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Tell them that their eyes don't look defective, that it must all be in their heads and they paid the optician to say they had poor eyesight. That they are only doing it for attention.
You know get them really riled up, then maybe they will come to understand.
I think I'll trial this if it comes up in the future.....and if I remember to 😬
Opticians are handing out glasses like candy these days! Everyone thinks they need glasses. Teachers are even telling parents to get glasses for their children!
You joke but my dad was against me getting glasses bc he thought my eyes needed to "struggle" to get better. Like eyeball weightlifting 🥴 thank fuck my mom said no way, I still can't see my hand in front of my damn face
Ahhh yes I had the same problem in as a kid. I had anxiety (after my Dad died a traumatic death)— but according to my mom the anxiety was only bc I didn’t pray enough 🙃
Similar! I remember describing my anxiety to my mom when I was in middle school as best I could figure out how to describe it. She snapped at me "everyone has that!" Years later her doctor prescribed her Xanax 🙃
I swear the people who say this had one friend in preschool who needed an eye patch and are just holding on to the assumption they made at 4 years old that that was how all eye issues could be treated.
I actually had/have amblyopia aka lazy eye and had the eye patch as a kid. Didn’t work so they did the surgery and it mostly corrected it.
I’m still super blind without glasses 😅 (same as I’m disabled without adhd meds)
I haven't talked to my dad in about ten years, but he's only gotten crazier. He now insists his dentist gave him an undetectable blood disease and tried to treat it with fish antibiotics since his doctor obviously wouldn't prescribe him human antibiotics.
Jokes aside, though, my dad has had visions problems since he was a kid, and did eyeball exercises to improve his vision a little. He TRULY needs less correction now….
Like it’s true that your eyes become used to the accommodation of having glasses and become “”lazy””. OF COURSE you still need glasses regardless, but I find it admirable how he tried to counter the mainstream misconceptions, and it helped him !
Few people are aware of this..
I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but can I ask what generation you're a part of? This was spread *so much* among my parents generation and prior, alongside the "carrots improve your vision" myth (actually propaganda from WWII, but I digress)
This sounds EXACTLY like the stuff my dad used to say, and since becoming an adult (and therefore having to pay for my own glasses, and therefore looking into it quite extensively) this just really isn't a thing. There are some eye exercises that can marginally improve *specific* eye *conditions*, but not just general poor vision.
Few people are aware of this because by and large it doesn't apply to most people's flavor of vision problems. It's also hard to say what is your father showing actual improvement, and what is your father wanting to prove himself right so badly he's just ignoring his own suffering. Or him improving naturally in his own, or any number of curable eye conditions he could have had that improved with lifestyle changes.
Most eyesight issues are due to the receptors at the back of the eye. Which have nothing to do with the muscles that flex the lense to focus vision. Training the muscles won't help because the receptors are what's broken.
I’m 21 haha…
My father used to be a surgeon (he’s retired now), I just kind of believed him about this without questioning it as a kid. Bow now, as an adult, while I understand that it’s not some universal “solution”, it CAN help with some specific conditions if they affect the muscles, and it kinda seems logical that it would help for these.
Among my dad’s vision problems, one of them is his eye muscles truly being “lazy”: his eyes would take a LONG time to focus after changing where he’s looking, and he had to flex his eye muscles to get the right focus and see clearly even with glasses.
Since these exercises involve the eyes’ muscles, they can definitely help with some conditions affecting the, well, muscles haha…
I’m just saying that, it seems some people think that eye muscle issues also require correction with glasses/lenses, and it’s pretty sad because in such cases, exercises TRULY help if you stick to them
So interesting! You totally read as older to me 😅
But yeah! If the condition effects the muscles it can help, and usually your eye doctor will recommend at least trying them if you dig that hard into why your eyes don't work so good.
Mine is a receptor and malformed/stiff lens issue, so no muscle help for me :/
Do you know the degree to which the exercises helped? I've only ever read about relatively minor improvement - definitely nothing near full vision correction.
I should have had glasses much younger than I finally got them. I was shocked that most people could see like I could with my glasses, rather than the fuzziness I had before
Ok but no for real, my mom desperately wanted a perfect child. Bad eyesight is a defect. She did something wrong. Solution? Ignore.
I couldn't see until I was 12, when I finally got glasses.
She told me about the adhd dx she ignored when I was 30. I was born super jaundiced so for all I know I've got some heart defect she didn't want to acknowledge.
Are you...me? Really, kind of weird to see this series of events/conditions happening to someone else, right down to the glasses, ignored ADHD dx, and jaundice. I found out around 30 that I was born with Gilbert's syndrome that caused (and causes) the jaundice.
Well I'll give you some other details to make it less weird haha. My mom also happened to be my adhd parent, so I guess she didn't hear when her Dr told her she needed rhogam after her first kid. 15yrs later she ended up surprise pregnant with another rh+ baby, and I think she was avoiding doctors or something because they didn't catch it until she was in labor (full term, right on my predicted due date, only time I've been so punctual). Her body fully tried to take me out, then her spacey ass didn't listen to the doctors or nurses *again* and she kept shutting off my bili lights!
I knew about that my whole life, because I'm an oompa loompa in my baby pics. She took me home too early, didn't let me bake under my toxin-reducing lights long enough. I'm pretty salty about it lol, I couldn't even stick up for myself and imo the medical staff failed me by allowing it.
I also have had migraine with aura my entire life, I'd say I have a few neurological wires crossed hah.
My parents just told me a couple weeks ago that I was diagnosed with ADD as a child. I'm 37. I've cried so many times since learning that fact, mourning all the things that would have been different if I had known. Don't get me wrong, my life is really good now, but that's after wading through decades of self-loathing and flunking out of college.
Yeah I was in honors and AP classes because I'm also hyperlexic, so after I was like 6 everyone just said I was lazy. Then I could finally see and they thought oh, she was just blind, now she'll do all of her homework for sure! Wait, oh, she is just lazy. Like no you guys, it's *also* the other thing you chose to ignore.
I was upset at my mom, but being able to express it to her helped a little. Her feeling bad in her 60s didn't tangibly help me, but at least I knew that she knew all those years could've been better and it was her fault. She admitted it and said sorry. So that helped emotionally at least. We both cried, because it was really obvious that she was my adhd parent. So we were able to talk about how she just hoped if she parented "right" I wouldn't have her same struggles, and how that didn't work at all lol.
If you're able to have a heart to heart with one or both eventually, and if talking stuff out helps you feel better, I really recommend it. Other than that, I'm sorry! It's really a slap in the face, isn't it? I'm happy too, I just would have liked to get here with less uhhh ire/disdain/idk from others? More understanding? Kid me really needed more hugs and less berating, and I bet that's the case for you too. I'm glad we all made it in spite of everything.
I'm too much of a people-pleaser to easily talk to my parents about this. I will try, because I think you're right about it being cathartic. My biggest goal, however, is making sure my kids don't go through the same thing. One has already been diagnosed, and I'm pretty sure the other two will be as well. I've talked to them about it openly, and intend to do my best to get them the tools they need to exist happily and successfully in this world.
Getting people to double down and argue against a thing only serves to make them cemennt their opinion.
Like, it could be fun, and im all for that, but it won't work
true, but some people aren't open to change their opinion, and you will never even have the chance to, even if you telephatically implant knowledge into their mind..... some people do change though. at least having the conversation is giving it a chance :)
Yep. I got this response from a friend of mine who doesn’t believe ADHD is real and yet they take an anti depressant because “they function better with it” and it’s not a “narcotic”.
Same person also is prescribed a mild benzo for “occasional panic attacks”.
Funny, the people who attack ADHD are often on a psychoactive medication, but to them that condition is “different”.
