I am convinced I have undiagnosed adult ADHD so I made an appointment at the GP and got a referral. I was referred to the "Sydney International ADHD Centre"
I went on to the website and the first thing that pops up is the doctors fees which are
"Initial Consultation (Up to 1hr): $850 (Medicare rebate: $237)".
This is a ridiculous hourly fee!
Has anyone had any experience in this area? Should I shop around for a cheaper doctor or is this just what it costs?
That’s just the hyperfixation.
Not quite. Have amended-
This is a ridiculous hourly free!
to
This is a ridiculous hourly fee!
Just self medicate like the rest of us.
how? why doesn't it happen when playing video games?
alchomohole
Medication is cheaper with a diagnosis though.
But you have go back and pay the specialist every six months.
You don't though? You can go to the GP for that.
@CaptainMaverick: Depends on the arrangement and whether the GP is happy to take over the issuing of scripts.
However - in 1 or 2 - the GP may not want to take this on, or they may only be on with #2. If they aren’t interested, you then have to find a new GP.
@jjjaar: Actually, this is incorrect. Only authorised specialists (Paediatricians and child psychiatrists for minors, psychiatrists for adults) can prescribe ADHD medication (psychostimulants) in NSW, though it may be slightly different in other states.
https://www.health.sw.gov.au/pharmaceutical/patients/Pages/f…
@DanishPleb: This is incorrect. In NSW, GPs can get authority to prescribe stimulants as jjjaar stated. They have to apply & need a letter of support from the psychiatrist.
The price is more like a fk you price for the specialist who knows he's going to have to listen to an hour of ranting.
Good lawyers and accountants are about $600 an hour
For Specialist to charge $800 is reasonable - but it's a fk you price.
It is a fk you price for people convinced they have undiagnosed adhd.
$250 for an initial 15-30 min consultation would be enough.
it is why medicare only rebate $237, because that is what the fee should be +- 25%
Agreed, at those prices, what a joke! Odds are, he can't really do anything for OP anyway. I've seen and heard about a few specialists in my day, all of them were useless. All of them completely overpriced. At least the $50 GPs are covered by the thousands and thousands of dollars you already pay in Medicare levy. Specialists know that you won't be coming back which is why their initial consultation is so outrageous. I also feel like they only tell you what the price is after you have seen them, not before.
That does sound high. It definitely varies, but that’s at the top end.
I would suggest to have a look at Facebook groups to see if anyone has recommendations on places with lower fees and short wait times (another massive problem on top of the costs).
You can try shopping around, but you'd still need to be prepared to pay something between $600 to $700 for the initial consult (before Medicare rebate).
Psychiatrists are just extremely expensive.
The money can be worth it, if the medical care helps to improve your life and your educational/job prospects.
Hahahahahahaha… Post a deal if you find a bulk billing "specialist" shrink.
Believe it or not they do exist - but they usually overcharge on medicare to cover lol.
Call your local public hospital - they usually have one that bulk bills
If you find one who’s got a wait list of less than a year and is actually registered to practice in Australia - you’re basically a witch.
Yet again sharing your useless opinion that nobody asked for.
😂
Also be aware that many specialists will also refer you on for testing with a neuropsychologist before making a diagnosis which will cost around $1k. I agree with jjjaar above, find some groups to see what options might be available. It is an expensive process in most instances unfortunately. Very few psychiatrists (the main medical specialty that manages adult adhd) bulk bill, especially for this kind of work.
Fees are quite high for diagnosis with different practices structuring them differently. Seems most places will end up charging around the $1500-2000 mark for a full diagnosis. Worth checking their full fee structure.
"I am convinced I have undiagnosed adult ADHD .."
Why did you convince yourself of that?
Also, was talking to a retired psychiatrist friend who was having some difficulties. I expressed my surprise that he wasn't able to navigate through them with his knowledge in the field. His reply was interesting, he said "Never self diagnose". I have heard the same from a couple of doctors I know also. Whatever is going on could be anything but I find a good psychologist/hypnotherapist etc in your location and visit them first. And by 'good' I mean someone who isn't just going to echo back what you want to hear. :)
All the best.
Self-diagnosing as autistic was last season, it's ADHD now.
ADHD gives the good drugs
Well yeah I know there are quite a few people out their monetising their prescriptions. Personally though I always hated it, haven't been medicated since sometime during high school. Makes me feel like I've been lobotomised and I'm not actually any more productive when I'm on it, it just sets off my hyperfocus but never on what I should be focusing on.
