So yeah, the one part of actually being diagnosed that is still hanging over my head... how the heck do i tell my parents? Let me explain a little bit about my dysfunctional family... I have three older sisters, one of which has down-syndrome, another who is married to a complete looser who dosnt give a flip about her, and charlene.. well the only way to explain her is as the black sheep. Ever since my sister who is married to the looser got married my parents have pretty much beat it into my head that i am the only one of their kids who has a chance at making something of myself, because my sisters are pretty much all screw ups. That was almost five years ago.. Of course there is *nothing* wrong with putting that kind of pressure on your kid... its *completely* healthy!! :eek:


I am extremely good at hiding things from my parents, and have been having anxiety attacks for as long as i can remember... but i never broke down in front of anyone until reciently... My (ex)best friend is the first person i have ever trusted enough to completely be myself around, when she whitnessed me having an anxiety attack one day, she was like "how often do you break like that?" i was like "dunno... depends on how stressed out i am." It took the girl some talking, but she managed to get me to go to her psychiatrist. While i was there and he was picking my brains appart he caught the fact that i am ADHD along with having the anxiety disorder. Adderall has been a life saver!!

Now comes the part where ive been on the meds for long enough to know they really do help, and i know my parents have to see the change in me becaue everyone else does. I want so badly to tell them but i know they will completely flip out. I have told my oldest sister (the one who is the black sheep) she said she tried to tell our parents years ago i have adhd, and they told her no child of theirs is "messed up in the head like that." :eyebrow: They have been pushing me so hard for the past five or so years, and i feel like nothing i can do anymore will please them. Part of me wants to keep it a secret, but part of me feels like they need to know... I dunno... :foot:

I guess the question is will you accomplish anything positive by telling your family? If they will not provide support and will just add to your stress and anxiety, I'm not sure there is anything to gain by telling them. So, go with your gut and remember that their past behavior is the most accurate indicator of their future behavior.

Depends on how open-minded your parents are. You have a disorder, but you don't have to "end up" like your sisters just because of it! You're being treated and you can see the changes. Let them know that, but it seems they are so unhappy with their lives...meh. Why don't you ask your psychiatrist?

BTW, I find funny the "(ex) best friend". Let me guess, you had a tupid fight because of something trivial and you never spoke again. I hope that's not the case but it just reminded me of many of my friends breaking like that. Why can't women be more like men and forgetting all about it the next day? XD

I wish it were something as simple as that.... lets try stealing my truck, attempting to get credit cards in my name, cheating on her deployed husband (i am an air force brat... i take things like that as an insult to our armed forces!) and simply being a habitual liar... i think that about sums it up.. :eyebrow: I am typically the sweetest person ever, but her... yeah she has brought out my vandictive side, and is going to jail for a while *evil grin*



BTW, I find funny the "(ex) best friend". Let me guess, you had a tupid fight because of something trivial and you never spoke again. I hope that's not the case but it just reminded me of many of my friends breaking like that. Why can't women be more like men and forgetting all about it the next day? XD

wait sorry im not trying to be mean but why is it a big deal? im just wondering. like is it really bad to have add cause i have it too but i dont really care, like do people look down on us? will they? please explain!

Regarding the question above me...(and I'm not answering on behalf of Wench)...for me personally, I completely understand and identify with her situation.

I haven't told my parents either. I am the 'good kid' they raised. A LOT is expected of me. If I falter or make a mistake on anything, it devastates them. They live for perfection and I've never been able to meet their demands, but out of my other siblings, I'm still the best chance they've got. *eye roll*

When and if I ever tell my dad, he'll act confused, annoyed, and then he'll get quiet. He would never allow me to discuss it with him, it will just be swept under the rug. I'll be left knowing that ONCE AGAIN, I disappointed him.

When and if I ever tell my mom, she'll put on her best dramatic face and she'll use her most sarcastic tone of voice. She'll tell me that I do NOT have ADD. She'll say I have (and I quote her from the past), "A bad case of L-A-Z-Y." Nothing more, nothing less. Depending on her mood, she might also toss in, "If you spent as much time getting things DONE, as you do looking for excuses to NOT do them, you'd be more successful."

It's like she is completely aware of my faults, the issues that are created from the ADD, but she would never admit to me having ADD. She won't even admit when I have a cold! She's got every old-school excuse for why I have problems, and she's the type that things 'fresh air and hard work' are the cure-all for everything. *sigh*

So...no... I'll never tell my parents. They want a child they can be proud of, even if it's fake and we're all pretending.

(Sorry to turn this thread into 'me', but I just wanted to answer the question about 'why it's a big deal' for certain families.)

thanks i def. see where you are coming from