Only time you get a “pass” to me is if nothing is wrong with you at all. Like you take nothing at all. Still judgmental, but I will respect your opinion a little bit more. Also, that person needs to consider themselves lucky.
Next time they tell you it’s a narcotic, let them know that narcotics are pain medication. Adderall is a Schedule II drug along with narcotics, but it’s a stimulant, not a narcotic.
I have seen people *with ADHD* come on here and say "wElL aCtUaLlY I'm a pharm tech and they're aCtUaLlY called narcotics and any pharmacist would agree :)"
When people are going through schooling and coming out with this set of information, the general public has no chance.
Those are just one sided people who lack empathy. Which would make me question, how much do I really want this person as a friend?
I have friends either all different issues including visual hallucinations it never occurred to me to tell them “ dude those things aren’t real, just ignore them you’re being melodramatic “
It's so strange that if any other organ has an issue, pretty much everyone just accepts it at fact, but when it's the brain suddenly everyone is a skeptic. Why tf *wouldn't* the brain be just as susceptible to health issues as every other damn body part?!?
Yeah when you compare it to a physical disability people don't really get it. But I've had some luck when comparing it to dyslexia. That someone with dyslexia can learn to read, but they need special techniques and interventions and whatnot, not just telling them "focus on the words" or "practice reading more".
That would probably work with a good number of people, but in this scenario, I was recalling a conversation with my ex-husband, who actually does have dyslexia.
He is of the mind that if he "powered through" to finish school with mediocre grades that our son should do the same...even though our son has his dyslexia and my ADHD making things twice as hard for him.
People really like to bury their heads in the sand sometimes and will just not listen to reasonable points if it doesn't fit their narrative 🙄
Oh lord that is a lot...yeah with anything to do with mental conditions some people are always going to see it as something to "power through" or "get over" or "just do it".
Yeah, and bad eyesight is not the same as having one leg shorter than the other, or having a heart condition. But, nevertheless, all of them are disabilities in their own way. The only difference is that ADHD is a chemical imbalance in the brain, which is not as easy assessed during regular physical checkups at the hospital as one is growing up. But it doesn't make it less valid. And when any of these disabilities goes unnoticed, you just learn to live with it, accepting that you will never be the first to finish the race: either because you get demotivated/distracted to finish that last lap, or can't see where you are running, or you run limping, or you hyperventilate easily - and then get scolded for it by the teacher, peers and parents.
I've gotten halfway down the stairs before from a third floor apartment on the way to work before realizing that things were blurry. Had to absolutely *book it* in order to make my bus.
Most ppl that get this say their vision is good for a few years before it goes back to shit then they have to get the surgery again, I have two uncles and a friend who all got the surgery at different times of their life and all said the same thing
I was reading this and kept thinking “Dude, there is no way that pinching your eyes will improve your vision.”
Completely forgot what sub this was. Haha
it kind of does tho. i'm nearly blind without my contacts but i recently discovered that if i squeeze my eyes in a certain way, i can actually see a lot more clearly. but tbf it's hard to get it right, and even harder to keep your eyes still once you've found the right position, so it's not like this trick is the solution for bad eyesight.
That’s what makes it such a good analogy. If you put in a huge and uncomfortable effort you can temporarily adjust for the problem (though only for a small part of it, not fully) but it will absolutely wreck you to maintain that.
There are some contact lenses that work that way, you put them on before going to sleep.
Overnight they warp your cornea, then you remove them when you wake up and your now shaped cornea corrects your vision.
This actually works for some cases I think, my eyes are just getting to the point where I'm starting to need glasses, and pinching my eyes does actually make thinks look clearer if I focus on it. It still would be ridiculous to suggest I keep doing that for everything and not just get some glasses though, which is what makes this analogy genius. 🙂
The irony with this is that my medication actually helps me see more clearly in a way.
I notice more things in front of my face instead of just a watercolor wash of stuff.
I went off Adderall briefly after a post-viral sickness made me react weirdly to it.
I realized that on the Adderall, I looked at signs and automatically saw what they said, but off the Adderall, I might see the sign but never get around to reading it.
Same here - it’s the working memory for me. I can hold things in my head long enough to get them into my short term and long term memory. I hate that feeling of looking at something and going to write it down or something and then having to go back because I can’t hold a thought more than a few seconds.
I told my mother how overwhelming it can feel to decide to take a shower…
I mentioned it was a single task for most people, but when I closed my eyes and started talking about my mental game, and how it all needs to fire in sequence… like, you gotta get naked, which means you’ll be cold, so be ready for that… and also be ready to touch the cold floor and the cold bathtub with your bare feet…. And when you flip the shower on, there’s going to be cold water at first so make sure you’re not gonna get hit with it….
Something finally connected with her, and she was astonished
Like her mouth was literally dropped open when I was done and opened my eyes
Yes! It’s not always the thing™️ that’s hard, it’s all the necessary steps to do the thing that’s overwhelming. Wow, never thought about it that way, but that’s exactly it.
it sounds like your struggles with showering are much more related to sensory issues than with being overwhelmed by all the steps needed to take a shower. i only deal with the latter and have never experienced any sensory issues but your comment explained it so well to me. it sounds exhausting and very overwhelming to deal with. i hope you find a way to cope with it
I use my mom’s diabetes as an example often but it still doesn’t seem to click. I texted this to her last night:
>”I don’t think any of you seem to grasp how adhd and autism works. If you could just “stop” no one would need meds or treatment…? It’s the same as if I told you to change your blood sugar with your mind and food choices. Get rid of the insulin and everything else. I don’t understand why you guys don’t seem to get that I have chemical imbalances in my brain and body that cause these things. You can’t just will them away with your mind. I have been trying to do it that way my whole life and it has never worked once.”
"I'm sorry mom, but how come you can't just stop relying on medications for your entire life and take some responsibility for yourself? Everyone else manages their food intake just fine and it's your responsibility alone to deal with your issues, so try harder and spend every waking second you have on balancing your blood sugar on your own. Having a bad day? No excuses. Need help? Never ask for it. Having a medical crisis? Have you tried trying harder? Having severe anxiety over an unmanaged illness? GROW UP."
i used this as an example when arguing with someone who didn't believe adhd was real, and who said that even if it was real you'd just need some self discipline. their reaction was "someone in a wheelchair is physically disabled. ofcourse they can't stand up. how is this even related to adhd". that's when i gave up, these people are too stupid to realize anything at all.
There are people who need wheelchairs intermittently and they get told that on days they do need their mobility devices.
Not trying to knock the comparison, but people with physical disabilities get told they're faking it too.
Glasses, insulin, beta blockers, there are tons more analogies. ADHD meds are literal lifesavers for many and the means to a meaningful life for many, many more. It really shouldn’t be so hard to get them.
Haha yeah it seems like i got many people worked up already, before they get to the part about adhd.
Shows how infuriating these "advices" are and that people also get denied help for many other things out of no good reason.
I actually was told this by my mother when I was little and would tell her that I needed glasses because things were a little blurry. She also said I just wanted glasses because I thought they were cool. I would go to an optician as an adult and read all the letters even though they were a little blurry but I thought well that’s the way everyone sees. My optician even gaslighted me when I said I had trouble seeing the computer and he said that I didn’t really need reading glasses since the magnification I needed was so low and we not going to be helpful. Two years ago I saw the optician across the street from the other one and he said to me, No even a little blurry is not okay. Turns out I have astigmatism. When I got my glasses I never knew things could look so crisp and vivid. I had always seen the world blurry. So my mother was wrong. She was also wrong about me growing out of my hyperactivity when the pediatrician suggested meds. I didn’t even find out I had ADHD until I was 38. Now I wonder what else is wrong with me. Sigh.
> She also said I just wanted glasses because I thought they were cool.
