ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder) is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It was previously thought that ADHD was a “childhood disorder” that could only be diagnosed during someone’s early years. And in the modern day, it’s believed that symptoms of ADHD must first present in childhood for an adult diagnosis to be valid. However, it’s now recognised that symptoms can persist into adulthood, usually becoming more moderate over time.
Symptoms include restlessness, making impulsive decisions, and difficulty concentrating, which often have a significant impact on daily life. As a result, these traits cause struggles like keeping track of appointments and listening during conversations without getting distracted.
It appears that this experience resonates with many, as seen by the fact that a growing number of the UK public are pursuing a diagnosis. And the rate of diagnoses is increasing each year, particularly among adults. Clearly, this surging interest indicates an increasing awareness of what it actually means to have ADHD. For instance, in 2023, it became the second-most viewed condition on the NHS website.
Yet, despite this increase, there is a noticeable lack of a general ADHD discussion in the media (and I refer to'media’ in all forms—books, movies, television, etc.). Demonstrating my point, characters with ADHD are very hard to come by in British media. You could get the impression that ADHD is saved only for serious documentaries and news articles from the likes of the BBC. And yes, it goes without saying I acknowledge that these types of articles are constructive when there is a rapidly growing interest and that efforts to help inform people are forever useful.
But I’d argue that this effort can and should be taken one step further, which brings us to my main point. I can’t overstate the importance of representation beyond newspapers that frankly—if I may say—risks putting people off, with how dryly detached they seem.
I’d like to stress the importance of representation: accurate, honest portrayals of what it’s like to live with this condition that show how diverse lived experiences of ADHD are. For a start, a more thoughtful approach takes the narrative away from harmful stereotypes, like the tired trope that only rowdy boys have ADHD (think Bart Simpson). Not only that, but seeing ADHD depicted in the media helps empower people to seek out treatment. And, naturally, this kinder attitude lessens how daunting it can be for people to access support.
Admittedly, not from British media, a decent portrayal is Juno MacGuff from the film Juno. She is endearingly witty and balances between her toughness and the vulnerability she deals with as a teenager. Her character is relatable to many, and the human elements of her character offer a more complex way of portraying ADHD.
As an increasing number of people pursue an ADHD diagnosis, it’s becoming more important than ever that this community is supported with better representation in the media. Accurate depictions not only benefit those with ADHD by paving the way for support; they also help educate the general public on what it’s really like to live with this condition. I feel hopeful we'll see more nuanced portrayals in the future that provide a suitably empathetic approach to portraying ADHD.
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