Anyone with ADD/ADHD?

[hotdog100]

Posted in SNs but no responses. I have had a revelation that I have this. Online 'tests' support this, and my closest friend also agrees.

Not sure what I'm looking for really, just anyone with any experience of this. I might make a GP appointment initially.

Hello, I was diagnosed with ADHD (inattentive type) in November. I had to see a psychiatrist and was referred via my GP. I have meds now (methylphenidate) which do help with some aspects of it!

Happy to answer anything :)

Amazing, thank you! Not sure what I want to know really. I'm intelligent, so I often wonder why I do such stupid, impulsive or scatterbrained things, so often. I find work very hard, I have to write down everything I need to remember. I will often start a task and begin two or three new ones while still doing the first one. Long Meetings are awful for me, the sitting still feels painful. I just feel chaotic. That is the tip of the iceberg, I could write a book on the 'scatterbrained' things I do. My partner says I'm unique but I now think it's that I have ADD! What are your thoughts?

Would you suggest GP as my first step?i mask really well so I feel like they'll be 🤨

How was the diagnosis done? What made you go to your GP? Sorry, in true style I've just gone back and read your post properly 😂

Hi, I don't have it but my older brother does.
He was diagnosed quite late on ( in his mid 20s)
His behaviour I guess is not typical of ADHD and he didn't have behavioral issues at school etc.
He has ALOT of energy and does everything in a rushed manner. He talks fast, walks fast, eats fast etc! He always needs to be doing something, gets bored easily and can be very impulsive.
He has a great sense of humour about it and goes to the gym most days just to burn off some of that energy which helps him relax abit.
He also has a very successful career, lots of friends and a good relationship with his other half so it's not something that's harmed him in anyway.

Op you and me both! Also not sure what to do with my sudden realisation

I had this revelation a couple of months ago. I got diagnosed privately by psychology.co.uk (who are an NHS provider so you can get referred) but I just paid so it was quick. It can take a few years I hear to be diagnosed as an adult via NHS proper as they focus on the kids and adult services are a bit of a postcode lottery. Such a relief to confirm it though! It explains so much!

I was diagnosed privately a few weeks ago because I got desperate as I was struggling so badly at work. I wanted the extra protection of having a formal diagnosis.

Please be aware that GPs cannot diagnose ADHD, it must be a psychiatrist. That includes ruling it out too - they simply aren't qualified to assess whether someone does or doesn't have it. They should agree to refer you to adult ADHD services, but the wait can be years. Some areas don't even have adult ADHD services.

There are a lot of helpful Facebook groups that I would recommend joining. Somewhat ironically, I can't find the names of them right now (!).

If I hadn't needed my diagnosis so desperately, I would have gone down the Right to Choose route (only available if you live in England) which means you have the right to be referred to the service provider of your choice for both physical and mental health issues.

I am not very good at explaining it, but lots of people are using it to access a service provider called Psychiatry UK, as they are commissioned to provide NHS services in some parts of the country which means that you can choose to use them on the NHS if you live anywhere else in England.

I didn't do this but I am hoping my GP will accept a shared care agreement once I am stable on my medication. This means I will have to continue to pay to see my psychiatrist, but my prescriptions can be taken over by the NHS.

I am happy to answer questions too, I am very new to it all myself.

I’ve heard very good things about psychiatry U.K. too. And I agree join the fb groups, have a search including location too as there may be one for your area specifically.

Hotdog you sound quite like me. I was actually diagnosed autistic first which is definitely correct but I still felt different to many of the other autistic people I know, I just didn’t get why I was intelligent and yet felt so incredibly fucking stupid all the time.

I was referred quite easily, because of my extensive history with mental health services - unfortunately many people who ask are fobbed off and told they’re ‘just’ depressed. “Luckily” () I was able to show that I’d had years of depression treatment that hadn’t made much difference and my argument was that a lot of my depression is because I feel like such a failure all the time when I can’t concentrate or manage stuff most people can. I had to argue this more with the psychiatrist herself (she didn’t have much experience with ADHD especially in women) than my lovely GP but once she did the proper screening she understood too and saw that I clearly did have enough symptoms.

OP I had this realisation last year or the year before too. When I did the online tests and read the symptom lists I honestly couldn’t believe it.

I didn’t have a great experience with the NHS psychiatrist I saw unfortunately. I was pretty much told that because I’ve done well(ish, no degree) in school and have a job there’s no way I can have it. I’d actually put my life on it. There’s not a single doubt in my mind that I do so I’m planning to pay to speak to Psychiatry UK and get a second opinion from someone who specialises in adults with ADHD.

I can also see a lot of myself in my youngest daughter so I’ll be keeping a very close eye on here but already dreading ever having to try and get her help.