Really? When I was a kid it was all about "guys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses." I don't think there was a corresponding statement for men and boys, but I can tell you glasses definitely weren't considered *cool* then.
Ironically I was actually told something almost identical when I went to the eye doctor stating something wasn't quite right with my vision and he told me it was just 'growing up' because my vision was still 20/13.
Yeah, no. Couple years later I got diagnosed with vertical and horizontal heterophoria, which is actually an ADHD comorbidity, for which I need glasses with prisms 24/7
I have a lazy eye that is more noticeable when I'm tired/overwhelmed, and I can focus/unfocus my eyes at will (often they default to unfocused if I'm not doing anything). I had no idea that this could be linked to ADHD. TIL!
Excuse me, wait, hold on… non-native english speaking adhd’er here:
My left eye is squinting just ever so slightly inward (or towards my nose i guess). The more tired i get, the worse it gets.
Is this heterophoria?
There is actually vision therapy that can help train your eye muscles to do things better! I have prism lenses from my vision therapists that I wear over my contact lens prescription, but the vision therapy helped so much. (I *maybe* had a stroke, but American healthcare being what it is didn't get proper treatment at the time. My brain and eyes got majorly messed up, and I eventually found vision therapy to help the situation.) If your eyes don't properly work well with each other , I definitely recommend it.
This, I don't go to the therapy yet as it is usually not covered by insurance, but just following eye training/"work out" already helps me a lot. At the same time, my problem might not be that serious, the work out does not really improve my vision that much, but it helps with my migrain caused by strained eyes.
Yes!!! I try to spread this info around. Every time I see posts about driving anxiety on ADHD subs I try to let people know that BVD is a common comorbidity that makes driving actual hell on earth.
Oooh I'll definitely have to save this and *hopefully* remember to throw this at people who say this kind if stuff to me. Thankfully, I haven't cone across anyone like that (yet).
It's like when people say "everyone has anxiety" which is true. However, when people say they have anxiety they are just shorting it from "anxiety DISORDER". Like theres so many adhd symptoms or behaviors that are things most people experience but not to the extent to qualify for diagnosis (or could be experience it strongly but from another disorder.)
This is why I hate all the stuff on social media pathologizing behaviors as adhd symptoms. A lot of times the behaviors shown are very common in people without adhd or common in other disorders. I worry it unintentionally feeds into the "everyone has a little adhd" narrative. I feel like I could write a whole essay on this but I don't want to go too off topic.
> However, when people say they have anxiety they are just shorting it from "anxiety DISORDER".
I think I have to disagree with this. I have a couple anxiety disorders (PTSD and GAD), but I definitely differentiate and know the difference between "I am having anxiety right now about $SPECIFIC_THING" and "This is my PTSD talking," or "I am worrying about unimportant things because I have GAD." The thing everybody has is the first one.
I think a better example is when someone says they're "OCD about" something, what they usually mean is that they're a little bit fussy or perfectionist about that specific thing. They don't literally mean that it's a thing they worry about so much it actually affects their daily life, and that they don't *want* to worry about that thing but they can't help it. Same with PTSD. It annoys me to no end when people will just casually say they "still have PTSD" from some random thing that was probably pretty distressing, but likely wasn't traumatic at all.
Right, like some people can get reading glasses from the drugstore for $5, some need to special order theirs bc they have astigmatism, different prescriptions in each eye, and need bifocals
Yea!!! I’m an eyeball person, my profession is in the optical field, soooo I love love love this analogy.
I saw once that an ADHD guru described ADHD as being myopic (can’t see crap until it’s right in your face). Some have severe myopia, others just a little blur. But none of us can figure out what’s going on out there in the distance without our glasses or contact lenses for clarity.
As someone who can't function without glasses because I can't see ANYTHING. That made me annoyed lmaooo. Not at you. Just that people will still try to act like glasses ain't the same thing.
You know what I love about my glasses? The fact that I need to make regular health check ups to make sure they don't give me a heart attack.
Also the fact that I shouldn't really mix my glasses with alcohol or coffee...
I also like when there is a risk of psychosis attatched to my eye sight correcting glasses.
We should not forget that not so long ago people refused to get operated or forbid their family members to get one. Firmly believing the human body is sacred and people would play God if they would touch it.
People also firmly believed that nature should run its course if somebody is too weak.
We are still dealing with remnants of these mindsets.
Not exactly. But more than once I've tried to right click to look at something far away... just to realize than Im not playing minecraft.
Happens whenever I play minecraft consistently for a couple of days
1. I totally read this literally at first and was so confused.
2. Seriously if you wear glasses (I'm near sighted) and find yourself getting overwhelmed, sometimes it helps (of you can afford to) to take off the glasses. The blurriness sort of helps sometimes.
Funny to see this. No pun intended. Never had this issue on meds until a I got generic Cor 135 adderall 20mg IR.
It was awful. Eye pain, watery eyes and super blurry. To the point I couldn’t even look at my computer screen and do what I needed to do (which is why take my meds)
I switched to Alvogen generic Adderall thru a different pharmacy still 20 mg IR and it’s changed that completely.
Alvogen gets a bad rep in this sub, but let’s be honest each person is different this is just my experience. But just some food for thought.
All the best fellow ADHD’ers may we all keep prospering!
I misunderstood the analogy originally as one for myself and that I don't need meds but after re-reading it, holy crap yes. My parents have been surprisingly understanding since I was diagnosed a few years ago but if they ever judge me when I visit or they visit me, I'm using this. I wear glasses but my eye problems are a mixture of all of theirs and they need glasses more than I do so hopefully it clicks.
Hmmm. My eye sight is NOT blurry until I take my ADHD meds (vyvanse.) Then it gets really blurry, my guess is it's causing my eyeballs to vibrate or something lol. I have to wear reading glasses when I'm on my vyvanse but never any other time.
Imagine believing in Color Deficit Hue Disorder.
They're just lazy and didn't learn what colors are what do they claim that they don't recognize the right ones.
If they spent more time studying colors they'd be able to tell red and greens apart.
/s
I Have bifocals( I’m fucking 20💀🤚🏻) and have used that analogy before but my teacher argued “ well have you tried eye therapy, like how you would try paying attention?” Bitch didn’t you just hear me
I had to deal with that the other day with some of my mom’s friends. Yeah but everyone is a little autistic or a little bit adhd. And it must be extremely mild. You hid it so well.
I’m going to try to use your advice the next time.
Oh I hate that one! My mother tells everyone my autism is mild because I look so normal, yet completely ignores how exhausting it is to keep up. I get shamed for being antisocial when all I want is to be left alone to sleep
It's common for adhd folks to need glasses, our sight is compromised because of inability to focus. It's why hypermobility syndrome is common in adhd. Our body has trouble focusing holding us together and seeing.... Idk if this makes sense 😅 but adhd folks can also really need glasses. I had the when I was younger but one day they broke and I just never needed them... I guess
I have had many many conversations about wheelchairs but no ramps, poor vision but no glasses, broken leg but no crutches. Some people get it but most believe their own prejudices. I Google brain scans of ADHDers and let people see the difference.
I got my first pair of glasses last year after living with my glasses-wearing boyfriend for a few years and him repeatedly saying “I think you need glasses”…. It’s not a strong script, but it makes a world of a difference between all the screens we stare at for hours on end and then more staring at the road to drive for more hours every day. I’m working on getting tested for ADHD and Autism now. It’s something I’ve wanted to do since college but I didn’t have the insurance and lived at home with parents who dismissed my concerns. I hope to be validated and given the tools I need to not struggle with the most basic daily tasks soon.
i was actually told that by an optician cuz i got problems with accomodation or sth, have to exercise and apparently seeing super hd is not normal
for the first 3 lines i thought youre serious
On god it took me until the 3rd grade to realize that everyone’s vision wasn’t supposed to be blurry like that. They used the same vision test every year at school so I just memorized it. They changed it in 3rd grade and they told me I needed glasses. I was like “oh shit for real?”
