Sitting Down With ADHD TikTok Advocates (ft. Elyse Myers, Catieosaurus, Dani Donovan) 

These tiktokers are amazing at spreading ADHD awareness. They've really helped me to explain to my friends and family why I behave the way that I do, which has helped me to improve those relationships. Understanding and awareness is key to helping to ensure a more supportive environment within the general population

My doctor told me "I think you had ADHD but most people grow out of it and I think you just have depression and anxiety now." I wanted to implode.

These tik tokers are the reason I found out I was ADHD! A tik tok by Dani is the first one that popped up about ADHD on my FYP and I was like, “whoa, this is me!” Catie said she just wanted to help 1 person feel less broken, and she’s met that goal because her content makes me feel less broken every day. And elyse has never failed to make me feel seen with her stories. So glad you did a video with these guys because they’re amazing

The few people I have told that I do/don't do the things I do, is because I have ADHD. They say it's just an excuse, and it breaks my heart, because I would just love to be "normal", they have no idea !!!!

Catieosaurus' video on cleaning the kitchen is SO spot on!!! So nice to have someone explain it because when my mom asks why I can't clean the kitchen, I don't know how to put it into words, so thank you!!

These ladies are brave and amazing. Your channel has helped me tremendously. I’m 42, diagnosed 10 years ago, only finding things that actually help in the last couple years. I would love to see you talk to Dana K White of A Slob Comes Clean. Her experience and reasons why/how to keep your home under control have been IMMENSELY helpful, “wow someone who’s brain works like mine”

Last year I decided I wanted to learn about my older sibling's struggles, so I watched A LOT of ADHD TikTok compilations on RU-vid. Those alongside this channel's videos, made me realise I wasn't as neurotypical as I thought, haha. My life is in absolute shambles, but at least now I know that it's not due to a character flaw, I know I'm not the only one experiencing this and I know life can get better. This community in combination with therapy, have literally saved my life and it continues to help me improve day by day. I don't feel crazy and alone anymore. Thank you

What I enjoy about adhd is the fact that one of my best friends since school has it and we can talk & interrupt each other then move on to something totally off the wall things or go on an adventure. 💞🤣💞😎

I have a science background and would love to be part of ADHD research. My dream is to be an education educator, making sure those who are ND are not only recognised by the education system but supported and championed Catie was so inspiring!

Since I don't see anyone talking about this, I thought I'd let y'all know it's Disability Pride Month! It's for people with any kind of disability whether it's physical, or invisible to embrace who they are and not feel ashamed for being disabled, or for getting the accommodations they need. It's celebrated in July because this is the month that the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. I just got my ADHD diagnosis this month and this channel, these tiktokers, and many more have really helped me! This kind of content made me feel like I wasn't alone, stupid, or broken. I'm glad I learned about ADHD from you guys first because you made it not seem so scary. I'm proud to be neurodivergent and to be apart of this community 💜💜💜

more tears at MORE people who are so much like me. I still have some time to go before my diagnoistic appointment in december, and I'm trying to not get too overly excited and anticipatory for it (because its still a while away) but seriously, since watching you, and yea, finally giving in to getting a tiktok and finding others, has been very validating for the things I still deal with. and heck, even if I somehow don't have it, I still get great tips for dealing with difficult days!

I love when creators say they were inspired by Jess! You and the team do such great stuff and reach so many people. Thank you for everything!!

Ahhh! So excited for all these guests! And I can say Catie has already achieved her goal cuz I am one person who has been so incredibly impacted by her work 💕 Thank you for this awesome chat!

aw I love them!! And when Dani said she didnt get diagnosed until college and her life was falling apart and then watched this channel crying... LITERAL SAME i remember ugly crying on a bus while watching the resilience video

I LOVE this video, all 4 of you have had a massive impact in my life in the past couple years. I was diagnosed in my 30's. Each person here has made me feel incredibly seen, and validated as a person. Thank you, your contributions to the ADHD community is absolutely irreplaceable.

y'all out here making me cry validating the hard path to medication access, diagnosis and living life as an adhd adult with very little support. i love y'all 💓💓

The fact that this interview is Anthony Padilla inspired makes it so much better he is my fav interviewer.

