TikTok and ADHD: Reaching Millions in Unexpected Ways
As a clinical social worker with nearly 50 years of experience addressing ADHD, I never imagined that TikTok—a platform I hadn’t even heard of until recently—would become one of my most impactful tools for reaching and helping people worldwide. At the age of 78, I entered the world of social media with curiosity and hesitation, but my journey since then has been nothing short of transformative.
A Surprising Start
In October 2020, one of my clients mentioned seeing ADHD-related posts on TikTok, sparking my curiosity. For fun, I uploaded a few one-minute videos on the platform, not expecting much. To my amazement, within days, my posts had garnered hundreds of views. Within a week, over 50,000 people had watched them. I had reached more people in one week than I had in 50 years of practice.
The comments section was particularly striking. Many viewers left deeply emotional messages, finally finding words to describe struggles they had endured their entire lives. These interactions often led them to seek evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment—empowering steps that helped them understand they weren’t “dumb, stupid, or lazy.” These are, sadly, common misconceptions those with ADHD endure daily.
Going Viral
Encouraged by this response, I began posting more videos, and my audience quickly grew. Today, I have nearly 500,000 followers and over 5.3 million likes on TikTok. This unexpected success has fundamentally changed how I view ADHD and how I practice. I now engage with people across the globe—from Canada to Kenya, the UK to Saudi Arabia—helping them better understand this often-misunderstood condition.
What I’ve Learned
Through TikTok, I’ve gained invaluable insights into ADHD:
• ADHD’s Universality
ADHD affects people regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, location, intelligence, or success. My audience includes medical doctors, lawyers, Mensa members, educators, stay-at-home parents, and individuals of all ages and professions.
• The Daily Struggles
ADHD, a highly heritable and genetically driven neurodevelopmental disorder, leads to performance challenges that affect learning, relationships, and careers. Without treatment, these challenges often spiral into depression, anxiety, or substance abuse as individuals try to self-medicate.
• Empathy and Awareness
The outpouring of stories and questions on TikTok has deepened my understanding of ADHD in ways I never imagined. People from all walks of life have shared their journeys, reinforcing how widespread and impactful this condition is.
The Power of Social Media
Over the past four years, I’ve posted hundreds of videos about ADHD. TikTok has given me an incredible platform to educate, support, and connect with people worldwide. It’s been humbling to witness how such a simple act—sharing my knowledge in short videos—can transform lives.
This journey has shown me that it’s never too late to embrace new tools and technologies. TikTok has allowed me to amplify my voice, share decades of experience, and help millions of individuals understand that ADHD is not a character flaw but a manageable condition with the right support.
As I continue this work, I feel immense gratitude for this opportunity to make a difference and bring hope to those living with ADHD.