Practicum Reflection
2 min read
Truth Project- "ADHD Checklist Trap" Update
During Week 4, I finalized the content for the first series of The Truth Project by integrating critical clinical feedback from Dr. Ali. While my Week 3 focus was on identifying common social media myths, Dr. Ali helped me transition to a deeper conceptualization of ADHD. He introduced the Diagnostic Hierarchy, teaching me that ADHD is a "diagnosis of exclusion" that should only be considered after ruling out medical issues, sleep problems, substance use, and severe mood disorders like depression or bipolar spectrum. A key takeaway was the clinical distinction between "onset" and "lifelong"; I learned that for a valid ADHD diagnosis, symptoms must be present from early childhood, rather than being a recent response to increased screen time or workload. I’ve now incorporated the concept of “ADHD mimics” into the final slides, including how depression can closely resemble attention difficulties due to low motivation, slowed thinking, and reduced energy. I also added explanations about how personality patterns and even values misalignment can drain mental energy in ways that look like a disorder but may not actually be one. My goal was to make the content more nuanced so our audience understands that symptoms don’t automatically equal a diagnosis. Now that the ADHD series is finalized, my next step is to submit the graphics and begin phase two of The Truth Project: “The Stress vs. Disorder Trap.” This upcoming series will focus on improving psychological literacy around normal stress responses and helping people understand the difference between situational pressure and clinical mental illness. The goal is to prevent over-pathologizing everyday experiences while still encouraging appropriate help-seeking when needed.
    Truth Project- "ADHD Checklist Trap" Update - Fitrah Space