"Maybe we should talk about trans people with ADHD." Ok. I can't keep it together long enough to shave most days. (I should definitely shave daily.) When I forget to take my meds I get thermally and emotionally disregulated on top of the headache and broken chains of thought. I'm stuck in a middle school fashion sense. And because I've been following my curiosity for decades now I have an obsession with science and technology that a lot of people would consider masculine. I know better. The women of science are my idols and inspiration. My home looks like the average ADHD home, but the piles contain bits and pieces of electronics debris, laser tubes, scraps of paper, and makeup that got lost before I opened it. 😹

I was diagnosed at 35! This channel was my first access to anyone who really understood what I was going through and helped me learn more about adapting. I will always be so grateful I “met” you! I cried with you while watching your TEDtalk and frequently come back for more information. It’s nice to know I’m not alone and better to know others won’t have to be alone, either!!

I'm that one person @catiosaurus!! The one that really hit me was the one about time blindness with the roll of tape. Love Catie and Elyse, and now I have a new content creator to follow too!

Elyse is my spirit animal. I deleted TikTok to improve my focus, but I do miss her stories.

Thanks for supporting each other’s channels. I really appreciate that people are beginning to understand ADHD a bit better. One of my new co-teachers this year doubted me when I talked about some if my challenges. Then he spent some time in my classroom with me. He is a believer and a supporter now. 🥰 My hope is that others don’t have to wait until they are in their 50s to be diagnosed. Keep spreading the word!

Tell Elyse her hair looks amazing. After all the videos she posts about dealing with her hair, I'm sure she was self-conscious about it during her interview. For the record, everyone's hair looks amazing in this video, but those of us who have seen ALL of Elyse's videos (for the other two ladies, I will be watching all of yours at some point.. I just happened to already be a fan of Elyse and only heard of you two today

Finding ADHD tiktok helped me so much! I had already been diagnosed but doubted my diagnosis. And then I found videos explaining what lesser known symptoms were and I just went oh and began pushing my subscriber to try other meds since I was still having issues. Before I had kinda been fighting the push for meds cuz I didn't know my problems were related to ADHD. Now I'm doing much better but still have a ways to go but it's much easier to push my brain to cooperate. Plus I'm learning to except my ADHD quirks instead of trying to force myself into the neurotypical box I didn't fit in.

One of the problems of all the ADHD "literature" is that 90% of it is done on children. Like, I wasn't diagnosed until I was over 50. (It wasn't like I didn't know, but ... the pandemic "disabled me" from it in a way I didn't have to deal with, before.) Anyway, those kids grow up! So, yay, you have Ritalin or Adderall, and Junior now gets through the day in school ... but I need help with getting this PowerPoint done for my job and keeping my paycheck. And I'm incredibly thankful that these TikTokers (AND THIS CHANNEL!) simply EXIST. Because it is so much more relevant.

Hi Jessica, I just wanted you to know that the first video I watched on your channel was on adhd in women. That was in January of 2022. I am 34 years old. It popped up on my feed and I’m so happy that I clicked on it. I had always suspected that I had a learning disability and as you listed the traits/symptoms everything suddenly made sense. I’ve now been formally diagnosed and have been on Concerta for about a month. My whole world has changed for the better and for the first time I see a brighter future. I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am for what you do and what you’ve given to me. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!

My husband still doesn’t “fully understand” BUT he is willing to listen, and respect. YOU ALL - content makers!! Have given me better words than any counselor or study has!! to be able to explain to him the why something (he did that was so sweet) threw me off what I was doing and so I became upset. It wasn’t him I was upset with but rather the upset was at being jarred out of my hyper focus. (I was cleaning windows on Saturday - absolutely a non critical task, but I was in hyper-focus mode and it was jarring) To be able to express this to him calmly and in a way he can understand has helped our relationship make it through.

