Sorry to rant but I've been thinking I might have ADHD, but I'm scared to go and get tested because a) my parents are dismissive, I'm 20 so I could get tested without them but I feel bad without their support, and b) what if I'm not? I go to college (med school) and pass my classes and it's nowhere near as severe as some people have it, so what if I'm just lazy? Do you have any ideas how to get my parents on board? If not, a simple "you are valid" would be really nice :(

First off, you are valid.

A point I like to make when it comes to ADHD is that even with the reputation of “Doctors are throwing around the diagnosis to push pills”, ADHD is a very common disorder. It’s not rare or unlikely for any person to have ADHD of various severity, though women and POC are massively underdiagnosed. As far as disabilities go, it’s at about the same level as needing glasses or having asthma–extremely common, very treatable. I know that parental support means a lot, especially when it comes to your health. Possibly bringing it up in that context will be easier for them to get on board with.

When it comes to worrying about if you’re wrong about it, remember that if you feel like something is wrong or off, that’s your brain/body telling you that something is off. We also tend to blame ourselves due to the anxiety that goes with ADHD.

You’re doing good by looking out for yourself and learning. And you’re always welcome to message again with any updates!