When living with ADD/ADHD, the symptoms you experience are often a normal part of your everyday life. It’s possible that you don’t even think about them at times since they are so familiar to you. However, for someone who has never experienced ADD or ADHD, it might be hard to understand.
If your friends and loved ones are unfamiliar with ADD, you may find yourself needing to educate them on your symptoms and how you manage them. A better understanding of what you’re going through will help your friends and family act as better support systems and advocates for you. Here are some tips on how to explain ADD/ADHD to your friends and loved ones.
Plan What You Want To Say
Do some research in advance, talk to your doctor, and collect some facts about ADD/ADHD that you think will be helpful to your friends and family. Preparing what you want to say in advance will help you be as clear as possible in your explanation and will guarantee that you convey the right message and hit all your points.
Note The Difference Between ADD and ADHD
Many people who are unfamiliar with these two conditions don’t have a good understanding of the difference between the two. In order for your friends and family to truly understand what you’re going through, they need to have a clear picture of your particular condition.
Address the Stereotypes
Unfortunately, your friends and family may have inadvertently picked up inaccurate stereotypes about ADD/ADHD from pop culture or the media. Address those stereotypes head on and offer more accurate descriptions about how ADD/ADHD affects you personally. Clarifying misconceptions is an important step to better understanding.
Encourage Questions
Chances are your friends and family will have questions of their own. Allow them to engage with their own learning process by encouraging them to ask questions. Understanding ADD/ADHD may be an ongoing process for someone who does not experience it, so keep the door open for continued conversation and self-education.
It may be difficult at first to initiate a conversation with your friends and family about ADD/ADHD, particularly if you aren’t used to discussing your condition with others. Although it may be a little intimidating, opening up to your loved ones will help them better understand who you are so they can always be sure to act in your best interests. If you need additional help explaining ADD/ADD to your friends or family, book a personalized coaching session.
Ready to take action and use these tips to help your friends and family understand ADD/ADHD? My free checklist can help!
