"What difference would diagnosis make?"

[headcheffer]

I see on here a lot people asking what difference would diagnosis make to your life, and I'm awake early with the baby pondering things as you do! And I'm just recognising the small things.

I was diagnosed combined type ADHD earlier this year. This Christmas I've been staying at a relatives and it's been lovely. In previous years, I would have had some kind of emotional outburst from feeling overwhelmed and probably ruined things for myself and other people.

This year, that hasn't happened and it's largely because diagnosis has given me the confidence and knowledge to manage things better. I've eaten lovely food, but prioritised getting protein and fibre on every plate to help with dopamine production. I've gone out for a walk, including saying when I need to go on my own, to make sure I've moved my body and had some quiet time. There's lots of kids here and at times it can be noisy, and I preempted this by bringing my loop earplugs.

I never enjoy showers at other people's houses as I never feel clean which I now recognise is part of some sensory issues I have. I would get desperate to go home and shower, and end up snappy and irritable. I've brought my own towel, a dressing gown so I don't need to get dressed in the bathroom, some toiletries I love, and some flip flops to use in the bathroom so I don't need to put bare feet anywhere.

My family know about my diagnosis, and this is making things easier too. And I don't feel like I'm hiding my true self from anyone. All these things seem small, but collectively they've meant I don't feel uncomfortable, I haven't had an emotional outburst from feeling overwhelmed and for the first time in a long time I've actually enjoyed being away from home. I think it's meant my family have enjoyed Christmas more too. It's a nice feeling

So thrilled for you OP and I can relate to it all. I was also asked what difference it would make to me but you cannot understand unless you start wondering about why you are the person you are and do the things you do. I felt like I have had this internal rage about a year and once I got my diagnoses of ADHD it helped me immesurably. Now I did also get a diagnoses of ASD which I am still processing but it really has helped me and I feel a sense of inner calm has come over me. I have had tears and felt overwhelmed but no anger and I feel if it has even stopped the anger then that is wonderful.

I am same as you cannot shower in other peoples houses. I never stay more than one night in a row in another persons house and even in my recent ex partners house only ever showered once in his and I know how clean he is. I love walking barefoot in my own house but not in someone elses and I think I have a fear of getting a foot disease or something. These are just 'me' things and I am not weird or strange or any of the things my own mother has called me when I have said I am not using her shower after spending a night there I just feel comfortable at home.

I must look into the food and dopamine thing actually. I am a good eater and will try most foods as my sensory issues are around bright lights and sounds rather than tastes and textures so anything that helps cannot hurt. Lovely to read your post :)

For me diagnosis was the gateway to support. It gives you a legal entitlement to request reasonable adjustments. If people are unkind, technically it’s not just normal meanness, it’s disability discrimination - so people think more carefully about how they treat you, and you also have legal recourse if they treat you really badly. You can get counselling, apply for PIP, and lots of other stuff you wouldn’t be able to access without a diagnosis.

Basically people are twats, but they’re less likely to be twats if they know you have legal rights conferred by your diagnosis and they could get in trouble for treating you like shit.

Fantastic!

It is worth noting though that the assessment process sometimes requires you to be able to state what difference it would make for you. (Needs thinking about before asking for referral) This is very different from the general public dismissive question.