From the article: Myths About ADHD
Whether you are a parent of a child with ADHD or an adult with ADHD yourself, family support, education and understanding about ADHD can go a long way in helping an individual and family cope and manage more successfully.
On the other hand, if you've had to deal with family members (or others) who don’t understand all the ins and outs of ADHD or who make inaccurate assumptions or give unhelpful advice, it can be really frustrating...and certainly also very hurtful.
What’s the worst example of a misunderstanding about ADHD you had to set straight?
Please ShareIgnorance Isn't Bliss
- The best I can do is to narrow it down to 2. In high school, I had a teacher who thought learning disabled was "deaf" so he just talked louder. By the end of some classes he was almost yelling. I've also worked for someone who was convinced that ADD didn't exist, and it was an invented disease designed to sell drugs.
- —Skogula
Misunderstandings about ADHD
- My top two on this topic: (1) that it's a case of bad parenting, not ADHD. That's how our kids, and we as parents, are viewed by others. (2) Most think ADHD means only hyperactivity. The disorder involves so much more and many (most) don't understand or acknowledge that there's a heck of a lot more involved than hyperactivity.
- —AlwaysSharing
Fellow Students
- For two semesters I used an iPod to dull the noise during tests. Suddenly, one of my fellow students, rather than asking why, complained to the professors, so I was forced to not only make new arrangements to take tests, but miss the after-test discussions, and experience yet more stigma for my ADD. The school has an excellent support center, but the students are simply vicious.
- —Guest Kris
Inattentive/female ADD
- I was a child in the 1980's and early 90's, and because I was smart enough (via public school IQ and standardized tests), I was told that I was spacey, lazy, willful, a bad kid that could do well if I wanted to. My father said the same things, and thought I was on illegal drugs at age 12, when I didn't know what they were. So I started drinking at age 14, am lucky to be here. At age 18, a psychologist told me I was the poster child for inattentive (non-hyperactive) ADD. My family still just thinks of me as the airheaded & wild relative. I think that, due to the deductive reasoning of some folks, it’s often going to be hard to correct these kinds of misconceptions. I've learned how to communicate with these people by talking to them about subjects they are comfortable with, in ways they are comfortable with (my mom, for ex). I keep those who understand close, and just take good care of myself and my immediate family (proud & loving mom of a smart, happy, normal little kid:).
- —Guest luvnunderstanding
A Direct Helpful Divulgence
- Life is hard. Special people like me, with additional, dynamic, healthy, dazzlement are the same as anybody else. The most important thing in my life, has been finding teachers that spark my interests and attention and curiosity, and creativity. Help youself, your children, your friends, by embracing their overly-packed-backpacks and mind or idea changings, constantly, and listen for something that you might not have considered otherwise. There is a lot to see and do in the world and lots of ways to experience them. We are not all the same. Let different be welcomed. We are just as good as everyone else. And medication, it rocks! We have the same amount of amped energy, but it is just focused for us so we can do things better, faster, brighter, and quicker. We love you...why not love us back?
- —Guest The Story of My Life
Magic Pill
- My mother believes that medication is supposed to be a "cure". If my son has any kind of difficulty, such as fighting with his brother over a toy, she immediately turns to me and asks when his medication was "checked last", like its insulin or something.
- —Guest Eliott's Mom
Where's the Help
- My childhood with ADHD was just the start! After being kicked out of every school my parents always knew there was something wrong with me and tried to get me the help I needed. To all authorities I was a bad lad plain and simply. 14yr kicked out my last secondary school, after many attempts of my parents to get me back into a school and get me the education I deserved, but no school would accept me. My parents tried their best. They fought hard to get me back into school and get me an education. Eventually after years of fighting a school took me for the last year of my school life. I got passes in math, history and science. As an adult still not diagnosed, I was sacked from every job. Relationships all started well but ended fast. Friendships, I have none. I’ve ended up in prison u name it. I was diagnosed and medicated a year ago. I love reading all the success stories of people that have been where I have and turned their life around, however this isn’t the case with me. The help is still not there that I need.
- —Guest lee oreilly
Frustated Mom
- My biggest misunderstanding comes from my boyfriend. He says there is nothing wrong with my son - "He's just a little over active" or "He's a smart boy! There is nothing wrong he just needs some harder discipline." Or the worst, "It's all in my mind that my son has ADHD."
- —Guest unicornmom03
