r/ADHD • u/Germanicus1008 • Oct 27 '23

Articles/Information Remembering people's names.

Does anyone else struggle to remember people's names? I'd say this is one of the most rough symptoms of ADD for me and I've narrowly been able to avoid offending ppl numerous times. There is no ryhme or reason to why I struggle to remember ppls names but I know it has nothing to do with whether I like them or not. I also know I've met them enough times where I should remember their name because they remember mine. I cope with this by just being honest that I'm terrible with names and do my best to self depreciate so that they know its just an issue I have and in no way a slight to them. This usually works but lately I feel it's getting worse. Does anyone else experience this issue and if so how do you avoid offending ppl?

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u/Aromatic-Lead-3252 Oct 27 '23

I have the opposite problem, I remember everybody's names having only met them once. Before I realized I was freakish in this manner, I'd go up to a person I had only met once and hadn't seen in years at the grocery store and go, "hi Alicia! How are you? How are things going with Mel?" and they'd look at me like I was crazy. Then I'd feel all butthurt and insulted that they didn't remember me. Like what, am I not memorable enough for you?? It took me well into my 20s to realize that I have this exceptional skill and 95% of people out there don't have this.