD, I appreciate the fact that certain issues I have navigating life are well known. Honestly, with ADHD a lot of the problems just require somebody to be flexible and understanding with you. It’s increased profile has made a notable difference, particularly at work, it also feels like people are more prepared to see it as a disability now rather than just being a problem child.
However, I do feel like anyone and everyone is jumping on to say they have it. Bi-polar disorder went through a similar treatment about 10 years ago and became a synonym for people that were moody. It does make me feel sad that my disability is just a trend for some people, but that extra awareness is worth it I suppose.
To be honest, regardless of how many TikTok kids pretend to have it or not it doesn’t make it any better or worse for me so they can crack on. I’d don’t want to gatekeep adhd, I just don’t want to have it. The more people that know about it the better so they can be more accepting of me when I struggle.
The waitlists for ADHD care via NHS are >5 years, via right to choose circa 1 year. You have to be fairly sure you have ADHD to join a queue like that! Once at the end of the queue you aren’t assessed for any other condition just ADHD/not ADHD.
In the absence of any level of accessible care people are going to assess for themselves whether they have ADHD or not, there’s no other choice! It’s also worth noting is any discussion about ADHD that it presents differently in boys and girls and girls tend not to get diagnosed during childhood.
So how harmful is it if person X self-diagnoses ADHD? Not very. They might look up some techniques for managing distractedness/poor organisational skills/hyperactivity/inattentiveness etc (inarguably a good thing whether they have it or not), only obvious potential downside is that they might misdiagnose some non-ADHD condition as ADHD, but then the solution here lies through more accessible specialised mental healthcare services that are capable of working more flexibly to the needs of patients – aka in not ADHD cases other conditions are considered and signposted.
It raises awareness. I didn’t know I had adhd and just thought I was a useless lazy idiot. Until I learned about ADD through social media and how adhd does not always appear with hyperactivity.
What’s driving inaccurate self-diagnosis is the lack of a decade mental health care infrastructure. Waiting lists for a simple diagnosis are ridiculous. People wouldn’t be self diagnosing if they had access to actual professionals.
I was just lucky cause I had my mothers money to pay for a private psychiatrist. And if I didn’t I would just be another person people didn’t believe. The amount of times when I was first questioning whether I had adhd and the people around me would be like “no I know someone with adhd trust me it’s really noticeable”.
Mine is specifically hard to notice because I don’t draw attention. I space out I get lost in thought I can’t concentrate. That’s literally it. I’ll daydream in class all day long. And without my diagnosis there are a lot of people who still wouldn’t have believed me.
why would you frame these things as mutually exclusive?
Not TikTok, but if I don’t have ADHD then there’s something much worse going on with me soooo
I’d argue that the two outcomes will co-exist with each other. Raising awareness will naturally result in individuals questioning whether they have it, what’s important is that they are encouraged to seek an actual medical practitioner for advice.
I have been diagnosed with both ADHD and ASD. I dont like self diagnosis, because it comes across as a lot like “I’m going to use this an excuse because I’ve read online that certain behaviour is a symptom”. Obviously in some cases it can’t be helped if you can’t get a diagnosis, but if you are self diagnosing you should at least also make an attempt to get an actual diagnosis.
I hate the whole rise in something being treated like it’s become a fad. When in reality we’ve under diagnosed and treated for generations. If one or two people in one family got diagnosed odds are grandparent generation had it but struggled with no support or knowing what was going on with them.
Best fix is better access to diagnosis. With adhd usually there’s different variations of how it shows and some are not caught because it doesn’t fit the stereotype in schools and it’s even harder for adults to seek help for the first time
To be honest I think it’s a good thing. Many people aren’t aware of what these things actually look like day-to-day, so if neurodivergent people are using social media to share their experience, and people relate, allowing them to recognise traits in themselves then great. They’ll be able to get the help and support they need.
You can read a list of “symptoms” and diagnostic criteria but it’s so abstract that it can be difficult to translate into the actual experience. I didn’t even consider I might be autistic until I related to someone on The Undatables, almost a decade ago. It took me years to be listened to, and took six years to receive a diagnosis. On this diagnostic journey I also found out I’m ADHD too.
