The Forums › Forums › Most X-treme! › Where I Struggle Most › The issue of who to tell and who not to tell about my ADHD › Reply To: The issue of who to tell and who not to tell about my ADHD
I think disclosing is on a need to know basis. The problem is the ridiculous name that the disorder has. It trivialises it. It is a bit like calling measles ‘a bit of a rash’.
If I need some accommodation at work I will ask for it but will be specific – for example, instead of saying ‘I need a quiet space because I have ADHD’ I will say ‘I need a quiet space because it will help me be more productive’.
With regard to friends, I don’t say anything. They know what I am like and that’s that. I think I’d rather say I have neurotransmitter deficit that affects my executive functioning. They won’t know what you mean! 🙂
If ‘they’ would just give it a sensible name and if the popular press would describe it properly instead of just being forgetful and not being able to complete tasks then it would make our like easier with respect to being able to discuss it.
The problem is, when you are being diagnosed you want to discuss it. When I was at that stage I relied heavily on this site because it’s full of people who ‘get it’ and who won’t judge or dismiss.
My hairdresser clearly has ADHD but she was recently diagnosed with depression. I suggested to her that she gets assessed for ADHD but she said she’d rather be labelled with depression because of the bad press and stigma associated with it. Says it all really.
🙁
REPORT ABUSE