It’s not easy to admit that you have ADD. When I tell people (and very few I might add) that I have ADD I get a mixed response. Some of the reactions are: “really but you seem normal”, “but you’re not hyperactive” or “ADD, that’s just some lame excuse for being lazy”.
For those of us with ADD these comments may be all too familiar as well as the embarrassment of having to explain what ADD and how it effects you. On of the biggest things holding me back is not wanting to tell my colleagues that I have ADD. My fear is that they will look down on me and not treat me as an equal. Which is a normal rear that all of had had or have at some point.
Why do I fear telling them? Because I am computer programmer and not just any programmer, I am the unofficial lead programmer and most of my colleagues come to me for help. My fear is that if I show them my deficiency they may not respect my opinion and may stop “looking up to me”.
Does any of this strike a bell? See everybody has fears of telling the world, I Have ADD!!
So what are some things I can do to get over this fear of telling my colleagues about my unique trait?
The first step is being able to admit to your self that, I Have ADD. I am hoping that you have already reached this step but if you haven’t here are a few simple things you can do:
- Talk to your Physician about ADD
- Take a quiz: ADD Test at Psych Central – I scored a 102
- Be open minded and honest with your self
what language do you program also my wife hates when i talk about the possiblility of having add which the tests say i do..
she thinks its an excuse
I am trying to learn C# and its hard for me with add any input would be grand
By: mark73 on June 15, 2008
at 6:39 am
I started programming web sites back in 1997. I first learned HTML and then went on to PERL and the to ASP and ColdFusion. The amazing thing about this is that when I look back over the past 11 years I realize I have started and stuck with the same career. To me this is huge because I am famous for starting something and loosing interest in it.
The reason that I have stuck with programming and have become a self proclaimed “Rock Star Programmer” is that I have control. I am telling the software what to do. I am dictating the conditional logic. I am in control. But once I step away from that I am back to ADD brain and if I don’t pay attention I’ll be lost.
Sound familiar?
I don’t know your background in computers so I suggest you start with PHP. It’s easy to get up and running and the syntax is similar (sort of) to C#/JAVA.
It took my wife a few years to accept that I have ADD but there are still days when I have an ADD mishap and she gets upset.
When someone says ADD is an excuse it really means they do not fully understand ADD and it worries them to think that there is “something wrong with you”.
By: Jay on June 20, 2008
at 2:14 pm