ADHD misinformation on TikTok is shaping young adults’ perceptions. An analysis of the 100 most-viewed TikTok videos related to ADHD revealed that fewer than half the claims about symptoms actually align with clinical guidelines for diagnosing ADHD.

[u/mvea]

https://news.ubc.ca/2025/03/adhd-misinformation-on-tiktok/

[u/Misty_Esoterica]

Yeah, some people don't understand that one way of coping with ADHD is to obsessively hyperfocus and micromanage everything. I don't forget my keys because I have a large purse that I've organized to have everything I could ever need in it. I don't lose things because I became a minimalist and everything that remained got organized into its own special place. I'm not late to appointments because I'm super early to them and I set multiple alarms and reminders ahead of time. It takes a ton of anxiety and brain power to compensate enough to be a functioning adult but to the outside person it could seem like everything is easy.

[u/cajunbander → u/Misty_Esoterica]

I recently got diagnosed with ADHD at 38 (ironically after seeing comments on a TikTok, which I then brought up to my PCP, who discussed it with me then referred me to a psychologist) and don’t feel like I have it. Then I read this, and that’s exactly how I operate because when I was younger, like in college, I had poor time management, was completely unorganized, unfocused, etc. I’ve learned to counteract all that but it means my brain is constantly managing these things.

[u/Misty_Esoterica → u/cajunbander]

I'm the same way, I was a disaster in High School and College and it tramatized me so much that it scared me into becoming a hyperfocusing perfectionist.

[u/SamediB → u/Misty_Esoterica]

because I have a large purse that I've organized to have everything I could ever need in it.

.... side-eyes the backpack that gets taken everywhere with him

[u/bsubtilis → u/SamediB]

Backpack ADHD user here too, it's more ergonomic and as bonus the weight works like a weighted vest that helps that part of my autism.

[u/Misty_Esoterica → u/SamediB]

I guess it depends on why you have the backpack. In my case it's because I used to constantly forget to bring stuff I needed so eventually I failure proofed myself by basically organizing a survival purse so that it wouldn't happen again.

[u/JeffieSandBags → u/Misty_Esoterica]

But that's not JUST an ADHD thing. Legitimately, there are many reasons someone would come to these behaviors and ADHD is only one among them. None of what you mentioned is a criteria for diagnosis, but that doesn't mean it isn't evidence for ADHD. Just that we have to consider it in the context of the whole person. Diagnosis is complex and an assessment battery is designed go look at multiple potential explanations for the referral question. Something we all should do when considering labeling behaviors.

You have ADHD, but there are hundreds of people who do all these same things and do not have ADHD. I mention that to say it's more complex than discussion forums account for, and misinformation about ADHD is as or more common than accurate information. Moreover, accurate information is so complicated even PhD psychologists often specialize in diagnosis of stuff like ADHD because even a PhD doesn't give enough experience and practice in diagnosis of ADHD. Hyperfocus us a squishy concept, if you're compensating are you clinically dysfunctional (a part of most diagnostic considerations)  and so on. 

[u/JeffieSandBags → u/[deleted]]

I'm sorry. What were they evidence for?

[u/JeffieSandBags → u/[deleted]]

I'm trying to make a fine point here. First, that your experience is 100% valid. Second, online discussions can't capture real complex issues. And the framing of your response implies these behaviors are associated with ADHD by virtue of them being ADHD coping skills.

I bet many people would read that and identity with some, many, one, all of those and then start to think of the diagnosis and themselves as having similarities. It's like a slippery slope. It's also normal for us to do that, as anyone who was ever interested in their abnormal psychology class. Self diagnosis is a reflex for people curious about people, the mind, mental health, etc. 

If those are how you masked ADHD, then if I do them I might be masking myself. That's the thought crossing minds as people scroll these (really interesting and personal) comments.

[u/Spostman → u/Misty_Esoterica]

I have a large purse that I've organized to have everything I could ever need in it.

I don't lose things because I became a minimalist