Self-diagnosis and raising awareness are valid and essential. Of course, you’ll have gross people faking it for likes, people are idiots, but those few shouldn’t detract from people getting answers they need.
It also increases the chances of someone being spotted as a child rather than all these later life diagnoses. Knowing your different from the majority and not know why is hard. Finding every aspect of modern life a struggle is really fucking hard. Having to hide who you are to fit is has caused me harm. My life has been a consistent mess and if raising awareness prevents other people from experiencing that, then great.
Gee if going through official channels to get tested didn’t take literally years, people wouldn’t go around self diagnosing.
Possible that the same phenomenon is happening with Transgenderism/other gender identity related issues?
Maybe shite like tiktok is just damaging people’s attention span to the point they present symptoms like ADHD 🤷♂️
In my workplace there’s more than a couple people who seem to use their “diagnosis” as a way to excuse their shortcomings and it works itself into conversation a borderline unbearable amount.
I’d been told by several people around me they believed I have adhd but i’d always resisted it. It wasn’t until i started finding adhd tiktoks very relatable that I was convinced.
Not that it matters as it’s so difficult to get diagnosed
Attention seeking , it’s a new trend on tik tok and gets views .
People on social media now put their “diagonoses” in their profiles.
[deleted]
I’m just going to say that I’ve been on a waiting list since before the pandemic and was seen in may 2021. I was assessed and I require medication I’m now on a waiting list ; they say people are waiting 18-24 months for medication titration . “The approximate waiting time for an ADHD medication appointment is 18-24 months (from May 2021 when you were diagnosed with ADHD). It is difficult to give an exact timeframe as there are a number of variables that impact on our waiting lists and waiting times. ”
All I’m going to say is there is several issues with the diagnostic process :
1. You can be diagnosed as a child and that persist until teenage years and if your transition to adult services lapses you’ll need to be re-assessed for ADHD … Even though it’s widely documented it’s a lifelong condition and disruptive symptoms continue long term. – waiting list .
2. Transition from child to adult services: If your treatment lapses during the transition, you may need to be re-assessed for ADHD, leading to a waiting list.
3. Prescription lapses or moving to a new surgery: If your prescription for ADHD medication lapses or you move to a new surgery without shared care, you may need to be re-referred to the ADHD clinic as an adult, resulting in a waiting list.
4. Moving to a different area: If you receive treatment and have a shared care arrangement, moving to a different area may cause the arrangement to cease, requiring you to join a waiting list for medication adjustment or changes.
5. Lack of awareness about the right to choose: If your GP is not aware of the right to choose, they may refer you to an NHS service with a longer waiting time. Switching to the right to choose waiting list can be troublesome if you’ve already completed your assessment and are awaiting medication initiation.
6. Limited availability of specialists: A shortage of specialists or clinics can lead to longer waiting times for assessment and treatment, adding to the overall waiting list.
7. High demand for ADHD services: Increased awareness and diagnosis of ADHD can lead to higher demand for services, resulting in longer waiting times.
8. Administrative delays: Inefficiencies or errors in the referral process can cause delays in scheduling appointments, contributing to the waiting list.
9. Funding limitations: Financial constraints on healthcare systems may limit the number of available appointments, leading to longer waiting times and growing waiting lists.
I’m just going to say the way ADHD services in the UK currently works creates so much inefficiency by creating constant need to be re-referred back or having to re-enter the waiting list ; which exaggerates the waittimes even more. Also patchy service provision where level of service isn’t readily accessible within the UK is problematic . If I break my leg I can go to any hospital in the UK , but with ADHD I am confined to one geographic area and waitlist .
Also funding issues : I’ve spoken to the clinical commissioning group and they send back some imprecise response back along the lines of : since the pandemic we are working hard to get things back to normal and making funding arrangements to increase capacity . No elaborate further than general statements. Has that translated into any practical significance for me ? No .
So do I think tiktok and social media is making matters worse ?
Hell no the system was broke before ; and looking across the NHS wait times have risen since the pandemic. Surely if Tiktok or social media was to blame for wait time we’d see disparities when compared with other wait times for different conditions.
