ADHD assessment wait times

[MattDillonsEyebrows]

After a bit of a break down, I was referred by my GP in November 2021 for ADHD assessment. I realised it would be a long wait so had no expectations on that score. I called in July 2023 to see how the waiting list was going and to check I was still on there and was told that they had just got to the referrals that came in January 2021, so it could be another year or so.

Fast forward to today, I called again to see how the waiting list was going as I haven't heard anything and they informed me that they had just started the referrals from March 2021!

This means that they have cleared 2 months of referrals in over a year, which if they continue at this rate I could still be on the waiting list for another 4 years!

I hate all the supposed symptoms of ADHD, especially when coupled with perimenopause, I feel useless, and that I can't cope with anything. I'm terrified that I might not have ADHD and I am just useless, and crap at stuff but at least if I know I can deal with it.

I guess my question is: is it worth the wait?

I can't comment on the NHS waiting times but from what i've seen that does seem typical right now, they really cannot keep up with the demand at all. I was diagnosed via Right to Choose from the NHS so it was a shorter wait for me.

But yes and no, it can be worth it. I don't want to be negative but kind of be very realistic as i didn't see much of it when i was in your position. Some find relief from the diagnosis alone, the explanation given and the knowledge that they aren't lazy/stupid/etc whatever else they've been told all their lives.

I'm medicated now (well, excluding the current medication shortage!) and its not a big fix. It helps manage some of the symptoms but sadly, the ADHD is still there. It still have to work hard to push through it but i can at least do that now, which i couldn't before.

sending love your way, please don't be so hard on yourself. You're not useless whether you have ADHD or not.

I was referred for assessment in 2020 and was told it would be a while, fast forward a year and a half I phoned for an update to be told I was automatically declined for assessment based on the referral from my mental health nurse. I was absolutely devastated and inconsolable when I was told this and I ended up at the door of the assessment centre basically begging for an assessment. They invited me in a week later and asked a couple of basic questions, asked me to score on a scale and was asked your average personal details name, age etc. this sheet of paper was passed on to a psychiatrist who never met me and she said I didn't have ADHD I had generalised anxiety disorder and referred me for CBT. I was devastated but happy to finally get CBT on the NHS after asking for it for 8 years and kept being told no as the wait list is too long. After extensive work with my psychologist doing CBT, cft and trauma work, I still wasn't any further forward and she agreed that it was adhd but she couldn't diagnose this. She also said she also sees asd traits and she put me forward for that assessment and so far have been waiting 6 months but I was told my time is counted from when I was first referred to her which was 2 years ago. After years of being told I have severe anxiety and depression and trying every single anti anxiety and anti depressant medication in which every single one didn't work, I honestly had enough. They say the worst time for a woman with ADHD is post partum and menopause as our symptoms are even worse. I had a baby 7 months ago and it skyrocketed. I was diagnosed with pnd but I knew that yet again all of this was because of my untreated ADHD. I ended up at the hospital psych ward for an emergency assessment (another waste of time they did absolutely nothing) and I was suicidal. As a family we knew we had to do something and couldn't wait any longer (the NHS in my area have also closed all referrals for adult ADHD assessments so there's literally zero chance of getting diagnosed anymore) we decided to pay private. It was a lot of money and every month I also have to pay for a private script and pay for the medication as the gp won't consider shared care until you are stable on a dose (not that I have much faith in my gp accepting the shared care agreement so I do have to prepare to pay for my medication for the foreseeable future). So I was diagnosed and to my surprise I'm actually combined type when I thought I was only inattentive. She also mentioned persuing the asd assessment. So now I'm on titration and although I'm not quite there dosage wise and I'm still figuring out what suits me best, I can honestly say it was the best thing I ever done. I'm on elvanse and when it works (it's been wearing off so that's why I'm trying different doses) my brain is quiet and I honestly feel like I'm "normal" (now I know that is the wrong word but for me personally I have never felt normal my whole life so this just accurately describes my situation). I feel like I can actually get up and do basic tasks without having a meltdown or sitting in ADHD paralysis. Hopefully my next dose up is right where I need to be. Sorry for the long winded reply op but just wanted to share with you! Also my inbox is open if you want to talk x