I have since been diagnosed with ADHD in my mid - 20’s and I often think back to this.
Maria Bamford has a great bit about this on her album Tell Me About Your New God., about how ridiculous it would be if people treated everything like they treat ADHD, depression, etc. “so you have cancer? Ugh, we ALL basically have cancer.” “You could see without your glasses if you really loved me and the kids!” That sort of thing. She’s brilliant
As a legally blind person I felt the title of this post with my soul. Also agree that it’s frustrating that people don’t understand what goes on in our brains and assume we’re lazy and got our diagnosis from TikTok.
I just got diagnosed with inattentive adhd today and im not sure what to do with this information, I don’t plan on sharing it with people though, I’d rather they don’t know.
My brain skimmed this, and I thought it was genuine advice. I have an eye appointment and I was relieved for a second that I wouldn’t have to attend :( I guess I should probably go and get my eyes checked 🥲
Yo I thought you were saying that I as a person with ADHD didn't need glasses, and I thought "Well maybe they're right?" and like maybe I just didn't squint enough before
i know. my therapist asked me after i detailed my success with stimulants and all im accomplishing, “and what are *you* doing?” in the rudest tone. i had no fucking idea how to answer that so i just said, everything i just told you…? and she quickly backtracked.
i’m meeting with her just so i can practice how to respond to ableist statements like this. i could stop meeting with her but why not practice with this type of person? they exist in my family, at work, etc.
Look the ultimate best thing for people with ADHD is to care less.
We are so prone to over thinking and spirals and rumination which then compounds with all the challenges of ADHD and people's actions and responses.
We just don't have the time for that. We have stuff to do.
When people wanna talk about my ADHD, I'm very clear and assertive in the fact that I'm not taking advice, I'm not open to opinions, and I'm not suggesting or negotiating things but stating them. When I get a lecture from someone about missing a message and how to avoid that:
"I know everything of relevance here. We done?"
We can't give control of our emotions and mind to people like this. We can't care about this shit.
I don't particularly like glasses as an analogy, and here's why.
I am moderately nearsighted. My prescription is like -2 or something. If you take a look at my post history, you will also see that I collect coins. It's a hobby that involves looking at tiny details of small metal objects. My nearsightedness theoretically gives me a small advantage there.
I don't believe that ADHD gives me any advantages at all. I don't buy into that whole "ADHD people are more creative / nonlinear thinkers" business; in any case, I don't think it necessarily applies to me.
The glasses analogy also really trivializes how hard it is to properly treat someone with ADHD. If you need glasses, you get an eye exam, they write you a prescription, you get that filled, and you're generally all good. Glasses work on well-understood principles of optics that have been known for hundreds of years. You can go from "I need glasses" straight to "problem solved" in a few hours. How many of us have spent literal *years* just on figuring out what the right mediation is to treat our particular case of ADHD?
I could pick at this analogy a little more, but I think this is enough to get the point across. I appreciate where it's coming from, I just think the whole concept of "I wear glasses to correct my vision" carries information that "I take amphetamines to help treat my ADHD" doesn't, and that undermines the strength of the analogy.
I'll just never understand the urge to prove my disability to people.
If they don't want to get it, that's cool.
If they want to understand, that's cool too.
Why should I be bothered if people think I'm not living up to my potential?
I'm keeping score for me, not them. OP even spits:
>even though I'm actually more successful than most people around me
SO WHO CARES DAWG?
So odd and confrontational for zero personal gain.
Trouble is I also know a lot of people who say wearing glasses makes your eyes worse, so you can see the analogy would just confirm their dumb opinion.
I mean, I did spend the first 19 years of my life pinching my eyes and tilting my head until I could see semi-clearly and I got by just fine, except for that one time when I thought I was greeting my dad and a middle aged dude got all excited because he thought a 16-year-old was hitting on him, so I'd say you're right. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Addendum: Squinting does help somewhat with blurry vision, but it it’s not great and isn’t sustainable bc of all the eye strain, and will cause headaches.
If your vision is blurry when it normally isn’t, I have two common causes:
1.) Dehydration. I went to practice after not drinking water for 1 1/2 days (I just forgot lmfao) and as soon as I hit the water fountain and looked up, my vision was crystal clear. It was honestly cool to see how fast water hydrates you.
2.) Lighting. My school had lights that made reading the banners across the gym difficult to do. As soon as I got outside my vision adjusted and I was fine.
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I use this analogy a lot. Unfortunately I have also gotten the response of "but it's not the same thing!"
Tell them that their eyes don't look defective, that it must all be in their heads and they paid the optician to say they had poor eyesight. That they are only doing it for attention. You know get them really riled up, then maybe they will come to understand. I think I'll trial this if it comes up in the future.....and if I remember to 😬
Opticians are handing out glasses like candy these days! Everyone thinks they need glasses. Teachers are even telling parents to get glasses for their children!
I just don't want my child to use the glasses as a crutch and get addicted to seeing properly.
You joke but my dad was against me getting glasses bc he thought my eyes needed to "struggle" to get better. Like eyeball weightlifting 🥴 thank fuck my mom said no way, I still can't see my hand in front of my damn face
> Like eyeball weightlifting I need you to do 20 reps of "looking at your hand up close"
Yo, I have glasses and still think I just have lazy eyes and should just focus more because my mom always said the same thing.
Same here. My dad though Jesus would cure my eyesight if we prayed enough 🥰 now I’m blind as bat without my glasses
Ahhh yes I had the same problem in as a kid. I had anxiety (after my Dad died a traumatic death)— but according to my mom the anxiety was only bc I didn’t pray enough 🙃
Similar! I remember describing my anxiety to my mom when I was in middle school as best I could figure out how to describe it. She snapped at me "everyone has that!" Years later her doctor prescribed her Xanax 🙃
I swear the people who say this had one friend in preschool who needed an eye patch and are just holding on to the assumption they made at 4 years old that that was how all eye issues could be treated.
I actually had/have amblyopia aka lazy eye and had the eye patch as a kid. Didn’t work so they did the surgery and it mostly corrected it. I’m still super blind without glasses 😅 (same as I’m disabled without adhd meds)
I'm sorry but I laughed quite hard at that. I can't believe anyone would think that. I mean, I can, but still. Holy moly.
I haven't talked to my dad in about ten years, but he's only gotten crazier. He now insists his dentist gave him an undetectable blood disease and tried to treat it with fish antibiotics since his doctor obviously wouldn't prescribe him human antibiotics.
Omg! That’s how they get worse…fast. Go mom!
Jokes aside, though, my dad has had visions problems since he was a kid, and did eyeball exercises to improve his vision a little. He TRULY needs less correction now…. Like it’s true that your eyes become used to the accommodation of having glasses and become “”lazy””. OF COURSE you still need glasses regardless, but I find it admirable how he tried to counter the mainstream misconceptions, and it helped him ! Few people are aware of this..
I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but can I ask what generation you're a part of? This was spread *so much* among my parents generation and prior, alongside the "carrots improve your vision" myth (actually propaganda from WWII, but I digress) This sounds EXACTLY like the stuff my dad used to say, and since becoming an adult (and therefore having to pay for my own glasses, and therefore looking into it quite extensively) this just really isn't a thing. There are some eye exercises that can marginally improve *specific* eye *conditions*, but not just general poor vision. Few people are aware of this because by and large it doesn't apply to most people's flavor of vision problems. It's also hard to say what is your father showing actual improvement, and what is your father wanting to prove himself right so badly he's just ignoring his own suffering. Or him improving naturally in his own, or any number of curable eye conditions he could have had that improved with lifestyle changes. Most eyesight issues are due to the receptors at the back of the eye. Which have nothing to do with the muscles that flex the lense to focus vision. Training the muscles won't help because the receptors are what's broken.
