Well I finally told a friend of mine that I am indeed ADD and LD just like her. I can't even begin to tell u how much better I feel!:D Its like a huge weight lifted off me. She had told me about her ADD some time ago, and i like a coward just sat there and said nothing. Why did I not say anything then?? Who knows, but I def should have.

Has anyone else felt this huge weight lifted after telling someone about their ADD?

No. I dread saying too much because I know it can be met with scepticism. The people I think who would benefit from being informed of my "condition" are also the most likely to blow it off and make fun of me. If I say something and it is met with understanding, then I'm releaved I said something.

It was a very tricky situation. We were out for drinks one night and she just started telling me that she was add. I said ok, like nothing unusal and continued the convo. I feel like she opened up to me and shared this big secret, and I didn't open up in return and share my big secret. I have never told a boss about my add, for the very reason eyeforgot said, they will bow it off and or make fun of me for it. But a friend who also has add, why would i not say something. I think this could be a great opportunity for us to talk and share our feelings on the subject, maybe even share coping stratigies.

It was a very tricky situation. We were out for drinks one night and she just started telling me that she was add. I said ok, like nothing unusal and continued the convo. I feel like she opened up to me and shared this big secret, and I didn't open up in return and share my big secret. I have never told a boss about my add, for the very reason eyeforgot said, they will bow it off and or make fun of me for it. But a friend who also has add, why would i not say something. I think this could be a great opportunity for us to talk and share our feelings on the subject, maybe even share coping stratigies.
Yes, do you feel the connection too? Like the other ADDer is an extension of yourself? It is pretty wild but it happens to me every time I meet one. Of course I am way proud about my ADD... because it really defines me. I know that sounds odd, but you will understand the more ADDers you meet and drop masks with :) We are VERY contradictory people...absolute individuals in one sense then with other ADDers (when there are no masks and you can be yourself) you are them and they are you. It is more than comforting, you realize there is something special about ADD.

I think we are the only humans that can see that we are not alone in ourselves.

Here's to many more ADD friendships for you! Be careful if they will not "drop masks" with you though, an ADDer in the full negative state (I.e. trying to be what others want them to be or in full rebellion against) can be a very confused and dangerous person.

ADD is a true blessing ;-)

Quite an interesting take on this. Thanks Chain. Now tell me what do u mean by "drop masks?" I am lost.

No. I dread saying too much because I know it can be met with scepticism. The people I think who would benefit from being informed of my "condition" are also the most likely to blow it off and make fun of me. If I say something and it is met with understanding, then I'm releaved I said something.
This is exactly how I feel, when telling my family or friends I feel that I have to come up with some scientific proof in order for them to believe me.

I dread the thought of telling anyone I have AD/HD.
Only because there is so much bad information out there about AD/HD.
Then when I do tell people they find it hard to believe.
I get a lot of but you are so organized. You have a better memory then I do.

Yes I am very organized because of my AD/HD.
I can't function without being that way.
Which is also something they don't understand.
And yes I do have a very good memory about past advents.
But I'm also walking into rooms nine or so times a day wondering what I went in there for.

The last time I told anyone I had AD/HD was two years ago.
I told my friend Stephanie who I had known for about five years at that time.
Her reaction was to start rubbing my arm and repeat over and over again "Your Fine"
I still don't really understand that reaction.

Another reaction I've gotten from people is.
When I'm explaining what AD/HD is really like to them.
They will say oh I do that too. I must be AD/HD to then.
And they will laugh about it.
Then I have to say you do that 9 times a day or every once in the while.
That's another thing that doesn't thrill me either explaining AD/HD to a person who doesn't have it.

I too hate telling people that I have ADHD, especially professors because they seem to love brushing it off by saying "Oh, everyone has those problems." One of my professors gave a lecture the other day that suggested ADD was just society's scape goat "condition" to be used as an excuse for kids who are over active. I was so irritated with it I stood up and left.

Luckily I have letters of accommodation from the disabilities office and ignorant people like him have to give me all the help I need under penalty of law.

AutopilotOFF what a shame you have to deal with that at school.
You would think professors are educated people and would know better.
Then to just make a blanket statement about what they believe and present it as a fact while teaching a class.
I hope that professor has there eyes opened by having you as a student and learns something.
Good Luck in class.

Luckily, I'm doing pretty well in the class.

I'm sure he's learned nothing from me, in a classroom with 300+ students it's hard for professors and students to know each other.

It's so annoying how everyone has this image of a little kid running around and screaming in their head whenever the term ADHD or ADD is mentioned. People need to be more educated on what ADD/ADHD is really like.

It's so annoying how everyone has this image of a little kid running around and screaming in their head whenever the term ADHD or ADD is mentioned. People need to be more educated on what ADD/ADHD is really like.
What he said! :cool:

I totally agree that people need to be more informed about ADD. I know that Rick Lavoie does videos about LD, but does he do any about ADD? The one video I saw about LD's was amazing...I told the prof whos class I was in after we watched it that I wish every teacher I ever had could have seen this video. I can't even begin to tell u how much like me it was, to a T!

Casper,

The F.A.T. City Workshop!! I attended a local Pro D workshop and the instructor used the video and handouts. Frustration Anxiety Tension. Rick Lavoie is incredible. I checked out his site and he does a workshop on ADD, but I didn't find a reference to a video.

To bad he doesn't have a video on ADD. Like I said, his videoes on LD were amazing. I just may have to write a letter to him and see if he would do a video on ADD! Can't hurt to try right?

I couldn't believe how well Rick Lavoie hammered away at the professional people who were filmed in the video. He must have had to practice and practice to get the timing just right to create "LD" in the people attending his workshop. It was a very powerful learning experience just watching the video.

Quite an interesting take on this. Thanks Chain. Now tell me what do u mean by "drop masks?" I am lost.
Dropping masks means... forgetting to care what the other person thinks, letting go and being yourself. We tend to act when we are ADD to fit in... we pretend all sorts of things we really do not feel. When you drop masks, you leave that behind and focus on connecting and being yourself. I dropped mask a while back and forgot were I put it... gets me in trouble a bit but even non-ADDers respect me for forcefully being who I am.

It's so annoying how everyone has this image of a little kid running around and screaming in their head whenever the term ADHD or ADD is mentioned. People need to be more educated on what ADD/ADHD is really like.
Agreed 100 percent... I am working hard on putting into words, every day is educating at least one person. For me it is something I enjoy. Of course I do have non-conventional views... but make no mistake I let people know how difficult it can be too...

The problem is... doctors have the same image in their heads that you talk about. I know an African American woman who is "ADD" (She does great with it) and a Chinese American woman who most likely is ADD... but their doctors refuse to test them, because Asian Americans can't have "ADD"...especially not women!

The more you take a look at the culture of medicine, the more you see the same old prejudices that exist everywhere else... just they are doctors.