I keep the details of my idiosyncrasies to myself. Folks with ADHD often tell others explicitly.
To my kindred ‘special’ people, do you tell others specifically what makes you different, or do you keep it to yourself? Why?
Almost always, I used to be shy and bashful but I don’t have time for that shit anymore. I’ve eaten too much grief from miscommunication to care about how people will judge me - if they’re someone I want to connect with in the future they won’t judge me and if they judge me I don’t give a shit about them.
My two exceptions are 1) money is involved (I absolutely will withhold neurodivergence from potential future employers or business partners because I’ve got enough disabilities already) and 2) I’m not the primary in the social situation (an example is that I had on all my masks and even wore fucking pants to my aunt’s funeral. It was in the south and I didn’t want to cause him any trouble beyond everything he was already dealing with).
Normally, though, I wear my ADHD plastered to my fucking forehead because why the fuck not.
I just recently have been navigating telling people around me. And I love your rules. Only difference is that if I am in a professional setting I sometimes mention my “symptoms” as “personality traits” without mentioning ADHD just to manage expectations
That is extremely fair - and I was purposefully vague about what is included in the profession setting. I’m actually quite open with my fellow FTEs once I have landed a position - I’m just quiet before things are set in stone.
Not on purpose. I’ve found that making every effort to pass as normal is far more advantageous. If I have to choose between being treated like a child because I’m different vs. being disliked because people can tell I’m hiding something but not what that something is… well, I’ll take option B.
deleted by creator
Would me saying I have hyperthymia and hyperphantasia count?
Never. At my work it would be career suicide to identify as that and I’d open myself up to harassment and career progression issues.
I may or may not say anything depending on the situation and who the person is.
Yes. I’ve tried pretty hard to hide it, but people figure it out anyway pretty much instantly. Why bother?
