ADHD assessment - disappointed to be told I don't have ADHD!

[Shirtyllama]

This might sound silly - psychiatrist at local NHS mental health services said she was delighted to tell me that after scoring my recent 1 hour ADHD phone assessment, I "don't have the disease"!
(Her words, I haven't heard ADHD called a disease before!)

I had asked for this NHS assessment after reading threads on Mumsnet and other online places where middle aged women with ADHD basically seemed to be describing me!

I've had many years of work and study struggles, not being able to concentrate or stick with jobs, finding everyday admin and housekeeping hugely difficult, not knowing how to start projects and definitely not being able to wrap them up. Really easily bored (to my embarrassment) but can be hugely into something if I'm interested. Bright enough to sail through work at school but totally foundered as soon as I left home for university, and dropped out with terrible marks before finding a course that suited me.

Haven't been able to hold down jobs long term, no problems with colleagues but can't cope with responsibilities of posts I've held, which I'm embarrassed about, and am keen to explore why I'm like this, and how I can change (I'm not yet 50 and don't want to give up on work)

I have felt so much in common with the women posting on Mumsnet adult ADHD threads, and over the past few months I have become really invested I suppose in this being the explanation for my struggles and my weirdness.

The psychiatrist I saw (over phone) was really reluctant to assess me at all, she said it was pointless at my age and that the medications were "really dangerous and could make your hair fall out". She did an hour of questions where I had to say whether I agreed or disagreed with, e.g. was I very disruptive at school. I answered as honestly as I could.

I just feel a bit disappointed that she's sure I don't have ADHD when I felt I ticked so many boxes. I am going to pursue Talking Therapies to see if I can explore the causes of my difficulties, but I feel so rebuffed! The psychiatrist said "everyone finds work and study difficult! You're probably anxious and depressed".

Has anyone else received a negative ADHD diagnosis when they were sure they had it?

That sounds crap! It doesn’t sound like she knows much about ADHD. As for the line about medications being really dangerous and your hair falling out... uh... that sounds crazy.

I know...she asked if I wanted to be assessed just "out of curiosity". I know I might not have it (and that a positive diagnosis might not be that helpful either), I just feel that she didn't take it that seriously, and also I suppose I just wanted an answer that would explain everything

I'll definitely look into some talking therapy to see if I can find some coping strategies for my work and executive function ishoos because I do want to work them out and move on a bit

No that doesn't sound right OP.
I don't know anything about the assessment process but I do know that a lot of people advocate going private if at all possible. I wonder if this is because ADD in adult women is still not talked/known about, maybe NHS training doesn't go deep enough. It's probably something that certain doctors specialise in. Also, I could be way off but years ago the advice you would get from a dietitian working in a hospital and the advice you might get from a naturopath would be extremely different where as now certain advice might be in alignment. Think low carb diets and intermittent fasting.
Poor example maybe, I just mean she might not be on the cutting edge of current thinking.

I just had a really good experience with psychiatry UK. It's expensive, but, I do feel like it was a thorough assessment.

I just had what felt like a thorough, caring assessment. Probably do have it, which is a huge relief to me. I used Clinical Partners, abit ££ but very good imo. Your experience sounds utter crap.