Talk to me about adult ADHD diagnosis

[Addanotherone]

I know there have been really useful posts on this before but I can't find them.

Having read what others who are diagnosed have said, discussed with professionals and done some other research, I'm pretty sure I have ADHD.

I did quite well academically (but not as well as I could have done) so despite me displaying a lot of what are now seen as behaviours related to ADHD in females my whole life through school and then later in work, I always just about managed to get by without people realising the level of chaos going on behind the scenes.

However, Covid has really brought me to the point where it's causing very serious issues at work and at home.

I've been having some basic CBT therapy and am on the waiting list for something that could help me more but I really felt I wanted a diagnosis.

My GP told me today that they don't refer adults for diagnosis.

I know it's possible to go private to get a diagnosis and medication but can someone explain the costs to me clearly? I really don't think I can afford it, but at the same time a diagnosis would give me some protection in work and also make me feel like I'm not a complete failure.

How long did the whole process take?

What else do I need to know?

TIA

I was literally trying to find out the same earlier - you may be able to be referred via the Right To Choose, see pics.

Thanks. The GP was quite clear that in the local area they won't pay though, so I don't think Right to Choose is applicable

Anyone else?

I remember trying to go through the gp. First one told me that they don't bother diagnosing adults unless their life is being ruined (multiple failed marriages, frequent job sackings, prison etc), the second one listened to me, explained that I wasn't autistic (so really wasn't listening to me at all!) but vaguely promised to refer me. Unsurprisingly I heard nothing and never got around to chasing up.

I am just coming to the end of the process with psychiatry UK. I can't remember how much the assessment was, but I remember thinking that I'd break even in about a year through all the impulse purchases I wouldn't make and actually using the food that I buy. I think the process could have taken about 6 weeks. Took about 5 months because they needed me to fill in a form. Which I kept forgetting. (They were sending out reminders every 3 weeks or so, cumulating in them sending out a paper form with a stamped addressed envelope. They know their audience!)

I'm just about to start titration on the medication, so we'll see how that goes.

If nothing else, being told that I did have adhd, and that I wasn't just stupid, lazy, disorganised etc and I do genuinely find adult life harder than many. So validation i suppose.

Partner had to pay privately through psychiatry. Com, he's diagnosed and on medication

DD (19) has just been formerly diagnosed. Suspected for a while but, like you say, the NHS was slow to respond and she needed strategies and formal support put in place for Uni work so we went through our local ADHD charity.

It cost £250 for the initial (zoom) assessment. Then a face to face follow up with psychiatrists at their HQ f2f, £700 (of which the £250 was part) which includes a follow up short programme of counselling/CBT.

Included in this, the charity liaised with her GP and she was offered medication (GP approved and vetted obvs).

She was then able to present the formal diagnosis to her Uni disability service and has academic support plus emotional support through her personal tutor -the uni have been excellent in this regard and she is so much happier and focused now it is all formal.

(She is not taking the meds yet, just the counselling and support strategies are enough for her at the moment).

SO -long story short, see if you have an ADHD charity in your area. It cost us £700 all in.

Psychiatry UK.

About £350 for assessment, then £175 for follow up appointment.

Meds were £15 per prescription, plus the cost of meds which vary between £35-75 a month. Titration can take 3 months or more. It then transfers to shared care with your GP and the NHS pay.

You must have an annual private checkup to review meds at cost of £175 a time.

These are just my recollections. Psychiatry UK has a fees page.

I got a private assessment in 2 weeks but I think there is now a longer wait -a few months?

Join ADHD UK on Facebook, very helpful info about Right to Choose. The NHS can and do assess adults and they can refer adults to Psychiatry UK (so NHS pays and its quicker than the 2-3 year often quoted wait) as they are now a preferred provider.

This thread might be one of the ones you're thinking about - hope it's helpful (don't be put off by the title, it unfolds): www.mumsnet.com/Talk/feeling_depressed/4207358-I-dont-have-ADHD-so-what-the-hell-wrong-with-me?msgid=106208889

There is a template letter on psychiatry uk - your GP shouldn't be able to say a blanket no, right to choose is supposed to be able to be used anywhere in England. (I think rules do differ in Scotland and Wales).

I'm mid-titration and it is making a subtle but massive difference - like you, no one ever really saw the chaos behind the scenes, I'm clever and able to mask well enough that I just got the occasional stern conv when I worked in offices about the mess. Went self employed, was much better and managed everything better, and then the pandemic took away all my structure.

There are other providers too, and I think most of them display their fees. The ongoing costs I'd be worried about would be the prescriptions, as if your GP won't accept shared care then they are your responsibility to pay for.

Possibly worth a phone conversation with PUK or one of the other private providers as they'll know the process much better? Or one of the ADHD UK/women groups on Facebook.

Thanks everyone for the help. I'll get on to it when I get round to it

I've been hit by this like a sledgehammer this week. Often thought in this day and age I'd be diagnosed with adhd as a child, but thought hey ho I'm coping. Then I heard shappi khorsandi speak about her diagnosis and problems and had a lightbulb moment. I had no idea that this might be the root of my alcohol, caffeine and eating disorder. I spoke to the dr. Yesterday who I've seen in the past for depression. He said when he saw me in the past that I didn't add up. He's given me a questionnaire and told me he'd rubber stamp it for diagnosis. Finding it hard to come to terms with and am really quite sad about it but I don't know why. Biggest fear is not getting a diagnosis/ help.