Ok #ADHD people - I'm upset. My friend keeps saying things like "sometimes you just need to realize the potential consequences of failure before you get going" and "I'm sure you'll bill those hours if you get desperate." /1

To me, these imply that I am too dimwitted to realize the consequences of failure early on. They imply that I am lazy or that my problem is privilege. /2

They, to me, invalidate a really frightening experience that I've been trying to communicate to my friend for weeks. /3

And when I pull something awesome off I get "well you just needed to be desperate to be motivated." No! I've been desperate for months. I've been trying for months. /4

I have made a huge effort to make things work. It is coming together partly because of luck, which I freely admit, but partly because I have reorganized my whole life. I was running for county office and suspended my campaign. I find that embarrassing even though I shouldn't. /5

I've started working for myself. I've stopped practicing certain areas of law. I've stopped trying to make as much money as many other lawyers. It all needed to be done. And that is why I am emerging, functional, from one of the most discouraging years of my life. /6

And none of this happened because I wasn't desperate (I was) or because I don't understand the consequences of failure (I do). Desperation and fear make it harder. This all happened because I have/am #ADHD and was in the wrong environment for my brain. It wasn't my fault. /7

I didn't mean to rant! I'm more upset than I thought! The whole point of this thread was to ask #ADHD #neurodiversesquad if I am being overly sensitive? Any thoughts?! Criticism and abundant praise both welcome.

Oh, and my friend is ADHD!!!! So it seems extra-insulting.