I will say social media respresents society as a whole ; some people use it to raise awareness and some will use social media as a platform for attention; there are a subsection who will misuse social media for attention; unfortunately the algorithms will flag those posts to people more frequently. More views = greater likelihood of been seen by new user = more views .
Mental health is important and should be taken seriously,
That being said it’s wildly popular at the moment with young people picking out their favourite conditions like Pokémon with no diagnosis.
The more trauma and conditions you can claim the cooler you are.
It’s taking away from the severity of mental health.
It’s almost an over correction from ignoring it, to watering it down and hopefully, as more people recognise, understand and mature it will find a healthy, truly reflective position.
I have no idea what is wrong with me but it would be good if it was easier to see a specialist.. got tested for dyslexia in the 90s, don’t have that apparently. Was in special needs class in all primary/ high school. Have school reports. Alcoholic, use stims to motivate myself. I spent 4 whole days last week with little sleep trying to finish off a large sculpture. Bounce between keeping fit/ eating right then go on a massive binge of unhealthyness. I would just love to be able to talk to a specialist, that is all..because my brain is taking a heavy beating 🧠🤛
I’m not sure why people are so keen to enact judgement, If a person has traits like being distracted easily you should make allowances for that regardless of whether that’s a condition or a quirk.
Having ADHD is a pretty big deal with respect to your life. So in that light, it should be important to get a professional diagnosis. Yes the waiting list isn’t ideal but it’s how it’s done and how most who are trying to get diagnosed with ASC or ADHD have to go about it, welcome to the party. There’s most definitely a choice to go through with it. I myself am currently looking at the waiting list for both ASC and potentially ADHD.
Now maybe I have neither, which to me at this point is doubtful, but if so then I don’t want to be piggy backing off of the struggles of other people with real issues. And I don’t want to be cheapening the idea of having those issues in the first place, because again, it’s a pretty big deal. Standardising people being able to diagnose themselves with these conditions would lead to people using false excuses and maybe worsening the image of those who actually have it in general, potentially making life more difficult for them in the process.
By all means, have a look at potential methods to help control inattention or hyperactivity etc.. I understand it seriously sucks. But don’t start claiming ADHD out the gates, seek that professional diagnosis.
To be honest I wouldn’t be surprised if a good amount of those self diagnosing the condition on tiktok wouldn’t actually bother to go to professionals in the first place.
And if it’s that big of a deal, maybe have a look at private options? I personally wouldn’t but you never know. Much lower waiting time by far.
Thank Christ I am a woman diagnosed 19 years, at the age of 2 for autism. Autism isn’t ADHD but has a similar problem rn. It was pretty clear then (without social media) and I don’t want to be lumped with people who were able to live without a diagnosis as an adult.
If it is taking people this long to realise they have a condition, then maybe they don’t fit the disabling part of a disability.
I’m totally ranting here, so forgive my attitude; but wtf is with this current news trend that’s pushing the agenda that neurodivergent conditions are “handed out” and “trendy”. I had to go through years of being under both child and adult mental health services, and see a clinical psychologist to confirm suspicions before they’d even consider referring me for a diagnosis on the NHS??
I’m diagnosed with both ADHD and Autism. Neurodiversity runs through my family, with both my brothers having the same diagnosis as me. It’s crazy to me that people will happily accept that diagnosis and treatment pathways are always being researched and changed with things like Cancer, but when it comes to _certain_ conditions some people throw a hissy fit and cry some moral panic about it? If you want my opinion, neurodivergency is way way way way more common than some of you think, but some fear of change in the status quo prevents people from being able to accept the possibility that there is no “typical” human behaviour, and that we’re all just different kinds of meat computers emulating a loosely coded idea of what a ‘person’ is based on the most popular system architecture.
Do the public really think denying people access to answers and treatment that they’ve potentially sought all their life is worth it to “pwn” some 14 year old on TikTok; or do you think it’s actually more likely that individuals with these disorders will turn to illicit substances, self harm, and suicide to cope with them instead; meanwhile everyone laments about how it’s such a “shame” that a young life was taken “so soon” whilst simultaneously complaining that young people “can’t concentrate” and have “no patience” due to X and Y conspiracy.
