Suddenly, it seems like everyone you know has ADHD.
Your coworker. Your roommate. That person you follow on TikTok. Three of your group chat friends. Maybe you’ve even wondered about yourself.
Is this a trend? Are people self-diagnosing for attention? Did TikTok convince a generation they have ADHD? Or is something else going on?
The answer is complicated, fascinating, and says a lot about our current moment.
Between 2020 and 2025, adult ADHD diagnoses have skyrocketed—up nearly 400% in some demographics. Stimulant prescriptions are at an all-time high. The ADHD medication shortage of 2022-2023 made national news.
So what’s actually happening? Let’s break down why ADHD diagnoses are exploding, who’s getting diagnosed, whether it’s “real,” and what this all means.
The Numbers (And Why They’re Wild)
The stats:
- Adult ADHD diagnoses increased nearly 400% between 2020-2025
- Women’s diagnoses increased even faster (some studies say 500%+)
- 25-34 age group sees the highest rate of new diagnoses
- Stimulant prescriptions increased 60% in the same period
- Telehealth ADHD diagnosis services exploded during pandemic
What changed? A perfect storm of factors made ADHD visible, diagnosable, and impossible to ignore.
Why the ADHD Diagnosis Explosion Is Happening
Reason 1: TikTok Actually Educated People
Love it or hate it, TikTok democratized ADHD information.
What happened:
- People with ADHD started posting about their experiences
- Symptoms that seemed “normal” to people suddenly had a name
- Especially: executive dysfunction, rejection sensitive dysphoria, time blindness
- Videos went viral: “Wait, that’s an ADHD thing?”
The examples that blew people’s minds:
- “Not being able to do tasks even though you want to” (executive dysfunction)
- “Feeling like criticism is devastating” (rejection sensitive dysphoria)
- “Having no sense of time passing” (time blindness)
- “Starting 10 projects, finishing none” (hyperfocus/interest-based nervous system)
- “Can’t brush teeth or shower regularly” (depression + ADHD overlap)
The revelation: “Oh my god, that’s not just me being lazy/broken/weird. That’s a neurological condition.”
Why this matters: Previous generations suffered without knowing why. They thought they were failures. Now people have a framework to understand their struggles.
Reason 2: Women and Girls Were Missed for Decades
ADHD research was historically done on hyperactive little boys. The diagnostic criteria reflected that.
How ADHD presents differently in women:
- Less hyperactivity, more inattentiveness
- Internalized symptoms (daydreaming, overwhelm)
- Better at masking (socialized to be “good girls”)
- Diagnosed with anxiety/depression instead
The result: Millions of women went undiagnosed for decades. Now they’re getting diagnosed in their 20s, 30s, even 40s.
Real stories: “I was told I was ‘too smart’ to have ADHD. Turns out I was just good at compensating until I hit a wall in my career.”
“They diagnosed me with anxiety and depression for 10 years. Started ADHD medication and both improved. Turns out untreated ADHD causes anxiety and depression.”
“I thought everyone struggled this much with basic tasks. Nobody told me executive function was supposed to work automatically.”
Reason 3: The Pandemic Destroyed Everyone’s Coping Mechanisms
A lot of people have ADHD but were coping fine with structure, routine, and external accountability.
Then COVID hit:
- No more office structure
- No more external deadlines and supervision
- No more social accountability
- Screen time exploded (ADHD brain candy)
- Increased stress and uncertainty
What happened: People who were barely managing pre-pandemic completely fell apart. Their undiagnosed ADHD became impossible to ignore.
The “wait, I might have ADHD” moment:
- “I can’t work from home. I just… can’t focus. What’s wrong with me?”
- “Why can’t I do basic tasks like everyone else?”
- “My friends seem fine with remote work. Why am I falling apart?”
The diagnosis: Turned out it was ADHD all along. Structure was masking it.
Reason 4: Modern Life Is ADHD-Hostile
Our environment is increasingly incompatible with ADHD brains.
What’s gotten worse:
- Constant digital distractions
- Always-on work culture
- Information overload
- Decision fatigue (infinite choices for everything)
- No natural breaks or transitions
- Faster pace of everything
The effect: Even people who managed fine 10 years ago are struggling now because the environment is harder to navigate.
The question: Do more people have ADHD, or does modern life expose ADHD more?
The answer: Probably both.
Reason 5: Telehealth Made Diagnosis Accessible
Pre-pandemic: Getting an ADHD diagnosis meant:
- Finding a psychiatrist (months-long wait)
- Multiple appointments (expensive)
- Comprehensive evaluation (time-consuming)
- Often dismissive doctors (“you got through college, you’re fine”)
Post-pandemic: Online ADHD services:
- 15-30 minute video call
- Same-day diagnosis (sometimes)
- Prescription sent to pharmacy immediately
- Affordable (relatively)
Services like: Cerebral, Done, Ahead, Circle Medical
The controversy: Are these services too quick to diagnose? Or are they finally removing barriers to legitimate diagnoses?