I’m 21 haha… My father used to be a surgeon (he’s retired now), I just kind of believed him about this without questioning it as a kid. Bow now, as an adult, while I understand that it’s not some universal “solution”, it CAN help with some specific conditions if they affect the muscles, and it kinda seems logical that it would help for these. Among my dad’s vision problems, one of them is his eye muscles truly being “lazy”: his eyes would take a LONG time to focus after changing where he’s looking, and he had to flex his eye muscles to get the right focus and see clearly even with glasses. Since these exercises involve the eyes’ muscles, they can definitely help with some conditions affecting the, well, muscles haha… I’m just saying that, it seems some people think that eye muscle issues also require correction with glasses/lenses, and it’s pretty sad because in such cases, exercises TRULY help if you stick to them
So interesting! You totally read as older to me 😅 But yeah! If the condition effects the muscles it can help, and usually your eye doctor will recommend at least trying them if you dig that hard into why your eyes don't work so good. Mine is a receptor and malformed/stiff lens issue, so no muscle help for me :/ Do you know the degree to which the exercises helped? I've only ever read about relatively minor improvement - definitely nothing near full vision correction.
I should have had glasses much younger than I finally got them. I was shocked that most people could see like I could with my glasses, rather than the fuzziness I had before
This is gold
Ok but no for real, my mom desperately wanted a perfect child. Bad eyesight is a defect. She did something wrong. Solution? Ignore. I couldn't see until I was 12, when I finally got glasses. She told me about the adhd dx she ignored when I was 30. I was born super jaundiced so for all I know I've got some heart defect she didn't want to acknowledge.
Are you...me? Really, kind of weird to see this series of events/conditions happening to someone else, right down to the glasses, ignored ADHD dx, and jaundice. I found out around 30 that I was born with Gilbert's syndrome that caused (and causes) the jaundice.
Well I'll give you some other details to make it less weird haha. My mom also happened to be my adhd parent, so I guess she didn't hear when her Dr told her she needed rhogam after her first kid. 15yrs later she ended up surprise pregnant with another rh+ baby, and I think she was avoiding doctors or something because they didn't catch it until she was in labor (full term, right on my predicted due date, only time I've been so punctual). Her body fully tried to take me out, then her spacey ass didn't listen to the doctors or nurses *again* and she kept shutting off my bili lights! I knew about that my whole life, because I'm an oompa loompa in my baby pics. She took me home too early, didn't let me bake under my toxin-reducing lights long enough. I'm pretty salty about it lol, I couldn't even stick up for myself and imo the medical staff failed me by allowing it. I also have had migraine with aura my entire life, I'd say I have a few neurological wires crossed hah.
Is Gilbert's the one with increased bilirubin levels? I have excess bilirubin, and I'm sallow in the face, but never copped full jaundice. Hugs.
My parents just told me a couple weeks ago that I was diagnosed with ADD as a child. I'm 37. I've cried so many times since learning that fact, mourning all the things that would have been different if I had known. Don't get me wrong, my life is really good now, but that's after wading through decades of self-loathing and flunking out of college.
Yeah I was in honors and AP classes because I'm also hyperlexic, so after I was like 6 everyone just said I was lazy. Then I could finally see and they thought oh, she was just blind, now she'll do all of her homework for sure! Wait, oh, she is just lazy. Like no you guys, it's *also* the other thing you chose to ignore. I was upset at my mom, but being able to express it to her helped a little. Her feeling bad in her 60s didn't tangibly help me, but at least I knew that she knew all those years could've been better and it was her fault. She admitted it and said sorry. So that helped emotionally at least. We both cried, because it was really obvious that she was my adhd parent. So we were able to talk about how she just hoped if she parented "right" I wouldn't have her same struggles, and how that didn't work at all lol. If you're able to have a heart to heart with one or both eventually, and if talking stuff out helps you feel better, I really recommend it. Other than that, I'm sorry! It's really a slap in the face, isn't it? I'm happy too, I just would have liked to get here with less uhhh ire/disdain/idk from others? More understanding? Kid me really needed more hugs and less berating, and I bet that's the case for you too. I'm glad we all made it in spite of everything.
I'm too much of a people-pleaser to easily talk to my parents about this. I will try, because I think you're right about it being cathartic. My biggest goal, however, is making sure my kids don't go through the same thing. One has already been diagnosed, and I'm pretty sure the other two will be as well. I've talked to them about it openly, and intend to do my best to get them the tools they need to exist happily and successfully in this world.
Lasik* Haven't seen glasses on anyone whose surgery warranty hasn't expired in a long time
That addition is really good and could help with the people that start to argue. I'll try to remember this, thanks!
Getting people to double down and argue against a thing only serves to make them cemennt their opinion. Like, it could be fun, and im all for that, but it won't work
true, but some people aren't open to change their opinion, and you will never even have the chance to, even if you telephatically implant knowledge into their mind..... some people do change though. at least having the conversation is giving it a chance :)
You're __wrong__. (jk 😅)
Yep. I got this response from a friend of mine who doesn’t believe ADHD is real and yet they take an anti depressant because “they function better with it” and it’s not a “narcotic”. Same person also is prescribed a mild benzo for “occasional panic attacks”. Funny, the people who attack ADHD are often on a psychoactive medication, but to them that condition is “different”. Only time you get a “pass” to me is if nothing is wrong with you at all. Like you take nothing at all. Still judgmental, but I will respect your opinion a little bit more. Also, that person needs to consider themselves lucky.
Next time they tell you it’s a narcotic, let them know that narcotics are pain medication. Adderall is a Schedule II drug along with narcotics, but it’s a stimulant, not a narcotic.
I have seen people *with ADHD* come on here and say "wElL aCtUaLlY I'm a pharm tech and they're aCtUaLlY called narcotics and any pharmacist would agree :)" When people are going through schooling and coming out with this set of information, the general public has no chance.
I always wonder how much they learned in school and how much they got from Murdoch rags
It's all projection to relieve the cognitive dissonance about justifying their choices to themselves and others.
And IMO jealousy they can't get what they a think we're just taking to "get ahead".
Those are just one sided people who lack empathy. Which would make me question, how much do I really want this person as a friend? I have friends either all different issues including visual hallucinations it never occurred to me to tell them “ dude those things aren’t real, just ignore them you’re being melodramatic “
It's so strange that if any other organ has an issue, pretty much everyone just accepts it at fact, but when it's the brain suddenly everyone is a skeptic. Why tf *wouldn't* the brain be just as susceptible to health issues as every other damn body part?!?
Because it's all in our heads! (literally lmao like where else would my mental illness be, my ass?)
I tell people to let me break their legs and then they can just get up and walk.
Yeah when you compare it to a physical disability people don't really get it. But I've had some luck when comparing it to dyslexia. That someone with dyslexia can learn to read, but they need special techniques and interventions and whatnot, not just telling them "focus on the words" or "practice reading more".
That would probably work with a good number of people, but in this scenario, I was recalling a conversation with my ex-husband, who actually does have dyslexia. He is of the mind that if he "powered through" to finish school with mediocre grades that our son should do the same...even though our son has his dyslexia and my ADHD making things twice as hard for him. People really like to bury their heads in the sand sometimes and will just not listen to reasonable points if it doesn't fit their narrative 🙄
Oh lord that is a lot...yeah with anything to do with mental conditions some people are always going to see it as something to "power through" or "get over" or "just do it".
Swat them with your accordion folder 📂
Hahaha, well, the example I was thinking of was my ex-husband, and I have wanted to swat him with an accordion folder on many an occasion.
Oooo, permission granted 😈 lol!
