[Tangerine87]

Great article about add. I wish in could send this to my friends and family but no one knows. My add is one big fat secret. I also have a ld in addition to this.

This describes me to a T.

20 Things to Remeber If You Love Someone With ADD

[WantToGrow]

I just discovered that I have ADD and one of the first things I did was share it with my parents. My parents are very uncomfortable when I share that I am unhappy or struggling, and they may very well be poopooing the idea that I have this condition, but at least it is out there. They are in their 80's, and I almost sent them another email with explanations about what was going on for me throughout my childhood with school and then college, but for once I didn't hit the send button and decided to run it by my sister first. I didn't want to upset them at this time in their life when there's so little time left for anything to be said or done.

It was such a relief for me to discover this about myself, HUGE! I felt like I wanted to scream it to the world because I finally had an explanation that wasn't about me being a failure!

Why do you feel it is so risky to share this with your friends and family, Tangerine 87?

I sort of felt like "screw it, they may not accept it but at least I know the truth now, and it's out there for them to digest." Especially for my husband, who of course has been very frustrated with me over the years, never could understand why I couldn't put the tools away, always losing things, etc. I'm just amazed that he's stuck it out with me for 18 years when I'm sure many a relationship has gone down the tubes because of this condition.

Many hugs to you. Please stop feeling the shame :-)

[Birdbrain]

It IS a great article! I relate with both of you..I am 43, was diagnosed a year ago. My fiancé and one close friend knows of this, but I don't want to tell anyone elsse. My parents are also in their 80's. I mentioned that my dr may think I have add (before diagnosis)..they are old, old school and since this is still fairly new to me it is completely foreign to them.

Relief?! Oh yes, HUGE! I've always felt so 'different' from everyone around me. Since I've been treated I feel like I fit in. It's so good to finally understand why my life has been in a "haze".
Much love and luck to you!