Both are probably true. Some people get appropriate diagnoses who couldn’t access traditional care. Some people probably get diagnosed who shouldn’t be.
Reason 6: The Mental Health Crisis Overlaps
Anxiety, depression, and ADHD often occur together and share symptoms.
The overlap:
- Can’t focus → Anxiety or ADHD?
- Can’t motivate to do tasks → Depression or ADHD?
- Overwhelmed easily → All three?
What’s happening: People seek treatment for anxiety/depression, and clinicians realize ADHD is the underlying issue (or a co-occurring one).
The “aha” moment: “We’ve been treating your depression, but you still can’t function. Let’s evaluate for ADHD.”
Reason 7: Stimulants Work for Everyone (But That Doesn’t Mean Everyone Has ADHD)
The confusing part: Stimulants improve focus and productivity in everyone, not just people with ADHD.
Why this creates diagnostic confusion:
- “Adderall helps me focus! Must be ADHD.”
- But Adderall would also help someone without ADHD focus better
- The test isn’t “does medication help?” but “do you have impairing symptoms?”
The ethical question: If stimulants help someone function better, does it matter whether they “technically” have ADHD?
The two views:
Medical model: ADHD is a specific neurological condition. Diagnosis should be accurate. Not everyone who struggles with focus has ADHD.
Harm reduction model: If stimulants help someone function and they’re used safely, diagnostic labels matter less than improving quality of life.
Where this gets messy: Insurance, controlled substance regulations, and medical ethics all depend on accurate diagnosis.
Is It “Real” ADHD or Just Modern Life?
This is the question everyone’s arguing about.
The skeptical view: “Everyone’s distracted by phones and stressed by modern life. That’s not ADHD. That’s normal.”
The supportive view: “ADHD has always existed. We’re just finally recognizing it, especially in populations that were previously ignored.”
The nuanced truth: Probably both things are happening:
Yes, more people are getting legitimate diagnoses who were previously missed:
- Women and girls
- High-functioning people who compensated well
- Adults (used to think ADHD was a childhood thing)
- People of color (often misdiagnosed or dismissed)
And yes, there’s probably some overdiagnosis happening:
- Normal stress/distraction being pathologized
- Telehealth services that diagnose too quickly
- People self-diagnosing based on TikTok
- Stimulants being prescribed for productivity, not impairment
The real question: Is your life significantly impaired by symptoms, or are you just struggling with normal modern challenges?
How to Know If You Actually Have ADHD (Not Just TikTok ADHD)
Seeing yourself in ADHD TikToks doesn’t mean you have ADHD. Here’s how to tell:
Key Questions:
1. Have these symptoms existed your whole life?
- ADHD is lifelong, starting in childhood
- If symptoms only appeared in adulthood, it’s probably not ADHD (though could be something else)
2. Are symptoms present across multiple settings?
- Just work? Might be job-related stress
- Work, home, relationships, hobbies? More likely ADHD
3. Do symptoms significantly impair functioning?
- Key word: significantly
- Everyone forgets things. ADHD is forgetting things to the point it ruins relationships or gets you fired
4. Did you struggle in school despite being “smart”?
- Classic ADHD: Bright but underperforming
- Couldn’t focus even on things you cared about
- Chronic lateness, missing assignments, etc.
5. Do you have a pattern of starting but not finishing?
- Not just one project—a lifetime pattern
- Interest-driven nervous system (hyperfocus on new things, can’t maintain attention when it’s boring)
What ADHD Actually Is:
Core features:
- Inattention: Can’t sustain focus, easily distracted, forgetful
- Hyperactivity: Restlessness, can’t sit still (or mental restlessness)
- Impulsivity: Acting without thinking, interrupting, risky decisions
The key: These symptoms cause significant problems in your life and have since childhood.
What ADHD Is Not:
- Being distracted by your phone (everyone is)
- Procrastinating sometimes (everyone does)
- Having a messy room (being messy isn’t ADHD)
- Being stressed and overwhelmed by modern life (that’s… modern life)
The difference: Severity and persistence.
The ADHD Medication Conversation
A lot of the controversy around ADHD diagnoses is actually about medication—specifically stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin.
Why Stimulants Are Controversial:
Concern 1: Controlled substances with abuse potential
- Stimulants are Schedule II drugs (same category as cocaine)
- Can be addictive
- Black market exists
Concern 2: Over-medication
- Are we medicating normal human variation?
