Is there any benefit to an ADHD diagnosis as an adult?

[Shewas]

I've started to wonder about myself and since I started doing some research, loads of those sound bite reels about ADHD in older women keep popping up in FB. Many of them are uncanny in the way they describe me, especially my reaction to rejection, and the procrastination followed by god mode to never miss a deadline.

But, at 56, is there any point making the effort/spending the money to have it formally diagnosed?

Im 43 and diagnosed a year ago. Started elvanse which has been genuinely life changing for me.

Depends if medication would help or if any accomodation needed in workplace.

DD1 diagnosedat 19 - at uni so got some support and concessions and is on waiting list to try medication. So worth it for her.

Also how easy is it to get diagonsed in your area - where I am it's all private and thousands - better in England I think with right to choose pathway that not here and a clueless GP and no adult service.

I have other common co-morbid conditions disagonsed - so not sure it would help as can read round statergies and know how I behave and not keen on trying medication at least not yet.

From what I read the ADHD medication is basically amphetamine and the like - anybody would feel 'better' after that, lol.
In my student days people used to drink cough syrup the night before exams, I guess this is the same stuff, it helps to focus and do things faster. It's probably quite addictive.

Horrible isn’t. There’s such a lot of misinformation around and people thinking they know about it.

Please educate yourself on adhd and medication.

it’s not about feeling “better” ffs

Nope when taken exactly as prescribed, ADHD stimulant medications (like Adderall or Ritalin) carry a very low risk of addiction and do not cause "highs" because they are absorbed slowly.My kids like to have days off it for a variety of reasons. Unmedicated people with adhd are more likely to suffer from substance addiction as they can often self medicate. ADHD medication stops this.

While ADHD stimulants might keep you awake or increase your heart rate, research shows they do not improve overall cognition or productivity in people who do not have ADHD. Instead, they can actually impair your ability to focus and often cause side effects like anxiety, insomnia, and increased blood pressure.
ADHD medications (such as methylphenidate or dexamphetamine) are designed to regulate specific neurotransmitters that are underactive in an ADHD brain. In a neurotypical brain, these stimulants cause an excess of chemicals, leading to over-stimulation, obsessive thoughts, and decreased work efficiency.

Wow. Did you feel clever there, writing your witty post, disparaging what can be an utter life changing medicine?
Would you joke about diabetes or any other kind of condition the same way? Lol indeed.
There are so many factors to weigh up when deciding to take this medication or not, to compare it to taking speed for the craic is just so ignorant.

I was diagnosed last month (I’m 40) my eldest son got diagnosed a couple of years ago, and as I went through that process with him, a lot of things about myself started to make sense.

I live in Northern Ireland and adult ADHD services here are pretty much non existent so I got my diagnosis privately.

Now I have it, I’ve progressed onto the medication consultancy and the prices are honestly eye watering. I know from experience with my son that you need to go through a lot of trial and error to find the right fit - two years later, we still haven’t found the correct meds for him, so I am seriously questioning whether to proceed. Following this thread with interest to see how others have fared.

I know the ignorance is astounding and just awful. If posters such as this had to support their suicidal, self medicating children like some of us have maybe they’d be a little less glib.

Are you female OP? I only ask because it’s not at all unusual for women (who are under diagnosed with ADHD and Autism anyway), often find they have developed coping mechanisms that have worked up to a point until they hit menopause. Then find it all gets a lot more difficult.

As for should you get diagnosed, would you seek medication if you receive a diagnosis? Or are you looking to make sense of who you are. If it’s the latter, I would recommend looking at ADHD strategies from support organisations as you don’t need a diagnosis to put these into place and they might help.

If you think you would consider treatment however, then find a good provider near you who can do a proper comprehensive, assessment and prescribe medication if it’s appropriate.

And because I love a bit of myth busting, medication doesn’t have the same effect on people who already use their dopamine and noradrenaline optimally. Eye roll emoji optional.

People who get a late diagnosis of ADHD have had a lifetime of trying to cope with issues. Whilst many people have 'some' traits that could be related to ADHD it simply doesn't compare.

There's often prior misdiagnosis of anxiety/depression/PMS going back decades.
Relationship breakdowns, isolation, loss of friendships. Financial difficulties. Work place difficulties.
Its not just just being a bit forgetful. It can be truly horrific.
OP- go seek that diagnosis.

Do please cease from posting utter rubbish.

Would you consider medication, OP? If so, there's a clear purpose to diagnosis. If not then it's really a question for you- I know some people really benefit from ADHD-based coaching but you don't need a diagnosis to access that (on a private basis) or try out the techniques. Some people find diagnosis changes their sense of self for the better, others aren't bothered either way.

Some very ill-informed posts on this thread.

I would caution against self-diagnosis based on SM. There are countless accounts all over claiming that X or Y means you have ADHD and some of the things may indeed be common in people with ADHD but they are not diagnostic criteria. Very unhelpful to people with this neurotype that so many accounts are basically grifting off claiming that losing your phone/enjoying contrapuntal music/taking negative comments to heart etc means you are neurodivergent.

Im sorry OP, I got so angry with some of the ignorance on this thread and got distracted from actually replying to your question!
I can't give advice on whether it would be worth it as currently saving for my own assessment. What I will say though, after my dc has recently been diagnosed - their assessment was like reading my own story its so similar.
Wheels are close to falling off for me now and I'm desperate to see if the medication could help me function in a meaningful way.
Best of luck whatever you decide x

I’m still waiting for medication but the fact that I know the reason for why I am who/how I am, and can stop blaming myself and stop feeling like I’m strange or weird, has been really good for me. I was diagnosed nearly 3 months ago at 30.

We do. It all have adhd or autism. Having traits that occur with adhd and or autism isn’t the same thing at all.

that’s like saying, I think we all have a metabolic disorder because some of us gain weight really easily or I think we all suffer from narcissistic personality disorder because all of us can be selfish sometimes. Or I think all of us suffer from crippling depression because we all feel a bit down sometimes

It’s the most ridiculous ableist comment I’ve heard in a long time.

She’s wrong

ADHD is not a fun quirk or a superpower. It’s ruined my whole life and robbed me of my right to be the person I was born to be.

don’t pursue it if you think it’s going to answer a lifetime of questions and ease your pain. You’ll just be given pills that you will be dependent upon until the day you die

From what I’ve read, the main purpose seems either to be monetary (for benefits) or for self esteem. I do wonder though as if you’re sure enough to pay for a diagnosis then can’t you just assume you have it … But anyway, as you can probably tell I personally don’t see the benefit!

Are the meds expensive?

You don’t get benefits for a diagnosis of ADHD.

So to be clear here, are we saying no one gets benefits for ADHD, or that a diagnosis isn’t an automatic right to a benefit? As the latter is clearly true but the former isn’t.

They used to think men grew out of adhd, in reality they lived with some poor sod who did everything for them, so they didn’t need to even think for themselves.

Medication could be a reason, I have ADHD, I am medicated, but I only take it on work days, or we have a hectic travel day where I need to be organised.

It does mean you can sometimes get some adjustments at work, personally I haven’t needed them, but you can get some good computer software to help with time management etc.

We also now know there is a genetic component to ADHD, so some GPs are more likely to refer a child if their parent has both concerns and an ADHD diagnosis themselves.

You can only have treatment (medication) if you have a diagnosis. The meds are life-changing.

OP- I was around your age when I got diagnosed. It was highly worth because (1) I understand my issues WAY better now and (2) I have treatment.

Im desperate to give myself a chance with the meds. 11 month waiting list apparently. I’ve done 8 months so far.