Like, do you think someone who does no self-reflection and heavy thinking about how their lives and behaviours fit the medical schema for these conditions is going to drop £500-1200 for a private diagnosis, plus all the extra cash for private prescriptions, clinician letters, and post-diagnosis services? Not to mention, pay a clinic fee **EVERY YEAR** to maintain their shared care agreement with their GP to access their medication whilst they wait through the next decade for their NHS appointment to reconfirm what they already know. The answer is no.
I’m so sick of things taking steps forward to do good and help people, only for some bellends to go “no, this can’t possibly be a thing” and force their shitty regressive opinions down people’s throats because accepting that certain behaviours can be a result of neurodivergency makes these people feel uncomfortable with themselves, and how they approach treating others.
Oh! And colour me suspicious as fuck that these articles have all started appearing [**after** parliament discussed the criticism they recieved in regard to the difficulty of accessing ASD and ADHD diagnosis services](https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0023/). Feels very much like instead of using the money **we** pay towards the NHS to fund more assesments and train more clinicians, they just plan on making access to services even more difficult, so they can say wait times are much much shorter; when in reality there’s only 3 people in the line because everyone else who is supposed to be there got gaslit and gatekept into leaving by the obsessive news articles pushing a false narrative, and the over zealous health trusts denying funding because they dont feel a diagnosis would be “helpful” like that’s somehow their decision to make despite championing “informed patient centered care”
God, i’m so sick of being a constant target for manufacturered diversionary culture wars so the poors don’t realise they’re being exploited and vote for the powers that be.
26 comments
Deffo a bit of both. Awareness needs to be shown ofc, but people think they have it.
I think I’m just done with “awareness”. It’s an overused term thrown about by people who want attention but don’t want to appear as conceited as they actually are.
Nothing new tbh, I don’t think it’s too different to when depression or OCD really took off on social media.
Definitely more ‘awareness’ needs to be raised, because I was 30 before someone with expertise let me know that my symptoms/behaviours were typical of ADHD.
But likewise, as awareness is raised more people like to jump on the bandwagon, either because they falsely self-diagnose, or because they like to add a label onto themselves that makes them a bit “different”.
It’s probably best we raise awareness though, the false self-diagnosers probably aren’t hurting too much.
I have ADHD, I appreciate the fact that certain issues I have navigating life are well known. Honestly, with ADHD a lot of the problems just require somebody to be flexible and understanding with you. It’s increased profile has made a notable difference, particularly at work, it also feels like people are more prepared to see it as a disability now rather than just being a problem child.
However, I do feel like anyone and everyone is jumping on to say they have it. Bi-polar disorder went through a similar treatment about 10 years ago and became a synonym for people that were moody. It does make me feel sad that my disability is just a trend for some people, but that extra awareness is worth it I suppose.
To be honest, regardless of how many TikTok kids pretend to have it or not it doesn’t make it any better or worse for me so they can crack on. I’d don’t want to gatekeep adhd, I just don’t want to have it. The more people that know about it the better so they can be more accepting of me when I struggle.
The waitlists for ADHD care via NHS are >5 years, via right to choose circa 1 year. You have to be fairly sure you have ADHD to join a queue like that! Once at the end of the queue you aren’t assessed for any other condition just ADHD/not ADHD.
In the absence of any level of accessible care people are going to assess for themselves whether they have ADHD or not, there’s no other choice! It’s also worth noting is any discussion about ADHD that it presents differently in boys and girls and girls tend not to get diagnosed during childhood.
So how harmful is it if person X self-diagnoses ADHD? Not very. They might look up some techniques for managing distractedness/poor organisational skills/hyperactivity/inattentiveness etc (inarguably a good thing whether they have it or not), only obvious potential downside is that they might misdiagnose some non-ADHD condition as ADHD, but then the solution here lies through more accessible specialised mental healthcare services that are capable of working more flexibly to the needs of patients – aka in not ADHD cases other conditions are considered and signposted.
