Ask Lemmy

Ehhhhhh, I think it's a little of column A and a little of column B.

I think the biggest tik tok contributor is people now hear about ADHD and decide because they get bored in schoo sometimes they must have it etc. (As someone who struggles not to chew through their own gums as a form of fidgeting, I find this really irritating.) But let's put that aside because I don't think that's what you're asking about. I'll also ignore the fact that more people are walking into therapists having read all the symptoms and knowing essentially what to say to receive a "diagnosis."

To the actual question, I do think TikTok/smartphones/internet are definitely rewiring our brains in ways that mirror a lot of symptoms of ADD/ADHD. There's a depressingly good book about it called the Shallows but the basic thesis is that the financial incentives of the internet are geared to keep you clicking and moving through things (so you see more new ads) which habituated people to very short term impulses/reward structures. In other words, impulse control and trouble focusing long term.

two more possibilities:

• a systematic change in environment

• or systematic change diets of pregnant mothers or young children

Not better detection and not tiktok in particular, better information available and less stigma allowing more people to out themselves. Same with LGBTQ+ and many other non-apparent, but taboo traits throughout history. As they become more widely aceptable, people can be out or at least people can better understand that these traits are not them being broken, lazy, evil, or selfish.

Yes

The rates are also increasing. Not just better detection.

RCCX Theory.

I think it's because a lot of people struggle to match the expectations put on them. Said expectations are too high even for neurtypical people, to the point where they seek diagnosisses to get accomdations. Late stage capitalism making everyone feel like they aren't up to par when par is 16 swings on an 18-hole course.