{"id":37273,"date":"2024-10-10T11:41:08","date_gmt":"2024-10-10T15:41:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/?p=37273"},"modified":"2024-10-10T11:41:08","modified_gmt":"2024-10-10T15:41:08","slug":"how-to-share-your-adhd-diagnosis-tips-for-telling-friends-family-and-coworkers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/articles\/how-to-share-your-adhd-diagnosis-tips-for-telling-friends-family-and-coworkers\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Share Your ADHD Diagnosis: Tips for Telling Friends, Family, and Coworkers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Imagine you\u2019ve gotten an ADHD diagnosis (maybe you don\u2019t have to imagine). It\u2019s changed your life. Suddenly questions have answers, challenges have solutions, and your future has a path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You also have new things to think about, new needs, and new areas where support might help. But for that, you need to tell people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharing an ADHD diagnosis with others is a personal decision, but it can lead to better support and understanding from those around you. If it\u2019s a step you\u2019re considering, read on for some thoughts and tips.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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General Tips for Sharing Your ADHD Diagnosis<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Educate Yourself First<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before sharing with others, make sure you understand ADHD and how it affects you personally. Using specific examples of symptoms that you struggle with will help you explain it more clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose the Right Time and Place<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pick a quiet moment when you can have an uninterrupted conversation. Remove distractions that will keep you from staying focused on the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be Prepared for Questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many well-shared misconceptions about ADHD. You may have even believed some of them before receiving your diagnosis. Be ready to address common myths and provide factual information or look up questions together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use “I” Statements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Focus on your personal experience rather than general statements about ADHD, not only because ADHD can be different for each person but because personal stories make information easier to relate to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be Patient\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Understanding ADHD<\/a> can take time. Think about it as though you and the people in your life are on a journey. Be prepared to keep learning and have ongoing conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharing with Family<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to telling the people who love us most or have known us longest, sharing a new diagnosis can come with a bit more emotion. Here are a few ways to navigate that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start with Close Family Members<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Begin with those you trust most and who are most involved in your daily life. They are likely to be the most supportive and can help you strategize around how to tell others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask for Specific Support<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your family loves you and wants to help. But they may have different ideas about how that looks. Clearly communicate how they can help you manage your ADHD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharing with Friends<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like family, your friends care about you and want what\u2019s best for you. Telling them can be a big part of your ADHD journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose Friends Wisely<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Just like our mothers taught us in middle school, choose carefully. In this case, share first with friends who are understanding and supportive. They\u2019ll not only help you continue to adjust to this diagnosis but also give you the confidence to continue sharing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be Casual but Clear<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If setting up a formal conversation feels right, maybe because your friend lives far away or you\u2019re both incredibly busy, go for it. But know that you don’t need to make it a formal announcement. It\u2019s completely ok to bring it up naturally in conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explain How It Might Affect Your Friendship<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Or explore how it has already been affecting your friendship. For example, if you sometimes forget plans or struggle with time management, talk with your friend about how you now know why you have these challenges\u2013and how you\u2019re working to make things better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharing in the Workplace<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like sharing with family and friends, sharing your diagnosis in the workplace can also bring up a lot of emotion. It can also increase anxiety<\/a> and job stress. For a more detailed look at how to share your diagnosis at work and possible accommodations, check out our article Should I Reveal My ADHD at Work?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Know Your Rights<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Familiarize yourself with workplace protections for individuals with ADHD, both legally and using information from your company handbook when necessary. It\u2019s good to know the facts as you enter into these conversations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decide Who Needs to Know<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You may choose to inform only your supervisor or HR department rather than all coworkers. Or you may let those know who you work most closely with. Remember that not everyone needs to know, only those who will help support you along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Focus on Job Performance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Explain how ADHD affects your work, how you are managing your symptoms, and any accommodations that could help you perform better. Your boss and company should want to help you be happy and productive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlight Your Strengths<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

ADHD often comes with unique strengths like creativity and problem-solving skills. Emphasize these so that you can both begin to work towards removing the ADHD stigma but also so that your boss and coworkers can be on the lookout for projects that are best suited to your unique talents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be Professional<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Keep the conversation focused on work-related impacts and solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharing your ADHD diagnosis can be a powerful step towards building stronger, more understanding relationships. It can lead to better support systems at home, among friends, and in the workplace. Remember, how much you share and with whom is entirely your decision. Take your time, choose your moments, and prioritize your comfort and well-being throughout the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thinking you might need an ADHD Diagnosis? Take our Diagnostic Evaluation to see if ADHD has been getting in your way<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sharing your ADHD diagnosis can lead to better support and understanding. If you’re thinking about taking that step, here are some helpful tips to guide your conversation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":37274,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[78],"tags":[227,241,90],"content_type":[39],"class_list":["post-37273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-adhd-diagnosis","tag-sharing-your-adhd-diagnosis","tag-tools-tips","content_type-article"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37273"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37273\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37273"},{"taxonomy":"content_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content_type?post=37273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}