Re: The issue of who to tell and who not to tell about my ADHD

[sdwa]

For me, wanting to tell people has had more to do with needing to talk through my experience in order to understand it myself. Not so much about getting them to understand me, because I don’t want to fall into the trap of making excuses. My responsibilities are still my responsibilities – how I choose to meet them is for me to figure out. (For example, it’s my job to pick up the mail every day, but I know if I don’t post the task where it will be right in my face, I won’t remember. I need to set an alarm and post a note. I can’t say, Oh, sorry, I can’t remember to get the mail, I have ADD, because it’s part of my job.)

So far, listening to other people with ADD share their experiences and learning about common patterns and the neurological stuff has helped me feel less of a need to explain – or over-explain – to other people who either don’t understand, don’t believe in it, don’t want to know, or don’t need to know.

That said, I am not shy or secretive about it. I’m not ashamed of it, maybe because it doesn’t carry the same stigma as something like bi-polar disorder or schizophrenia. Besides, I don’t care that much what people think – it’s none of their business. And how can I care what they think when half the time I don’t even remember who they are? LOL. No, but seriously…it might be worth asking yourself: When does it serve your best interests to tell someone? What are you trying to gain by telling them?

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