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Is Self-Diagnosing ADHD From TikTok So Bad? I Asked A Psychotherapist

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A recent headline about ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), which more and more UK adults have received treatment for over the past couple of years, said the condition is being “wildly overdiagnosed”.

The article’s author adds the condition “has become a scam” because so many people say they have it.

Some worry that apps like TikTok are giving people misinformation that leads them to inaccurately “self-diagnose” the condition, too.

But, perhaps down in part to long and highly variable NHS ADHD assessment wait times, ADHD UK says roughly two million cases are still undiagnosed in the UK.

So, we spoke to psychotherapist and founder of Philadelphia Talk Therapy Matt Sosnowsky about what he thinks about the increase in diagnoses, including self-diagnosis, from social media videos.

Sosnowsky doesn’t think regular people are mental health experts, but that’s not always the point

Sosnowsky says that he works with people of all ages, and says “very few clients” have a professional-level understanding of mental health diagnoses.

But they are, he told us, “the authority on how they feel and what they’re experiencing – which is critical.”

“Perhaps surprisingly, I’m not against folks using media and social media to get a sense of what might be troubling them,” the therapist added.

After all, he points out, “Mental illness remains disproportionately unrecognised and underdiagnosed” (2024 research from the UK Longitudinal Household Study found 12 times as many people in the ‘undiagnosed distress’ category than those considered ‘overdiagnosed’).

“Further, many mental health issues are quite subtle,” Sosnowsky adds.

“Pure ‘O’ OCD, for example, involves constant mental checking – a version of OCD different from what we see in movies, and not dissimilar to regular old rumination. Yet, I’ve had clients suffer from this for decades with absolutely no idea that they had a very treatable diagnosis.

“If seeing your own struggles mirrored back to you in a TikTok video prompts one [person] to seek help, that’s a win to me.”

That’s not to say actual diagnoses should be left to non-professionals, though

“Of course, the devil is in the details and moderation is key,” Sosnowsky said.

He doesn’t, for instance, think identifying with a social media clip amounts to a formal diagnosis or anything like it.

“If you suspect you have a diagnosis, that’s your cue to get it checked out with a professional,” he told HuffPost UK.

“In the interim, avoid jumping to conclusions or catastrophising as neither is likely to give you good data or the help you need.”

That’s not to say you should ignore any signs of ADHD you think are worth exploring completely, he writes.

“Instead, consider doing some light-touch research from responsible sources to educate yourself.

“Not only will this empower you, but it will improve your ability to convey concrete symptoms to your future therapist or psychiatrist.”

Help and support:

  • Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
  • Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI – this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
  • CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
  • The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
  • Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.
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Nigel Farage Calls Rupert Lowe’s Actions ‘Disgusting’ And ‘Contemptible’

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Nigel Farage called Rupert Lowe’s alleged behaviour “disgusting” and “contemptible” in leaked WhatsApp messages, according to the BBC.

Lowe was suspended from Farage’s Reform UK earlier this month following accusations of workplace bullying and threats of physical violence towards the party chairman. He denies all the allegations against him.

Reform UK’s decision to oust the MP for Great Yarmouth, hire a KC to investigate the claims and report him to the police came hours after Lowe told the Daily Mail that Reform was “a protest party” led by “the Messiah” – Farage.

Reform has insisted that its suspension of Lowe is completely separate to the MP’s criticisms of party leader Farage.

Even so, the two men have exchanged furious insults since the incident, with Lowe accusing Farage of a “malicious witch hunt”.

The BBC has now reported that, in an private exchange shortly after the then-Reform UK MP publicly criticised the party’s leadership, Farage accused Lowe of “damaging the party just before elections”.

Speaking with a source who worked recently with Lowe, Farage said the Great Yarmouth MP was “damaging the party just before elections. Disgusting.”

The Clacton MP went on: “He is contemptible. Thousands of people working hard for May 1st. The KC inquiry was the right thing to do no question. Reputation of the party must be protected.”

He added: “In 30 years I have never seen worse.”

Reform UK’s first major electoral test since securing five MPs in July will come in the May local elections. The party is hoping to win big after significant success in the polls where it has rivalled Labour and the Tories.

Responding to the leaked messages, Farage told the BBC: “The suspension was to protect the party, simple. The newspaper attack on Reform UK is separate but dreadful.”

But Lowe claimed this text exchange proved the Daily Mail interview was the reason behind his removal from the party.

“That interview is why they designed and launched their horrific smear campaign against my name. It is evil behaviour,” he told the broadcaster. “Nigel Farage must never be prime minister. All I have done is tell the truth, and I will continue to do so.”

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In messages, uncovered through a BBC investigation, Nigel Farage personally admits the real reason why he removed me from Reform.

It was because I raised reasonable and constructive criticisms about Reform structure, policy, and communication in the Daily Mail interview.

That… pic.twitter.com/0gifZ8Az2V

— Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) March 20, 2025

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In messages, uncovered through a BBC investigation, Nigel Farage personally admits the real reason why he removed me from Reform.

It was because I raised reasonable and constructive criticisms about Reform structure, policy, and communication in the Daily Mail interview.

That… pic.twitter.com/0gifZ8Az2V

— Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) March 20, 2025

The BBC report came after it emerged that Farage had travelled to the US for his eighth trip since being elected to represent Clacton in July.

He was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at a fundraiser for Florida Republicans’ ‘Disruptors’ dinner. Seats cost up to $25,000 (£19,000).

Meanwhile, as Farage repeatedly denies that Reform is “riven with in-fighting”, a Tory shadow minister, Greg Smith, has hinted at a partnership between the Conservatives and Reform UK.

Even though Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has repeatedly rejected such an idea, Smith He told TalkTV: “I think if we want to get rid of socialism from this country, there may well be a point where the right-of-centre parties have to play nicely.”

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