from ADDitude readers: Latest News

On TikTok, #adhd is the seventh most popular health hashtag, which demonstrates the popularity and ubiquity of health content on social media.1However, Likes and Shares are not an indicator of accuracy, according to a recent study in PLOS ONE. For example, less than half of the information shared in immensely popular ADHD TikTok videos (which have garnered nearly half a billion views) aligns with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).2 Most ADHD TikToks perpetuate lies or half-truths.ADHD inaccuracies don’t just permeate social channels; they also appear in podcasts, newspapers, TV shows, and beyond.

"Hurry sickness" isn’t an ADHD-specific term. In fact, the phrase was coined back in 1974 by a cardiologist team writing about the damaging effects of a "Type A" personality on the heart. But the behavior pattern of constant rushing, and the feeling of chronic anxiety and overwhelm in response to expectations of productivity — that's something many adults with ADHD experience.Abundant evidence has demonstrated that ADHD makes nighttime rest difficult to achieve.

“Twenty-five years ago, ADHD was seen as our fault, not a treatable condition. Today, I feel comfortable talking about ADHD with anyone.” — Sean, Texas“The understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity grows every year.

Misconceptions about ADHD’s treatments – medication, in particular – persist, despite decades of research proving their safety and efficacy. The benefits of medication, to be clear, extend beyond the classroom and workplace; ADHD medication reduces the risk of “dire consequences” and saves lives.But there is so much more to treating ADHD.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is as multifaceted as the individuals who live with it. Just as there is no one singular presentation of ADHD, there is also no singular treatment.

“A lightbulb moment,” is how Natalie, an ADDitude reader in Pennsylvania, describes her experience of learning that hyperfocus often accompanies ADHD.“I used to think I couldn't possibly have ADHD because I could study for eight hours at a shot. A deficit of attention was clearly not my problem,” she explains.

ADHD stereotypes – about what the condition’s presentations, causes, duration, and more – are stigmatizing, harmful, and even dangerous. Myths and misconceptions minimize the lived experiences of neurodivergent people and often prevent them from seeking and accessing the care they need.Here, ADDitude readers share the ADHD myths and misperceptions they would eradicate – false beliefs that profoundly affect them and their families.“People who don't believe ADHD is real think we medicate our children because we don't want to parent. When a child needs medication and you allow them to take it (along with tools/strategies for struggles), you are giving them a chance to actually succeed and excel in life.” – Abby, Iowa“Everyone blames the parent for the child's behavior. They have NO idea how much love we pour over our children, and still they do what they do.

Music can magically harmonize the ADHD brain — or so ADDitude readers tell us. Whether calming a racing mind, boosting motivation, regulating intense emotions, or sharpening focus, music unquestionably and reliably makes wonderful things happen.Here, readers describe the importance of music in their lives and explain how they use it to regulate emotions, mood, and concentration. They also share their favorite genres, songs, and albums.“I have always been drawn to using music to soundtrack my life. Perhaps ADHD is why. (I wasn’t officially diagnosed until my 40s.) I relied on ‘50s rock, jazz, and Latin instrumentals to focus in school.

“I appear very organized to the outside world, but only because I spend an immense amount of time and energy putting everything together.”“My house is an embarrassing cluttered mess. I don’t let people come over.

On the school playground, did you delight and amaze friends by bending your fingers backward, putting your legs behind your head, or doing splits? These physical abilities are generally rare — but not among people with ADHD, 80% of whom are hypermobile. While research is still emerging, studies show a link between hypermobility and neurodevelopmental disorders, including ADHD.Hypermobility is generally benign, however 1 in 10 people with joint hypermobility experience it as part of a larger medical condition, a hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD).

Parents seldom deny it: Summer break comes with its own set of challenges. Sure, those nine months spent cajoling your kids (and maybe even yourself) out of bed and to school on time are over. You survived the late-night homework and test agony.

The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual is the enduring authority for healthcare providers who diagnose and treat mental health conditions. Its origins date back to the 1800s1 and, though it continues to serve an important role for patients and clinicians, the DSM is not without significant problems.

Have you tried Google Meet captions? Speech-to-text browser extensions like Read Aloud? How about asking your manager for a pre-meeting agenda, or putting a “Work in Progress” sign on your office door?Job accommodations make it possible to perform professional responsibilities with a physical or mental disability.1 Documentation of a disability is often required to secure approval of formal accommodations, which can lead to real-life consequences, despite ADA protections. HR channels can also take time to negotiate.Taking the first step toward workplace accommodations can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be complicated or risky.

“I think the scariest person in the world is the person with no sense of humor.” — Michael J. FoxWe agree.

It’s a tale as old as time: School is finally over for the year and your child is ecstatic! But the very next day, you hear the dreaded whine: “I’m bored.” This refrain tends to recur with frustrating frequency until, at long last, you slip your child’s backpack onto their shoulders again.Kids with ADHD often rail against structure but benefit enormously from it, and the freewheeling days of summer can prove hard for them to navigate. So, we asked ADDitude readers to share some of the ways they respond when their kids complain of boredom.

June 6, 2025On April 29, the Trump administration announced it was cutting $1 billion in funding for federal grants used to hire and train 14,000 mental health professionals in 260 public school districts across 49 states.The grants originated in 2022’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a bill that passed the Senate with unanimous consent following the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where 22 people died, including 19 elementary school children. The bill was largely seen as important recognition of and support for an escalating mental health crisis among American youth.In April, the Trump administration eliminated all funding for these grants, blaming Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives associated with them.

“Cherish every day.” “Time, stop.” “They grow up too fast.”If these tired (but undying) parenting tropes trigger a hidden rage or sadness, you might have a child with ADHD. Because, no, every day should not be held dear.

May 31, 2025Six weeks ago, the autistic community sounded the alarm when U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.