I love your interviews! This was such a great way to feature other content creators!

THANK YOU!! This is the first time I have ever heard ANYONE mention ADHD and trans people. Sooo much of the research on gender and ADHD fails to account for trans people’s experiences, eg like you said, saying info is about “women” with ADHD when it actually means cis women or people who were assigned female at birth

I love Dani's work so much (and pre-ordered her book), it makes me happy to know it was this channel that was the first thing that really helped her understand her ADHD because that's how it went for me too. Like Catie, books about ADHD have rarely worked for me, but you, Jess, as well as Dani, Catie, and Elyse, have helped me more.

Yay!!! I purposefully don’t TT, but do follow them on IG. I remember like 15 seconds into the very first video I ever saw of Elyse thinking “Oh I wonder if she has ADHD?! She’s so my ADHD brain!”, after scrolling thru a few more vids I found one she’d hashtagged ADHD and then found one with her talking about it. It wasn’t long after my very late diagnosis and I had already been following you and it made me realize how much I’d learned from your channel and other followers. I’ve been yearning for a video team up with the two of you! So happy! Ok, done appreciative fan girling, I’m gonna actually watch your video now! Lol.

damn you are really good at interviewing people the scripting and active listening was really good would be down to make more?

I can't stand tiktok, but I definitely support what these creators are doing :)

It was a really great interview, I love that you’re connecting out to other platforms. I followed Catie on TikTok almost immediately when I joined. And followed Elise months later for non ADHD reasons (just loved her stories) Totally do more of these.

HI JESSICA!! thank you so much for your education and help with my own awareness with my recent diagnosis! These are all some of my favorite people 🥹🥹🥹🤍🥹🤍🥹🤍🥹

Oh I love these women you all are amazing and Jessica thank you for recognizing that research on adhd in trans people is lacking! My little trans man heart was happy to hear you mention it. I’m in the middle of my adhd evaluation if you ever do a study on trans people and adhd I’m happy to participate! Thank you so much you have helped me so much!

Thank you for having these awesome people on, and thank you for being on!

Jess, I would love to see you interview Nick Seluk, aka creator of "The Awkward Yeti" comics. He does have ADHD. His comics, especially the Heart and Brain series, are really great at showcasing some of the situations we go through. So many people have seen his comics, so many people love them and identify with them. I know a bit about Nick's background. I think it would be a good interview for the ADHD community to see.

omg, thank you so much! you're such an inspiration!

These creators were instrumental in my realization that I have ADHD. I got diagnosed and medicated because of y’all. Thanks!

I have never clicked on a video so fast in my life. You've ALL made such a big difference in my life and I cannot thank you enough. My mental health and quality of life has significantly improved since watching your videos. You've all made me realize that I'm not crazy, I'm not a freak, and I'm not alone. Exposing your lives to the world cannot be an easy thing to do and I'm so very grateful. From the bottom of my ADHD/OCD heart, thank you! 🥰

These Tik tokkers among others was a huge part of my journey to understanding and accepting my adhd and led to me pursuing a diagnosis.

I'm 27 and got my diagnosis two and a half weeks ago because of your channel and ADHD TikTok! I came looking for resources to help my nephew, who was lucky to get a diagnosis when he was 6 or 7, and ended up finding out that, hey, I have that same brain wiring! Glad to see the four of you together, and helping ppl like me identify and go after proper diagnosis and treatment!

Thanks for sharing Catieosaurus's RU-vid page in the description. I've been meaning to look it up, but I got distracted and stuff.