It raises awareness. I didn’t know I had adhd and just thought I was a useless lazy idiot. Until I learned about ADD through social media and how adhd does not always appear with hyperactivity.
What’s driving inaccurate self-diagnosis is the lack of a decade mental health care infrastructure. Waiting lists for a simple diagnosis are ridiculous. People wouldn’t be self diagnosing if they had access to actual professionals.
I was just lucky cause I had my mothers money to pay for a private psychiatrist. And if I didn’t I would just be another person people didn’t believe. The amount of times when I was first questioning whether I had adhd and the people around me would be like “no I know someone with adhd trust me it’s really noticeable”.
Mine is specifically hard to notice because I don’t draw attention. I space out I get lost in thought I can’t concentrate. That’s literally it. I’ll daydream in class all day long. And without my diagnosis there are a lot of people who still wouldn’t have believed me.
why would you frame these things as mutually exclusive?
Not TikTok, but if I don’t have ADHD then there’s something much worse going on with me soooo
I’d argue that the two outcomes will co-exist with each other. Raising awareness will naturally result in individuals questioning whether they have it, what’s important is that they are encouraged to seek an actual medical practitioner for advice.
I have been diagnosed with both ADHD and ASD. I dont like self diagnosis, because it comes across as a lot like “I’m going to use this an excuse because I’ve read online that certain behaviour is a symptom”. Obviously in some cases it can’t be helped if you can’t get a diagnosis, but if you are self diagnosing you should at least also make an attempt to get an actual diagnosis.
I hate the whole rise in something being treated like it’s become a fad. When in reality we’ve under diagnosed and treated for generations. If one or two people in one family got diagnosed odds are grandparent generation had it but struggled with no support or knowing what was going on with them.
Best fix is better access to diagnosis. With adhd usually there’s different variations of how it shows and some are not caught because it doesn’t fit the stereotype in schools and it’s even harder for adults to seek help for the first time
To be honest I think it’s a good thing. Many people aren’t aware of what these things actually look like day-to-day, so if neurodivergent people are using social media to share their experience, and people relate, allowing them to recognise traits in themselves then great. They’ll be able to get the help and support they need.
You can read a list of “symptoms” and diagnostic criteria but it’s so abstract that it can be difficult to translate into the actual experience. I didn’t even consider I might be autistic until I related to someone on The Undatables, almost a decade ago. It took me years to be listened to, and took six years to receive a diagnosis. On this diagnostic journey I also found out I’m ADHD too.
Self-diagnosis and raising awareness are valid and essential. Of course, you’ll have gross people faking it for likes, people are idiots, but those few shouldn’t detract from people getting answers they need.
It also increases the chances of someone being spotted as a child rather than all these later life diagnoses. Knowing your different from the majority and not know why is hard. Finding every aspect of modern life a struggle is really fucking hard. Having to hide who you are to fit is has caused me harm. My life has been a consistent mess and if raising awareness prevents other people from experiencing that, then great.
Gee if going through official channels to get tested didn’t take literally years, people wouldn’t go around self diagnosing.
Possible that the same phenomenon is happening with Transgenderism/other gender identity related issues?
Maybe shite like tiktok is just damaging people’s attention span to the point they present symptoms like ADHD 🤷♂️
In my workplace there’s more than a couple people who seem to use their “diagnosis” as a way to excuse their shortcomings and it works itself into conversation a borderline unbearable amount.
I’d been told by several people around me they believed I have adhd but i’d always resisted it. It wasn’t until i started finding adhd tiktoks very relatable that I was convinced.
Not that it matters as it’s so difficult to get diagnosed
Attention seeking , it’s a new trend on tik tok and gets views .
People on social media now put their “diagonoses” in their profiles.
[deleted]
I’m just going to say that I’ve been on a waiting list since before the pandemic and was seen in may 2021. I was assessed and I require medication I’m now on a waiting list ; they say people are waiting 18-24 months for medication titration . “The approximate waiting time for an ADHD medication appointment is 18-24 months (from May 2021 when you were diagnosed with ADHD). It is difficult to give an exact timeframe as there are a number of variables that impact on our waiting lists and waiting times. ”
All I’m going to say is there is several issues with the diagnostic process :
1. You can be diagnosed as a child and that persist until teenage years and if your transition to adult services lapses you’ll need to be re-assessed for ADHD … Even though it’s widely documented it’s a lifelong condition and disruptive symptoms continue long term. – waiting list .