People aren't getting diagnosed for fun.
Most people self-diagnosing as autistic? Probably ARE autistic. It's just that they've slipped through the system and were never recognised. Same with ADHD.
It's not increasing because it's trendy. These things are increasing because people are becoming much more aware of autism and ADHD and how they manifest, beyond the myopic views of them before that weren't accurate for many people with these conditions.
No one wants to be autistic or have ADHD. For many, though, it's finally, after many years of suffering, an answer that provides insight into why they've been struggling for so long, and a way forward in terms of what might work for someone with ADHD and/or Autism. Learning about ADHD, becoming convinced that yes, I probably had it, then seeking and advocating for my own diagnosis, has been one of the very best - but one of the hardest - things i've done. It's still hard and a struggle, but I wouldn't be where I am now without having the realisation and seeking out specialists in the area of ADHD specifically, rather than relying on psychologists who didn't know enough about it or recognise it in me.
Sure and I think if it's affecting you enough to seek treatment then it's worth seeking treatment but being in the ~30yo age group it's insanely common right now to hear people say 'Oh I think I might have ADHD' when they can't finish a book or a movie forgetting the fact that they spend all day every day mindlessly scrolling their social media feeds.
@Cheaplikethebird: The 30+ people who are saying they think they may have ADHD - many of them may well have ADHD. There's an explosion of awareness of the signs, and they may have been struggling their whole lives and not know why.
Yeah, there may be some that think "Oh yes I struggle to focus sometimes and don't always finish a book" - but most of the people saying "I strongly identify with all the things about ADHD" may actually have ADHD. So many people didn't get diagnosed as a child because they had 'inattentive' ADHD and weren't bouncing off the walls, or managed to mask those symptoms, and adults didn't recognise it in them because they weren't problematic to them.
It's only now that information is available and people are talking about their experiences, and resulting trauma, that is making those people aware. Don't be so quick to judge those people.
@CaptainMaverick: Like I said if it's affecting you enough to seek treatment (like OP) then it's worth it but I have personally experienced a lot of people saying that they must have it because of basic inattentiveness (without any other symptoms) which is also just something that is happening now due to how smartphone usage is rewiring our brains. ADHD isn't just having trouble concentrating for long periods of time, as I'm sure you're aware.
I mostly agree. Not necessarily that most people that self-diagnose with a condition such as ADHD must have it, but rather that most of those diagnosed with it probably did self-diagnose - at least initially - because after all, why would you get a referral to see a psychiatrist for an assessment unless you were made aware of the condition via the media and thought it was sufficiently likely you have it that it was worth a consultation?
My partner was diagnosed with ADHD recently and I strongly suspect I have it but I'm not sure. I do have an appointment for an assessment though.
Its the dangers of the internet.
One minute you’ve got a minor rash, a minute after checking web md you have terminal cancer.
I’d say many of us have done it or do it occasionally.
Not saying that’s the case for OP, but it does happen and we can convince ourselves of the worst without any legitimate cause.
Never SAY you've self-diagnosed off the internet.
That can get you one of two scenarios. Either a doctor who will agree with whatever you say, even if you are wrong. Like, I've decided I've got gender dysphoria, sure, we'll start the hormones immediately. Or one who will deny it even when you're right, because agreeing with you will admit that the internet knows more than most GPs these days.
I got the latter, which resulted in no examination, no tests, no questions about symptoms, no diagnosis for anything even though I was clearly suffering from something, and no treatment, until the condition got worse and it was too late for treatment. What the medical profession needs to understand is that the internet is there, its not going to go away just because it threatens their profession and business model, it contains huge amounts of information, it is far more accessible than they are, and that if they put good information on it and direct people to it they are helping them.
This!
I just started a new job and I have multiple people at this job, and my previous one, saying they think I have ADHD.
Growing up, I did terribly at school. I was in supporter reader in grade 7 and was in the lowest percentile in nearly every class. Things got better, but I still very distracted.
About 10 years ago, I remember explaining to someone that I just feel like I can't slow down sometimes. Clicking mutiple times with ca mouse etc.
I did terribly in school too, the problem wasn't me, it was the system.
"But If You Judge a Fish by Its Ability to Climb a Tree, It Will Live Its Whole Life Believing that It is Stupid.", - Albert Einstein.
The other things 'may' be other issues. As I said, go see a good psychologist but go there with a list of your symptoms and not your assumed diagnoses. Let professionals sort it out, the last thing you need is to go on SSRI's for any length of time, drugs are for short term use only IMO.
