Emberrased about ADD/ADHD? | ADHD Information

So far not embarressed. I was a bit embarressed about my behavoir, things I said or did before I was diagnosed and put on meds. Now that I'm on Adderall I feel much better and have cut the embarressing behavoir down considerably. Everyonce in awhile I do sopmething dumb that embaresses me but for the most part even stuff that would have made me felt bad before doesn't anymore. Before I'd think why did I do or say that I'm such a jerk. Now I know why I do the things I do so it's no big deal.The label embarrasses me.  Thats good guys.  I have decided to tell my wife tonight about my ADHD... But how do you go about telling your significant other about something like this?  I dunno, I just feel embarrased about it.... 

I probably telll TOOO many people! LOL  I am what I am! People wonder why I am so hyper and knowing that I have ADHD explains alot to them soooo easier for them to know.

One of the groups I attend, the Dr said the percentage of ADD adults is BIG so don't be embarrassed! probably more have it then you know.

thank you very much ADHDadult... that gives me more confidense in telling her!  :)  you guys are great!!

I wouldn't worry about being honest with your doctor.  Most general practitioners are well aquanted with ADD, especially since Lilly's big marketing strategy of Strattera.  The one good thing Strattera has done is bring more awareness to adult ADD.

 

I too was very embarassed by going to the dr. about being diagnosed.  Always knew I had it.  I finally bit the bullet and made the appointment (also didn't tell my wife).  Almost didn't go.  I thought, "I'm 38 years old."  "What the hell am I thinking."  My prime-care couldn't see me, so made an appointment with someone else in the office.

I was wasn't necessarily looking fo the diagnosis, but rather an referral to someone whoe could.  The guy walked in, younger than me, and listened to my story, looked at my papers I brought (from internet) and asked me 2 questions:  "Is you marriage in jeopardy?" and "Is your job in jeopardy?"

I answered no to both and he said I'm hyper-active, and that's ok.  Good-bye.

"What the F***!!!"  This was the stupidist thing I ever did (and I've done quite a few).  When I told my wife what happened (also an ebarrassing moment), she said, "Are you still on that kick?" Well I stayed with it, eventually saw my PC (who appoligized for the INTERN'S assessment-can you imagine-an INTERN) and got my referral.

It was so worth it.  Meds have been a Godsend.  Be selfish and think of yourself.  Don't give up.

Schwep

I'm an embarrassment to my friends and family. Well, maybe
not that extreme. I'm embarrassed when everyone treats me
like I'm 12 and can't get things done on my own, which I usually
can't, but it's from my ADD. My dad always tells me to get a job.
I really hate it. Not that I don't want a job, it's the effort in finding
one that bothers me. I hate being told what to do like I'm
incapable of doing anything. I just recently figured out that I had
ADD. When I went to the doctor, I was really nervous. I felt
awkward talking to him about it, and because it was also my
first time seeing my new doctor. I'm really glad I went. It's funny but I've never been embarassed about it. I tell anyone who asks.  I've never had a negative reaction to it, or noticed any kind of bigotry.
Yep, I empathise with you.
At first I was in denial, then ashamed, and then I accepted myself.
I came to a point of acceptance by talking truthfully to others, and making no excuses for me being me.
I went from being 'different/odd' to being 'monk'; Everyone loves 'monk'!!!


I had an horrendous time at school, even though I was incredibly bright (and the teachers thought I was an imbecile!), I couldn't communicate or adapt to the regime.
Now with recent developments in understanding AD, and associated learning issues, educators are much more accepting of our problems, and are taught to facilitate a better learning environment.

I became a teacher, and still today, I see óld fashioned educationalists destroying AD kids. It makes me sooo angry.
Even though these teachers have been given the benefit of pd days to help educate these kids, back in the classroom they run with their ingrained ideas of bad/hopeless'kids, and set the scene for these kids to fail.
Now I know I'm not bullsh*tting here, because I've seen it and experienced it, and I see kids being destroyed a little more each day.
In fact when (after 3 years) I told my colleagues I was AD and medicated, (which I thought would be enlightening to my colleagues on a special ed program), staffroom chatter and jokes about AD children/"little s**ts" stopped abruptly.
I suddenly felt as isolated as I did when I was a child. I could sense an air of paranoid sceptism and mistrust. Ironically noone asked me questions...
they needed to ask.

All it takes is to listen.
Listen to what a person with AD has to say.

I think the climates changing now'.
But we need to keep talking, and sharing, and caring.
The shame will go, acceptance will come.
And we will be understood.

You know, I think all will be well for you...you're talking; and you're being heard

PS. This may sound a bit strange...but you're not going to be a different person after you visit the Dr!
The people who loved and accepted you before will still love and accept you tomorrow.
Gosh , wouldn't it be fantastic if you felt the same way

It is not something to be ashamed of.  It is just 'our quirk' Everyone has something about them that is not 100% what is considered normal.  I would prefer to have ADHD issues than to be extremely shy or inadequate some other way.