2. Transition from child to adult services: If your treatment lapses during the transition, you may need to be re-assessed for ADHD, leading to a waiting list.
3. Prescription lapses or moving to a new surgery: If your prescription for ADHD medication lapses or you move to a new surgery without shared care, you may need to be re-referred to the ADHD clinic as an adult, resulting in a waiting list.
4. Moving to a different area: If you receive treatment and have a shared care arrangement, moving to a different area may cause the arrangement to cease, requiring you to join a waiting list for medication adjustment or changes.
5. Lack of awareness about the right to choose: If your GP is not aware of the right to choose, they may refer you to an NHS service with a longer waiting time. Switching to the right to choose waiting list can be troublesome if you’ve already completed your assessment and are awaiting medication initiation.
6. Limited availability of specialists: A shortage of specialists or clinics can lead to longer waiting times for assessment and treatment, adding to the overall waiting list.
7. High demand for ADHD services: Increased awareness and diagnosis of ADHD can lead to higher demand for services, resulting in longer waiting times.
8. Administrative delays: Inefficiencies or errors in the referral process can cause delays in scheduling appointments, contributing to the waiting list.
9. Funding limitations: Financial constraints on healthcare systems may limit the number of available appointments, leading to longer waiting times and growing waiting lists.
I’m just going to say the way ADHD services in the UK currently works creates so much inefficiency by creating constant need to be re-referred back or having to re-enter the waiting list ; which exaggerates the waittimes even more. Also patchy service provision where level of service isn’t readily accessible within the UK is problematic . If I break my leg I can go to any hospital in the UK , but with ADHD I am confined to one geographic area and waitlist .
Also funding issues : I’ve spoken to the clinical commissioning group and they send back some imprecise response back along the lines of : since the pandemic we are working hard to get things back to normal and making funding arrangements to increase capacity . No elaborate further than general statements. Has that translated into any practical significance for me ? No .
So do I think tiktok and social media is making matters worse ?
Hell no the system was broke before ; and looking across the NHS wait times have risen since the pandemic. Surely if Tiktok or social media was to blame for wait time we’d see disparities when compared with other wait times for different conditions.
I will say social media respresents society as a whole ; some people use it to raise awareness and some will use social media as a platform for attention; there are a subsection who will misuse social media for attention; unfortunately the algorithms will flag those posts to people more frequently. More views = greater likelihood of been seen by new user = more views .
Mental health is important and should be taken seriously,
That being said it’s wildly popular at the moment with young people picking out their favourite conditions like Pokémon with no diagnosis.
The more trauma and conditions you can claim the cooler you are.
It’s taking away from the severity of mental health.
It’s almost an over correction from ignoring it, to watering it down and hopefully, as more people recognise, understand and mature it will find a healthy, truly reflective position.
I have no idea what is wrong with me but it would be good if it was easier to see a specialist.. got tested for dyslexia in the 90s, don’t have that apparently. Was in special needs class in all primary/ high school. Have school reports. Alcoholic, use stims to motivate myself. I spent 4 whole days last week with little sleep trying to finish off a large sculpture. Bounce between keeping fit/ eating right then go on a massive binge of unhealthyness. I would just love to be able to talk to a specialist, that is all..because my brain is taking a heavy beating 🧠🤛
I’m not sure why people are so keen to enact judgement, If a person has traits like being distracted easily you should make allowances for that regardless of whether that’s a condition or a quirk.
Having ADHD is a pretty big deal with respect to your life. So in that light, it should be important to get a professional diagnosis. Yes the waiting list isn’t ideal but it’s how it’s done and how most who are trying to get diagnosed with ASC or ADHD have to go about it, welcome to the party. There’s most definitely a choice to go through with it. I myself am currently looking at the waiting list for both ASC and potentially ADHD.
