So Tired of People and Their Uninformed “Opinions” About ADHD
Hi Folks,
So this really isn’t something that I normally do, but I have heard enough, and I want to put something out there to discuss all the negativity I see about ADHD during awareness month. So here goes my rant:
It should come as a shock to no one that the word is full of ignorant people (uninformed individuals who like to speak on matters they know nothing about), and many of them take to the internet try to ruin it with their negativity and trolling. “Lecturing” the masses via their golden soap boxes, and bestowing us mortals with the gift that is their opinion.
Under normal circumstances I don’t give these sorts of people my time or attention (ADHD makes it pretty easy to do haha). I don’t like to waste effort on individuals who are too close minded to have proper discussion with; I’m fine discussing anything as long as it is done respectfully.
Getting back on point: Today I was informed that I was informed that I will be given a performance review at the end of week to evaluate my performance these last 2 months over the course of my 6 month probationary hiring period. To which my MENTAL response was “What the F#$& is a probationary period? Why is this the first time am I hearing about this? Is this actually the first time I have heard this???” I had honestly no clue. My ability to retain and processs auditory instruction and information is shotty (especially over the phone), so I live in constant fear that my memory is lying to me. It doesn’t always do it, but I have to be careful to keep notes just in case.
People have undermined my memory my entire life; which is called gas-lighting, and it’s a form of abuse. It may not always be accurate, but I still deserve respect. So now I’m all freaked out that I could potentially be removed from my position at anytime. I am damn hard-worker, a good supervisor, and skilled at my craft. However, I constantly worry that my occasional slip ups, caused by lapses in short term memory, and difficulties with verbal instruction may push my boss overboard at some point. I can tell it annoys him.
The really crappy part about all of this is I want to tell him about my ADHD, but I can’t. I can’t risk jeopardizing a job I desperately need to tell my boss that I have a legitimate disorder on the off chance he doesn’t believe it exists....
That’s so messed up...people’s ability to be themselves shouldn’t hinge upon what someone else believes! (My philosophy on all social justice issues really). If you want to be uninformed and ignorant, cool beans you go do that. Just don’t force you beliefs on others.
Back to my story: I go home after what has been a very long and draining day. I turn to web and blogs to get some advice on ADHD and telling supervisor and other people you have it. Their advice, “Don’t”.
That got me mad. It was so dumb. All over the internet and websites I like to visit are people telling me that this struggle that I have endured my whole life doesn’t exist. Hell even Time Magazines got a nice article titled, “Doctor: ADHD Does Not Exist”. Where a Neurologist (paraphrases from his book) goes on to try and discredit this disorder as a side effect of other conditions that go away if treated. His recommendation for many milder cases: No medication needed, just diet, exercise, put down the cell phone, and get a hobby.... Wow! Gee thanks Doctor! I never would have thought of that. It’s not like ADHD individuals haven’t heard that their whole lives.
More serve cases require a through diagnostics session. Which in my case would reveal I have depression. Shocker. Treating this would definitely fix my problems right? Wrong. I’ve been off my ADD meds while still on my depression meds (which work pretty well for me). I struggled for months with everyday life and school. Almost ended up in a horrible car accident too. Anyway that’s not the point. If people want to try his methods that’s fine and dandy. However, preaching that ADHD doesn’t exist in this way is just irresponsible. All it does is convince more people to disregard our struggle. They’ll think “Oh, hey look a doctor I read about on the internet says ADHD doesn’t exist, and it on Time Magazine so it must be true.” Then I get to hear more lectures about my attention and work ethic from said self righteous individuals. The whole thing is ridiculous. Many of the pin heads on Ancient Aliens have PhD's and have written books, but that doesn’t stop them from lying to you for an hour (sorry! :( I use to like the show too, but many of them are liars). Just my two cents.
So the moral of the story: You don’t get it. You never did, and you never will, and you know what that’s OK, you don’t have to get it. Honestly no one every truly gets anything anyone is going through. You can relate to it, but you don’t get it and you never will. So let’s embrace this and be supportive. People are not as cookie cutter as you would think, so saying you understand their struggle and know what’s best for them is just ignorant. Please stop telling people that what they go through everyday doesn’t exist because you have no idea what you are talking about.
Sorry guys I know that it was long, probably full of grammar/spelling mistakes, and had lots of side-tracking, but hopefully some of you are still reading and enjoyed it.
This is my way of supporting ADHD Awareness Month :) let’s go out and do something amazing friends!
