Adult ADHD WWYD

[lazysaurusrex]

Not really AIBU but more what would you do. I posted over at mental health and got no replies. I'm part way through the process of being referred for an assessment for ADHD and I'm getting discouraged. Taking time off work for doctors appointments that ultimately go no where, having to bring my partner in because no one will listen to me and generally trying to keep myself together are really getting to me. So what would you do, keep pushing and trying to get a diagnosis as an adult or give up and keep treating symptoms as best you can?

Update because I'm feeling so fed up right now. I had the mri, all fine there. Then saw a psychiatrist who has referred me to adult neuro development. But.... my doctors have just called to say that it's almost impossible to get funding for neuro development and that there's a huge reject rate for single funding. I've been told that I now have to see another gp before they will apply for me.
I know that, I thought that was why I was going through everything so they could claim funding! I feel like I'm going round in circles.

Op you need to go and ask at the adult add uk forum- you will get a muchmore informative answer there than here.

One of the problems is area. While it used to be the case that general psychiatrist would diagnose and treat adhd most areas have moved on to setting up specialised services. Most have childrens adhd setvices in place, but plenty don't have adult adhd services in place yet. Often general psych wont take the risk now and gps then have to apy for out of area funding to refer people to an out of area adult adhd service. The mri stuff is news to me though, maybe your gp has misunderstood or is reaching.

The important thing with adhd diagnosis is that the symptoms have been present throughout childhood and not as a new thing in adulthood-which may require mri or different psych eval. You don't need school reports or parents to add info but it helps establish that this is a developmental issue not a response to mh problems or brain injury or life stresses etc.

Once diagnosed the first line treatment is ritilin followed by strattera then dex. There are other off licence treatments or off licence combos but it is very managable for most of us with medication and a bit of readjusting life management stratagies. Go join the forum, much better source of info than here.