Ignorance of some

[doublexx]

Hello 1 year ago I return to England after spending many years in the USA with all honesty I was terrified . I was diagnosed with ADD however a therapist insisted that there is not such thing as ADD so I must have ADHD since I do not like to argue I stated OK fine. I never took and medication due to my fairs of drugs effects, at work I was faced with the diganosis of the Manager who seems to be an expert in ADHD she refused to believe I had ADHD after a while she stated I think you might have ADHD oh what a fantastic diagnosis, various incidents happened at work I stated thing that I did not mean, that was my main problem I tend to have my mind fully loaded of words, going to many mind investigation rituals what I read stays in my mind for a brief periodo when nervous or frustrated anything will come from my mouth apparently I was rude to a person and racist to another which took me by sorprise which affected me deeply to be labelled as racist and obnoxious I tend to be polite and friendly they all recognised that so how i be obnoxios or rude and then racist???? does not make sense to me. the thing is I tend to forget what I was thinking so I need to hold on my thoughts rapidly by doing that I might say things that I did not mean to say it all goes fast. I tend to shorten up sentences with the purpose to accelrate my meaning is like if I was on a competition and many times I left things unsed bevause i think is already understood given place to missunderstanding. I had a major thrauma with my divorce and losing it all home, house, dog and my son so that had an impact on my self a big trauma I was lost so I decided to start a new life but losing it all has affected my ADHD for the worst but try to explain this to the Manager who seem to be an expert in ADHD and Autism I knew she was coming after me her attitude was a clear evidence besides we with ADHD can sense things that many can not. She accused me of various being racist when in reality I was explaining things there was nothing I could do I try to explain she stated come on that ADHD is just an excuse. So I was fired those accusations made my mental life a terrible place where to turn where to ask for help. I like to have my private time currently the private time i had is becoming in isolation due to this terrible event, Is there a group who might helped to clear my name ? is there a group that might offer support to people who are victims of ignorance regarding ADHD? is there a group who might you are not alone. Please let me know many many people sem to be experts in ADHD

[STEM_Dad]

Welcome to the community doublexx !

In addition to this forum, I saw a recent post announcing an ADHD Women's group on this same site. So, if you haven't seen that yet, I encourage you to check it out.

(Besides this forum, I've listened some other ADHD communities that I've joined in my profile. This is forum is one that I've found to be very helpful over the last few years.)

It can certainly be difficult to get people to change their misconceptions, once they've gotten the wrong idea about you (or about ADHD) into their head.

About what the therapist said:

• What is now called ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) was indeed previously called ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder).

• The name of the condition changed from one version of the diagnostic manual to another. For over a decade now, the current name used is ADHD, but some medical and mental health professionals still refer to it as ADD. (e.g. Dr. Edward Hallowell, an expert on the disorder who has authored/co-authored books about it, usually calls it ADD)

So, you and the therapist are both right. ADD is also known as ADHD. It just depends on which term people came to know it by.

I hope that you are able to get another job with a manager who will be genuinely accepting of you, including of your ADHD, and not be ignorant about it.

Before my diagnosis, I also had trouble with conversations. I didn't usually interrupt people, but I would often forget what I meant to say by the time it was my turn to talk in the conversation. I also had a tendency to change subjects every 2 or 3 minutes in a conversation, which could make for lively smalltalk, or for confusing work conversations.

I also had fears about stimulant medications, and wanted to start with a non-stimulant. My doctor wanted to start me on a stimulant first, because he said that the majority of his patients with ADHD responded better on them. My fears were unfounded. I didn't have any problems with the medication. (After a few months at different dosages, the stimulants didn't help me enough. So, I did end up convincing my doctor to try me on a non-stimulant ADHD medication, which worked much better for me.)

[Pro-masker in reply to STEM_Dad]

I don't mean to mean to make any contraindications.... so please don't feel like I'm being in anyway argumentative...yes ADD was changed to ADHD...this bit is true...ive read this many times...but here's the contraindication...I'm diagnosed ADHD and ADD....which is know as combined ADHD...it's very confusing...ADHD is hyperactivity ADD is inattentiveness...you sound like you've had it hard...ive been on a few groups/sites/forums but CHADD has been the one I've stuck with....others ive been on can be very judgemental....some very nasty bullies....here it's completely no judgement...and we all get along just fine...I wish you luck in finding you happy place....also welcome to CHADD