Hi I have just been diagnosed with adhd inattentive type this past week. I need some advice on how to tell my family and friends about it. Its been a week since my diagnoses and I have not told anyone about it. I keep tossing and turning the idea of telling them in my mind but never do. I’m nervous they might look at me differently thinking I’m slow or dim-witted. Has anyone else ever had this problem?

I gave up on trying to explain anything to my family where denial is a major element of our family dynamic. When I was dx'ed I realized that my brothers and sister exhibited some of the same traits that I do. I bought them several of the better books on ADD and mailed them to them. Thats all I can do. Anything more and they will feel pressured to comply with my dx. I'm hoping that they will read the info and come to their own conclusion that ADD is prevalent in our family. I haven't heard from any of them yet.

Welcome to the Forums!

You can post an intro about yourself here (http://www.addforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=14).

I first discussed my diagnosis with the people I trusted most, some were in my family.

Everyone else was informed on a need-to-know basis.

My advice:

Start with why you went to get help. Explain specifically what your symptoms were. I always like to make sure people understand how debilitaing the symptoms are and exactly what they are. There are some huge misconceptions.

Then tell them what your doctor told you and what treatment you are seeking. If they know what treatments can do, they might understand more about how the disorder doesn't have to rule your life and what it really says about you (it doesn't say you're stupid!).

I also make sure I share what the research demonstrates about the biological process -- how the prefrontal cortex slows down in ADDers who are made to focus while it increases in nonADDers, etc.

I would also be prepared with some information about the disorder. While there are some great books out there, a simple pamphlet or internet printout is a lot easier to swallow.

Good luck!

I first discussed my diagnosis with the people I trusted most, some were in my family.

Everyone else was informed on a need-to-know basis.
In my case I have to agree with the above. Unfortunately I had to learn this the hard way. :)

Hi Gsingh!

The poeple I had trouble telling were my friends. I wanted them to know but I didn't want it to seem like that's all I was was a diagnososis, or that I was trying to het pitty. So I left of ADHD books out on the living room table where they could see them or when we talked about hardships in school I'd mention my diagnosis. Say a few tihngs about what that meant for me and then let the conversation continue. I don't remind them every day, and they except me for me so they don't let the idea of me having ADHD confsue them.

My family has known about my ADD from the day I was diagnosed. They accept it but we don't talk about it. They don't think any less of me. ADD is just another part of me. Yell them about your ADD, and if they don't believe it or blow it off, don't let it worry you. ( I should take my own advice sometimes). You can't force them to see ADD they way you want them too and you can't force them to understand. But you should definatly make them aware so that it doesn't come up years from now as a surprise.