SYMPTOM CHECKER
Do you think you’ve got ADHD because of TikTok? These are the signs
WE'VE all turned to Dr Google when we have a health issue, but with the rise in social media more and more people are turning to TikTok for health advice.
Viral videos on the platform have resulted in a surge of people trying to self-diagnose.
1
Data from has revealed that demand for ADHD medication is up 236 per cent from last year.
The trends tracker found that searches for the ADHD medication Vyvanse are up by 115 per cent compared to last week and a staggering 236 per cent compared to the previous year.
Searches for 'Do I have ADHD' in the UK have been on a steady increase since 2010, but they are now higher than they’ve ever been, the data revealed.
Searches have almost doubled each year for the last three years.
ADHD, or adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a mental health disorder that includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour.
ADHD is less common in adults but is more recognisable in kids.
Most read in Health
KNOW THE SIGNS: The ADHD symptoms you need to know
You may have undiagnosed ADHD if you have five or more of these symptoms as an adult, six or more if you’re a child:
- Lack of attention to detail
- Struggle with organisation
- Are often starting new tasks before finishing old ones
- Struggle to focus or prioritise
- Often lose things
- Are forgetful
- Are often restless or feel on edge
- Struggle to keep quiet and often interrupt others
- Have mood swings
- Are easily irritated or quick to anger
- Struggle to deal with stress
- Are very impatient
- Engage in risky behaviours
With most conditions adults and children will need different treatment plans.
Some symptoms of ADHD are associated with other mental health conditions - so it's important to get a proper diagnosis from a doctor or specialist.
If you think your child has ADHD doctors will usually take other things into account, such as whether or not they have been displaying symptoms for six months or more.
Here are other factors they will take into consideration:
- Started to show symptoms before the age of 12
- Been showing symptoms in at least 2 different settings – for example, at home and at school, to rule out the possibility that the behaviour is just a reaction to certain teachers or to parental control
- Symptoms that make their lives considerably more difficult on a social, academic or occupational level
- Symptoms that are not just part of a developmental disorder or difficult phase, and are not better accounted for by another condition
Many 'ForYou' videos on TikTok list the common signs and symptoms of the condition, with many users posting videos under the title 'things you will know if you have ADHD'.
One currently doing the rounds on TikTok explains that one of the symptoms of ADHD is hating clutter.
The video has over 10.7 million views and 1.6 million likes.
While it's a valid symptom - it's not the only one and plenty of people who don't like clutter don't actually have ADHD.
There are also hashtags gaining popularity, with #adhdtiktok having 1.5 billion views and #adhdsymptoms having 45 million views.
Some of the videos might be from people with ADHD or medical professionals - but it's likely that many others are not - so you should always be cautious with the information you access online.
Dr Sameer Sanghvi from Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor said that while it's a good thing more people are becoming aware of ADHD and the stigma is being removed - people need to be careful of the dangers of self-medicating.
'SEE A PROFESSIONAL'
He said sometimes you could be self-medicating for a problem you 'assume you have' rather than seeking advice from a medical professional.
Dr Sameer said: "Vyvanse is the brand name for an ADHD drug more commonly used in the US, whereas in the UK we refer to this drug as Elvanse. Essentially, they’re both forms of Lisdexamfetamine, a common treatment for ADHD.
"If you don’t suffer from ADHD, Lisdexamfetamine has the potential to give your body too much dopamine, which can lead to serious physical and emotional side effects.
"These side effects can include aggression, drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting."
READ MORE SUN STORIES
If you think you might have ADHD then it's important that you see a doctor who will be able to put you in touch with a specialist.
He added: "They will only medicate when absolutely necessary and it’s vitally important people seek specialist help before looking for treatments.”
The Circle's Tally tells the other players about her ADHD diagnosis
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The Sun news desk?
Email us at [email protected] or call 02077824104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours
Topics