Confiding in a friend after my ADHD diagnosis, I opened up about lifelong struggles with time blindness, lateness, disorganisation, and emotional dysregulation. She replied, 'But isn't it normal to get a little bit distracted sometimes? I probably have ADHD too, if that's the case.' My heart sank. There's a growing perception that having ADHD is becoming a 'trend' or 'personality quirk,' similar to how OCD has been trivialised.
The Great ADHD Myth?
Channel 4 will release a documentary titled 'The Great ADHD Myth?' next month. It promises to investigate whether ADHD is a 'genuine neurodevelopmental disorder, or a social construct' and questions medicating children. It will also explore whether modern life—ultra-processed food, phones, and regimented education—serves as a 'catalyst.'
What the data shows
In 2025, then-Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced an enquiry into ADHD and autism diagnoses. The interim report concluded that while more people are being diagnosed, the actual incidence rate hasn't changed. A 2023 UCL study found a twenty-fold increase in ADHD diagnoses between 2000 and 2018, with a fifty-fold increase in prescriptions for men aged 18-29. However, a 2025 King's College London review of 40 studies across 17 countries found the prevalence of ADHD—2% to 6% of the world's population—has not increased since 2020. Dr Alex Martin noted that 'assessments and help-seeking' are snowballing, not the condition itself.
Barriers to diagnosis
NHS waiting times can reach eight years in some UK regions, and private diagnosis averages £1,200. The ADHD Foundation estimates 50-70% of the 1,000,000 women in the UK with ADHD remain undiagnosed.
What qualifies as ADHD
To meet the DSM-5 threshold, adults need at least five symptoms that are persistent, pervasive, and debilitating across multiple settings. Clinical psychologist Dr Andrea Pickering explains: 'The key difference is that for someone with ADHD, these symptoms are persistent, pervasive and significantly impact their ability to function in daily life, across multiple settings such as work, school and relationships.' Diagnosis involves a detailed evaluation of pattern, intensity, and consistency over time, often requiring family testimony of symptoms before age 12.
Personal journey
Diagnosed at 23 via Right to Choose, I had my mother fill out forms recalling school reports about my inattention, eye tics, and hyperactivity. When my psychiatrist said 'you have combined ADHD,' years of suffering were validated. Modern life can make anyone feel distracted, but ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition rooted in brain differences. As Dr Andrea notes, 'modern life can make anyone feel distracted, ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition with symptoms that are consistent, long-standing and impairing.' Awareness is saving lives, but awareness without understanding is useless. No, it's not a 'superpower'—if you forget your wallet sometimes, you're probably just human in a hectic world.
