Accepting who you are

[BoredWes]

It took me awhile to accept my adhd and that I was different than other people. It used to really frustrate me that getting up in the morning and just being at work on time was a task in itself. Or that I was socially and professionally "behind" other people in my age group. Not to mention dealing with the side effects from the medication.

At the end of the day I realized being mad would not get me anywhere just turn me into a bitter old person. So I got past all of that and accepted who I was with my faults and I put a plan into action to remedy the things I could control.

The biggest obstacle for me was accepting and not straying from the "life/career plans" that I created for myself. Without realizing it I would constantly change directions with what I wanted to accomplish in my 5-10 year plan (e.g. one month I wanted to go to graduate school, the next month I wanted to change professions, the next month I would want to try and move up within my dept/company). Looking back it was quite comical.

Anyway, Anyone else have this issue or am i alone?

[tudorose]

Accepting yourself is important. It took me a long time. I finally got it last year.

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105574

[Fuzzy12]

I struggle with this. I can't accept who/what or how I am. I can't stand myself. It's like living with your worst enemy. I wish I could run away but how do I run away from myself?

[BoredWes]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy12

I struggle with this. I can't accept who/what or how I am. I can't stand myself. It's like living with your worst enemy. I wish I could run away but how do I run away from myself?

Can I ask what do you hate most about yourself? I'm sure we have the same things in common

[PookDo]

I was diagnosed almost 4 years ago and I still struggle with it daily

[BellaVita]

You are definitely NOT alone with this issue.

Learning to accept myself has been a long and difficult journey to say the least, especially after being officially diagnosed with ADD a little over a year ago. This has been something I've dealt with all of my life, and I've always felt different from everyone else, despite my past best efforts to "fit in" and lead a "normal" life. As a child, I would often come home from school in tears as I felt like there was something wrong with me, especially in the area of making friends and keeping them. I felt rejected and became very withdrawn at times. I was a perfectionist(still am and working with it) too, so I would spend HOURS AND HOURS on homework(about 6+hrs a day) to make good grades. Over the years, I developed anxiety issues, sleep problems, and have had bouts of depression as well. My self-esteem gradually went down the drain, and self-confidence was anything but foreign to me. Thankfully, I'm not in that dark place I used to be. After lots of counseling/therapy, bio/neurofeedback, along with the much needed aid of medications, reading self-help books, tightly grasping onto faith and hope, and befriending people that struggle with similar issues, I'm beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel...and I'm actually experiencing some of this light. Sometimes I get confused in a fog again and the light seems to dim, but I have learned to persevere and keep on keepin' on despite my circumstances. And each time I do, the light grows brighter and brighter.

I am who I am. It may sound cliché, but accepting my “flaws”/differences and embracing them, instead of fighting *against* them, has perhaps been one of the key factors in allowing myself to grow as a person. I will continue to try to become the best version of myself I can be, but I cannot allow that to become an obsession to the point where I am so focused on myself that I forget to enjoy the things in life that mean so much to me.


I believe there’s potential and good in everyone, it may just be expressed in different ways and that’s okay!! Everyone’s unique, and it’s that uniqueness that makes each person special.

[anonymouslyadd]

I have had the same trouble too, and I suppose this gives me anxiety sometimes. The fact that I do act different makes me feel restricted and then, resentful for modifying my behavior.

The reality is that if someone doesn't like something I do, it's their problem. I have to find ways to stay away from certain people.

I think I'm a little better about accepting myself, especially when it comes to my accomplishments. I just have to look at the negative impact ADD can have on someone's life to feel OK about what I've achieved.

[bADDad]

It took me 40 years to realize that the moment I accepted myself others would too. There is no question that if what you present to the world is genuinely you, like it or not, that the world will accept you, warts and all.

If you accept who you are and don't like what you see then that is another matter. Make peace with yourself and accept wherever you are now. You can always make changes in the future, if you are brave enough.

We are animals. We sense the un-ease of others. Relax into yourself and others will follow.

[ginniebean]

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...elf-acceptance


Found an interesting link about self acceptance.

[TheChemicals]

Be yourself. Unless you suck, then be someone else.

[justtim]

I struggle with this. I'm 40 and I was diagnosed about 4 years ago however I ignored it for a few years. I've been fairly successful in my life, had some great jobs, made a lot of money and am now self-employed.

However, over the last 4 years it seems it has gotten progressively worse, and is really affecting my ability to run my business. It's wearing me out trying to get my **** together every day and do everything that needs to be done.

I don't accept this right now, I hate it. I. Hate. It. There are so many things I want to do and I know I could do if I could just get my damn thoughts straight and stay focused. As I read posts on here I see more habits/personality traits that I have that are related to ADD. I've yet to decided whether that's good or bad as before I thought it was just certain things I needed to work on but now that I know it's my stupid brain doing this to me and no matter how hard I try I still have to fight against what I am it really frustrates me.

I don't want ADHD to be what defines me or decides what I'm able to accomplish in life. I want to beat this. I recently started Strattera and at first I thought it was helping but it's also affected my sleep for the past 2 weeks and I'm back to not being able to think straight. Not sure if the medicine isn't helping or I'm just too damn tired.

Screw ADD.