"Trendy" Mental Health Issues: ADHD

I have always felt slightly uncomfortable — a little put off, even — about the way various physical and mental health conditions cycle through periods of being "trendy."

A few years ago, it was narcissism that was everywhere. More recently, it's the Austim Spectrum and ADHD that are everywhere.

I suppose the thing that troubles me is that suddenly everyone becomes an "armchair expert" and a bunch of non-experts try to cash in on the trend, effectively minimizing the effect it has on those who genuinely have the condition and had it long before it became trendy, and will continue to have it long after the trend blows over.

Sometimes I have to just sit back and chill out a bit and examine why it is that I get upset by these things.

Much of the time, it's the fact that fairly serious — and sometimes debilitating — conditions suddenly become overrun by a bunch of "Me-Too's" who are mostly seeking attention, rather than any serious desire to heal and/or manage their lives.

The second thing that troubles me is that sometimes it seems like half the world is suddenly afflicted by something that legitimately and medically might affect 2-5% of the population.

The third thing that annoys me outright is that I end up spending an unwelcome amount of time (this one's on me, the idealist!) helping people who have been misguided by some idiot who's primarily using the trend to develop a successful YouTube channel and offer expensive workshops to vulnerable/gullible individuals.

Could I just ignore it all and say "yeah, whatever, DEAL with it!?"

Of course I could... but that just doesn't feel compassionate or empathic, and it definitely does not feel like "right action."

I suppose I feel more strongly about the current popularity of "ADHD hacks" because I actually have a proverbial "horse in this race" since I have been managing ADHD since childhood, almost since before it was even "a thing."

Most people aren't really aware of how much it affects my life... and are more likely to just chalk up some of my quirks to my being weird, rather than to an actual underlying condition.

As I have mentioned previously, I largely missed getting "detected" as a kid and youth because of the absence of the "Hyperactivity" part of ADHD that applies to about 80% of people with the condition.

Having actually had my brain scanned, I now know that I have (relatively) reduced blood flow to my prefrontal cortex, as a result of which I have low dopamine levels most of the time, as a result of which I come across as sluggish and lazy.

So yes, there's actual science there... which often gets swept under the rug when something becomes "trendy."

I suppose I should just be grateful because there is suddenly a lot more information and tips for improvement available.

But is it really?

Maybe so... but it also takes a lot more time and effort to make sure you're sorting the valid management strategies from the absolute rubbish!

Naturally, I'm also skeptical of advice that comes from a source that doesn't actually live with the condition, and thus is dispensing purely anecdotal remedies. Not saying that can't work, just suggesting a bit of caution.

These days, I am mostly working to gain a better understanding of my sleep patterns, and how those patterns affect the extent to which I experience "brain fog," or a lack thereof.

Thankfully, I am self-employed, so I can experiment with the time of the day/night I sleep and work.

Much of it should be taken with a grain of salt, because we must remember that every person is an individual so any suggestions should be tested individually, rather than just blindly accepted!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week ahead!

How about YOU? Have you ever suffered from a condition that suddenly became "popular?" Did it affect your getting REAL treatment? Leave a comment if you feel so inclined — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!

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Created at 2025.10.26 23:38 PDT
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