'Stressful' simulation shows what it's like to live with ADHD

If you've ever wondered what it's like to actually live with ADHD, a 'stressful' simulation posted on TikTok might go some way to helping you understand.

Known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, it's believed that around 2.6 million people in the UK have the condition, per ADHD UK, and today in 2025, people are talking about it and raising awareness more than ever.

Symptoms include being easily distracted or forgetful, finding it hard to organise your time, follow instructions or finish tasks. It can also mean having loads of energy and feeling restless, finding it hard to wait your turn to talk in conversations or being impulsive when it comes to decision making.

ADHD attacks or meltdowns are when a person with the mental health disorder experiences sudden and intense emotional outbursts, usually triggered by overstimulation, overwhelm or stress.

Neurodivergent content creator Olivia Lutfallah uses her platform to give an insight into her life with ADHD, and she recently shared a video where she revealed what it's like when she's trying to have a conversation in a busy and noisy public place, like a shopping mall or a cafe, as she she finds herself no longer having 'the ability to ignore irrelevant stimuli'.

"Background noise is suddenly the same volume as the person you're talking to," she says in the TikTok, as the background noise increases in volume and starts to overwhelm the sound of her voice.

"Your brain feels overloaded by everything in your visual field and the tag in your shirt feels like it's digging through your skin."

A load of random objects start to bounce into the line of vision, making it really difficult to look just at Olivia as she finishes what she's saying.

"Now ignore everything that's happening and focus only on what I'm saying," she continues.

The content creator goes on to quote some of the harsh comments that are said to her every single day as a result of her struggling to focus due to her ADHD.

"Are you still listening? You know it's rude to not make eye contact, you just need to try harder to focus. Why are you so tired all the time? You didn't even do anything today, you're so lazy," she says.

"Imagine constantly being told these things, well I can. Welcome to the brain of someone with ADHD."

The simulator is a fascinating, yet eye-opening look into the reality of living with the condition.

After sharing her experience on TikTok, many of Olivia's followers resonated with her experience.

"I hate this video audio as someone with diagnosed severe ADHD," one wrote, while another added: "I have ADHD and my heart started to beat faster, I felt it."