I'm more embarrased about the results of me having ADD than the actual label itself.... meaning fif other people are getting this and that done, why can't I do it, or if it's getting into other people's heads, why can't it get into mine?

For me if by the end of the day I get everything that needs to be done finished, I can care less how people think of ADD and me..... of course it helps that I'm bigger than most people (height, not weight).

 

 

I think it is very important that ADHDers learn to pat themselves on the back for any little achievement.  Start to notice what you do achieve.  Hell even remembering to brush your teeth routinely is a pat on the back - cheersWe all need to be with someone who can accept us, as we are! but first we need to accept ourselves and that is the hardest feat. Gooood Luck!

Hi.  I was just wondering if anyone was emberrased about their condition.  I have been in denial for years and years about being ADD/ADHD, although I know deep down that there is definately something wrong.  I was on Ritilan when I was yonger, but was taken off of it when I found out what it was and became emberrased about it.  Keep in mind that I was about 9 or so at the time.  I am now 24, and have just come to the realization that I think this is still a problem for me.  Especially after reading over some of the descriptions of how you guys feel here on this forum.  I have a doctors appointment thursday to discuss with her how I should go about dealing with this. 

My problem now is that I feel like such a hippocrite.  I have always said that ADD/ADHD was just a crock... but I think Ive grown to accept that it REALLY IS a condition.  And I believe that I am suffering from it.  It is really hard to talk to anyone about this because of my mentality over the subject over the past 10 years or so, ya know?  I havent even told my wife that I am going to the Dr.  I just dont want to be looked down on, ya know?  I just feel like if I dont do something, things are going to get worse....

Another problem that I have is that I dont know how to talk to the Dr. about it.  I mean, I dont want to just walk in there and give "by the book" symtoms of how I feel, even though THAT IS how I feel, ya know?  Im just scared that they will think that I am faking it, and even the thought just frustrates me to no end.  What should I do??? 

Thank you for listening...

I keep my condition pretty much to myself. part of the reason is that I also used to think ADD was just an excuse until I realized it was the cause of many of my own problems! Part of that was my lack of understanding that there are several types of ADD. Since I was not hyperactive, I never thought about having ADD until I was diagnosed.

Anyway, if you do not feel 100% comfortable talking to your doctor about this, you need a new doctor. You should see a psychologist or psychiatrist who is familiar with ADD (as well as other conditions such as depression that can cause ADD-like symptoms).

Don't feel self-concious about talking to a shrink. They have heard it all.

well, i actually have never seen this doctor before.  my previous doctor closed up shop about 6 months ago, and i havent seen another doctor since then.  my mother actually works at this new doctors office, so i figured that i might as well try... 

I have actually been told that i need to see a shrink (by my last doctor), but due to lack of insurance, I cant really afford to. 

Embarrassment is not unusual but it's unnecessary.
It's not your fault! You didn't do something to "Get it."
It's neurobiological and it is no different than having a medical
problem with some other part of the body and getting treatment.

The main reason to keep it to yourself or be careful who you tell is
to save yourself the aggravation of ignorance and bias.

There needs to be huge public education on this, just as with
depression. A lot of headway has been made with depression tought
there are still those who think people should just snap out of it.
Hopefully understanding of ADD will follow the upcurve of
depression in public education. It actually helps when people who
have it are willing to talk about it publicly — if you have a public
forum.

Short term therapy can help you deal with feelings of embarassment
or other negative thinking associated with this. You dont' need to
suffer, get the help that's there.
Regarding pats on the back: Any little achievment like
toothbrushing is hard to understand . . . how much of this is ADD
and how much simply bad habits that need to be unlearned, and can
be changed with proper help in addition to medication.

It makes it sound like ADD folks are total cripples, which they
decidely are not. They do need to find work that stimulates them —
heck the CEO of Jet Blue is ADD and doesn't want medication
because he's so successful! He doesn't want anythingt to interfere
with that (even if that fear is unfounded).   He always knew he was
wired differently, and he used that to "think out of the box" with
tremendous success. However, he says his wife can tell you how
ADD he is . . .

ADD folks make good entrepreneurs, are often creative people,
artists, etc. Seek life and work that are suited — don't think going to
work in a cubicle in corporate America is going to fit you — unlikely.

I have ADD and my son does. My son has never had medication
and is happy with his life. He is very creative and well loved. He's
had troubles, but is learning to create the life that suits his
strengths.
And he always brushed his teeth and made his bed and did his own
laundry — because he was taught to do that, and ADD did not
prevent him from this. I also have never had a clutter problem and
am well organized — yet, I have ADD. It manifests in other ways.
I have never ever skipped personal hygeine or taking care of my
living space and seeing that it is neat, colorful and comfortable.
I'm not a freakin cripple, I just find medication helps with certain
tasks I now have in my work — otherwise I'd not take it. Once this
phase is passed, I may stop taking it, we'll see.

We do have some responsibility to do normal things and not use
ADD to cop out of things. I realize there are varying degrees of it,
but good heavens, brush your teeth without expecting a medal!