Some folks have a knee-jerk adverse reaction to young people diagnosing themselves with different neurological or physical conditions through apps or social media like Tik Tok. There is even a heated debate under the self-diagnosis hashtag in the Tik Tok app itself.
For example, this creator non-judgmentally considers self-diagnosis. This user demonstrates the inherent irony created by commercials made for big pharmaceutical companies.
While receiving a precise diagnosis from your doctor can be a complicated process, advertisements on TV ask you to essentially self-diagnose X Y and Z conditions.
They ask if you’ve experienced a list of symptoms, then say something along the lines of, “if you are suffering from ___, you should talk to your doctor about ___.”
These ads imply that patients should ask to receive “this specific brand of this specific medication,” yet, our culture dictates that when it’s time for a clinical diagnosis, “it’s unfathomable that we might have some insight into which diagnostic criteria we meet.”
These commercials ask you to bring your self-assessment to your doctor in the hopes that they’ll prescribe you the same medication that helped this TV mom with migraines “get back to her life.”
Cue: Mom running through flowery fields with her children and golden retriever.
In the specific case of ADHD, there has been a considerable amount of disagreement on the uptick of folks on Tik Tok believing they have undiagnosed ADHD.
There has been a gendered element of the debate since young girls are diagnosed with ADHD less often than their male counterparts because of a difference in outward presentation.
pikselstock – stock.adobe.com
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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.
Kaspars Grinvalds – stock.adobe.com
This discourse continues, with no clear winner pulling ahead. One user explains the potential harm of self-diagnosis of any condition, saying that it “not only harms those with a professional diagnosis but can also be dangerous because of self-medication and refusal to accept a different diagnosis.”
Without dismissing Tik Tok as a platform that answers mental health questions, concerned users warn against the “trivialization” of others’ diagnosed conditions.
However, the information provided in the videos in question can still help guide folks on their journey, potentially connecting them to mental health resources and other life-management supports.
Another user walks the fine line between the two disparate opinions, finding humor in the current popularity of self-diagnosis while promoting a link in his Tik Tok bio for a self-evaluation service.
The app also acknowledges the full complexity of an ADHD diagnosis, with symptoms that often seem to work against each other.
One user created a funny video detailing “ADHD contradictions,” such as feeling calmed by stimulants or resenting others for being late while having time management issues themselves.
In terms of visibility, it’s clear that the app is doing substantial good. Young people can see adults managing their ADHD or comorbid mental health conditions and living successful lives.
They can hear how users overcame depression and anxiety or preserved their mental health during finals.
The quirks that come along with an ADHD diagnosis are even celebrated on the app, as creators make videos of their loved ones’ charming associative speech patterns.
For example, one user shared his wife’s rambling train of thought without making a joke of ADHD; he seems to appreciate this facet of her fuller identity.
When we receive a mental health diagnosis, doctors and psychiatrists rarely give us the positives.
Tik Tok creates a space where folks can share funny moments related to their condition, whether they are differently-abled or experience severe mental health crises.
The ability to laugh at yourself is one of the app’s great strengths, and the comments sections, as well as the ability to reply to users’ videos with your own, are incredible sources of community-building and solidarity.
These Tik Tokers support you, whatever your story. And they want you to know that whatever you might be facing, you’re not alone in the struggle.