I appreciate the great comments. They motivate me to keep posting. In case you missed it, I’m using Cindy’s comment for this post.
Cindy Bahl says:
November 8, 2022 at 8:22 pm (Edit)
Doug,
You nailed it. I’ve found others just can’t comprehend what it means unless they have ADHD as well. I’m kind of sick of friends saying (with sincerity) they must also have it because of whatever. Not saying they don’t but I explain to them that being overwhelmed with life can also cause a person (who doesn’t have ADHD) to have a few ADHD symptoms until they get their life back in balance. No one believes me, though. So, I then encourage them to see a specialist (stressing that they should pick a mental health professional that specializes in ADHD) to assess and diagnose them. It’s in their best interest and it helps them understand what all this really means. I suspect some are just convinced if they got a prescription, they’re life would revert back to normal for them. This is another thing they never believe me on (when they ask me about meds) – truth is meds are a tool but not a solution. It’s a lifelong condition due to (basically) the way our brains are wired. We have periods in our lives where the symptoms become mild and years when they get unmanageable. Usually because our brain is overwhelmed by chronic pain, major life stressors, or just trying to exist in today’s world. But it never just disappears forever.
Thank you for those strategies. Very well articulated and I’ll sure to pass them along to others.
Doug, thanks again for an amazing blog.
ADHD film – this is what it’s like
Thank you, Cindy!
Quote O the Day:
Marriage, childbirth, ADHD – you had to have been there.
Doug
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cindy
that’s sad. the dilemma is that we can only reduce the stigma by coming out, but its risky and tricky.
thank you for your comments and for subscribing.
best wishes
doug
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Wow, that’s for posting my comment, Doug! I’m honored!
The tweet your shared on how someone demands you explain and prove something yet they are a stranger? So true and hilarious!
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ram, as always, thank you for your comment. your strategy is very interesting. there is no reason we have to tell anyone its specifically ADHD. your description seems to work.
yes, its not good to blame people for being ignorant but its difficult not to blame them for being unwilling to be informed or for being mean.
thank you
best wishes
doug
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Great post – great comment by Cindy. But honestly, it was hearing that type of comment at the beginning that made me stop telling people about my diagnosis. I tell them – at the most – that my brain is wired differently and I need psychiatric therapy, so they react that much more respectful of it. I mean, truth be told: the first time a psychiatrist told me I have ADHD and a prescription with ritalin, I left the doctor’s office in a huff, saying to myself “that’s a children’s condition that’s way too overdiagnosed! This guy must be insane!”. It was only after doing some extensive googling about ADHD in adults that I realized: yup, it’s real. And the diagnosis fit like a glove.
ADHD is just very poorly represented in the media. It’s hard to blame people for being ignorant. I mean, how much did any of us know before we were diagnosed and did extensive research on the subject?
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I also hesitate to tell anyone that I have ADHD. There is such little respect for it. Even today, there are many doctors, therapists, and psychiatrists that have outdated notions about it, to the level that it hurts their patients. I continue to be stunned by the overwhelming bias against it from all places in our culture even though it is 2022!
About a year ago I decided to be more open about it. One thing I was surprised about were so many people who really didn’t have a clue what ADHD was at all. They had heard of it but knew next to nothing. I just thought that was interesting. And then I also realized me telling others often provided me no benefit but instead brought on confusion. My intention was to help others understand better why I do certain things. However, that has yet to happen with any person I’ve told. Heck, even my husband doesn’t buy into the whole ADHD really. It’s sad and unnerving.
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