convincing people ADD exists!!! | ADHD Information

do what i do

take your pills work on behavior

& take the ADD secret to the grave

Why bother trying to convince anyone that it is real . . .you know it's real & that's all you need . . .if they have an open mind they will listen or  ask you questions or chk it out on the Web.  You  coould give them some ADDr Web sites to chk out that could xplain it in more detail or in a way that they may better understand.      

 

I think people are more open to hearing about it when I'm more straightforward about what it really is and I don't unintentionally put them down.  Also, they seem more open if they know they aren't going to be asked to take a bigger burden because I have add.  (Just from my experience.)

A few years after I was diagnosed, people started talking about how if you have add - you're likely a genius or that only people with add are creative and fun, etc.  I believe, however, that people with add can be geniuses or retarded - we can be creative but so can other people, etc. 

I tell people about add only rarely but when I think more about them and how what i'm saying will be interpreted by them - wiifm, they have seemed more receptive.

 

 

[QUOTE=rayray812]

oh you mean strip clubs?

[/QUOTE]

Ok, Rayray.. that would be positive for YOU

sherry

Hi, as I am quite new to ADD, I have begun to tell my friends and family about my condition. Although I find myself getting frustrated as a lot of people just thinking I am being my dramatic self! Someone said the other day 'I forget things often and I don't have an excuse!' I felt like saying 'Exuse me, but you are organised, on time, not creative, boring and very attentive, all the things I'm not!"

These people do not understand ADD. Alot of people think it's made up, or another name for some strange disorder that 'apparently' exists.How do I convince people that it is a problem and it can be hard to live with? xx

That sounds almost identical to my first post on here!!

Havn't got any suggestions as I'm still having the problem with family and friends as you. Unfortunately everyone I know either says "yeah, I think I've got that too" or " I dont think ADHD is a real condition, It"s just a cop out"

I dont know what to do to get the people in my life to take it seriouslyr me for that matter.

I dont think they understand that we take it as an attack on us when they fail to acknowledge this disorder.

Hope you have a more luck in the future

I hear, "But you're not hyper!" all the time. It makes me want to punch someone.

 

Dabonbon

Very interesting Seeker63. I understand what you are saying and I am always getting told the same things'well, i forget things too, and i meet all MY responsibilities', 'i have trouble paying attention sometimes, just MAKE yourself do it.', "you just need to GROW UP!', "you need to take responsibility for yourself. stop acting like a baby.'

I am fed up with hearing these comments. I feel like if I tell people it's ADD, then they will understand. Some do and some don't. Thats life! I do get down lately because I feel I am such a shambles and I mess up most areas of my life!

Think most people are just too wrapped up in their own world to understand ours. It's kinda like "OH, so you're ADHD,  then go take your medicine."  That's the end of it.  It doesn't mean much to them.

I don't try to convince people, My closest friends and co-workers know, the people I'm around everyday.  Some knew before I did. 

I'm in a neat situation, since my coworkers are all teachers.. they KNOW it exists.

I have told a few and have had very positive reaction.. Some have said things, like " I would have never known that" or well, you must be dealing it with it well. Some people have even asked me questions about  the disorder, like what its like to have it, how do I deal with certain situations.. How did I figure out that I had it... things like that.

Luckily I am in a very positive work environment.  I think that is  part of the key to our treatment. -- Find a work environment that is positive, encouraging and that you can be happy going to everyday.

Unfortunately many of us, ADD or not, have a hard time finding that type of job.

Sherry

Honesty with others is always a good policy.  just be careful depending on where you live as to who you share with - i.e. work, insurance, etc.

To explain ADHD - start by telling them that the emphasis on the initials AD is the key - ATTENTION DEFICIT - meaning lessened attention.  You suffer from an inability to focus your attention as well as other people without ADHD.  That's what I say and it usually works.  When they bring up hyper and ask why I'm not - I tell them that the H usually mellows in adulthood (though not always) and that most adults with ADHD are lacking in the ability to stay on target.

I tell them that it's genetic - and doesn't RULE my life rather tries to drag me from my targets in life and it is a hard effort to stay on track.  With meds and therapy I tell them - it's so much easier but people understanding where I am helps that much more.

Giving them the website links to our resources (here, www.oneaddplace.com, etc.) helps too - many people like to see things in print before believing.

i prefer to tell noone. i don't see much point, or take any comfort, communicating that i am 'handicapped', or somewhat inferior.

it's not that i neccessarily believe it is a true handicap, or that it does make me inferior in the grand scheme of things.

my friends, my family, my coworkers all believe adhdh, and things like depression, are what you claim to have so you can take unfair advantage of all those others that 'don't make excuses', or 'tough it out', or 'don't cop out when things get hard'.

i hear things like- 'well, i forget things too, and i meet all MY responsibilities', 'i have trouble paying attention sometimes, just MAKE yourself do it.', "you just need to GROW UP!', "you need to take responsibility for yourself. stop acting like a baby.'

i don't need to give people another thing to point out that i'm not reliable, not good to do business with, always making excuses, etc., etc.

why do business with someone who is constantly falling short, and makes excuses, when you could do business with someone who claims to have it together and blames everyone else for their failings, mistakes, etc.?

regarding insurance, though, if it is preexisting, and you lie, they can take action against you, like excluding or cancelling you, or coming after you for the funds they paid out. they can do that if you admit to a condition too, on the grounds you don't qualify for the plan as having excessive risk.

i don't trust, nor like insurance companies. they are just about the richest industry on earth. they pretend they exist to 'help ppl.', when in fact it is just a way to get lots of your money by either forcing legislation, or scaring you into buying it.

yes they pay out, (if they didn't, even the gov't would have to go after them, and ppl. wouldn't put up with them) but they keep and profit a whole lot more!

the only argument i have to prove adhd is me! you think someone as smart and creative as you all have said i am would choose all these crazy, self-damaging behaviours? if i don't care, then why am i so damn depressed over my struggles and failures all the time?

oh you mean strip clubs?

 couldnt resist that crack