Spire,

If you're like me, you've acquired at some point a negative self image from years and years of weird looks and rejection from the people around you.

And chances are the doctor's that treat you aren't like us and simply compare you to a list of symptoms and start trying meds and therapy.

And chances are the doctor's will tell you that the ADHD mind is defective which only makes the social rejection SEEM to validate that you're screwed for life.

ALL of this is RELATIVE to the society at large, which happens to be less authentic, less intelligent, less creative, less spontaneous, less playful that you.

You're not accepted because you're too honest, too intelligent, and too creative for others to feel comfortable around you. They are too worried about their images and authentic people like us just want to live and enjoy life, not worry about image.

If you want to try meds, then make a visit to a psychiatrist and give meds a whirl but don't listen to any talk about your "condition". You may like meds or you may not. My son tried them and didn't like not being himself.

You've got tremendous gifts, as we all do, and limits, as we all do. There's no standard to live up to except to be yourself. You can't be mainstream because you can't pretend to be less than you are. You're living in a world that first requires obedience to tradition, religion, and culture then you're "free" to be you...which means you can't be you because of the obedience requirement. When you see that you simply want to be yourself in a world that won't let you, then you're done worrying about fitting in.

Yep, we have to make a living and stuff like that but in terms of self esteem, you will no longer measure yourself by the opinions of anyone, including yourself. You'll simply see your gifts and limits and seek to live within them.

I wrote my awakening to this here and would love to hear your comments! http://www.profound-self-help.com/adhd-self-help.html