How judgmental/non-judgmental are people with ADD/ADHD?
I'm a magnet for people who want to tell me their secrets. I'm not sure why. I don't judge, and since the majority of my circle has ADD, none of us are particularly judgy. It may have something to do with the fact that lots of people with ADD always feel that they are being judged and would hate to pass that feeling on to others. Yes, it's like confessing to a really cool priest who simply nods and says, 'and how did that make you feel?'But...I do have experiences in which people just tell me too much, without warning, and it's rarely ever good stuff. There's no amount of mental preparation for that, but it is a pretty good indicator of trustworthiness.
How are people with ADD different than people with ADHD?
I’ll start by saying there are more traits shared between folks with ADD & ADHD than there are differences.We all procrastinate and freak out about it to the point we’ve affected the emotional states of those around us.The only major difference is the Hyperactivity. I reverberate with energy that for the most part I’m able to reign that shit in.When I’m unable to reign in my EXCESSIVE energy due to insomnia after working for 11 hours straight followed by 5 hours of classrooms. Lack of sleep, meaning less than 3 or 4 hours occurring two or more nights in a row.We have family staying with us which is why I’m having this wretched night out against my will. My ohana (hubby and kid) soon regretted pushing me to go out. I had a grueling 15 hour nonstop GO day. All I wanted was sleep.My non existent filter gets a Free Bonus/Bogus Upgrade of acidic and grossly inappropriate sarcasm, Without blinking and a bland exprssion I say terribly frank ridiculous things and ask the most bizarre questions, even to people I don’t know - whom regrettably happen to be passing by.When I’m in my personal No Fun At All Zone others around me are immensely amused and laugh their asses off at my expense. Gee, I so love you all too.This proceeded to A) take a long bloody time and B) I could not STFU the entire time and C) it in turn made me more exausted and ready to throw a toddleresque BITCH FIT.Instead I continue to willynilly spew the word vomit. It’s completely beyond my scope of control - I know, I’ve been attempting to stop it to no avail whatsoever all the live long night.In fact, I notice that I speak as quickly as I think. My thoughts are more hyper than usual from the sleep depravation. I keep skipping topics all random AF during the entire course of our meal. I never complete a single coherent thought. AND everyone knows it.I barely pick at food in the front of me because we’re at my least favorite restaurant. I have food allergies and over the years I’ve broken out in angry long lasting, painful rashes and hives after eating at this spot regardless of staff telling me my food contains none of the crap I’m allergic to.So yeah, that’s basically the difference between ADD & ADHD. Aren’t you so glad you asked me…
Can people with ADD/ADHD "sniff out" another person with ADD/ADHD from afar? If so, how does it happen?
I've had several people who later professed to have ADHD flat-out (and usually discretely ) ask me if I have ADHD. I do.I suspect others from time to time, but never bring it up. There are a number of public officials, entertainers, and others I've encountered who I strongly suspect are blessed with ADHD, but I never out anyone.Others around me often suspected, but never brought it up... I didn't find out what they thought until my diagnosis, then they said, 'we knew.'I was diagnosed with ADHD (mixed) at age 50. The diagnosis gave me great insight into my behavior, without excusing it. (I hate hearing kids get written off, or who write THEMSELVES off) due to their labeling.Since I functioned for over 30 years as a professional programmer, I don't view my ADHD as a major disability to me. Life was challenging, and I offended many people by my lack of attentiveness or high focus. ADHD probably contributed to the demise of my first marriage. I had to develop tremendous coping tools to help me function and remember personal obligations, meetings, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Personal digital assistants were a blessing, and I was a very early adopter.
Can someone with ADD/ADHD buy a gun?
Yes, he can actually. When they say mental illness they mean more like being bipolar or schizophrenia. ADD/ADHD is ok though.
How common is it for people with ADD or ADHD to be introverts?
Introvert whens things are boring and extrovert when its exciting.
How do people with ADD/ADHD maintain friendships?
I can say, at the moment, for me, very poorly but I wonder if those people are my friends. My closest friends, I hope they don’t mind me saying, occasionally also suffer from ADHD or psychiatric disorders and we fall out of touch, pop back in, commiserate/procrastinate/act irresponsible/work on massive projects together.Maintaining a normal friendship with a normal person, from my experience is hard because some consistency is expected. I’ve fallen out of touch with some people because I'm awful at returning calls, wary of making plans that might fall-through, pathologicallay unable to arrive on time to anything and generally too scattered, stressed or preoccupied to attend to people who “could” be my friend.Things fall through for people with ADHD. Everything is harder, including friendships.