Friend keeps invalidating my adhd
So I have ADHD and it’s very severe and it’s a great time(sarcasm). I try to talk to my friends(I have very few mind you) about this and I just get “oh yeah we all procrastinate” or “lol maybe I have adhd I have trouble sitting still sometimes” or equating it to one of them being depressed bc of a bad home life. How do I explain to them that this is a thing that seriously impacts my life and actually have them take me seriously?
Show them some articles/ journals/ videos to give them some overview before you delve deeper into explaining your personal situation.
Hi duckradio39, my fellow ADHD’er :-) A lot of people simply don’t understand the concept of ADHD. They hear terms like ‘procrastination’ and ‘forgetfulness’ and think it is just an excuse for laziness. How wrong they are. I going to presume that you are relatively young (into your adulthood). I say that because I totally empathise, as a 47 year old man who was diagnosed in my mid 30’s. My life experience has taught me that if you’re ‘friends’ are rejecting your claim and not offering empathy or a sympathetic ear… they are not true friends. There is the possibility that they are just immature and unequipped to acknowledge your struggle, but even then, a friend would listen and help in any way they could. Here is a list of the typical ADHD symptoms: carelessness and lack of attention to detail continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones poor organisational skills inability to focus or prioritise continually losing or misplacing things forgetfulness restlessness and edginess difficulty keeping quiet, and speaking out of turn blurting out responses and often interrupting others mood swings, irritability and a quick temper inability to deal with stress extreme impatience taking risks in activities, often with little or no regard for personal safety or the safety of others – for example, driving dangerously I’m not belittling your friends, but be sure to attempt relationships with the right people (I know it isn’t easy ;-) ). With the wrong people around you, who dismiss what you say therefore making you feel inferior and insecure… these are not people you what to spend to much time convincing. We do struggle to form relationships, but there a a world of people out there. And some of them actually do listen and will ‘get’ you. Stay strong. If you need to chat, I’m right here :-)
Hey @bigmac73, Great share, info, and support :) 
@DuckRadio39 I came across this the other day and thought it was spot on for helping put things into perspective about ADHD and also links out to a great read from ADDitudeMag : “People with an ADHD nervous system know that if they get engaged with a task, they can do it. Far from being damaged goods, people with an ADHD nervous system are bright and clever. The main problem is that they were given a neurotypical owner’s manual at birth. It works for everyone else, not for them.” Read more here from ADDitudeMag.
@FlourishingDimensions
Sorry to hear your feelings are being invalidated by those who should be your support system <3 I hope the people who responded here offered you some insight. Keep educating them, but set your boundaries there as well (if you don't feel like explaining for a third time, don't). I wish you the best of luck, stay strong :)
@AuntieMymble I like your message and reminder about boundaries
