Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Overcoming Fears, Phobias & Mental Obstacles 8

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four students reflecting on the stigma surrounding ADHD medication and their complex feelings of finally being able to focus.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   mentions hiding their treatment from relatives due to potential judgment?

2   describes the emotional pain of realising how much easier their past could have been?

3   was irritated by classmates viewing their prescription as an unfair academic advantage?

4   initially worried that the treatment might alter their fundamental character?

5   highlights a common stereotype regarding who typically has this condition?

6   explains the contrast between a noisy mind and the sudden tranquillity brought on by the treatment?

7   was amazed that everyday tasks no longer felt like monumental challenges?

8   experienced doubts about whether they truly deserved the diagnosis?

9   gives a specific example of an activity they could finally complete without losing concentration?

10   felt that the label they were given by educators had deeply damaged their self-esteem?

The Focus Paradox: Unpacking the Stigma of ADHD Medication

A Tom

For years, my school reports all featured the same frustrating comments: “Tom is a bright boy, but he lacks application.” I absorbed that criticism completely, convinced that my inability to finish assignments was due to a severe character flaw. Being branded as idle took a massive toll on my confidence. When I was finally diagnosed with ADHD at nineteen, it was a double-edged sword. Yes, it was a relief to have an explanation, but I also experienced a profound sense of mourning for the years I’d spent battling myself. Before starting the medication, I hesitated. I’d read online that the pills could turn you into an emotionless zombie, and I was terrified of losing my creative spark. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case at all. The medication simply put glasses on my brain. The only downside is the lingering ‘what ifs’—wondering what I could have achieved if someone had noticed the real issue earlier.

B Chloe

The hardest part about getting prescribed ADHD medication wasn’t the clinical process; it was the reaction from my peers at university. Because some students illegally abuse these pills to pull all-nighters, there’s a horrible assumption that I’m taking a magic shortcut. It infuriates me when classmates joke about me having an ‘unfair edge’. They don’t understand that for me, it simply levels the playing field. Before treatment, my mind was like a television with a hundred channels playing simultaneously at full volume. The exhaustion of trying to focus through that chaos was unbearable. Taking the medication for the first time didn’t make me feel energized or hyper; instead, it just brought silence. The sudden mental quiet was almost overwhelming. I could finally sit in a lecture and simply listen, without my thoughts spiralling into a million different directions. It is a genuine shame that such a life-changing treatment carries such a heavy social stigma.

C Marcus

People often underestimate how debilitating untreated ADHD can be when it comes to basic, daily routines. I used to look at a pile of unwashed dishes and feel utterly paralyzed, as if I were being asked to climb Mount Everest. When the medication finally kicked in, I remember standing in my kitchen and just doing the washing up without a second thought. The sheer ease of completing a mundane chore brought me to tears. However, the stigma surrounding psychiatric drugs is deeply ingrained in my community. Because of this, I kept my prescription a closely guarded secret from my parents for a long time. I knew they would view it as an unnecessary crutch and insist I just needed to try harder. Dealing with the physical side effects, like a suppressed appetite, was tricky initially, but learning to navigate life without feeling constantly overwhelmed has been worth every moment of adjustment.

D Zoe

As a relatively quiet teenage girl, nobody suspected I had ADHD. The classic image most people have is of a disruptive little boy bouncing off the walls, which meant I flew completely under the radar. I spent my entire adolescence masking my struggles, working three times as hard just to keep up with everyone else. Even when a specialist finally confirmed my condition, I suffered from terrible impostor syndrome, constantly questioning if I was just making excuses for myself. It wasn’t until my first week on the treatment that the reality of my situation hit home. For the first time in my life, I managed to get through an entire chapter of a novel without having to go back and reread the same paragraph five times. It was a revelation. It breaks my heart to think that so many girls go undiagnosed simply because they don’t fit a narrow, outdated profile.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four teenagers describing the immense pressure and ultimate relief of coming out to their families regarding a deeply personal, hidden aspect of their identity.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   relied on a written explanation to avoid an immediate face-to-face confrontation?