Now maybe I have neither, which to me at this point is doubtful, but if so then I don’t want to be piggy backing off of the struggles of other people with real issues. And I don’t want to be cheapening the idea of having those issues in the first place, because again, it’s a pretty big deal. Standardising people being able to diagnose themselves with these conditions would lead to people using false excuses and maybe worsening the image of those who actually have it in general, potentially making life more difficult for them in the process.
By all means, have a look at potential methods to help control inattention or hyperactivity etc.. I understand it seriously sucks. But don’t start claiming ADHD out the gates, seek that professional diagnosis.
To be honest I wouldn’t be surprised if a good amount of those self diagnosing the condition on tiktok wouldn’t actually bother to go to professionals in the first place.
And if it’s that big of a deal, maybe have a look at private options? I personally wouldn’t but you never know. Much lower waiting time by far.
Thank Christ I am a woman diagnosed 19 years, at the age of 2 for autism. Autism isn’t ADHD but has a similar problem rn. It was pretty clear then (without social media) and I don’t want to be lumped with people who were able to live without a diagnosis as an adult.
If it is taking people this long to realise they have a condition, then maybe they don’t fit the disabling part of a disability.
I’m totally ranting here, so forgive my attitude; but wtf is with this current news trend that’s pushing the agenda that neurodivergent conditions are “handed out” and “trendy”. I had to go through years of being under both child and adult mental health services, and see a clinical psychologist to confirm suspicions before they’d even consider referring me for a diagnosis on the NHS??
I’m diagnosed with both ADHD and Autism. Neurodiversity runs through my family, with both my brothers having the same diagnosis as me. It’s crazy to me that people will happily accept that diagnosis and treatment pathways are always being researched and changed with things like Cancer, but when it comes to _certain_ conditions some people throw a hissy fit and cry some moral panic about it? If you want my opinion, neurodivergency is way way way way more common than some of you think, but some fear of change in the status quo prevents people from being able to accept the possibility that there is no “typical” human behaviour, and that we’re all just different kinds of meat computers emulating a loosely coded idea of what a ‘person’ is based on the most popular system architecture.
Do the public really think denying people access to answers and treatment that they’ve potentially sought all their life is worth it to “pwn” some 14 year old on TikTok; or do you think it’s actually more likely that individuals with these disorders will turn to illicit substances, self harm, and suicide to cope with them instead; meanwhile everyone laments about how it’s such a “shame” that a young life was taken “so soon” whilst simultaneously complaining that young people “can’t concentrate” and have “no patience” due to X and Y conspiracy.
Like, do you think someone who does no self-reflection and heavy thinking about how their lives and behaviours fit the medical schema for these conditions is going to drop £500-1200 for a private diagnosis, plus all the extra cash for private prescriptions, clinician letters, and post-diagnosis services? Not to mention, pay a clinic fee **EVERY YEAR** to maintain their shared care agreement with their GP to access their medication whilst they wait through the next decade for their NHS appointment to reconfirm what they already know. The answer is no.
I’m so sick of things taking steps forward to do good and help people, only for some bellends to go “no, this can’t possibly be a thing” and force their shitty regressive opinions down people’s throats because accepting that certain behaviours can be a result of neurodivergency makes these people feel uncomfortable with themselves, and how they approach treating others.
Oh! And colour me suspicious as fuck that these articles have all started appearing [**after** parliament discussed the criticism they recieved in regard to the difficulty of accessing ASD and ADHD diagnosis services](https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2023-0023/). Feels very much like instead of using the money **we** pay towards the NHS to fund more assesments and train more clinicians, they just plan on making access to services even more difficult, so they can say wait times are much much shorter; when in reality there’s only 3 people in the line because everyone else who is supposed to be there got gaslit and gatekept into leaving by the obsessive news articles pushing a false narrative, and the over zealous health trusts denying funding because they dont feel a diagnosis would be “helpful” like that’s somehow their decision to make despite championing “informed patient centered care”
God, i’m so sick of being a constant target for manufacturered diversionary culture wars so the poors don’t realise they’re being exploited and vote for the powers that be.