[yellowfrog268]

I've been doing a lot of reading and listening to podcasts about ADHD lately.
One in particular discussed how people with ADHD often lack self awareness.
This PhD presenter stated that a lot of us share a similar trait with Borderline Personality Disorder in that we have a hard time knowing who we are or explaining who we are at our core to others.

What do you think?

[Miswimmy1]

I can sort of relate to this. After I was diagnosed and put on medication, it was like my entire life became clear. I looked back and realized why my middle school and beginning high school life was so bad. I was totally impulsive, I interrupted people, I couldn't stay on track in a conversation, I was always moving from one thing to the next and interrupting people's games/conversations/etc, I said the wrong things at the wrong times, I didn't appropriately react to what people said or I didn't react at all, etc. So yeah, I guess I lacked self awareness.

But I don't think that a person with ADHD lacks self awareness. I think that they have it but its impaired. For me, I just was so distracted that I didn't really stop and think much longer than a couple seconds. So I acknowledged my feelings and the feelings of those around me, but I just didn't respond accurately because I was on to the next thing.

[Arwen_78]

Not so much as responding accurately about your feelings maybe sometimes not at all when you think you have! I get that a lot, that is a big reason I've got many friends but nobody that I'm really close to. I'm always falling out with one or another of them and then having to turn around and say sorry to keep the friendship. It's only after it happens that I can slow down to tell them why it happened. I only have 3-4 friends who understand this enough to just tell me that I need a minute. That or I only have 3-4 friends that I'l actually listen to if they say it to me.

I didn't make friends when I was little and I'm from a small town. I've always felt like I don't fit in, even wanted to fit in once so bad that I would have given anything to. Then before I was even in high school I realized it wasn't going to happen so just leaned to live with it. Now as an 30-something adult I wish I had even just that one close friend who I could meet once a week in a coffee shop just to hang out and goof off with. I stopped caring in my teens but now I hate it.

[SleepDeprived]

Originally Posted by Miswimmy1

I can sort of relate to this. After I was diagnosed and put on medication, it was like my entire life became clear. I looked back and realized why my middle school and beginning high school life was so bad. I was totally impulsive, I interrupted people, I couldn't stay on track in a conversation, I was always moving from one thing to the next and interrupting people's games/conversations/etc, I said the wrong things at the wrong times, I didn't appropriately react to what people said or I didn't react at all, etc. So yeah, I guess I lacked self awareness.

But I don't think that a person with ADHD lacks self awareness. I think that they have it but its impaired. For me, I just was so distracted that I didn't really stop and think much longer than a couple seconds. So I acknowledged my feelings and the feelings of those around me, but I just didn't respond accurately because I was on to the next thing.

I couldn't have said that better myself. I felt the exact same way!

[IheartHendrix]

I agree with Miswimmy1 as well. I'm not currently treating my ADD, but I remember when I was diagnosed and put on the proper meds. It was so clear! Now, without meds, I'm scatterbrained and cannot just focus on ONE thing. I try, but.... you know how it goes.
Arwen - it's hard to find a close friend like that. I know what you mean. I just moved to a new state and have made some friends, but I know that I'm a little too intense for most of the friends I've made. Like I have this emotional excitability (or an overflow of energy .. not physically.. but mentally) and people can feel that and are either overwhelmed by it or just think I'm weird. I have a guy friend here that I met through my meditation group and he immediately commented on it. Guys are like that. They are just easier for me to be friends with. I guess because I'm not into pointless drama. I haven't met many girls my age that are chill.

[wisedude]

BPD and ADHD overlap quite a bit.

I think 25% of people with BPD have ADHD, maybe more.

[Arwen_78]

Originally Posted by IheartHendrix

I agree with Miswimmy1 as well. I'm not currently treating my ADD, but I remember when I was diagnosed and put on the proper meds. It was so clear! Now, without meds, I'm scatterbrained and cannot just focus on ONE thing. I try, but.... you know how it goes.
Arwen - it's hard to find a close friend like that. I know what you mean. I just moved to a new state and have made some friends, but I know that I'm a little too intense for most of the friends I've made. Like I have this emotional excitability (or an overflow of energy .. not physically.. but mentally) and people can feel that and are either overwhelmed by it or just think I'm weird. I have a guy friend here that I met through my meditation group and he immediately commented on it. Guys are like that. They are just easier for me to be friends with. I guess because I'm not into pointless drama. I haven't met many girls my age that are chill.

Oh, god yeah! Guys are just mellow and easy to be around compared to most women that I met. I use to club, still do abit, but the girls who are out to impress scare the -blank-out of me. I don't think I'm ugly or anything it's just how they can be. When I'm out just for a drink and I end up talking with the guy next to me or a group of guys at the bar just because and the women within the group get uncomfortable. It's stupid really!

If I was hitting on guys I'm not the type to hit on a guy who is with someone already. Plus, I'm normally not dressed up or on the look out as I've already have a boyfriend. I'm just comfortable talking normally with guys because it's not a big deal.

[Tonyh]

I would say that's probably true. I myself grew up closing myself out mentally from my environment due to my frustrations with being unable to keep up with everyone else. That in turn led to me living in a fantasy world. A world where I am king and no one learns faster than me. Its been that way since I was about 10 years old, and I am still that way today, at age 48. I have never been treated for it, and cope with this as best I can. I was only diagnosed a few years ago because I went in complaining of being more forgetful than usual. The diagnosis of ADHD was clear, though I already knew that and it wasn't my immediate problem. Its that I have suffered from depression for years, and when I get bad, so does my memory.
So if I were ever asked to describe myself, you would hear whatever I happen to think of myself at the time. I don't have any particular way of seeing myself.