Sick that seems to be really common - people being told they can’t have ADHD if they’ve been successful in career or academics. Ridiculous.

There’s such a stereotype of ADHD being for kids, being obviously hyperactive and seen as naughty etc. It’s wrong on so many levels!

The educational psychologist who diagnosed ds had a PhD, his own practice and ADHD.

I totally agree Sing. She had no idea that for every exam I’ve ever taken I’ve not studied at all until the final week or two or that my workplace is so relaxed that no one notices that I can’t work for more than 3/4 minutes without losing my concentration. Just because I’m managing doesn’t mean I’m managing.

The 'winging it' last minute behaviour is so typical of ADHD. It's how I've coped all my life, until it stopped working.

It makes me so sad when I look back at my life and see how much of a difference it would have made to know why I was different.

I know now. I'm waiting to go onto medication, but the validation from having the diagnosis means I finally have permission to stop mentally beating myself up.

I was diagnosed this year.

Has anyone gotten medication privately? Im aware of titration costs and prescription charges etc - but all together how much did it cost you to get onto the right medication?

I'm worried about the possible implications of diagnosis. I feel it would be such a relief at work, to be able to explain to my (lovely) employers why I have such difficulty with certain aspects.

How have people reacted socially? I think I am seen as a bit quirky and unusual but I've never fully understood why. I've always felt different though. I'm not sure if I'd tell people outside of my family/few closest friends.

@BeeFarseer

The 'winging it' last minute behaviour is so typical of ADHD. It's how I've coped all my life, until it stopped working.

It makes me so sad when I look back at my life and see how much of a difference it would have made to know why I was different.

I know now. I'm waiting to go onto medication, but the validation from having the diagnosis means I finally have permission to stop mentally beating myself up.

That sounds so reassuring. I'm always thinking 'GOD, why am I SO stupid' and I know I'm not so I can't understand it!

I personally won’t be telling my employer.

I'm lucky that I have a supportive employer but it's not the same for everyone.

I won't be telling my family.

Oh really? I feel so naive! Wouldn't a diagnosis offer some protection, and allow for some adaptations to be made, if required?

Twice today I've lost my keys only to find them in the front door. Yesterday I came home to find my front door wide open! All these typical things suddenly feel quite poignant.

I've been diagnosed this year, struggled with the side effects of methylphenidate and not breathed a word to anyone at work.

Thinking about taking it to occ health if necessary tbh, immediate
line manager just wouldn't get it

When my son left high school a teacher told him she thought he may have ADHD . He had always struggled with organisation and focus. He went to the doctor just before lockdown and was told he probably did not have ADHD but could be on the autistic spectrum. He was told there was no testing available due to Covid. He also has extreme mood swings where he says the most vile things .Is this a symptom? Feeling guilty that we could have missed this and he has struggled at school where he may have had help .

I was diagnosed earlier this year. Like another poster, I went private because I was desperate. I’m on medication now and still trying to find the right dose. Someone asked about private medication- mine costs about £90 a month (not including the psychiatrist appointments) but once I’m settled I’ll be able to get my prescriptions on the NHS instead.

As for family/ friend reactions: I’ll be honest, there’s been a lot of “you don’t have ADHD, you’re just lazy/ quirky/ loud”. It’s very misunderstood unfortunately. I’ve found showing them my self-report assessment soon shuts them up (“oh yeah, this really does sound like you”)

@sandgrown yes, the mood swings are a thing, some people with ADHD/ ADD have these and they can also have a tendency to pick fights and conflicts to self-medicate. Provoking a fight or a conflict gets the adrenaline going, which gives the brain a boost and make the synapses go faster. Therefore some people with this issue can be found seeking and causing conflicts to give them the stimulation they need. ADHD can make the person look very busy and overactive, so it could look like they need to calm down, but in reality the brain activity needs a lot more stimulation to be able to take place. That’s why the medication for this issue are stimulants rather than “sedatives”. (Uppers rather than downers).

Thank you Pancake that’s very helpful . When my son has one of his meltdowns it comes out of nowhere and there is no reasoning with him. It’s almost like a toddler tantrum and afterwards he seems tired. He says the most hurtful things . I have also learnt that he forgets to do things but if I keep reminding him, or his tutors try and push him, he becomes very annoyed. It’s a shame as most of the time he is lovely.

This is so interesting. I definitely have mood swings - anxiety/dread then euphoria and excitement, triggered by the slightest things.

My son was recently diagnosed with HF autism. He also says dreadful things, is the miss disorganised person I know and has no impulse control whatsoever. I strongly suspect he has it too.

I'm going to call the GP today to start the ball rolling for myself.