Do you ever wonder if we're just using ADHD as an excuse?

[Conman]

Originally Posted by ana futura

Aww, stop using your ADHD as an excuse!

nice try, ive instead just stopped blaming things or say things like "you have FAILED me my brain!"-Deadpool

[GreatArtistJosh]

If you are doubting your condition then you mostlikely don't have it; anyone in the right mind would not use this as a excuse.... It's really too much work....


How could you pretend to live this way your whole life? You could be the next best actor haha!! I wish I was faking it....

[anonymouslyadd]

Originally Posted by GreatArtistJosh

If you are doubting your condition then you mostlikely don't have it; anyone in the right mind would not use this as a excuse.... It's really too much work....

I know someone, who got diagnosed twice, just to make sure they really had it. I don't think doubting is grounds for not having ADD. I think it means they are in a questioning phase and are grappling with something new.

[GreatArtistJosh]

It Is best to get monitored growing up to build a case but most are unfortunate to have that chance. I can see a point in double checking too make sure you really have It. I was diagnosted wIth ADHD as a child but I feel I have add only... Sometimes I feel I have both.... But I really don't know... Still doesn't give me a excuse for acting as a artistic child at some points... If I had a normal mind I sure it wouldn't be this hard to be successful seeing how I try so hard day after day to succeed in what others can acomplish in half the time. But too the things that I create and want to do such as my art work I tower over most so I have found a sense of enlightenment in myself. It's love

[ana futura]

Originally Posted by anonymouslyadd

I know someone, who got diagnosed twice, just to make sure they really had it. I don't think doubting is grounds for not having ADD. I think it means they are in a questioning phase and are grappling with something new.

I think doubting one's ADHD is yet another "symptom" of ADHD. We are so terrible at self observation.

I frequently doubt my diagnosis, because I think I'd prefer to just be a lazy jerk who needs an attitude adjustment. I don't want to have to take meds for the rest of my life just so I can stop being fired from jobs and be able to feel comfortable around other humans. I hate how meds change my brain around and make me see things I've been missing my whole life, it makes me feel like everything I've ever assumed about myself and the world is "off."

I often wish I could undo my diagnosis, and go back to being in blissful denial.

[GreatArtistJosh]

I really like your post Ana futura... Well said ^^

[ToneTone]

Use ADHD as an excuse TO WHOM?

I have no idea what "sucking it up" means....

ADHD meds don't cure us of all symptoms. So in that sense, I have to "suck it up" all the time.

The entire point of a diagnosis (whether it be heart disease or breast cancer or Parkinson's) is that it provides a precise as possible understanding of the person's condition---AND INDICATES WHAT TYPE OF TREATMENT IS BEST!

Again, I ask, EXCUSE FOR WHAT? ... My dad has been diagnosed with Parkinson's for about 8 years? ... Well, he could suck it up, whatever the heck that means, but it sure seems like the Parkinson's meds have really helped me and slowed down the disease's progression ...

The bottom line: I get more work done after getting treated for ADHD than I did before getting treated.

I get to more places on time after getting treated for ADHD than I did before getting treated ...

I procrastinate less ... I lose few things ... And on and on ...

I broke my eyeglasses about a month ago ... Sure, I could suck it up, and I did for a few weeks ... but you know what? I need my glasses to see well when driving at night and for reading .... Suck it up? ... I don't know what that means.

But if you think "sucking it up" can produce better results than ADHD treatment, then share more ... Tell us exactly how sucking it up will help our brain and executive function in a way that is more effective than stimulants.

I'm all ears.

Tone

[ddarco]

Well heres the thing. Knowlege is power.

How are you supposed to overcome your ADD if you don't know you have it?

Now we can be confident in ourselves and patiently learn to overcome it instead of beating ourselves up saying "I'm a freaking idiot!"

We know we aren't an idiot, we're not alone, and we can overcome it with patience and help.

[ginniebean]

Rock on tone!

