ADD,ADHD,Stigma, and Coming Out — ADD Tip o the Day 371

Some people with ADD or ADHD have commented on being ashamed or embarrassed,  or afraid to openly acknowledge the problem.  I cannot criticize them because I do not know their circumstances.

I have ADD, which I am not ashamed of anymore than I am ashamed of being bald (OK, I’m occasionally embarrassed about that.)  I’d be willing to do without either, but neither are my fault.  I am sometimes embarrassed by my behavior/symptoms, but not by my diagnosis.

My son Duane had ADHD and learning disabilities.  He was gay, and he died of AIDS before there was any effective treatment.  After he was diagnosed, he went to schools and gave talks teaching kids how to avoid getting AIDS.  He sometimes wore a T shirt saying, “That’s MR. Faggot to you.”

Duane was very brave, and I was very proud of him.

Prejudice and bigotry are born of ignorance, inadequacy  and insecurity (sometimes well deserved.)   It can be changed.  There was a time when it was a stigma to have -whisper, whisper – diabetes.

One of the antidotes to stigma is for us to come out.  Then we are known as individuals, rather than as “them”.

May God bless us all,

doug