Have you had a bad experience talking about your ADHD with friends or family? Or, are you worried about sharing your ADHD diagnosis with friends and family, out of fear of how they would react? 

This week on Tips from an ADHD Coach, Jaye talks about sharing our ADHD diagnoses with the people we love and what we can do to make those conversations go better. 

Related resources

• What to do when someone doubts your ADHD diagnosis
• I’m letting go of the shame I felt about my ADHD and learning disabilities

Timestamps

(00:42) Kirby’s quote

(02:51) Unfortunately, it’s common to have a bad experience when sharing that you have ADHD

(05:36) Questions to ask yourself before having this conversation

(06:59) Setting time aside for this conversation, or asking for their full attention, not just a passing chat

(07:58) Front-loading our expectations for their response

(12:06) Work through the raw emotions of a diagnosis before having these conversations by doing some practice runs

(13:13) You don’t have to share your ADHD with someone if you don’t think they’ll respond well

(15:00) Recap

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Tips from an ADHD Coach show page on Understood.org. 

We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at [email protected].

ADHD Unstuck is a free, self-guided activity from Understood.org and Northwestern University designed to help women with ADHD boost their mood and take small, practical steps to get unstuck. In about 10 minutes, learn why mood spirals happen and get a personalized action plan of quick wins and science-backed strategies that work with your brain. Give it a try at Understood.org/GetUnstuck.

Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.