Reply To: increasing your self confidence

[Wgreen]

Well, I’m no therapist, but I’ll make the observation that when you don’t have complete control of your “operating system,” it’s bound to affect your confidence. Constantly bumping into so many “walls” takes its toll. Confidence comes from realizing you’re (largely) in control of your life, fate notwithstanding. Or knowing you can do some things extremely well. Or realizing you’re capable of more than you previously assumed. I think people in general, but ADDers in particular, need to find niches where they can experience some success. Otherwise, life with ADD can be debilitatingly frustrating.

When I was young, my parents told me I could be anything I wanted to be (the American parental mantra). Of course, as inspirational as that was intended to sound, it wasn’t true. No matter how hard I worked, I could never have become an olympic sprinter or astronaut or many other things. My advice: Don’t go looking for failure. Look for work and pastimes you have a knack for and, ideally, you really like. Then work hard to excel at them. Success will spawn pride. And pride will build confidence.

We argue about his on the forum, but I think the key to getting by with ADD is to acknowledge the serious limitations it imposes. Then find a way, if you can, to work around them so you can have some success in life. With a bit of luck and a good strategy, you can ring the bell!

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