Today,
tomorrow, learn English naturally. 天天自然学英语
Wondering If You Have ADHD Because of TikTok? Read This First
Tell me more about ADHD TikTok.
Social media is “opening up dialogue” about a topic that’s been tricky to talk about, according to Dr. Sasha Hamdani, a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in ADHD and has it herself. She said she’s seen firsthand how videos about ADHD symptoms on TikTok have encouraged people to come see her for an evaluation. (And she’s made her own TikToks about what it’s like to live with ADHD.) See her following points about this:
As the popularity of adhd topics grew online over the last couple of years, so too did the launch of health care companies that claimed to offer counseling, mental health services, and delivery of prescription drugs like Adderall and Ritalin (which were harder to get during lockdown). On the surface, being able to get those medications with less of a wait sounds like a good thing…right?
But when you dig deeper: Not all the info on TikTok about who needs ADHD meds is accurate. And although Dr. Hamdini said she was initially excited about companies like telehealth startup Cerebral offering ADHD treatment online, she later realized that prescribing medicine that way could make it harder to ensure quality care.
Cerebral has faced criticism over its prescribing practices from ex-employees in recent months. And its former VP filed a lawsuit that claimed the company over-prescribed ADHD drugs. The DOJ has launched an investigation into the company over possible violations of the Controlled Substances Act. And last week, Cerebral announced that it'll stop prescribing certain drugs, including Adderall. CVS has said it would stop taking controlled substance prescriptions from certain telehealth companies, including Cerebral, The Wall Street Journal reported.
But if getting info from telehealth groups isn’t a sure thing, where do you actually start? By getting educated on what ADHD is and why women have historically been underdiagnosed. So let’s talk to Dr. Hamdani about all that.
Give me the basics: What is ADHD?
It’s a neurodevelopmental condition that typically starts in childhood and “presents as a constellation of symptoms” related to inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, said Dr. Hamdani. Hence the name — ADHD — stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Thing to know: “ADD” can sometimes be used to describe the disorder in people who aren’t hyper (aka inattentive-type ADHD). But the term without the “H” is outdated and no longer officially used.
Why is ADHD underdiagnosed in women, and what are symptoms?
For starters, it’s because the ADHD conversation has long been “centered on hyper little boys,” said Dr. Hamdani. Which means that many women who might’ve had ADHD decades ago — but didn’t, say, disrupt class like some of the boys did — went underdiagnosed. Thing to know: Boys are more than twice as likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis than girls.
And in adulthood, women might continue to mask their ADHD symptoms. Think: sitting on your hands or crossing your legs in a board meeting so you’re not bouncing around. Or writing down an idea before you speak to make sure you don’t say something impulsive (which is something Dr. Hamdani does). Other ways ADHD can manifest: having trouble starting or finishing tasks, being unable to remember routine things like whether you brushed your teeth, and constantly forgetting where you put your wallet, Dr. Hamdani said.
She added that a number of women don’t get diagnosed until they have trouble managing their work and life, and start looking for answers. Or until they have children with ADHD symptoms, and realize they also identify with the condition.
When should you seek an ADHD diagnosis?
According to Dr. Hamdani, as soon as you find yourself asking, ‘Do I have ADHD?’
You could find yourself asking that question if you’re having trouble focusing at work, communicating in a relationship, or keeping your home organized. Or maybe a (legit) TikTok really spoke to you.
If that sounds familiar, then it might be time to talk to a therapist or psychiatrist who specializes in ADHD (like Dr. Hamdani) about an evaluation. (Here’s a guide for finding the right therapist.) Getting diagnosed with ADHD could help you understand “your internal environment,” Dr. Hamdani said.
But she also said that it’s problematic when people become immediately convinced they have ADHD. And try to use certain prescriptions right away, without the supervision of a physician. Because ADHD drugs that are improperly used (think: taking Adderall or Ritalin when you don’t have a medical need for it) can cause side effects like sleep disruption, stomach pain, shortness of breath, depression, tics, and eating issues.
If you have ADHD, how can you manage it?
Managing ADHD boils down to two categories of treatment, Dr. Hamdani said. They are:
Behavioral therapy…Aka figuring out how your neurodivergent brain works. That could mean meeting with a therapist or counselor who can give you tools for taking care of your physical and mental health (info that Dr. Hamdani also shares in her new book). Think: anything from getting better at saying ‘no’ when necessary, to being more deliberate about your to-do list or practicing breathing exercises.
Medication…When you’re looking to manage your symptoms from a medical perspective. But what you’re prescribed — if anything — depends on several factors. Among them: Are you also dealing with depression and/or anxiety? Do you have high blood pressure? Would you benefit more from a stimulant or nonstimulant medication? These are all questions to answer with the help of a doctor.
