#3. This post is a part of a series where people answer my anonymous survey question. If you have ADHD but haven’t gone public with it, what would it take to you go public with ADHD?
There are risks and rewards for going public with ADHD AND for staying hidden in the ADHD closet. See this post for context on the series.
If you had ADHD and haven’t gone public with it, what would it take for you do go public with it?
Answer #3
“I was diagnosed with ADHD just over a year ago. Based on a my experience with family who are medical doctors, who should know what they are talking about, I doubt anything would make me go any more public than I already have. One parent, a well respected doctor, told me it was a matter of ‘self reflection’ on ‘how I lived my life’ despite the fact the other parent felt I was hyperactive as a four year old and wanted me assessed. My ex-spouse of four years, also a medical doctor, told me I would ‘use it as an excuse’ and ‘that it was not cancer’. If this is the kind of reaction one can expect from medical doctors, what can anyone expect from the general public (including the bright lights at the YMCA)? Opinions? Everyone has them. Q. What would it take for me to go public? A. A miracle!”
Pete’s note re: YMCA. The person’s referring to how these posts on the YMCA ADHD stigma ad which was in large part the inspiration for this survey:
YMCA Stigmatizes ADHD Families. Acceptable To Stigmatize Children With Mental Health Conditions For Money?
Greater Vancouver YMCA ADHD Stigma Ad Follow Up