To think I may have ADHD

[MaybeADHD]

Throughout my education I have found it difficult to complete tasks, I procrastinate until it eats away at me, I keep my mobile phone off for weeks on end because I can't deal with too many things I'm very either/or.

This affects my friendships.

I get in a muddle with all my paper work and am unable to save money at all.

I am a work-aholic and though I'm at uni I work 35 hours a week and volunteer for charity for 5+hours a week. When I'm not busy I'm feeling lost and lonely.

But its all starting to unravel because Im exhausted and my attendance at uni is suffering.

My thoughts are very multi directional.

I am just finishing the first year of a uni course and have struggled to meet deadlines and seem to only be able to complete my work when I'm fully adrenalin fuelled.

I am not stupid, I am just really struggling with this pattern.

I know I may be U to think it is ADHD. Maybe I'm just depressed?

Any help welcomed,

which dr ruled it out though? GP? They aren't in any position to do so. I had to do loads of tests, and my dh too (for my dx) so I can't see how on the back of 1 appt they can give a verdict like that?

My DP's GP did. He didn't believe adult ADHD existed, I think he was sceptical about ADHD per-se. He refused to entertain the notion of referring DP for a condition he didn't think was legitimate.

The GP was about 12! I had never met this one before, She said she would check with the other Drs in the practice then ring me back but "from what you've said it sounds like you lack discipline, do you enjoy your course?" "how would it change things if you were to be diagnosed?" I said that I would get more support from uni than I have been getting, making it less likely for me to fail yet again, she was stumped when I said this.
I'm so sad that she is creating another barrier to my quality of life/education/relationships. Really naffed off
But thank you for your advice I will keep going

I said to the Dr that, I don't think I do lack discipline, I work, study and also volunteer for charity five hours a week, that isn't someone who lacks discipline, she said that she didn't mean it in that way, she meant that my learning style didn't match the education system and I said 'well then that's a learning difficulty then isn't it? she didn't reply.

OP, does your university have a Disability Support Service, or a service with a similar name? They cover not only physical disabilities and severe health issues, but also specific learning difficulties, including dyslexia, ADHD etc. My sense is that they are very used to people with undiagnosed LDs who are able to get as far as university, but then find it difficult to manage at that level. They will help those students get assessments and then some support. If I were you, I would go onto your university's website and find out if you have that service (and I think they all do), then contact them and arrange to go in.

I don't have direct experience of this, but my son has ADD (the inattentive variant of ADHD) and has been applying to and visiting universities this year. I certainly know that all the ones he applied to have disability services and specifically mention ADHD as a LD they help with. And the sort of help they can give is study skills support, possibly mentoring etc. They give me the impression that they are quite welcoming, although others may come along with direct experience.

And I wouldn't automatically discount taking medication, if you are prescribed it. Our experience was that they were very careful in prescribing and checking for side-effects, and it makes a massive difference to my son's ability to concentrate and organise himself. But my understanding is that the drugs don't stay in the body and only have to be taken for the time you need it, so you can take breaks from it in holidays and weekends.