If you find yourself frequently asking ‘are you mad at me?’, it may be a sign you have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a woman recently diagnosed with the condition.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects concentration, impulse control and activity levels.
According to Olivia Brooke, 29, from the Appalachia mountains, in the US, asking if everything is OK or if people are annoyed with you might be a sign of rejection sensitivity disorder (RSD), which has been linked to the condition.
In a video posted on her TikTok page @oliviabroookee which has been viewed more than 1.7million times, the mother, who was diagnosed with ADHD last year, described it as like ‘feeling like everyone hates me’.
RSD isn’t a recognised medical condition, nor is it an official symptom of ADHD.
However, many people who have ADHD report having RSD, and it acknowledged as a comorbidity of ADHD by a number of local NHS trusts.
One trust describes it as an extreme emotional response to either real or perceived criticism or rejection.
Other symptoms Ms Brooke experienced before being diagnosed included forgetfulness, difficulty sleeping, bad time management, and mood swings.
In a recent TikTok video she claimed the question can be a sign you have the condition ADHD
Olivia Brooke was diagnosed at 28-years-old after her symptoms were brushed off as anxiety
In a comment on the post, the Ms Brooke said: ‘I was told it was just anxiety! I’ve also been diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder when I was 16.’
But when the symptoms made juggling the endless tasks of motherhood harder, she spoke to a doctor.
Just two months ago she started the stimulant ADHD medication Vyvanse, and has already seen improvements.
In another video, she showed her kitchen looking messy and filled with items left from ‘half done tasks’, before it suddenly became neat and tidy after she started taking the medication.
Now through her TikTok videos, Ms Brooke has urged those who experience the symptoms to talk to their doctor.
In a comment she said: ‘Medicine can help and so can talking to someone to help get an understanding how your brain works and things you can do to help.’
After posting the original video, she received over a thousand comments from social media users who related to the symptoms.
One user said: ‘I have ADHD, and all of this is painfully relatable. I’m naturally a pretty chill, happy-go-lucky person, but man my brain is mean to me some days.’
Another commented: ‘My rejection sensitive dysphoria is bad. I constantly feel like everyone hates me and doesn’t want to be my friend.’
It comes amid a sharp rise in the number of adults seeking ADHD diagnostic assessments later in life.
In recent years diagnoses have soared, with more than 2.6 million people in the UK now estimated to have the condition.
Some have suggested this is because too many incorrectly people think they have the condition, while others put it down to better awareness of how it affects women.
A review of research published from 1979 to 2021 about females with ADHD showed girls and women tend to show inattention and internalised problems,
Meanwhile, in contrast, men show greater hyperactivity, impulsivity, and externalised problems.
The study also found clinicians may overlook symptoms and impairments in females because they appear less overt, despite still impairing them.
Concerningly, it also revealed that up until recently, almost all research on ADHD has focused on boys and men.
However, a recent report by MailOnline revealed thousands of women diagnosed with ADHD may in fact have an iron deficiency.
Josie Health-Smith, 44, had suffered from brain fog, fatigue and an inability to concentrate for as long as she could remember.
So, when she watched TikTok videos in which women shared their ‘day in a life’ with ADHD, she sought a diagnosis—and got one.
But after trying medication which caused her side effects, her extreme tiredness and forgetfulness continued.
In July 2023, she returned to her GP who, this time, ordered blood tests which revealed she was dangerously low in iron.
The essential mineral, iron plays a vital role in energy levels, cognitive function, digestion and immunity.
It is common for people to suffer from iron deficiency, which is estimated to affect 36 per cent of UK women of childbearing age, with only a quarter diagnosed.
Remarkably, after being prescribed a course of iron injections, not only did her energy return, but her ADHD symptoms all but disappeared.