"in your opinion" - which is exactly what it is. Your opinion.
Nevermind expert and specialist advice to the contrary that SSRIs, ADHD meds etc ARE a long term tool.
And it's ok to go to a psychologist and say you think you have ADHD. They'll determine whether you're likely to or not. IF you don't, they may not actually think of it or recognise that you may have it. Many psychs missed that I had ADHD, because it didnt present in the typical bouyncing off the walls etc way. I thought I didn't have it and psychs didnt think i had it before because I could focus sometimes - turns out that was hyperfocus very much aligned with ADHD symptoms.
But I don't advocate for self-diagnosing and leaving it at that. Go seek out the speicalists who know. Really interrogate whether you have it or not, and why or why not. Then if you have the thing, try the drugs if they're suggested by the specialist. See if they help you - they likely will.
The judge a fish quote is thrown around a lot. And that's fair. But a fish's natural habitat is in the water. Our natural habitat is at work, in our families, in society etc. And that comes with many different demands. Demands that you can't esape in life except if you become a hermit etc, and even then. ADHD really doesnt help to exist in the real world. And drugs help. And that's OK!!
This is really not great advice. Just because you found something a particular way doesn't mean you should talk down to someone trying to figure their world out.
The whole point of the medical system is to treat people who are ill and disabled. You have to get triaged at some point - unfortunately for mental illness and disabilities, you can't (generally) just rock up to the GP or ED and get it sorted quicksmart. The triaging is much more expensive and takes longer. That means that people will do a lot of research on these things because they want to actually know what they're talking about and whether it might apply to them before they try to do something expensive and time consuming about it. That's also a factor of mental illness and disability being more difficult to diagnose and having more areas of overlap compared to (most) physical ailments ie a broken ankle is a broken ankle.
SSRIs generally have nothing to do with ADHD unless you also have depression/anxiety (of which the latter is a common comorbidity). All ADHD treatment via meds (that I am aware of) is completely reversible and operates totally differently to how SSRIs et al do. Many people who need medication for their ADHD symptoms will be on it for life.
Great that you’re reaching out for help and that you’ve had the successes you’ve had so far in life. I’d say some of those online groups will give you some great advice on where to get affordable assessment and diagnosis. Don’t be afraid to just calm around and ask questions about financial support/options - obviously easier said than done if you struggle with concentration and language.
Thank you, really appreciate your support. I have the money, I just rather spend it on something else. But if it changes my life, it's hard to ignore.
I tried to get an appointment today. 6 month waiting list.
@leftspeaker2000: i think this is what it comes down to. it's sickeningly expensive but if you do have a condition, treating it correctly may change your entire existence as you've known it.
all specialists are expensive. so if you have the money, do it.
but you can also investigate what "free", options there are i.e through the public health system.
also, higher price doesn't mean best quality. as some one already suggested, join some groups and read all the threads to see if you can find someone that has good feedback. otherwise it's a shot in the dark.
it always baffles me that we're meant to pick surgeons/specialists blindly with no review system/public medical board history of some sort
@leftspeaker2000: The cost of seeking a diagnosis, if you have ADHD, is well well well worth it. Probably the best spend you can make for your quality of life right now. And you'll 'make the money back' with productivity and moving ahead with life many times over.
That is, if you do have ADHD and this opens up treatment options.
Lol what kind of jobs are you working where your colleagues just start telling you have ADHD?
Sure, never self diagnose. But sometimes, it's very very very obvious. For me, I was convinced I had ADHD because I ticked every single part of the DSM criteria, a bunch of other reliable and valid psychometric tests for ADHD, and it fit my experience from childhood and adulthpood so darn well.
Was it 100% that I had it? Can't be, but it was darn close.
I think people CAN essentially self-diagnose or realise they likely to have something and to advocate for that diagnosis. So many specialists aren't even aware of the actual signs of these things or discount ADHD in someone if they've done ok at school or work etc, which is nonsense.
The person in the OP WANTS to find a good spcialist to then find out if they have the thing. That 's exactly why they're posting.
I was informally diagnosed with it as a kid, I always laughed it off and thought it was a made up thing. Now as an adult I have delved a little more into it and I'm absolutely being affected by it. I think in my case it was a natural tendency of my mind that got kicked into overdrive with things like social media that heavily influence dopamine but it's definitely a real issue. I was trialled on meds and I instantly felt like a different person and had no issues at all with willpower or driving myself to do something.