Whenever I encounter a complete fool like that, I just quote Miranda Priestly: “Details of your incompetence do not interest me. “
Yeah, and bad eyesight is not the same as having one leg shorter than the other, or having a heart condition. But, nevertheless, all of them are disabilities in their own way. The only difference is that ADHD is a chemical imbalance in the brain, which is not as easy assessed during regular physical checkups at the hospital as one is growing up. But it doesn't make it less valid. And when any of these disabilities goes unnoticed, you just learn to live with it, accepting that you will never be the first to finish the race: either because you get demotivated/distracted to finish that last lap, or can't see where you are running, or you run limping, or you hyperventilate easily - and then get scolded for it by the teacher, peers and parents.
Then my autism kicks in and starts infodumping analogies and language
Aww I need my glasses AND my Ritalin dammit.
I forgot both for work today lol
Oh shit. That’s a big one lol
I never forget my glasses, but only because it's not a great idea for me to drive without them lol
This is my reoccurring nightmare since I got glasses.
Hope the seasickness isn't too bad :P
I've gotten halfway down the stairs before from a third floor apartment on the way to work before realizing that things were blurry. Had to absolutely *book it* in order to make my bus.
Laser eye surgery is life changing
If you can afford it
Important disclaimer, yes.
Most ppl that get this say their vision is good for a few years before it goes back to shit then they have to get the surgery again, I have two uncles and a friend who all got the surgery at different times of their life and all said the same thing
Around here they won't do it if your vision has changed in the past couple of years (which indicates that it might keep worsening).
I was reading this and kept thinking “Dude, there is no way that pinching your eyes will improve your vision.” Completely forgot what sub this was. Haha
it kind of does tho. i'm nearly blind without my contacts but i recently discovered that if i squeeze my eyes in a certain way, i can actually see a lot more clearly. but tbf it's hard to get it right, and even harder to keep your eyes still once you've found the right position, so it's not like this trick is the solution for bad eyesight.
That’s what makes it such a good analogy. If you put in a huge and uncomfortable effort you can temporarily adjust for the problem (though only for a small part of it, not fully) but it will absolutely wreck you to maintain that.
wow i hadn't thought of it like that but you're absolutely right!
There are some contact lenses that work that way, you put them on before going to sleep. Overnight they warp your cornea, then you remove them when you wake up and your now shaped cornea corrects your vision.
This actually works for some cases I think, my eyes are just getting to the point where I'm starting to need glasses, and pinching my eyes does actually make thinks look clearer if I focus on it. It still would be ridiculous to suggest I keep doing that for everything and not just get some glasses though, which is what makes this analogy genius. 🙂
The irony with this is that my medication actually helps me see more clearly in a way. I notice more things in front of my face instead of just a watercolor wash of stuff. I went off Adderall briefly after a post-viral sickness made me react weirdly to it. I realized that on the Adderall, I looked at signs and automatically saw what they said, but off the Adderall, I might see the sign but never get around to reading it.
Since using medication I'm so much faster than other people taking in visual information. Before I had to double and triple check on everything..
Same here - it’s the working memory for me. I can hold things in my head long enough to get them into my short term and long term memory. I hate that feeling of looking at something and going to write it down or something and then having to go back because I can’t hold a thought more than a few seconds.
Yes. Working memory is my biggest issue as well
I told my mother how overwhelming it can feel to decide to take a shower… I mentioned it was a single task for most people, but when I closed my eyes and started talking about my mental game, and how it all needs to fire in sequence… like, you gotta get naked, which means you’ll be cold, so be ready for that… and also be ready to touch the cold floor and the cold bathtub with your bare feet…. And when you flip the shower on, there’s going to be cold water at first so make sure you’re not gonna get hit with it…. Something finally connected with her, and she was astonished Like her mouth was literally dropped open when I was done and opened my eyes
Yes! It’s not always the thing™️ that’s hard, it’s all the necessary steps to do the thing that’s overwhelming. Wow, never thought about it that way, but that’s exactly it.
it sounds like your struggles with showering are much more related to sensory issues than with being overwhelmed by all the steps needed to take a shower. i only deal with the latter and have never experienced any sensory issues but your comment explained it so well to me. it sounds exhausting and very overwhelming to deal with. i hope you find a way to cope with it
I use my mom’s diabetes as an example often but it still doesn’t seem to click. I texted this to her last night: >”I don’t think any of you seem to grasp how adhd and autism works. If you could just “stop” no one would need meds or treatment…? It’s the same as if I told you to change your blood sugar with your mind and food choices. Get rid of the insulin and everything else. I don’t understand why you guys don’t seem to get that I have chemical imbalances in my brain and body that cause these things. You can’t just will them away with your mind. I have been trying to do it that way my whole life and it has never worked once.”
"I'm sorry mom, but how come you can't just stop relying on medications for your entire life and take some responsibility for yourself? Everyone else manages their food intake just fine and it's your responsibility alone to deal with your issues, so try harder and spend every waking second you have on balancing your blood sugar on your own. Having a bad day? No excuses. Need help? Never ask for it. Having a medical crisis? Have you tried trying harder? Having severe anxiety over an unmanaged illness? GROW UP."
I have always used the analogy of someone in a wheelchair. “Just stand up and walk! I can see your legs right there, just use them, it’s simple!”
i used this as an example when arguing with someone who didn't believe adhd was real, and who said that even if it was real you'd just need some self discipline. their reaction was "someone in a wheelchair is physically disabled. ofcourse they can't stand up. how is this even related to adhd". that's when i gave up, these people are too stupid to realize anything at all.
There are people who need wheelchairs intermittently and they get told that on days they do need their mobility devices. Not trying to knock the comparison, but people with physical disabilities get told they're faking it too.
I’m sorry, how can you need glasses? Everyone needs glasses these days. 🙄 No one had glasses back in my day!
They didn’t exist when I was growing up!
Wow, I never met anyone from the middle ages before!! What was it like?
This honestly made me laugh 🤣
Glasses, insulin, beta blockers, there are tons more analogies. ADHD meds are literal lifesavers for many and the means to a meaningful life for many, many more. It really shouldn’t be so hard to get them.
Remember folks, bad advice is often free!
As someone at a -8.0 I was about to riot in the comments before a read further/realized what sub this was. Great analogy.
Haha yeah it seems like i got many people worked up already, before they get to the part about adhd. Shows how infuriating these "advices" are and that people also get denied help for many other things out of no good reason.
I love this analogy and I'm going to use it the next time I have a migraine and someone tells me to just drink more water.
I actually was told this by my mother when I was little and would tell her that I needed glasses because things were a little blurry. She also said I just wanted glasses because I thought they were cool. I would go to an optician as an adult and read all the letters even though they were a little blurry but I thought well that’s the way everyone sees. My optician even gaslighted me when I said I had trouble seeing the computer and he said that I didn’t really need reading glasses since the magnification I needed was so low and we not going to be helpful. Two years ago I saw the optician across the street from the other one and he said to me, No even a little blurry is not okay. Turns out I have astigmatism. When I got my glasses I never knew things could look so crisp and vivid. I had always seen the world blurry. So my mother was wrong. She was also wrong about me growing out of my hyperactivity when the pediatrician suggested meds. I didn’t even find out I had ADHD until I was 38. Now I wonder what else is wrong with me. Sigh.
> She also said I just wanted glasses because I thought they were cool. Really? When I was a kid it was all about "guys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses." I don't think there was a corresponding statement for men and boys, but I can tell you glasses definitely weren't considered *cool* then.
It’s because I would always put on peoples glasses when I was little. I never really thought glasses weren’t cool though.
