not to discount your experience but I know some people who are ADHD and some dont are medicated so they are able to sit still, raise their hands and because they know the material (memorized at home with extra study time and tutoring by parents and other instructions) are able to sit in class quietly thinking about other things/not paying attention but still participate. Some ADHD 's that I know have whats called a photographic memory where even though their diagnosis is ADHD they can still participate in class, just like a normal person does. here in NY ADHD and ADD are called the "hidden problems" because they are not always textbook style. some people even reach college before they even get their diagnosis of ADHD because they have learned how to hide the problem areas really well.

also there are many types of depression, not all depression shows itself with extreme sadness all the time. theres SAD (seasonal Affective disorder which is a type of depression that only shows symptoms during that persons affected season ie some people have Seassonal affective disorder symptoms in winter others spring others summer....) theres also a type of depression called bipolar disorder where a person cycles through being manic, hypomanic, depression...this type of depression isnt the kind where the person is always sad and down in the dumps.

my point is looks can be deceiving. just because someone doesnt look or appear to have the mental disorder they claim to have does not mean they dont have it. it just means at that moment their symptoms are under control or being masked or they have learned how to adapt to appear as normal as possible.

An example of adapting would be me. I dont appear to have bipolar disorder, MS, Dissociative disorders, PTSD because I am on medications that keep my symptoms in control. The first sign that my meds are not working as they should I see my treatment providers. A co worker and I happened to run into each other at a support group not too long ago. she was absolutely floored when she saw me because she had no idea, in her words "but you look and act so normal?!"

Another example of adapting/not appearing to have a mental disorder is read the posts here on psych central everyone at one time or another has posted how someone they know found out they had a mental disorder and was shocked or didnt believe them because they seemed so normal on the outside.

short of being someones treatment provider there is no way to know whether someone is or isnt mental disorderd just based on how someone looks, behaves or talks. Here where I live and work we have a nami office that does many different community awareness workshops, seminars and groups to help educate the public on mental disorders and not continuing discrimination/stigmatizing or not believing someone who may or may not have a mental disorder based on how they look, behave or what they say. These events have really helped my family and friends in understanding I may look/appear normal but that doesnt mean sometimes Im not stuggling on the inside with my mental and physical illnesses and need their support/help at times.