How can I talk to my family about ADHD if they think mental health wasn’t a thing ‘back in their day’?

This can be tough, especially with older relatives who view ADHD through outdated or narrow lenses. It often helps to shift the conversation away from labels and toward lived experience. Describing concrete examples, like difficulty with focus, overwhelm, or emotional regulation, can feel more relatable than talking about diagnoses. You’re also allowed to set limits. You don’t need to convince everyone or educate people who aren’t open. Sometimes the goal is understanding, not agreement. Saying something like, “This explanation helps me take better care of myself” centers the conversation on your needs rather than debate. Family acceptance can take time, and partial understanding still counts.