So, you just found out your friend has ADHD. Welcome aboard! I recently sat down with a friend, let's call him George. One day, George tells me that he has ADD. The exact words he used were, "I have ADD. I don't know if you can tell." Although I consider myself to be very cultured, I don't think I have ever had a friend with this disorder. The next day, we sat down and chatted over breakfast. He clarified that he was actually diagnosed with ADHD. We all have a George in our life. If you do not at the moment, you never know. A George might waltz into your life one of these days and I hope this list helps you in some way.

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The very first step is to understand what ADHD is.

1. Define attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The National Institute of Mental Health

has defined ADHD as "a brain disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development." Of course it takes more than reading the definition to understand. Do your research and find out more to understand fully (or if not fully, just better) what George might be going through.

2. Have patience.

You need to be patient! Especially because being impatient is one of the symptoms of having ADHD. There will be a countless number of times that you have to get George back on track. If George gets distracted when you are conversing with him, which he will, have patience and remind him what you guys were talking about.

3. Be a good listener.

This tip does not only apply to George, but to all your friends. Author and keynote speaker Katrina Mayer once said, "Being a good friend doesn't mean you always have all the right words to say. Sometimes it means you just know when to be a good listener." When George goes on and on about whatever he is talking about, just listen.

4. When to leave him alone.

If you see George alone studying and you get the urge to approach him to start a conversation or you want to request to study together, don't. He wants to be left alone. He feels bad for asking you to leave him alone so don't put him in the position of feeling like the bad guy.

5. Don't "write them off."

It will not be easy. George is not alone and neither are you. Don't be afraid to ask for help for you. It will be exhausting, so make sure to share the care. If you had an intimate conversation with George yesterday and you need some time to process all the information, let another friend talk to him. Most importantly, remind George that he is not a bother.

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I will admit: I knew being friends with George was going to require a lot of effort, but then again what friendship doesn't? At first, my lack of knowledge of ADHD scared me from being close friends with George. Every friendship, relationship or any kind of connection between two or more people, objects, et cetera requires hard work. If it doesn't, then it is not worth writing an article about.