I just got diagnosed with ADHD at 42, and now I feel normal after finding your channel. I am just figuring out I am okay now I am just like everyone else that has ADHD!! THANK YOU

You guys help me explain & put into words how/what I go through! Was diagnosed just over a year ago & it was because of TikTok, including so many of you! ❤️

YESS!! Me avoiding TikTok to protect myself from getting addicted to the content. And then ironically starts watching ADHD TikTok compilations on RU-vid, getting a extremely hyperfixated on these because of how they hit home. Slowly begins to recognise some of the creators and becoming a fan of let's say 5 content creators. And then to come across this gem: an interview with 3 of them, being held by my most favoriete ADHD content creator on RU-vid!! My adhd-tiktok-compilation-vids-on-youtube-hyperfixation-subject has now become full circle. I can go to sleep again with a happy and calm brain 🙂. Thank you Jessica 💜! Your content just keeps on staying fresh, relevant, open and honest.

As embarrassing as this is, Tiktok was the source that opened my eyes and showed me that I've had ADHD. It started my journey to working with my ADHD instead of against it as I've always done trying to fit in with neurotypical peers.

Awww this is so lovely!! I follow Elyse and Catie, and honestly it was friends telling me how amazing the ADHD and neurodivergent scene on TikTok is that made me join in February. And so far I've met so many wonderful autistic/ADHD/ND creators and learned so much about myself already!

I've purposely avoided Tiktok because my noggin doesn't play well with social media apps... other than RU-vid, so I appreciate you highlighting these creators. Neurodivergent greetings from Oregon 🌲🌊❤

OMG! MY FAVORITES IN ONE SPOT!

Your channel made me go to my doctor to talk about ADHD, and I have now gotten a referral to a specialist, and will be getting an assessment in the next few months. Thank you so much for making these videos ❤️

I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 19, thought I was just not book smart much of my childhood. It has been a hard feeling to overcome for years it brings tears to my eyes but it’s so incredibly helpful to see others with ADHD especially moms with ADHD. I feel heard and understood when those in my daily life don’t always understand.

Seriously thank you all so much. You all helped educate and encourage me to seek diagnosis and treatment and it's definitely been life changing. Even if it was late in life at 29, it's so much better than struggling my whole life thinking I'm just a failure.

GREAT video!! Thanks for the introduction to these other great WOMEN!

Behavioural science undergrad here! I graduate this sem, Im on the path to becoming a neuropsychologist, i.e, a psychologist that can conduct their own research and specialise in neurodevelopment disorders such as ADHD. We will have neurodivergent representation in the industry! Im fighting tooth and nail- but I am *personally* making sure of it ! 🥳🥳

ADHD tiktoks/reels are literally the reason I realized I should be seeking a diagnosis at 26 years old! As a female who excelled in school it was so easily missed… I suppose I lucked out with the ability to hyper focus on learning like crazy 😅 but then I got into adulthood and parenting and managing my own schedule and keeping a house clean and dealing with kids interrupting everything I do… and I was struggling SO MUCH but I really genuinely just believed I was a bad person who needed to “get it together” and fighting against that made for some really rough years of my life 😭 Then I start seeing all this content as I’m mindlessly scrolling random videos to escape my reality and it hits like a ton of bricks that this is ME. I started medication in January and it has been the single best thing I’ve ever done ♥️ A combination of that and just actually understanding that what I’m dealing with is real and has a name and isn’t just me being a failure has made a MASSIVE improvement in my quality of life this year 🤩 So thank you, all of you, for sharing!!! You really are making a positive impact on this world ♥️♥️♥️

Im up at 1AM watching RU-vid and got this notification 😂

In response to Catiosaurus's comment about books on ADHD, and how most of them aren't very useful. I completely agree, I'm a white dude who wasn't diagnosed until I was 33, I have inattentive type ADHD, and the most helpful books I have read on ADHD are newer books by women authors. I'm very much looking forward to both Dani and Jessica's books, we need more books by a diverse group of authors, and fewer books by old white men who have convinced themselves that they know everything.

Each and every one of you wonderful persons have helped many (thousands) of add/adhd persons. Thanks! Love.

