Thread by @bettersafetynet

I hate that I'm going to have this little thread. Buckle up.

Yesterday I made a passing reference to the fact that I take meds for treating my ADHD.

(I hope you know how rarely I cuss)

Fuck you to those who sent me hate DMs. Seriously. You are horrible people.

1/?

https://twitter.com/bettersafetynet/status/1295819355876401155

I know I shouldn't feed trolls, but this has to be said.

While not perfect, I am a *damn good* tech, biz owner, instructor, and hacker.

You reducing my accomplishments -- while having so very few of your own -- is telling.

2/?

I've opened a boutique infosec consultancy. I am a certified SANS instructor. A member of the IANS faculty... and someone who's not done yet. I've got plans.

For you to say that this is all thanks to a "pill that makes me not be a retard" is about as ugly as it gets.

3/?

I am not perfect, nobody is... but to say that I've accomplished what I have due to medication for a legitimately diagnosed medical condition is woefully under informed.

Let's drop some facts.

4/?

I was diagnosed in middle school. I currently take Adderall. But it's at 5mg. According to my Dr, that's the lowest dose he'll write. I've not wanted/needed to take meds my whole life.

And... wow... do the comments show you don't understand how that drug works _at all_

5/?

I'm no neuro chemist, but my understanding is that certain stimulants help with executive functioning for folks with ADHD. It's not a magic pill that allows me to be "normal"

Yes, I'm scatter brained at times my problem is I lack the ability to control my hyper focus.

6/?

I will "lock on" to some problem and just keep on drilling into it deeper and deeper... sometimes at the detriment to other obligations. It's both a blessing and a curse. I've done HELLA cool things because of it, I've also missed the mark on other things too.

7/?

The next few tweets will be responses to some of the DMs I got... As a warning. These will be un-edited and some are ugly. It's the "well meaning" ones that spurred this btw.

8/?

"you're now going to lose..." (clients, teaching gigs, etc)

I hope not, I combat it with:
- hired a _damn_ good PM
- have a biz/personal coach
- work with mentors of mine
- and I take some meds

What more should I do? I'm aggressively owning and attacking this. Always have. 9/?

"you shouldn't rely on a pill"

I'm not. Everything online tells us that meds -- for any and all conditions -- are part of an overall treatment plan. I'm doing and sticking with the plan. I've got a team by my side. Scoreboard shows it's working.

10/?

"you just lack discipline"

LOL what? I wouldn't have the career arc I've had if I didn't have hustle, drive, raw talent that I've augmented with training and practice.

This out of hand dismissal really hurt me. I don't know you, troll. And you don't know me... at all.

11/?

"it's a made up condition"

Based on... what? Come at me with some science, we'll chat. I'd love to know more about my situation so that I can use it to my best advantages.

12/?

"you're normalizing bad behavior"

Get the hell out of here. Seriously, that troll game is weak. There's nothing wrong with looking at yourself and seeing that you need to improve and taking steps to do just that.

13/?

I've bragged up myself to help lend weight to the fact that I'm a professional having a better than average career. I'm going to keep doing the things that got me to this place. I believe I'm going to keep moving forward.

The fact that this stuff needs said... is sad.

14/?

I don't want to be some poster boy for this condition. It's only a very small part of who I am. Don't reduce me to something so one dimensional.

I am in a spot personally/professionally where I feel that I can take the heat and am taking a more vocal stand

15/?

BTW, I've not been hiding that I have ADHD from anyone. (Been very open about it on other platforms)

I hope this thread helps folks realize you can have an amazing life with ADHD. I'm loving mine. I'm about to go teach for the rest of today, so I'll be off twitter.

fin.

post script.
I'm already getting DMs and replies of support. Y'all are awesome.

Remember, there's more good folks out there than bad.

Have an awesome day everyone!