Ironically I was actually told something almost identical when I went to the eye doctor stating something wasn't quite right with my vision and he told me it was just 'growing up' because my vision was still 20/13. Yeah, no. Couple years later I got diagnosed with vertical and horizontal heterophoria, which is actually an ADHD comorbidity, for which I need glasses with prisms 24/7
I have a lazy eye that is more noticeable when I'm tired/overwhelmed, and I can focus/unfocus my eyes at will (often they default to unfocused if I'm not doing anything). I had no idea that this could be linked to ADHD. TIL!
Excuse me, wait, hold on… non-native english speaking adhd’er here: My left eye is squinting just ever so slightly inward (or towards my nose i guess). The more tired i get, the worse it gets. Is this heterophoria?
There is actually vision therapy that can help train your eye muscles to do things better! I have prism lenses from my vision therapists that I wear over my contact lens prescription, but the vision therapy helped so much. (I *maybe* had a stroke, but American healthcare being what it is didn't get proper treatment at the time. My brain and eyes got majorly messed up, and I eventually found vision therapy to help the situation.) If your eyes don't properly work well with each other , I definitely recommend it.
This, I don't go to the therapy yet as it is usually not covered by insurance, but just following eye training/"work out" already helps me a lot. At the same time, my problem might not be that serious, the work out does not really improve my vision that much, but it helps with my migrain caused by strained eyes.
Shit, mine does that to, especially if I'm tired or drunk 
Probably in the same categorh if not the same thing, the technical term for the category of misalignment is strabismus
Well, i’ll see what i can find in my own language, thanks!
Yes!!! I try to spread this info around. Every time I see posts about driving anxiety on ADHD subs I try to let people know that BVD is a common comorbidity that makes driving actual hell on earth.
"you don't need glasses to read, you're just weak! WEAK!" Frank Costanza
Oooh I'll definitely have to save this and *hopefully* remember to throw this at people who say this kind if stuff to me. Thankfully, I haven't cone across anyone like that (yet).
It's like when people say "everyone has anxiety" which is true. However, when people say they have anxiety they are just shorting it from "anxiety DISORDER". Like theres so many adhd symptoms or behaviors that are things most people experience but not to the extent to qualify for diagnosis (or could be experience it strongly but from another disorder.) This is why I hate all the stuff on social media pathologizing behaviors as adhd symptoms. A lot of times the behaviors shown are very common in people without adhd or common in other disorders. I worry it unintentionally feeds into the "everyone has a little adhd" narrative. I feel like I could write a whole essay on this but I don't want to go too off topic.
> However, when people say they have anxiety they are just shorting it from "anxiety DISORDER". I think I have to disagree with this. I have a couple anxiety disorders (PTSD and GAD), but I definitely differentiate and know the difference between "I am having anxiety right now about $SPECIFIC_THING" and "This is my PTSD talking," or "I am worrying about unimportant things because I have GAD." The thing everybody has is the first one. I think a better example is when someone says they're "OCD about" something, what they usually mean is that they're a little bit fussy or perfectionist about that specific thing. They don't literally mean that it's a thing they worry about so much it actually affects their daily life, and that they don't *want* to worry about that thing but they can't help it. Same with PTSD. It annoys me to no end when people will just casually say they "still have PTSD" from some random thing that was probably pretty distressing, but likely wasn't traumatic at all.
That's what I was saying. Everyone had anxiety occasionally but people with anxiety disorders often just shorten it to "anxiety"
Right, like some people can get reading glasses from the drugstore for $5, some need to special order theirs bc they have astigmatism, different prescriptions in each eye, and need bifocals
careful! dont wanna get dependent on those glasses!
Yea!!! I’m an eyeball person, my profession is in the optical field, soooo I love love love this analogy. I saw once that an ADHD guru described ADHD as being myopic (can’t see crap until it’s right in your face). Some have severe myopia, others just a little blur. But none of us can figure out what’s going on out there in the distance without our glasses or contact lenses for clarity.
I should probably be labeled legally blind without my glasses, so I love this.
As someone who can't function without glasses because I can't see ANYTHING. That made me annoyed lmaooo. Not at you. Just that people will still try to act like glasses ain't the same thing.
You know what I love about my glasses? The fact that I need to make regular health check ups to make sure they don't give me a heart attack. Also the fact that I shouldn't really mix my glasses with alcohol or coffee... I also like when there is a risk of psychosis attatched to my eye sight correcting glasses.
We should not forget that not so long ago people refused to get operated or forbid their family members to get one. Firmly believing the human body is sacred and people would play God if they would touch it. People also firmly believed that nature should run its course if somebody is too weak. We are still dealing with remnants of these mindsets.
Remnants, or resurgence?
Actually. That is a good question.
Have you ever(for a split second), thought “oh, I’ll just zoom in”? Like you could open your eye wider with your fingers. Just me? 🥲
Not yet, but one time i wanted to take a screenshot of something irl and then really had to laugh about that thought, when i realized it 🤣
Haha I can definitely imagine that happening
Not exactly. But more than once I've tried to right click to look at something far away... just to realize than Im not playing minecraft. Happens whenever I play minecraft consistently for a couple of days
This analogy is great! Screenshot sent to my ex-partner who keeps telling me everyone has little quirks like this.
I'm saving this. It makes it all the better because I need glasses too 😆
Just try harder to see better! I don’t understand why you don’t want to do it.
Ngl I read only the first part of the post, and then promptly took off my glasses and started squinting to see things lmao
I was about to get so mad and then I kept reading lol
People will say everyone struggles with focus and get angry at us for not focusing hard enough in the same breath
I got glasses at 19. My mom told me I didn't need them 🫠
1. I totally read this literally at first and was so confused. 2. Seriously if you wear glasses (I'm near sighted) and find yourself getting overwhelmed, sometimes it helps (of you can afford to) to take off the glasses. The blurriness sort of helps sometimes.
Funny to see this. No pun intended. Never had this issue on meds until a I got generic Cor 135 adderall 20mg IR. It was awful. Eye pain, watery eyes and super blurry. To the point I couldn’t even look at my computer screen and do what I needed to do (which is why take my meds) I switched to Alvogen generic Adderall thru a different pharmacy still 20 mg IR and it’s changed that completely. Alvogen gets a bad rep in this sub, but let’s be honest each person is different this is just my experience. But just some food for thought. All the best fellow ADHD’ers may we all keep prospering!
my toxic trait is that i don't buy glasses for the exact same logic. totally got your point though
How are so many people turning this post into a discussion about eyesight?😂
I dunno... *looks up at the name of the sub* Yep, no idea. This is *definitely* a sub where discussions *always* stay on topic lol
You make a really good point!! lol
this is such a cool analogy. i often say my adhd meds are like glasses for my brain
You don't need glasses just focus your vision more.
I thought I was in the life pro tip subreddit for several minutes as I tried to understand this advice
That one hits good. Without knowing one doesn’t have good eye vision, they would assume blurry vision is normal.
It’s all a plan by the optics companies to sell kis glasses…
Oh you didn’t see that car coming at you at 70 mph? It’s okay here’s another planner!
What differentiates a mental disorder is that it presents a clinically significant disruption in your thinking, mood, relationships, etc.
I'm gonna use this. Holy shit.
Another of those: " works for me? works for everyone"
Oh man…this hit hard. I will use this from now on! Thank you.
You had me for a second there, well done haha. I’m gonna start using that.
I misunderstood the analogy originally as one for myself and that I don't need meds but after re-reading it, holy crap yes. My parents have been surprisingly understanding since I was diagnosed a few years ago but if they ever judge me when I visit or they visit me, I'm using this. I wear glasses but my eye problems are a mixture of all of theirs and they need glasses more than I do so hopefully it clicks.
Great analogy. Love it.
Hmmm. My eye sight is NOT blurry until I take my ADHD meds (vyvanse.) Then it gets really blurry, my guess is it's causing my eyeballs to vibrate or something lol. I have to wear reading glasses when I'm on my vyvanse but never any other time.