As a military leader with ADHD I am very open with my squadron about it. My open attitude toward it and impressing upon my squadron what I need from them to help me and what I can do for them has led to soooooo many of my people coming to me for advice and ultimately seeking help for their own concerns. Whether it's their own ADHD, anxiety, depression, whatever, I have made it my goal to de-stigmatize neurodiversity in the Air Force... even if it's only my squadron. So many times I've pointed people to this channel for how to be better hearts for their kids or other tips or understanding. Thanks for what you all do (tik tok is a bit after my generation) to help educate and break down the stigma around neurodiversity!

I LOVE FOLLOWING ELYSE!!! I’ll have to check out the other two. Great video!

I have loved your t-shirt and really wanted one. Tonight I had the spoons to google-search it and found out that you sell them!!! I bought one! I tell everyone that I’m not “Ms.” or “Mrs.” … I am Doctor! Because I just got my doctorate!!! Watching your videos made that possible because I was really on my emotional/mental knees with my symptoms. I bravely went through Neuropsyche testing (cried through half of it) and got diagnosed and then started medication. Your videos helped me so much. So, if you were wondering when that other Tim Tok lady was talking about wanting to help just one person…. Well you can stop wondering. You, fellow “Brain”, helped me finish grad school. Now, I’m about to step into Primary Care and Urgent care. One day, I want to help unserved and underserved people in Asia. So, in a way, you helped me but you helped everyone I’m about to take care of. Thank you. Can’t wait to get my t-shirt! I get to wear t-shirts when I’m in the urgent care side. I will wear it with pride!!! Thank you so much. ❤❤❤

Yes! Loved this video! As a recently diagnosed ADHD woman in her early 50’s, is there someone making content about adhd in this age bracket that you could have on? 😊

I don't have or do tik tok, but I REALLY appreciate these people for using the platfirm as they do!! Another awesome video!! Thanks!!!!

Thank you for talking about how being socialized as female affects how ADHD shows up, and about how trans people are so often excluded from the conversation and from research. I'm transmasculine non-binary, and I finally received an ADHD diagnosis last year (I'm 36). It took me three years to find a doctor that didn't dismiss me out of hand when I was seeking a diagnosis, just because I hadn't been diagnosed as a child. I'm really glad people are starting to talk more about neurodivergence and the different ways it can show up. Thanks again!

Some of my favorite female tik tokkers!! I’d love more videos like this, KC Davis, so many more! Wish I had more poc to share but I’m bad with names.

I’ve been seeing that Anti-Planner everywhere! I really tried getting I to bullet journaling, but sometimes I just can’t bring myself to try and make the calendar from scratch. But having a planner helps me so much. I’ve been considering getting the Anti-planner and looking more at it makes me just more interested.

Oh the irony of coming to RU-vid for some work research only to watch How to ADHD videos. This is compelling stuff though, and it's great to hear these amazing people for more than a couple minutes at a time! Thank you!

That was wonderful, so many new resources for me to check out. And the planner and podcast sound awesome!

You are absolutely making a difference in the world. Thank you for helping me to understand my brain better ❤

Your content helped me discover my ADHD, and hearing from th helped me a ton too. I also learned I was autistic from tiktok as well. There is a lot of misinformation there but PLENTY of lovely people sharing things that help so many people.

Elyse!!! I don't follow many people, but she is one of them and she makes Instagram a much better place

I ignored TikTok for so long thinking it was just silly videos, then when I was sent a few that were ADHD related I signed up. It is a perfect platform for those with ADHD because they are such quick videos there really can’t be much drag time. With such limited focus, being able to watch entire videos without distraction is helpful and honestly, a little bit of a confidence boost. Something I love about your videos is they are also brief, they don’t drag. It isn’t too much information at one time and I don’t feel the need to put it on double speed or look for time stamps. 😂 It is so helpful and I love it! 😊

these are SUPER valuable and validating interviews! it helps to see people who are just like me, people late diagnosed or self dx and it makes me feel like i could be "seen" one day. i struggle so much with self confidence every day. would love more interviews!

