How do I get some family and friends to understand??

Amy,

You cannot get or make individuals understand what it is like to have a learning disable, just as you cannot make them understand other issues such as living a vegan lifestyle or living under a different religion.

I understand what it is like to wish that curtain or all family members, friends, teachers would grasp the daily issues that I have to deal in every aspect my life.

My parents for the most part have been supportive but not always understanding. They are forever on my case about being late. There are times I under estimate my time like went I am finishing up an email at work. I may run into the time I should be driving to their house after work because I double then triple check to email taking me a ½ hr to write it and get my point across.

Try not to think about your LD so much. When I was your age I want people to understand that I was not stupid or lazy. But there will always be someone who just doesn’t get.. So cut you loses and move on.

Good Luck

Helen Mae Horton

I was just diagnosed last year and I have the same problem. I understand how it’s like, especially when you have relatives who get frustrated with you. At twenty seven I live with my mother and she still gets mad at me for “Not paying attention.” or “You’re not listening!” even though now she knows I have a central auditory disorder ( and a few other learning disabilities). I only have one friend who even understands me because she has LD as a result of hydrocephalus and a stroke. It’s hard for me to make any new friends, and one guy even stopped talking to me when he found out I had LD. It’s always a struggle and I’ll pray for you.

See my private message to you. Basically, you just have
to explain you do things differently, yet you get things done. Sincerely yours, /signed/ Joe Tag

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a good reality check for parents or freinds is to bring them to a support group or conference on adhd in your area hospitals run them sometimes then they will see other people struggling with the same concerns and it wont seem so isolating, and share stories of people who r succesful like john carey or edison etc. :lol:

Some people will never get it.

For people who are trying to understand, I like this exercise.

Start a story about…anything….one example is boys going to the beach. Have the other person give the next line…for example…they built a sand castle. You add a line….they add a line and back and forth for a while. Then tell them you are going to handicap them like an LD er is handicapped. They can not use any words that have an “N” in them. Start the same story. Let them stuggle for a line or two and then turn up the heat, start telling your lines faster and faster (you are not limited by the “N” rule). The faster you go, the harder they will try and the more they will mess up.

Having an LD is like that. Given time and a supporting enviroment, they can come up with good line…under pressure, they can not.

Dumb example, I know. But I like it.

Barb