I take medication for depression and ADHD. These two conditions are comorbid in a lot of people, even though there hasn’t been causation shown either way (as far as I know). I have been had depression for as long as I can remember, but it got really bad after I was pregnant the first time and I’ve been taking medication to help ever since. I have likely had ADHD my entire life, but it only was diagnosed after I had my second child and I could keep it together anymore. It took a couple years to get the medication right in this case.

When I bring up my meds around people, I often can sense discomfort. There is a stigma to mental health medication that doesn’t extend to physical health medication (as if they are a strict dichotomy). People are far less comfortable with me having to take my ritilin than, say, if someone needs to take their thyroid medication or insulin.

It’s kind of interesting though: I haven’t had anyone react negatively when I share than I struggle with depression, but if I share that I’m taking medication to help, the discomfort appears. It’s like people feel empathy for folks with depression, but loathing for people trying to improve their lives with the help of doctor-prescribed medicine. I know why it happens, but it doesn’t make sense.

ADHD is even more uncomfortable, partially because so many people think they know what it is and how it feels. So many people self-diagnose with ADHD, even though they’ve never had any professional tests, and then they think they get it… and they don’t need medication. They just need “more structure” and “more discipline.” Yeah right. If you have ADHD, you know that’s not really how that works.

Neurotypical people tend to think they understand ADHD because they sometimes forget their keys or because they sometimes get distracted by things. It’s hard to imagine a different way of understanding the world from what you’ve lived your whole life. I used to think everyone’s brains worked like mine (a long time ago). That’s why I felt so much shame at not being able to follow a schedule or be on time or keep things organized: everyone else can do it, why can’t I? I think most people understand logically that other people think in different ways, but the problem is that they don’t understand how. Or how it makes a huge difference in the way we have to go about things.

I am trying to make a difference in this regard: I am very forthcoming about my struggles with mental health and ADHD. They are invisible conditions, so they leave people feeling isolated and alone. When students have ADHD, they can feel stigmatized and less than, and that brings a lot of shame. People see ADHD as a silly malady – SQUIRREL! – that only makes people fidget a lot and unable to sit still, when that is only part of the puzzle and it doesn’t even always fit. Taking medication to help is one part of this equation. I don’t talk about my meds to everyone, but if I need to remember to take them, I’ll remind myself out loud. Sometimes it’s the only way I remember things.

Maybe being forthright about my struggles will help decrease the stigma; like, yes, I have ADHD, but I am also an accomplished professional with two degrees and plenty of accolades. I have ADHD and that makes me weird to some people, but I’m still living well and happily (for the most part) and doing good in the world. I take medication and that’s not a weakness. That’s my way of taking care of myself and living my best life.