Coming Out Of The Closet
We’ve all heard the phrase, “coming out of the closet”…………but it’s not usually associated with ADD.
As of late, I’ve been coming out of the closet regarding having ADD with a lot of people. I’ve always been a little nervous and scared about letting people know about it. That concern about, how I will be perceived is always there. Will it impact a persons thought of me? Could it damage my career? These are typical thoughts when most people with ADD consider telling someone they have it.
To my surprise, the feedback and general comments I’ve received have been great and supportive. Seems like most people either wonder if they have it or know someone who does. So, if you have ADD and are a little nervous about “coming out of the closet”, don’t worry so much about it. People are typically supportive and accepting. If they aren’t, they probably weren’t worth having in your life anyway.
August 9th, 2007 at 10:17 am
Congratulations! You have taken a brave step in being yourself. This may sound like a small feat but, for those of us who have tried it- We know it’s a great step. We should be awarded knighthood for such bravery.
It’s funny how to most people the things that torment us inside are no big deal. We get stressed out for no reason. Usually we find that reality is no where near as bad, as we first imagine.
August 20th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
I was diagnosed with ADD 8 years ago and have told only a few people. I do not want my employer to know and so have kept my diagnosis secret. I have even created a phony “glandular” condition to explain my regular use of medication.
I perform as well or even better than most of my coworkers, and I do not want to be treated differently. I fear my supervisor thinking “oh, we can’t assign him that task cause he has ADD and we need someone we can count on”. If I was recognized and rewarded for work well done I want it to be because I earned it and not because they “gave me a break”.
I applaud you for being brave - but for now it’s my secret… maybe one day….