Thank you seems like such small words for how much you've helped me, Jessica and team but THANK YOU!! You've changed my life so much and though I'm still struggling, I have tools I can use and I don't feel like a nut job anymore. 😊❤️

What an awesome collab! I follow Catie and Elise and they’re so relatable and so funny! Love it!

Thank you for this. I had my ADHD mostly under control for a couple of decades until I got it for 28 days which evolved into Long COVID. Now so many tasks are overwhelming and can even shut me down. I am also dealing with a lot of anxiety and depression because of it. I'm currently trying to put tasks into smaller packages so I can move forward with baby steps rather than do nothing while the piles get bigger. The background of one of the women's houses made my day. The clutter was refreshing and what I want to get back to rather than being overwhelmed.

Really loved this interview format!

Wow & thank you to all 4 of you! ❤

You have all helped me so much over the last year and I was able to get my diagnosis at 41 years old and get treatment

Catieosaurus, I can promise you've done that for at least one person ♥️ You've brought tears of relief and gasps of understanding outta me multiple times. Also, a random video (on running late) by How to ADHD was my first hint that I might be ND. That plus the encouragement of friends with diagnosed ADHD is what got me diagnosed and starting to FINALLY understand and accept myself. The two of you are my heros!

Thank you so much for your content. Your content has made my life so much better.

I really need this reminder, thank you ladies.

I've been following Elyse and Catiosaurus on TikTok for a while and I LOVE THEM! Thank you for introducing me to Dani--so awesome.

Dani helped me get an official diagnosis! I’m now medicated and it’s helped immensely. That and CRT.

Have not clicked on a video as fast as i did with this one. Great combination of people

Great video! I'm definitely following these TikTokers!

Thank you for sharing !

I love how the goal is to normalize adhd and to help people understand that we aren’t making it up or finding excuses for things. I would love to be able to explain a struggle I have to a neurotypical person without having to preface it with “not that this is an excuse but…” or feel like they think I’m just making excuses.

It is nice to know that we are not a limited group of people, that everyone on all forms of media has people know the pain and ideas of adhd, thanks again for showing us fellow adhd brains that we are not alone, I love your channel and looking forward to seeing more from you soon.🙂

Jessica this is so cool. I love that you’re connecting with these gals. It’s kind of surreal to see all of you talk to each other. Teamwork! 👌🏼

weeping, screaming, laughing, crying, and loving this vid

I want an anti-planner! :) This video is great, and so is your channel!!

i found out i have adhd 2 months ago, thanks to tiktok! i saw a tiktok video about eye contact, then i started to think about it. i did research about adhd then finally i was feeling so good. its always good to know theres so much people out there like you

I have been putting off watching this video because I was so excited to watch it. These TikTok creators are some of my favorites, so I knew that watching your interview them would be a special treat! (Give me ALL THE COLLABS!)

Loves this! Can the next one be some of the ADHD TikTok guys? Connor Dewolfe and Erik Gude are at the top of my list!

Being a Transman getting diagnosied with ADHD was a god damn nightmare there was a lot of gaslighting from some medical professionals but also myself Youre channel and videos have been this incredible resource, I haven't had someone be able to explain my brain to me like this, Just being able to learn the vocabulary and reasons why I do behaviours have changed my life Thankyou for helping me grow into the man I am today

I like the track this is on. I feel like I’m too old to venture as hard core as these ladies but it’s still very refreshing. So refreshing. But what I admire most about you is that you’re showing support to the women. Going out into the world I don’t feel like that’s a thing. Women and support. Such a wonderful concept! Also, I watched a Mark Rober fundraiser and it would be such a miracle for us to hear our stories like that. To educate others and our community.

I'm so bad with names! The moment when I realised Dani Donovan is the comic that I adore! Pure joy at 2 minutes 33.