ADHD has long been underdiagnosed in women. But now that the topic’s huge on TikTok, there’s continued concern about people self-diagnosing and potentially over-medicating. So if you find yourself watching videos and thinking ‘I might have ADHD,’ talk to a mental health professional about an evaluation and next steps.
注释：
ADHD: abbr.
[医]注意力不足过动症；多动症(=Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
board-certified：adj
表示“ 获取执业证书的，受理事会认证的”，means " certified by the related committy “，如：Now if you think you need professional help, contact the board certified physician who has been trained in sleep medicine. 如果你觉得你需要专业的帮助，请与受过睡眠药物方面培训的医学会认证的医师联系。
Adderall：n
Adderall是一款精神兴奋性药物,它包括了苯丙胺。该药物主要是用于治疗注意缺陷多动障碍(ADHD)和嗜睡症。它是一种多巴胺释放剂,去甲肾上腺素的释放剂,是温和的血清素
Ritalin：n
表示“[药]利他林(中枢兴奋药，用于治疗多动症) ”，means "central nervous system stimulant (trade name Ritalin) used in the treatment of narcolepsy in adults and attention deficit disorder in children “.
Lockdown: n
表示“封闭；<美>一级防范禁闭 ”，means "the act of confining prisoners to their cells (usually to regain control during a riot “，如：You want a lockdown, you got to get the inmates riled up. 要戒严。就得让这帮人惹点事。
On the surface: conj.
表示“表面上；外表上；外观上 ”，means "seemingly “，如：He seems quiet on the surface, but he's quite different when you get to know him. 他外表上看起来似乎很斯文，但你跟他熟识之后，他就完全两样了。
Telehealth：n
表示“远程卫生；远程医疗”，means "the health far away “，如：The TeleHealth 2007 conference will focus on telemedicine and innovative technologies for chronic disease management in Europe. 远程医疗2007会议将会关注欧洲慢性病管理中的远程医学和创新技术。
Cerebral: adj
1. 表示“ 大脑的；”，means " of or relating to the cerebrum or brain“，如：This bibliography provides references to studies that attempt to correlate cerebral functions to cerebral structures in individuals with abnormalities.在研究变态个体时企图使大脑皮层官能与大脑的结构相关提供参考。
2. 表示“理智的 ”，means "involving intelligence rather than emotions or instinct “，如：His style is far more cerebral than confrontational. 他的执教风格是理智的，而不是过激的。
Neurodevelopmental: adj
表示“神经发育的 ”，means " of or relating to neurodevelopment “，如：Evaluation of the neurodevelopmental and intelligence outcome required close long-term follow-up. 目前长期神经发展及智慧预后，尚需密切追踪评估。
Constellation: n
表示“ 星座；星群 ”，means "a configuration of stars as seen from the earth “，如：The Great Riff of the Summer Milky Way splites the constellation.夏日，星群被银河中的不发光的分子尘雾分开。
Hyperactivity: n
表示“ 活动过度；极度活跃 ”，means "a condition characterized by excessive restlessness and movement “，如：Given the effects of cocaine on people, hyperactivity may seem like a fairly obvious reaction. 我们已经知道，人若是服用了可卡因，最明显的表现可能是极度活跃。
Impulsivity: n
表示“冲动性 ”，means "a condition characterized by acting suddenly on impulse without reflection “
Impulsive: adj
表示“冲动的；任性的 ”，means " without forethought“，如：Her impulsive passion was a positive defect. 她的冲动的激情则完完全全是个缺点。
Legit: n
Adj, =legitimate. 表示“ 合法的；正统的”，means " reasonable;sensible;lawful or correct“，如：He state that he is the only legit inheritor. 他声称自己是唯一合法的继承人。
manifest: v; adj
1. v 表示“ 显示；证实；表露 ”，means " show clearly; give signs of “，如：His generosity manifests itself in times of difficulties.他的慷慨在困境中表现了出来。
2. adj 表示“ 明白的；显然的 ”，means " clear and obvious“，如：It was manifest to us at a glance. 我们对此事一目了然。
Tic: n
表示“ 痉挛；抽筋 ”，means " a local and habitual twitching especially in the face“，如：When she recovered she had the nervous tic ever since. 她痊愈以后就有了神经性痉挛，一直也没有好。
Boil down to: v
表示“简化为；归结为 ”，means " “，如：The advice they gave him boiled down to this: he should take care of his own health. 他们给他的劝告可归结为一句话：他应该注意自己的身体。
neurodivergent: adj
表示“神经分离的，神经分散的 ”，means " diverging from the nervous system “.
留言公众号《自然学英语LearnNaturally》，可咨询更多。