Chip Chick
Users have even created helpful videos to explain the reasons why girls often go undiagnosed, including “inattentive presentation,” daydreaming or forgetfulness, and the compensatory development of “perfectionist tendencies.”
Users also regularly create videos sharing their loved ones’ feedback on their late-in-life diagnoses.
The typical response, “I would have seen the signs if you had ADHD,” is met with videos recounting users’ symptoms and unnoticed struggles.
On the one hand, people finding out that there are treatment plans for something they’ve struggled with their entire lives can’t be a bad thing.
But, on the other hand, some may access and abuse medications, reducing credibility to those who have a clinical diagnosis of ADHD.
Users have gotten creative in arguing for or against people learning more about ADHD through Tik Tok.
One creator plays two characters having a conversation; one is frustrated that ADHD seems to have “become trendy.” The opposing character responds that their videos are helpful regardless of diagnosis because “most of the tips and tricks we share for people with ADHD will help with people without ADHD, too.”
The contrarian suggests that these people could go to the doctor seeking medication they might not need. The other responds, “If they go to the doctor, maybe they’ll find out they have something else, and they’ll be able to get support for that.”
But what happens if they don’t go to the doctor and continue to believe their self-diagnosis?” The creator says, “Regardless of what their struggles are from, they found a community of people who have something in common with them, whether it’s because of ADHD or because of something else. And now they have a support system.”
This user demonstrates the multiple perspectives involved in this conversation while championing the possible positive outcomes of the increasing discussion of neurodivergence on the app—namely, greater “acceptance and awareness” of treatable mental health conditions.