While I do think a lot of these "self-diagnosers" are just looking for the next fad to latch on to, there is also a huge amount of people out there with a huge disconnect between motivation, willpower & action isn't necessarily completely in their hands and could be greatly helped by addressing the root cause, be it through meds or lifestyle changes and adaptations
In my opinion it's because of the available health provision funding (NDIS) and the lack of practitioners.
NDIS doesnt cover Psychiatrists, but it's certainly impacting allied health practitioners.
That's disgusting. Ask for public and wait the up to 12 months to see someone (if you can). Or shop around.
Probably because of Initial Consultation (Up to 1hr), which includes lots of tests?
And this would be specialist not just a Dr?
Well OP can go back to the Dr and ask for referral for different specialist.
It doesn't matter. It prices it out of ppls budgets. Diagnosis shouldn't be something that people have to forgo or budget due to high costs.
shouldn't be
But it is. Well usually well known or good specialist fees are significantly higher than others (popularity contest? I don't know).
However, something I noticed, well known specialist usually use more initial tests than other specialist, hence their fees are high. So when you or your love one sick, and budget isn't the issue, you know who you would pick. Hence their services get adjusted for the demand.
Yeah I agree, but we are slowly losing our universal free healthcare in Australia and becoming more like America given the way things are going, even bulk-billing GPs seem to be a thing of the past.
We do have hundreds of billions for nuclear submarines though, shows you how much of a priority healthcare is to the government.
Public drs won't diagnose adhd.
The Psychiatrists I work with charge $600 for the initial consult, after which you get sent away for tests (urine analysis, ECG, family interviews) and return two weeks later for results/script and pay $300.
Every man and his dog believes they have ADHD lately, people are self disgnosing thanks to social media but often it's them being glued to said social media that is causing the inattention. Psychistrists working in ADHD could double their fees and still have massive waitlists, even more so with child/adolescent Psychiatrists.
Every man and his dog believes they have ADHD lately, people are self disgnosing thanks to social media but often it's them being glued to said social media that is causing the inattention.
You don’t know OPs history and experience - statements like this are unhelpful and invalidating. This could be something they’ve been experiencing for a long time and only seeking help now or be causing significant difficulty, so it’s great they are looking for help. Seeing someone could help even if the issue isn’t ADHD, as they can look at potential differentials and direct them to the right management strategies. But they may well also have ADHD.
While it isn't helpful that doesn't make it untrue.
As an adult with ADHD unmedicated I can say it does cause a big impact. Ever tried doing paperwork etc at work when you just ain't into it? It's like pushing a boulder up a hill…
Trick is to set micro goals for myself.
Anyway good luck op.
Yep for sure. True or not it’s like saying to some who says they think they might be depressed “oh everyone’s depressed these days - you should just get off your phone and exercise more”. Which is not terrible advice inherently but also the person needs to speak to the right professional.
Those are good strategies - I’m sure if OP goes down the assessment path it will be them find the right strategies for them.
I agree good luck OP!
@morse: Completely agree. The “oh everyone is…” is so invalidating.
The difference is that for people who are suffering, it is not just a symptom that happens for a bit every now and then, it is absolutely constant and affects their day to day ability to function.
Everyone definitely has different ways to manage (e.g. some people wear glasses, some wear contacts, some get laser surgery), and the diagnosis from the right professional will help them.
The “oh everyone is…” is so invalidating
Yes! "There are people in Africa who would die to be in your shoes." We don't have permission to be depressed because we have some of the best living conditions in the world.
@Mr Haj: Exactly. I can simultaneously have my own struggles and appreciate that other people also have struggles.
I wasn't in any way referring to OP, I was explaining the reason why wait lists are so long. ADHD is the new in thing, I work in the industry and we receive dozens of referrals a day for ADHD assessments, compared to 24 months ago it would have been a few a week. No need to explain the benefits of Psychiatric diagnosis, I'm well aware.
Nah my dog has high functioning autism.
Not a particularly funny or clever joke
Lucky you're not the arbiter of either huh.
often it's them being glued to said social media that is causing the inattention
ADHD is only diagnosed if there were symptoms in childhood also. For the vast majority of us on OzB there was no social media back then.
Hence the reason family interviews form part of the diagnostic criteria, but that does not stop people clogging the system because they saw a Tik Tok video that convinced them they have ADHD.