2   deliberately projected a misleading image of their interests to deflect suspicion?

3   experienced a noticeable deterioration in their physical health due to the stress?

4   left a series of subtle clues in the hope that their family would figure it out?

5   felt like an imposter because they were already living authentically with their peers?

6   mentions a specific impending life change that forced them to finally take action?

7   had to explicitly clarify their identity because their relatives failed to notice the signals?

8   was pleasantly surprised by the incredibly open-minded reaction of an older family member?

9   felt that maintaining the deception was creating an impassable emotional distance at home?

10   initially believed they would be able to keep their true identity under wraps indefinitely?

Shattering the Silence: The Weight of Coming Out

A Leo

For years, I was terrified of coming out to my family, especially to my grandfather. He stems from a highly traditional background, so I simply took it for granted that he would be entirely incapable of understanding. To throw everyone off the scent, I deliberately exaggerated my interest in typical ‘macho’ subjects, like contact sports, playing a tough character that wasn’t me at all. It was utterly exhausting. The immense pressure built up until I couldn’t bear the charade any longer. During a Sunday family dinner, I finally blurted the truth out. I had braced myself for shouting and profound disappointment, but the room went completely silent. Then, to my absolute astonishment, my grandfather reached across the table and squeezed my hand, telling me he loved me unconditionally. I was blown away by his progressive attitude. Had I known his reaction would be so supportive, I wouldn’t have spent years worrying. The relief was instantaneous; it felt as though a suffocating weight had been lifted off my chest.

B Maya

I had once firmly convinced myself that my sexual orientation was something I would keep permanently hidden. I honestly believed I could manage the secret forever. However, constantly guarding my words soon became incredibly draining. Instead of having a dramatic sit-down conversation, I opted for a much more gradual approach. For months, I laid a trail of subtle hints, casually mentioning documentaries I’d watched or leaving progressive magazines on the coffee table. I kept my fingers crossed that my parents would simply connect the dots and save me the terrifying job of saying the words aloud. Unfortunately, they were completely oblivious to my carefully planned signals! If I hadn’t eventually wanted to invite my girlfriend over for dinner, I might never have found the courage to speak up. I had to stop beating around the bush and spell it out for them. They were quite shocked, admitting they had missed the signs entirely, but they embraced me instantly. The relief of no longer having to talk in riddles was immense.

C Tariq

As the date for me to leave for university loomed closer, the psychological burden of hiding my gender identity grew unbearable. I knew I couldn’t move away and start a fresh chapter while still feeding my parents a lie, but the mere thought of a direct confession left me paralysed with fear. I am much better at expressing my complex emotions on paper, so I spent an entire week meticulously drafting a heartfelt letter explaining how I truly felt. One morning, I placed the envelope on the kitchen island, grabbed my coat, and bolted out the front door before anyone even woke up. I spent hours wandering around the local park, my stomach tied in knots as I imagined the fallout. When I eventually mustered the courage to return, my parents were waiting patiently in the hallway. Though they didn’t say much immediately, the tight, supportive hug they gave me communicated everything I needed to know.

D Chloe

Living a double life was beginning to take a severe physical toll on me. While I had been completely open and authentic regarding my identity with my close circle of friends for years, walking into my family home meant putting on a suffocating mask. Feeling like a hypocrite around the people who raised me was constantly accompanied by chronic insomnia and terrible tension headaches. Furthermore, I hated the fact that my secret was creating an invisible but very real barrier between me and my parents. Our daily conversations felt increasingly superficial because I was continuously holding back such a fundamental part of who I was. When I finally broke down in tears and confessed everything in the living room, the tension instantly evaporated. Their unconditional acceptance was a remarkably powerful remedy. Almost immediately, my stress-induced symptoms faded away, and we have grown significantly closer now that there are no longer any hidden truths standing between us.

Exercises:   123456