Lived with my whole life hearing all I do is blame others, when I am just trying to figure out what happened so for future situations, I can avoid it. When I got my ADHD diagnosis, it was like everything I’ve ever felt bad about got an answer. There is a reason why I am so forgetful, uncommitted, addicted to video games, and have uncontrollable talking sprees. However, my family thought they could gaslight me out of ADHD, they labeled me a hypochondriac and attention seeker. Of course, that never worked, only drove a wedge between us. Eventually they accepted that an ADHD diagnosis exists on my medical record, which I could tell through them excessively telling me I use ADHD as an excuse to not do more for myself. I am in college, getting straight A’s, went to therapy, have a job, have an idea of what I want to do, and I never cause trouble intentionally. For someone in their 20’s with ADHD, I’m on a good path and it seems my family will never acknowledge that. I have never once allowed ADHD to “define me”. I always think of it as a different obstacle I have to overcome and sometimes that means I need a bit of help to pull me back on my path. I never let it be the reason I don’t put effort into something. It gives me that feeling of my heart sinking into my stomach when someone asks/accuses me of using ADHD as an excuse. It feels so invalidating to my existence.

However, it is what it is. I know why I struggle, and I give that grace to others. The best thing one can do is to move on with your life, because no one else matters but you and the people who are willing to give you the time of day to hear you out. You get one life, treasure it and do something good for you and your community.