Just because there is more awareness now, doesn't mean people don't have it. People aren't going to spend hundreds of $ getting an assessment if they haven't thoroughly researched it and are very sure they would be diagnosed, that would be stupid. They would reflect on whether they had symptoms in childhood, and if they didn't, then they wouldn't waste that sort of money on nothing.
@Quantumcat: That assumption is entirely wrong unfortunately. Your critical thinking skills are not reflected in much of the community, we are constantly weeding out those who want an assessment because their cousin was just disgnosed or they have lost interest at uni.
@Jules855: Yeah, nah @Quantumcat is spot on. At $800 an appt, is someone really going to pay this if they don’t genuinely think they have it?
@Jules855: Isn't it better if they do seek an assessment? They don't know whether they do or don't have it, it's why they go to a clinic to get assessed.
Ideally yeah, for any condition, everyone who has it would go get assessed and no one who doesn't have it will get assessed, but then what's the point in assessing. Some of those people who think they have it 'because their cousin just diagnosed or they have lost interest at uni' may actually have it! Many won't. But they're not the experts so how are they really meant to know?
You can just blame tiktok videos, one good example would be schooling years back, teachers would think symptoms as misbehaving and woop their ass and these days, teachers/educators are well trained hence they let parents know for possible solution.
There were times, back in the day, people thought ADHD only occur in males as well.
Main issue would be, lack of funding and high demand for specialist.
Indeed but at the same time, not strictly mandatory. My Psychiatrist mentioned that but asked for my primary school report cards first (luckily I had a few) - grades were generally occur but the comments from my Teachers gave him what he was looking for.
Or GP do a simple test with around 10 questions diagnosis ADHD and refer to specialist, which overload the waiting list for specialists.
Initial fees are very high for specialist. Do you have a mental health plan from the GP? If not get one as it will allow give you discounted sessions at a psychologist, who will help.
Ask them how many sessions will you need for a formal diagnosis if you have ADHD.
See if a psychologist can diagnose ADHD as it may be cheaper.
Psychologists cannot prescribe medication, only psychiatrists. So if that is the outcome OP wants to look into, they will end up waiting for a psychologist, then getting the referral for a psychiatrist, then waiting again.
If OP is keen to explore other non medication options, then a ADHD specialist psychologist is absolutely useful.
If they want to do both, possibly getting into both queues at the same time could help too.
But clinical psychologists can and do provide psychiatric diagnoses.
But only a psychiatrist can initiate the prescription of medication.
I think the best course of action would be:
- Get referral from GP to see a psychiatrist who specialises in ADHD
- Then after a waiting period, you'll see the psychiatrist who'll run you through a bunch of tests and questions to determine whether ot not you're likely to have ADHD; this can take 1 or more sessions depending. Be prepared for 2-3.
- Then they can prescribe you medications; best when they have a list of potential meds to try and they send it to your GP to authorise them to handle it so you don't need to keep going to the specialist with $$$
- Book in with a psychologist specialising in ADHD, and can also help to go to an ADHD coach for the process/procedural stuff to help with work and life; psychologist would be more around working through trauma you've built up over the years from having ADHD and beating yourself up about it etc. Also all the grief from not having known all these years, and what your life could have been. This part is tricky because so many psychologists - particularlyt the good ones - are impossible to get into, even a waiting list. That's made harder with ADHD because these sorts of tasks can be harder with that. Just have to push through.
Google diagnosis confirmed!
How? OP already lost interest in replying to this thread :P
PS. A carpenter always thinks a hammer is the solution to a problem ;) (ie go to a "ADHD centre" and you will get the conformation bias you seek)!
So not seeking help is the solution?
Nice non reading comprehension ;)
The solution is a GP, physician or shrink that doesn't have a vested interest in a diagnosis at all …
Yeah my bad. Thought OP was making an appointment with a psychiatrist, not specifically an ADHD centre.
When I was a teen it cost my parents $350 for the initial appointment but took several sessions after until I actually was diagnosed and got my medication. To be honest, its not even worth it. It did helped me study and concentrate but the side effects are horrible, I lost my appetite, had trouble sleeping etc. There are more natural treatments that you can try which might help.
There you go, its in The Conversation today.
https://theconversation.com/i-think-i-have-adhd-how-do-i-get…
Please note the following from that article:
"As ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, evidence of the symptoms in childhood before age 12 is needed. You and your family, and sometimes a partner or close friend, will be asked to complete rating scales for ADHD symptoms, in both childhood and current symptoms as an adult."
