The Problem with Online ADHD Support
First of all, the internet can be a great place to get support for ADHD. In many cases, it is the only way some people can get support. This blog post is not tearing down online methods of getting support for ADHD. What this post is about is the internet behavior of some of the most popular influencers, coaches, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other ADHD professionals. In my opinion, there is a lot of behavior on the internet by popular ADHD accounts that isolate people. By reducing this behavior, we can reach more people.
Vulgarity
Too often, I see the popular ADHD accounts use vulgar words. I’m not just talking about anonymous “influencers.” People with real faces and businesses to promote are dropping F-bombs left and right. They are describing things as s#!##y. Yes, some situations and actions are deplorable, but there are other words that can be used. By using these words a certain perception is created. If we demand to be taken seriously as a community, I suggest we start using some decorum. Parents who are trying to find support for their young children who were just diagnosed are looking online for resources, but when all they find are profanity-laced rants, they will not be willing to share what are often great resources and professionals with their children. Furthermore, not everyone enjoys that kind of language. There will even be some adult ADHDers who will be turned off by the language used online. It may sound prudish, but I suggest we clean up our language online.
Negativity
Yes, it can be hard to have to have ADHD, and there are many situations where life is not fun. However, there is hope. I do not see enough hope on the ADHD internet circles. I see complaints, bad attitudes, and other things that do not help us move forward. Yes, there is a time and place for venting, but it is more powerful to share stories of hope and success.
I am not immune to this. As a business owner, I need to promote my business, and one of the most effective ways to get the attention of my audience is to talk about pain points, those things that are painful about having ADHD. However, another effective method is to talk about gain points, those things that can be gained by engaging with my coaching, blogs, webinars, and other offerings. Consider this my pledge to be more hopeful in my marketing.
Intolerance in the Name of Tolerance
I have news for the big ADHD accounts out there: Not everyone who follows you is ultra-liberal. ADHD does not discriminate. That means that conservatives, liberals, and moderates will all struggle with ADHD. When mainstream ADHD accounts are ultra-liberal and do not accept opposing viewpoints, they drive people away. My guess is conservatives have a reputation for denying ADHD and other mental conditions because they see the big ADHD influencers and publications as super liberal. They feel like liberals are just being “snowflakes.” However, conservatives do get ADHD, and in ADHD circles, there is pressure to keep conservative viewpoints out of the discussion. If the ADHD community really wants to be tolerant (and many ADHD influencers, organizations, and publications do profess to be tolerant), there needs to be room at the table for conservatives.
Furthermore, if young, impressionable ADHDers, see prominent ADHD social media accounts attacking a certain viewpoint (that usually has nothing to do with ADHD), they may be brainwashed into a certain philosophy of life, instead of learning to think for themselves. Our world is already too divided. If we promote one ideology or political philosophy as 100% right 100% of the time, we eliminate the possibility for an individual to say I agree with the left on this issues but with the right on that issue. A well-rounded person is exposed to all viewpoints and then makes the decision on what to believe for themselves. If one viewpoint is all that gets attention in the ADHD community, we will not be a tolerant community.
What to Do
I am calling out the big ADHD accounts here, but changing this starts with the average ADHDer on the internet. If the coach or psychologist you are considering giving your hard earned money to does not have the professionalism to use clean language online or brings their personal political or philosophical opinions to their public social media accounts, maybe consider someone who will be more professional. Granted, everyone will slip up and post something stupid on the internet every once in a while, but when they frequently post these types of things, it is probably time to look at another professional.
To be clear, I’m not advocating getting into online arguments with the people who post these things. Online arguments generally go nowhere. I advocate ignoring the inflammatory posts and do not give them satisfaction or validations by promoting that post. Let’s promote the content that is not divisive.