Some call it minimal brain dysfunction, it’s a disorder, it’s a mental illness, it is all of the above and it is more than that and maybe, just maybe those are the wrong terms. ADD and ADHD are misunderstood with so many misconceptions out there and those that suffer from it are sometimes considered to be living a life of excuses and treated negatively when letting others know of their diagnosis. Additionally, the symptoms of ADD and ADHD, each by themselves, are very common issues that just about everyone has to some degree or another which leads to the misconceptions and denials of what ADD and ADHD is.
However, ADD and ADHD are also well known for positive traits, such as creativeness, vivid imagination, inventiveness and ingenuity and so much more. Some of these traits are highly sought after and can hardly be mimicked or copied because each ADDer possesses unique characteristics which only he or she has. The terms, such as minimal brain dysfunction, disorder, mental illness and others are not considered accurate by many people who have ADD or ADHD.
So how do we raise awareness of what ADD ADHD really is and how it affects those with ADD or ADHD? How do we tell the truth and let others know how detrimental denial can be and how devastating the misconceptions can be to ADDer’s, especially in social situations?
The best way I have found is to talk about it, to write about it and let my voice be heard. I have created this Blog and written my book with the intention of creating awareness—letting others know what ADD and ADHD is from my own personal perspective. I also created this Blog and wrote my book for others who are suffering to let them know they are not alone, to read about another’s discoveries and how another person copes. I think it is working. ADDer World, I believe, has more readers than some magazines and even some small newspapers! ADDer World readers are from all over the globe and some Universities with ADD ADHD studies have visited ADDer World!
Alas, I cannot do it alone. I try, mind you, but to really get the word out I think it would be wonderful and beneficial to hear from you! You don’t have to create your own blog or even put your identity on the line; however, there are many of us out there who Blog and tell our stories and most blogs allow comments. Your comments could potentially help others and most of all let others know that there are ‘others’ out there. Sometimes it just helps to have a sense of community and communities have much more influence than any single individual.
One way to raise awareness and build a bigger, more profound community is to comment when you read an article on a blog that you can relate to or have an opinion about. Most of us Bloggers do not edit your comments, only in the event if it could be offensive or hurtful to others. Even in that case we usually just take out the part which could be construed as offensive or hurtful. Try it out; tell your side of the story. None of us are exactly the same.
What do you think?
Recently I created a Blog section and I will be adding more ADD ADHD blogs in the near future – please, visit them and feel free to say hello. I don’t agree or even condone every single thing posted on other blogs, but then again, that’s one of the great things about opinions, you get different points of views!
I created the ADDer quote of the week to also help spread awareness and show that there are many ADDers and individuals with ‘certain traits’ out there who have become extremely successful with the use of their personal traits, whatever those traits might be. One of the companies backing a certain ADDer in the “quote of the week” wrote to me personally via email and thanked me for including their certain someone on my blog! How cool is that?!?
Let’s raise awareness together!? If you like, you can write me and tell your story concerning ADD or ADHD and I could then create a guest ADDer story from time to time, giving you full credit! If you are interested email me with your story here: Bryan.Hutchinson ‘AT’ adderworld.com – Email me for further details. I cannot guarantee I will post every story, but I will give it a shot with the “ADDer story of the week or month”.
~Bryan