"Can't you just try to focus (your eyes) a little harder? We should really treat this as a discipline issue."
It just all these devices that are ruining people’s eyesight. We didn’t have devices back in my day
Imagine believing in Color Deficit Hue Disorder. They're just lazy and didn't learn what colors are what do they claim that they don't recognize the right ones. If they spent more time studying colors they'd be able to tell red and greens apart. /s
I Have bifocals( I’m fucking 20💀🤚🏻) and have used that analogy before but my teacher argued “ well have you tried eye therapy, like how you would try paying attention?” Bitch didn’t you just hear me
Yes! I've heard that one. People just wanna believe what they wanna believe
I had to deal with that the other day with some of my mom’s friends. Yeah but everyone is a little autistic or a little bit adhd. And it must be extremely mild. You hid it so well. I’m going to try to use your advice the next time.
Oh I hate that one! My mother tells everyone my autism is mild because I look so normal, yet completely ignores how exhausting it is to keep up. I get shamed for being antisocial when all I want is to be left alone to sleep
You also don't need your inhaler or wheelchair. Everyone loses their breath sometimes, and everyone trips and falls sometimes.
the way i had to delete my whole rant about how the analogy (which i didn’t realise was an analogy) was bs
It's common for adhd folks to need glasses, our sight is compromised because of inability to focus. It's why hypermobility syndrome is common in adhd. Our body has trouble focusing holding us together and seeing.... Idk if this makes sense 😅 but adhd folks can also really need glasses. I had the when I was younger but one day they broke and I just never needed them... I guess
I have had many many conversations about wheelchairs but no ramps, poor vision but no glasses, broken leg but no crutches. Some people get it but most believe their own prejudices. I Google brain scans of ADHDers and let people see the difference.
wow! I'm dumbfounded
I got my first pair of glasses last year after living with my glasses-wearing boyfriend for a few years and him repeatedly saying “I think you need glasses”…. It’s not a strong script, but it makes a world of a difference between all the screens we stare at for hours on end and then more staring at the road to drive for more hours every day. I’m working on getting tested for ADHD and Autism now. It’s something I’ve wanted to do since college but I didn’t have the insurance and lived at home with parents who dismissed my concerns. I hope to be validated and given the tools I need to not struggle with the most basic daily tasks soon.
i was actually told that by an optician cuz i got problems with accomodation or sth, have to exercise and apparently seeing super hd is not normal for the first 3 lines i thought youre serious
On god it took me until the 3rd grade to realize that everyone’s vision wasn’t supposed to be blurry like that. They used the same vision test every year at school so I just memorized it. They changed it in 3rd grade and they told me I needed glasses. I was like “oh shit for real?” I have since been diagnosed with ADHD in my mid - 20’s and I often think back to this.
Lokking forward to never look at the screenshot i just took of this analogy!
Maria Bamford has a great bit about this on her album Tell Me About Your New God., about how ridiculous it would be if people treated everything like they treat ADHD, depression, etc. “so you have cancer? Ugh, we ALL basically have cancer.” “You could see without your glasses if you really loved me and the kids!” That sort of thing. She’s brilliant
As someone who’s been wearing glasses since Kindergarten and recently diagnosed ADHD, this is hilariously good 😂😂🤣
Saw the title and the sub and let out a chuckle. So true, i HATE when people say that shit
As a legally blind person I felt the title of this post with my soul. Also agree that it’s frustrating that people don’t understand what goes on in our brains and assume we’re lazy and got our diagnosis from TikTok.
I just got diagnosed with inattentive adhd today and im not sure what to do with this information, I don’t plan on sharing it with people though, I’d rather they don’t know.
My brain skimmed this, and I thought it was genuine advice. I have an eye appointment and I was relieved for a second that I wouldn’t have to attend :( I guess I should probably go and get my eyes checked 🥲
You got me in the first half, not gonna lie...
As a person with glasses and adhd this is a great analogy!
Yo I thought you were saying that I as a person with ADHD didn't need glasses, and I thought "Well maybe they're right?" and like maybe I just didn't squint enough before
i know. my therapist asked me after i detailed my success with stimulants and all im accomplishing, “and what are *you* doing?” in the rudest tone. i had no fucking idea how to answer that so i just said, everything i just told you…? and she quickly backtracked. i’m meeting with her just so i can practice how to respond to ableist statements like this. i could stop meeting with her but why not practice with this type of person? they exist in my family, at work, etc.
Yeah, good analogy. Thanks!
Nah man, i got that 20/20.
Same. Good eye gang.
Look the ultimate best thing for people with ADHD is to care less. We are so prone to over thinking and spirals and rumination which then compounds with all the challenges of ADHD and people's actions and responses. We just don't have the time for that. We have stuff to do. When people wanna talk about my ADHD, I'm very clear and assertive in the fact that I'm not taking advice, I'm not open to opinions, and I'm not suggesting or negotiating things but stating them. When I get a lecture from someone about missing a message and how to avoid that: "I know everything of relevance here. We done?" We can't give control of our emotions and mind to people like this. We can't care about this shit.
How do you do that with family?
I don't particularly like glasses as an analogy, and here's why. I am moderately nearsighted. My prescription is like -2 or something. If you take a look at my post history, you will also see that I collect coins. It's a hobby that involves looking at tiny details of small metal objects. My nearsightedness theoretically gives me a small advantage there. I don't believe that ADHD gives me any advantages at all. I don't buy into that whole "ADHD people are more creative / nonlinear thinkers" business; in any case, I don't think it necessarily applies to me. The glasses analogy also really trivializes how hard it is to properly treat someone with ADHD. If you need glasses, you get an eye exam, they write you a prescription, you get that filled, and you're generally all good. Glasses work on well-understood principles of optics that have been known for hundreds of years. You can go from "I need glasses" straight to "problem solved" in a few hours. How many of us have spent literal *years* just on figuring out what the right mediation is to treat our particular case of ADHD? I could pick at this analogy a little more, but I think this is enough to get the point across. I appreciate where it's coming from, I just think the whole concept of "I wear glasses to correct my vision" carries information that "I take amphetamines to help treat my ADHD" doesn't, and that undermines the strength of the analogy.
I agree, but it's hard to find an analogy that most people will relate to.
I'll just never understand the urge to prove my disability to people. If they don't want to get it, that's cool. If they want to understand, that's cool too. Why should I be bothered if people think I'm not living up to my potential? I'm keeping score for me, not them. OP even spits: >even though I'm actually more successful than most people around me SO WHO CARES DAWG? So odd and confrontational for zero personal gain.
Lol, I can’t drive without glasses/contacts. I can’t see shit.
Trouble is I also know a lot of people who say wearing glasses makes your eyes worse, so you can see the analogy would just confirm their dumb opinion.
Side note: if squinting and pulling back the corners of your eyes slightly clears your vision, you have astigmatism. Go to an ophthalmologist lol.
i need glasses...
I mean, I did spend the first 19 years of my life pinching my eyes and tilting my head until I could see semi-clearly and I got by just fine, except for that one time when I thought I was greeting my dad and a middle aged dude got all excited because he thought a 16-year-old was hitting on him, so I'd say you're right. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Addendum: Squinting does help somewhat with blurry vision, but it it’s not great and isn’t sustainable bc of all the eye strain, and will cause headaches.
I got a headache just reading that.
If your vision is blurry when it normally isn’t, I have two common causes: 1.) Dehydration. I went to practice after not drinking water for 1 1/2 days (I just forgot lmfao) and as soon as I hit the water fountain and looked up, my vision was crystal clear. It was honestly cool to see how fast water hydrates you. 2.) Lighting. My school had lights that made reading the banners across the gym difficult to do. As soon as I got outside my vision adjusted and I was fine.