That is, they DEFINE ADHD as something you can't get as an adult, that you had to have had as a child, and you have to PROVE that to them.
Have you kept all your primary school report cards?
They will follow this theme:
Kelly is smart but needs to apply herself / her quality of concentration does interfer with her learning which is disappointing / following instructions can prove difficult for Kelly / she should realise that she has the ability to do even better / Kelly needs to give full attention to instructions and to listen more attentively during teaching sessions / Kelly daydreams / Kelly distracts other students / Kelly is easily distracted / Kelly has trouble completing homework.
Ah geez, this looks familiar…
I am in this comment and feel personally attacked!
As someone who has ADHD, this reads exactly like my report cards throughout school.
"Very smart but never applies himself" "Never listens in class" "Doesn't work hard enough" "Needs to focus more" "Great potential but never applies it" - particularly in earlier years I got "Talks to much in class" but then at some point I masked this because i'd always get into trouble for it
Me too to a T, and it's so much worse in adult life when all the consequences are so much greater
Yep - this is all true.
I'm not sure I personally agree with the "evidence of symptoms in childhood before age 12" criteria of the diagnosis, especially for the so-called 'inattentive type' ADHD.
Not to brag (lmao) but I absolutely cruised through primary school and high school by sheer luck of being reasonably clever and very interested in most school topics. I wasn't bouncing off the walls, I wasn't climbing things or yelling, I wasn't (generally) a distraction to my classmates. I didn't really struggle with anything until HSC/early uni days.
… is what it would look like to an outsider. The reality was that I literally did not do a single hour of 'study' until my third year of uni (ie non-homework/assignment stuff), pulled all nighters writing papers at the last minute and somehow got good marks, had crippling anxiety over my inability to concentrate, and way underperformed my true potential (some say I still do…). I would constantly lose and forget things, be late to class/appointments, miss trains and buses, accidentally stay up until 7am because I was 'in the middle of something', and so on.
And guess what? It was pretty much all fine until I got into a job that I gave a crap about. I could give 10% effort and still somehow get praised for my contributions (partly due to low expectations in a few workplaces) and get good reviews etc.
Yada yada yada decided I'd had enough of being passionate about my job and being physically unable to concentrate on it, was probably gonna get sacked shortly. I asked some people some questions and did some online research, everything clicked and I got the ball rolling re psychiatrist+meds. Life changing results.
I personally relate so much with this. The cruising through schools, last minute paper writing, the underperforming comments, always losing stuff missing buses etc
Just out of curiosity, how did the diagnosis help you? I’m currently at a point where the severe lack of focus and motivation is dampen my life, but I have doubt that medication will help.
Yep - it's super hard for people in our situation because it's not obvious what's going on and we're often the ones who don't get a diagnosis until much later when it's causing real problems in life (i.e. work, relationships etc - not getting bad marks in year 8).
Firstly talking through it all with a psychologist helped me by validating my frustrations - we did a few sessions of talk therapy and trying different strategies re time management etc. She agreed that my mental health was basically fine, and that she couldn't help me any further because I had ADHD.
Next step was wait like 8 months to see a psychiatrist. He ran through a bunch of questions, ruled in/out the presence of other things (there is apparently major overlap between ADHD, autism spectrum, schizophrenia, depression and anxiety and treatment is different if you have a combination, or if one of the others is causing your 'ADHD' symptoms) and then sorta said 'yep textbook ADHD' and got me started on meds.
Instant difference with meds. I'm still not 100% happy with the balance and there are definitely side effects that you have to manage but they're not awful or noticeable most of the time. I tried meds on a weekend first, figuring I'd prefer to see what happened whilst at home than at work. I did like, 5 hours of gardening non-stop. Usually I am the type to start mowing the lawn, realise I should have whipper-snipped first, stop mowing, start snipping, noting some low hanging branches I don't like, get out the secateurs, chop a bunch of branches down, remember I was going to clean off some concrete and get the equipmnet out to do that……. leaving fifteen half finished chores in the backyard.
It's similar at work, I'm so much better at doing my job. Happy to chat about any of the process if you need.
@jrowls: that first time on meds was such an eye opening experience.
Anxiety went away, initiating and completing tasks became completely effortless at least in comparison to what it was before. Laser focus like when I hyperfocus but it wasnt from high anxiety 'or else' scenarios.
Since then the effects have tapered off and it's still hard to initiate and switch tasks and stay focused, but it's so much easier with the meds.
SF3 on 13/09/2022 - 23:38 Comment score below threshold.
