How Do You Think of Yourself?

We hear a lot these days about how people “identify” themselves; most of the time, it’s about gender.

I’m not here to open that conversation, but I do have a question for you:

Do you identify as ADHD?

That is, when you think about yourself, do you automatically include ADHD as part of who you are?

And while we’re at it, do you think of yourself as disabled?

Are You An ADD Woman?

When I first started this blog, it was with the intention of helping women learn more about ADHD:  managing it, recognizing things that were symptoms but not obvious ones, living better lives, feeling good about themselves.

And I hope I do that.

But I’ve come to realize over the years that much of what we struggle with is universal.

A lot of women these days have trouble keeping their house clean.

The popularity of people like Marie Kondo and her ideas about tidying up show that it’s not just us; clutter and disorganization are pretty much universal.

Time management and productivity too.

So, are we ADD Women, or just women with ADHD who are otherwise a lot like other women everywhere?

And What About Being Disabled?

Are you?

Disabled, I mean.

If you live in the United States, Federal law says you are via The Americans with Disabilities Act. Also related.

Do you identify as disabled because you have ADHD?

I realize that I struggle with some things because of my ADHD, and I know that I can sometimes have trouble grasping simple concepts while breezing through complex ones due to my ADHD, but to me, those are a part of me. They help make me who I am.

I don’t feel disabled because of them.

Everyone has some things that they struggle with; those just happen to be some of mine.

So How Do You Identify?

I bet I can answer that question for you:

• Taken just in the context of this blog’s name, An ADD Woman, you identify first as a woman, and second as ADHD.
• And you know what? I have a few readers who don’t identify as women at all, but who do identify as ADHD.

Those of you who read my newsletter know where I am going with this, and that I have been struggling with it for a long time.

Are you women with ADHD?

Of course, but is that your main purpose in being here, on this blog?

If that’s the case, you need information about dealing with your symptoms and living life with ADHD.

Or are you a woman who happens to have ADHD?

If that’s the case, maybe your purpose is more to find out how to do the things you struggle with, partly because of your ADHD.

The problem, say, keeping the house clean, is the primary reason you’re here; the fact that you have ADHD plays into it, but on a secondary level.

What Belongs, and What Doesn’t?

If I were writing a blog about taking care of your new baby, then most likely getting your figure back would be a legitimate concern for you.

But it would have nothing to do with taking care of your new baby, and shouldn’t be a part of my blog.

So can I genuinely say I write about ADHD, and while you need to learn to clean your home more effectively, or use your time wisely, or clear the clutter, those things are not relevant to this blog?

I’m not sure.

Do you understand my dilemma?

Where do we draw the line?

How do I help you with your struggles with ADHD, and when do the things you struggle with stop being about ADHD?

I have another blog in the works; more about the things you struggle with, less about ADHD. It’s coming along slowly as I mull over these issues.

I would dearly love your opinion.

Talk to me. Leave a comment. Shoot me an email. If you live in Crown Point, Indiana, and see me in Target, flag me down.

We need to talk.