[fracturedstory]

I broke my glasses one time and I 'sucked it up' by sucker punching someone in the midst of a meltdown.

OK, I didn't. I just went mental and ran away.

I don't use my ADHD as an excuse. I just like to at times come in here and share with people during those really bad times, so that I can find some people who not only understand, but relate to.

I go through these periods where I don't mind ADHD and then other times when I'm just reaching out for my pill bottle. Today though it's just making me laugh at the things I have gotten up to today.

[Lisa_Mac]

No. Never.

I was diagnosed when I was in my thirties. (about 33). I am by nature a hard worker and have a good work ethic, something I can thank my parents for. In primary school when the load was less, I did well, but even then I would make stupid mistakes, that would cost me marks and zone out during class or, even worse, I once remember doing it during a play and missing my cue, which caused me huge distress.

I was always being accused of being in my own world or being absent minded, and forgetful. This also caused me great distress, because it was not the way I wanted to be. I was able to change for short periods, but not able to keep it up, naturally. I've spent my life trying to compensate for my shortcomings and trying to be something else, but just not succeeding long term. This was one of the sources of my anxiety.

Because of my weak short term memory/executive function everything took longer for me to learn. This was another source of anxiety. I knew I was not achieving to my full potential and I also knew that it was not because I was lacking in intelligence. I just said that I was lazy (wrong) and never did any homework (correct), however I also knew that I struggled to get organized and when faced with a project would become easily overwhelmed. I often didn't know where to start. And I never received any help from home. My parents where too busy. As long as I didn't fail, they never asked any questions, and I just bumbled along.

Fortunately, the career I chose, after a few false starts, is very hands on, and practical, which works well for me. The busier I am, the better I function, as long as I have a team of staff to help and I'm not overwhelmed. I don't work well under stress, but I work well when the work is there and needs to be done. My work space normally looks like a bomb has hit it, but when I have time, I will clear it. Especially when I work for someone else and I have appearances to keep up. Nobody like their boss to think of them as an untidy slob. (people pleaser - that's me )

So no, I do not, and never have used ADD as an excuse. It is the way I am. It has helped me realise that I am the way I am, in spite of myself, and everytime I say something that I should have rather kept to myself, I am apologetic and contrite, and resolve to keep my mouth shut in future. (yeah, right) But I am very pleased to know that the reason I am how I am has nothing to do with my character, but more to do with the way my brain works.

Lx

[amberwillow]

I was raised in a family that believed in the good ole 'stiff upper lip'.
It didn't help me get my homework handed in.

My brother (7yrs older than me) didn't find it helpful in helping him fit in either...
He committed suicide at age 18.

So NO, I don't think we are using our ADHD as Sn excuse.
My life has done nothing but improve since my dx at age 32.

[sarahsweets]

if adhd was a verifiable excuse then I would have used it to beat all of my traffic tickets and police involvement.

[DvlsAdv0c8]

I have tried in the past to convince myself I really just need to try harder to get my s**t together and pay more attention. Then I think I'm doing pretty well and just cruising along and all of a sudden - BANG! - I'm getting called out at work for some stupid, careless mistake I didn't realize I made, I find my missing bottle of asthma medication on the back porch (????) and I realize I suddenly can't find my debit card and panic.

I just seem to keep crashing into that invisible brick wall.

The danger lies in actually using ADD/ADHD as an excuse and not putting forth any kind of effort, be it medication, behavioral therapy, coaching - DON'T use it as a crutch if you know you have it.

Although, I suppose that is your choice.

[EnergizerJen]

I wasn't diagnosed until late twenties.

I "rucked up" so many times that it damn near killed me.

I suffer more greatly now than if I had been diagnosed as a child and helped.
Anxiety, depression, social phobia, ocd.....

No. It is not an excuse.

ADHD will, however, excuse itself out of the way so you can pick up some comorbidities as you try to ignore it... lol

Good luck.