Have you been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult?

[ShiningAsAlways]

I had a bit of a lightbulb moment with DD aged 8 recently, and realised while watching her that some of her behaviours that we find frustrating, she can't seem to help. I've been doing some research into this, and have been looking into ADHD.

While doing this, I have come across ADHD adult symptoms. I've always felt a bit of an "outsider", for want of a better word (and absolutely not meaning to offend, just a description of how I have felt about myself, not people with ADHD in general), but I seem to be "ticking" nearly every symptom on the NHS website for adults with ADHD. I can see that it might be something I have, and DH agrees I match the symptoms and it's something he has realised for a while.

This is all a bit weird and new for me to be honest, and I'm not sure where to go from here. I don't have a family who will be supportive of this (don't "believe" in ADHD in most cases) so talking to them about my childhood isn't an option really.

I'm aware that ADHD/autism videos are popular on the internet at the moment so I am worried about going to the GP and being dismissed as "jumping on the bandwagon" or overreacting to what are maybe common issues for people.

I just wondered if anyone else had dealt with this, and could share any experiences or info please?

Possibly. And in his case quite possibly the process would cause so much distress it wouldn't be worth it.

What are you actually trying to say here?
Just be honest why don't you!

@notveryspeedy what I'm actually saying is just what I said. In my big northern city they are going to implement criteria for accessing assessments as they can't cope with the demand. The criteria is literally likely to be 'what tangible difference will it make to your life'. I'm not saying I agree with it but it's coming. If there are so many people with ADHD then maybe it's just a shade of normal. That's the view my ICB is taking.

I read a thread on here a few years ago about someone going through their assessment and diagnosis. When she listed her symptoms I matched every single one and then read everything I could find about ADHD in women.

After 18 months of research and hand wringing about wasting doctor's time I plucked up the courage to blurt it out in the middle of an appointment. I was so stressed I couldn't remember all the points I wanted to make. I got diagnosed with depression and anxiety once again and it was only about six months I forced myself to prepare my script and outline my concerns. I did the checklist, met the criteria for assessment only to find out that assessment was paused in my area while services were reviewed. I had asked about going private for diagnosis but Dr recommended it would be better to go NHS as it was easier to prescribe then if needed.

Just knowing that there's a strong possiblity I have ADHD has made me a lot easier on myself. The past year has seen a huge explosion in the symptoms and like another poster I'm thinking it could be perimenopause.

For me, I just want to find out one way or another if this is why I'm like the way I am.

I also looked at the how to ADHD videos a while back - the one about the wall of awful really resonated with me!

@Instano much of what you say resonates with me. I am senior at work but in a role where things move and change constantly and I rarely have to focus on one task for long. I drink for the same reason as you.
The amount of money I've wasted on ADHD tax is staggering.

My daughter was diagnosed at age seven. I started wondering when she was around 3. Lots of reassurance that "all 3 year olds are like that" but I wasn't convinced. Her reception teacher said she thought there might be a hearing problem. Nope. At the end of year 1 the teacher took me to one side and told me that she knew I thought there was something at play but she hadn't previously agreed. Now she said she definitely thought there was and put me in touch with the SEN teacher who referred her to CAHMS.
It took the whole of year 2 to get the diagnosis. Fortnightly meetings at the school, with me first for background, then with DD, then observations and finally a learning assessment. It was measured, in depth and carefully carried out. At the start of year 3 DD started on her medication. Her learning improved immeasurably.
She has had a difficult transition to secondary school as her behaviour can be annoying but I dread to think what it would have been like without the medication.

My own MH is worse since Covid and the menopause. I don't know how long I will be able to keep working. My private medical insurance doesn't cover ADHD diagnosis and I have been procrastinating for the last two years about seeing my GP. It is reaching something of a crisis I feel, and I will have to do something soon.

I've been under EIP with psychosis for a couple of years and they picked up early on my ADHD traits. I have my official assessment in June after them fast tracking it (18m wait). My psychiatrist and therapist both say 100% I have it but I have to have the assessment to get medication.

I'm 51. It finally makes sense!

I have an assessment soon. For me we took DD through assessments, we did a general set of assessments and ADHD came out, but it wasn't a formal diagnosis so we spent several years trying to get that in the NHS before taking her private to psychiatry UK because she masks so well in school that camhs wouldn't diagnose her. green tea all together that cost us about £2000 including the medication titration, but we could get an appointment within weeks.

As we'd gone through the process I realised I matched a lot of the symptoms and I've been doing a lot of reflection on myself over the past year and a lot of research. I filled in the screening form and letter on psychiatry UK and sent them to my GP asking to be referred to them under right to choose. I had to do another screener for the gp and have a brief phone call with then they referred me.

There's a neurodiverse section of Mumsnet, I find that quote good.

I can relate...one of my DC is diagnosed as autistic with ADHD traits, and another is diagnosed with ADHD with some autistic traits. I have come to realise I also have several traits that but I'm not sure the severity would be enough for diagnosis...although they are worsening with age. The ADHD tax is very real.
I'm not sure I'd take meds for it so there seems little point going through either a very lengthy wait or an expensive private one.
Perhaps it's best to assume you have it, accept that and readjust your life to accommodate it.

How do people adjust their life to manage it? Any tips please?
I’m at crisis point I think - possibly Peri-menopause, possibly 3 young kids in 2 schools? Whatever it is, I am definitely losing my grip on life, and it was a fairly tenuous grip to start with!
I write everything down. I have apps and alarms but I prefer paper to make things stick so I use both.
I’m full of plans to de-clutter and streamline things, but of course I never actually do it, though I have done bits. I tick boxes for ADD and autism but not convinced I’d get a diagnosis for either and can’t afford private medication for ADHD anyway so I don’t think I’d actually seek a diagnosis.