- Drugging people to cope with capitalism?
- Turning productivity problems into medical problems?
Concern 3: Side effects
- Appetite suppression
- Sleep issues
- Increased anxiety
- Cardiovascular risks
Why People Defend Stimulant Use:
Argument 1: They’re life-changing for real ADHD “I can finally function like a normal person.” “I can shower regularly, pay bills on time, keep a job.” “First time in my life I don’t feel broken.”
Argument 2: Untreated ADHD has serious consequences
- Higher rates of accidents, addictions, unemployment
- Relationship problems
- Co-occurring mental health issues
- Lower quality of life
Argument 3: Medication is healthcare, not cheating
- Nobody accuses diabetics of “cheating” by taking insulin
- ADHD is a neurological condition
- Medication treats a deficit, it doesn’t create an unfair advantage
The Middle Ground:
- Stimulants are powerful medications that help some people immensely
- They’re also overprescribed and sometimes misused
- Both things can be true
The ideal: Careful diagnosis, appropriate treatment (which might include medication but also therapy, lifestyle changes, accommodations).
What About Non-Medication Approaches?
Medication isn’t the only option (though for many people, it’s the most effective).
What also helps ADHD:
1. External structure
- Timers, alarms, reminders
- Body doubling (working alongside others)
- Routine and consistency
- Breaking tasks into tiny steps
2. Environmental modifications
- Minimizing distractions
- Creating “zones” for different activities
- Visual reminders
- Reducing decision fatigue
3. Therapy
- CBT for ADHD (learning coping skills)
- Coaching (accountability and strategy)
- Treating co-occurring issues (anxiety, depression)
4. Lifestyle
- Exercise (genuinely helps ADHD symptoms)
- Sleep hygiene
- Nutrition (some evidence for protein-heavy diets)
- Limiting screen time
5. Accommodations
- Flexible work schedules
- Written instructions instead of verbal
- Extra time for tasks
- Work-from-home options (or in-office, depending on what works)
The reality: For moderate to severe ADHD, non-medication strategies alone often aren’t enough. But they’re crucial supplements to medication.
The Social Media Effect (Is TikTok Making This Worse?)
The good:
- Education and awareness
- Reducing stigma
- Helping people recognize symptoms
- Community and shared experiences
The bad:
- Oversimplification of complex condition
- Trendy self-diagnosis
- Romanticizing ADHD (“quirky” not “disorder”)
- Normalizing struggles that shouldn’t be normal
The ugly:
- People faking ADHD for content
- Spreading misinformation
- Encouraging stimulant seeking for productivity
- Making it harder for people with real ADHD to be taken seriously
The bottom line: Social media is a tool. It educated many people who needed diagnoses. It also created a trend where ADHD became a personality trait for clout.
The Future of ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment
Where things are heading:
More nuanced understanding:
- Recognizing ADHD as a spectrum
- Better understanding of how it presents in different populations
- Moving away from “hyperactive boy” as the default
Better diagnostic tools:
- Objective measures (brain imaging, genetic testing)
- More comprehensive evaluations
- Less reliance on self-report alone
Personalized treatment:
- Matching medication to individual neurology
- Combining approaches (meds + therapy + coaching + accommodations)
- Recognizing that one size doesn’t fit all
Systemic changes:
- Accommodations in workplaces and schools
- Designing environments that work for ADHD brains
- Reducing stigma
The question we should be asking: How do we build a world where ADHD brains can thrive, not just one where we medicate people to fit into ADHD-hostile systems?
The Bottom Line
Why is everyone getting diagnosed with ADHD right now?
The reasons:
- Awareness increased (TikTok, social media)
- Previously missed populations getting diagnosed (especially women)
- Pandemic destroyed coping mechanisms
- Modern life is harder for ADHD brains
- Telehealth made diagnosis accessible
- Mental health issues overlap with ADHD
Is it all real? Some of it, yes. Some people are getting legitimate diagnoses who were struggling for years. Some people are probably overdiagnosed or self-diagnosed incorrectly.
Should you get evaluated? If symptoms significantly impair your life and have since childhood, yes.
Should everyone take stimulants? No. Medication should be for people with diagnosed conditions who benefit from it, not a productivity hack.
What does this trend mean? We’re in a transitional moment—more awareness is good, but we haven’t figured out how to distinguish between true ADHD and normal struggles in an overwhelming world.
The real question: Are we pathologizing normal human variation, or are we finally recognizing a real condition that’s been missed?
The answer is probably: both.
And that’s okay. We’ll figure it out. In the meantime, if you’re struggling, get evaluated by a qualified professional. Not TikTok.
Your brain deserves real answers, not just viral videos.