Just trying to understand my ADD family members. My son is shy, very shy. My husband appears to others to be a "show-off", bragging etc. He says he has always been shy but his mother says "NO WAY". Trying to see if it could be the ADD or maybe he is feeling "high and mighty" now that he is in Management now. He says he feels more "in a fog" now than before, and feels he has to struggle more to remember work stuff. He has distanced himself from the rest of the family which leads me to believe its the added work-related pressures with the ADD. But whats with the bragging show-offness? Is this common or is shyness? He has not been put on any medications yet as they are trying to see exactly what type he is and the dr. is still looking into it.
If this is an ADDer trait, does it change once on meds?:confused:

Not on the ADHD tack, but I think that people who show off/brag a lot generally have some self esteem issues. Since people with ADHD commonly have problems with self esteem, it seems natural that a lot of ADHDers would do that.

I don't know if most add'ers are shy. I am extremely shy and don't know what to say to anyone. I always feel as if people are sizing me up.

But then again, ADHD isn't my only problem. I also have depression and anxiety as well.

I have done a ton of research on ADHD but have never remember hearing bragging and boasting as a symptom. I have never been around anyone that I know to be diagnosed as AD/HD so I really don't know.

i can brag or boast, but it is because i feel like i do so many things poorly, that when I find something I'm good at, I like to talk about it.

i dont about anyone else, but with me, if i know the ppl im around or with enough ppl i know and comfortable ill do "adhd" things, but if i dont know the ppl i clam up cuz my brain goes a million miles tryin to figure out what to say to ppl so i tend to not meet new ppl all that often unless its sumwhere where i have to

i can brag or boast, but it is because i feel like i do so many things poorly, that when I find something I'm good at, I like to talk about it.
That makes total sense to me with my husband. He seems to need praise for a job well done but it is hard to when he brags so much. I find it hard to compliment a person who appears to think they are great!! But I can see it can apply to what you say as well. Its hard too, that he can't say compliments to me.

I remember when I was really young I was really really really shy...I rememebr being about 9 and going to a speedway every Friday. I would go and stand at the kiosk all night and stare at their tee-shirts..when my Mum got me one for my birthday, the man behind the counter told my Mum he thought I was deaf and dumb becasue I never spoke..but OMG!!! did that change when I turned about 12

My husband is like your husband. He tends to try to brag and show off. I think part of his is an inability to filter what he is saying. Sometimes, he just blurts things out. I also know that he has a self-esteem problem, too, so that is part of the problem.

I'm shy around people I don't know.

And I'm chatty around those I do know well. With that, comes a plethora of conversations- some dealing with accomplishments, places visited, information absorbed..so we wouldn't dub it 'bragging' as much as conversational flow.

The people that I know, who 'brag', feel obliged to be competitive. Competition is something ingrained in their lives, from a young age- it's not a bad or good thing- it's just something that 'is'.

Maybe your husband feels like he has to compete with others, now that he's in management, and that's the behavior that you're perceiving as 'bragging'.

Just a thought.


Peace,
Nova

LOL, I don't brag or take compliments real well but lets say I am very good/pretty good /just above normal at what I do- what ever that may be :D

and my kids are all above average !

I am the 0pposite of shy, I talk to anyone A LOT. Its a big part of my ADHD problme in fast.

I am kind of half and half.


I guess it's because I also have bi-polar? I can get into manic highs and be all over the place, but sometimes... I just want to lay in a corner and never leave.

You should try and be more comfortable with taking compliments, WT.

You have done, so many exemplary things, that warrant your intake of compliments.

I sincerely mean that.


Nova

I don't really think you can put a particular personality trait on to ADHDers. ADHD is only part of the whole person. I can think of the show-offy ones, the performers, the entertainers and class clowns; those who are most comfortable making people laugh and are their best in front of a microphone. Then there are those who's base personality is quite, thoughful, introspective, watchful, observant, behind the scenes, etc. And does having ADHD mean you have more energy, or more of a person with less stamina? Or does it just exemplify those base traits?

Awsome question. Just my ramblings......