Wouldn't it be nice if you could come out of the ADD closet to a world that would embrace you and tell you that they understood that your entire life you had been using every ounce of strength and resource to climb the impossible mountain of every day normalcy? The truth is, ADHD is so vastly mis-understood and mis-catergorized by the general public that the likelihood of that actually happening by all of your friends and loved ones is slim at best.
Most women live with the inattentive type of ADHD vs the hyperactive type. Generally ADHD is viewed by the general public as the textbook hyperactive male child, and rarely are the debilitating implications considered for adults, especially females. Most ADHD women have gone through the majority of their lives undiagnosed and struggling to maintain the basic status quo acceptable by their peers. When they fall short and disappoint friends, family, or co-workers their shortcomings are considered a character or personality flaw. So when we finally realize that our struggles not only have a name but a possible treatment it is understandable that we would want to shout from the rooftops "HEY... IT WASN'T MY FAULT... I'M ACTUALLY NOT A FLAKE... JUST MY BRAIN CHEMISTRY!", but most of us are so terrified of the social implications that that admission would create that we inevitably stay in the closet.
The most important thing I have found in reaching out to people about this disorder is that you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make em' drink. It is crucial that you surround yourself with a SUPPORT system. A support system by definition means a system of loved ones who support you no matter what. A support system in this case does not include people who should be close to you due to various familial or social connectivity that doubt your ADHD or tell you that you should just change.
Right now you may have the luxury of having a group of people reading up on ADHD and helping you to restore your battered self image. For those of you who don't, please for your own peace of mind... walk away when people roll their eyes or doubt your ADHD. Don't take it personally. This is a long road and our world is unfortunately not yet fully educated or prepared to help with a disorder so often misunderstood. This is bittersweet because in the truest sense of the world ADHD handicaps a women in the same way she would be handicaped if she had broken a leg. In the meantime... seek out friends, counselors, or support groups who do.
You are an AMAZING person with infinite potential... the key to unlocking it is understanding the obstacles that have stood in the way.
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