Maybe It's Not ADHD... How Everyday Behaviors Can Mimic ADHD Symptoms

Category

Symptoms

Inattention

Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in tasks or activities.

Often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities.

Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.

Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish tasks.

Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities.

Often avoids or dislikes tasks that require sustained mental effort.

Often loses things necessary for tasks or activities.

Is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli.

Is often forgetful in daily activities.

Hyperactivity-Impulsivity

Often fidgets with or taps hands or feet or squirms in seat.

Often leaves seat in situations where remaining seated is expected.

Often runs about or climbs in situations where it is inappropriate (or feels restless in adults).

Often unable to play or engage in leisure activities quietly.

Is often "on the go" acting as if "driven by a motor."

Often talks excessively

Often blurts out an answer before a question has been completed.

Often has difficulty waiting their turn

Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games)

Symptoms

How TikTok Mimics ADHD Symptoms

How Excessive Nicotine Usage Mimics ADHD Symptoms

How Excessive Porn Usage Mimics ADHD Symptoms

Inattention Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in tasks or activities.

Often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities.

TikTok's short-form videos (15–60 seconds) train the brain to expect instant rewards, reducing the ability to maintain focus on tasks requiring sustained attention. Nature Communications

Withdrawal symptoms impair focus, making sustained attention difficult. CDC

Research by Kühn & Gallinat (2014) from the Max Planck Institute found that frequent pornography consumption was associated with reduced gray matter in the striatum and lower functional connectivity in areas related to sustained attention. Max Planck Neuroscience

Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.

Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish tasks.

Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities.

Often avoids or dislikes tasks that require sustained mental effort.

The instant gratification loop created by TikTok reduces interest in mentally demanding or slower-paced tasks, fostering procrastination. PUIRP

Laier et al. (2013) demonstrated that individuals consuming pornography frequently reported difficulty focusing on tasks requiring long-term mental engagement, especially following exposure to erotic stimuli. Laier et al., 2013

Often loses things necessary for tasks or activities.

Is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli.

Constant notifications, algorithm-driven content, and autoplay features create an environment where users are perpetually interrupted by stimuli. Journal of Behavioral

Long-term nicotine users have been found to exhibit heightened distractibility due to dysregulation of the nicotinic acetylcholine system in the brain. Heishman et al., 2010

Prause & Steele (2015) explored attentional bias in individuals who viewed pornography frequently. They found increased attentional focus on erotic cues, suggesting heightened distractibility toward stimulating content. Prause & Steele, 2015

Is often forgetful in daily activities.

Cognitive impairments from nicotine use lead to forgetfulness in tasks and responsibilities. Springer

Hyperactivity-impulsivity Often fidgets with or taps hands or feet or squirms in seat.

Withdrawal causes physical agitation and difficulty sitting still. CDC

Often leaves seat in situations where remaining seated is expected.

Often runs about or climbs in situations where it is inappropriate (or feels restless in adults).

Stein et al. (2020) linked pornography use to higher levels of restlessness and emotional dysregulation, particularly in individuals using it as a coping mechanism for stress or boredom.

Often unable to play or engage in leisure activities quietly.

Is often "on the go" acting as if "driven by a motor."

Often talks excessively

Often blurts out an answer before a question has been completed.

Often has difficulty waiting their turn

Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games)

The endless scrolling and "likes" reinforce impulsive behavior, with users reacting quickly to new content without reflection. CTBU

 A meta-analysis by Kor et al. (2014) found that problematic pornography users exhibited impulsive decision-making patterns and lower inhibitory control. Kor et al., 2014