NORTH DAKOTA ( KXNET ) — One in four adults suspect that they have undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

ADHD is a mental health condition that’s usually diagnosed in kids, mostly boys, who struggle with concentrating in school. And videos online about ADHD in adulthood, mostly with women, are spreading awareness about it, leading to many believing they have it too.

Justin Barterian, a clinical assistant professor at Ohio State’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, says this worries him.

“I think there is also an over-pathologizing of normal variability in human attention,” he explained, “as not everyone can pay attention all of the time, or may engage in some of the symptoms of ADHD without them causing significant problems. Research has suggested that many of the videos on social media discussing ADHD often contain inaccuracies, leading some to believe they have the disorder while something else may explain the difficulties they are having. Anxiety, depression, and ADHD — all these things can look a lot alike, but the wrong treatment can make things worse instead of helping that person feel better and improving their functioning.”

Emma Llewellyn, who goes by Mind Over Matter on TikTok and Instagram , makes videos about her ADHD — and said the topic gained attention “because so many of us grew up thinking that something was wrong with us and that we were flawed.”

“When people began sharing their experiences online… it opened up a door for people to connect and feel validated for the first time in their lives,” Llewellyn explained. “So many of us went unnoticed for a very long time and are now able to speak up and connect the dots about why we struggled so much.”

Symptoms of ADHD in adulthood include problems concentrating, memory issues, and impulsivity. These conditions are bad enough to disrupt everyday life, and they can get worse with stress and/or conflict.

“Symptoms of ADHD can look different between different people,” said Barterian. “Some people might have more difficulty focusing on lectures or with organization, while others may have more social difficulties with impulsivity and trouble following along in conversations.”

Usually, adults with ADHD grew up with the condition and have had symptoms persist, or were diagnosed for the first time as an adult when childhood symptoms were unnoticed or misdiagnosed.

“The people being diagnosed with ADHD now have always had it,” Llewellyn said. “It is not something that just develops later in life. Whilst some people may think that ADHD is being over-diagnosed now, it is actually just a case of the healthcare system catching up and realizing that many went under the radar, simply because there wasn’t enough education and understanding.”

Ohio State conducted a survey and found that 25% of adults suspected they had undiagnosed ADHD — but only 13% of them shared that belief with a doctor.

“Within this group,” Barterian continued, “there are likely people who have the disorder who were never diagnosed for various reasons, while there is also a significant group who may be exhibiting some symptoms of inattention that don’t rise to the level of impairment needed for ADHD, and likely some who are experiencing other mental health disorders that can also impact focus and concentration,” Barterian explained.

However, there is another side to this: people with ADHD often try and struggle to receive a diagnosis.

Llewellyn, for example, had to see three different doctors to be diagnosed. One didn’t listen to her, and another refused to refer a specialist.

“I was diagnosed at age 30,” Llewellyn concluded, “but always knew there was something a bit different about my brain. I just saw it as my problem and didn’t realize that it was the way my brain was essentially wired up. I personally feel it is unfair and unrealistic to assume people are faking it or just doing it for an excuse, considering getting a diagnosis can be so lengthy and costly.”

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