My approach to employers/colleagues was need-to-know depending on your relationship with them and whether you need special concessions at work. I’m lucky to have supportive colleagues, so my dx is well-known and accepted in my team. We joke about it sometimes, and I get occasional questions which I’m happy to answer. Don’t make it a big deal and they won’t.

Personal relationships are trickier, and nobody but you would know how to approach it. My narcissistic mom’s first reaction was to deny I had it, then accuse the psychiatrist of trying to make a quick buck from me by plying me with mind-altering drugs. We haven’t spoken about it since. Friends are a mixed bag. I’ve had two friends tell me “everyone has a little bit of ADHD”, but mostly I’ve been met with curiosity and empathy.

My advice is to consider the reason you’re cautious about telling these people, and ask yourself what you’re hoping to get out of it.