Has Your ADHD Diagnosis in Adult Life Helped in Any Way?

gardezee on 15/10/2023 - 22:09

My GP has recommended me to go to a psychologist for a formal ADHD diagnosis. I've read a few things online and it seems like I do fit the bill. However most of the stuff I've read is about early diagnosis and how it helps a child as they are developing.

My question is for anyone here whose actually been diagnosed and taken measures to manage their ADHD in their adult life. Did it help? I don't want to spend $500 dollars if all I'm going to get is a yes and nothing more.

Even without the diagnosis I'm doing fairly well in life but I'm wondering if getting the diagnosis and maybe medication will make things better. Thoughts on this would be highly appreciated.

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Comments

  • duk242 on 15/10/2023 - 22:19
    +4

    Yep!
    I was having issues staying awake/focused at work. I'd get home and not want to chores or work on projects…
    Lots of other projects (ones I want to do) were kind of "Oh, I'll do that when I get motivated to do it" - and motivation happened like a couple times a month at most…

    A friend gave me some of their meds and I realised: "Oh hey, I can do the things that I actually want to do! Even the things that I don't really want to do don't make me fall asleep"

    $500 for the appointment sounds okay - I had a good GP who basically prepared me for the appointment and made sure that it was very likely that I had it, getting the psych to diagnose it was merely a formality.

    • Azrael169 on 16/10/2023 - 01:21
      +3

      that dosnt sound like ADHD at all.

      Funny how legal prescription grade stimulants helped you do things though…

      • Rear CreviceEruption on 16/10/2023 - 09:54
        -4

        Yes, let's all take crystal meth daily to overcome procrastination.

        • TiredKitty78 on 17/10/2023 - 22:01
          +1

          Consider this meme

          I could put you in a room, and tell you to point out which ones were taking 'crystal meth daily'. And you wouldn't be able to.

          Let's pretend someone was taking what you call crystal meth - because we know you don't actually mean it literally - and what do you think happens?

          ….do they…just have an easier time over coming procrastination? Meaning it positively affects their life. And if it does, what's wrong with that? Are you suggesting they should not? That they should not medicate their condition? Why? What, because everyone else has to 'just do it' and so should they? That they also have to 'do it the hard way'. Newsflash: they often aren't doing it the hard way, because they wind up not doing it all. They then waste their lives falling into holes or depression and under employment if not homelessness because….you say they should just overcome procrastination and everything else that tends to be co-morbid because you don't think they should get medication that they need….?

      • gardezee on 16/10/2023 - 10:41
        +3

        Lack of motivation is definitely one of many symptoms for ADHD. This includes task paralysis, being motivated by external stimuli etc etc

      • DJR9000 on 16/10/2023 - 10:45
        +5

        Sorry are you a psych? This is classic adhd symptoms - task paralysis and executive dysfunction

        • Rear CreviceEruption on 16/10/2023 - 12:16
          -1

          On the other hand, low level task paralysis and executive dysfunction (i.e. general laziness and procrastination) are absolutely normal human behaviours. It's important to take a nuanced approach to considering psychological symptoms in terms of degree and type, rather than a black-and-white absolute perspective.

      • duk242 on 16/10/2023 - 16:56
        +1

        It's the inattentive subtype of ADHD.
        I grew up being told I was lazy - I wanted to do things, but I would just procrastinate, lose days to just staring blankly at a screen.
        Part of the process of being diagnosed was talking to my psychologist + my GP (who specialises in ADHD). I wasn't doing it for the drugs - I was doing it for medical clarity.
        I didn't want to be called lazy, I didn't want to be lazy, I want to do things.

        The medication helped me actually start achieving the things that I wanted to achieve.

      • TiredKitty78 on 17/10/2023 - 21:48

        Well thank you for your educated opinion soccer mum who works part time at Aldi and whose friends kid has adhd so you're an expert. I'll take one meds please.

        But fr, that definitely sounds like ADHD from someone who has adhd.
        It's just inattentive adhd, likely in a girl, so people think it's not a boy who can't sit still so well, that's not adhd because well because well.

        Though to cut you some slack, a whole lot of psychs and doctors are terribly uneducated on the range of ways adhd presents itself.

    • gardezee on 16/10/2023 - 11:09

      Thank you.

    • TiredKitty78 on 17/10/2023 - 21:51
      +1

      Even the things that I don't really want to do don't make me fall asleep

      +1 for the 'I thought it was just me' crowd. Literally, my brain would tell me 'we don't have the bandwidth for this and it is boring, we're gonna preserve energy and nap' and like, i was actually tired. Same with those hot hazy afternoons and i'd just want to nap, happens much less now if at all.

  • AustriaBargain on 15/10/2023 - 22:23

    Not really. I got bigger problems than ADHD. Would have been better in childhood. A lot of things could have been better in childhood…

    • gardezee on 16/10/2023 - 11:12

      I hope you're doing better now. And agreed, the more I read into things, a lot of things should be managed during childhood.

  • bargaino on 15/10/2023 - 22:32
    +1

    What is the point of giving money to a psychologist when they cannot offer any help?
    Nor can your GP. You still need to get on a 2-year waiting list to see a psychiatrist. The system is a joke.

    • gardezee on 16/10/2023 - 11:13

      Wow really? Can't I get an eval from a psychiatrist rather than a psychologist?

      • bargaino on 16/10/2023 - 11:27
        +1

        That's the point. Seems to me like you may as well wait for the psychiatrist to evaluate, if the psychologist cannot prescribe.

        The psychologist can evaluate sooner. But I think most people don't really want an evaluation, they want a positive. And the psychologists seem to be in it for the money, so they are heavily incentivised to confirm.

        • gardezee on 16/10/2023 - 11:54

          Okay yeah no I don't want be diagnosed so I can get medicated that sounds horrible.

          Much to think about!

          • bargaino on 16/10/2023 - 12:21

            @gardezee: Many people report that the meds can be very effective. Others say it is over-diagnosed, and given to people who would be better sticking with non-medical treatment.

            You don't need a formal diagnosis for the latter. That, combined with the subjective nature of diagnosis, and somewhat arbitrary boundaries, mean that trying medication is often the main motive for seeking a formal diagnosis.

            • TiredKitty78 on 17/10/2023 - 22:44

              @bargaino: Those people are salty, misinformed (profanity) who think a person with a medical condition getting medication, is like an athlete being allowed to use steroids, and that it'll be unfair to them, who did it the hard way, and worse if the steroid person now achieves anything. It's really weird to be the person that got told you're just lazy, not trying, blah blah, and then i think things get weird if the dynamic changes, and you're not really the designated f'up as much, or that 'me' was actually 'unmedicated me'. Regular Neurotypical people, almost want you - some, anyway - to sit back down and go back to being you. Like, to them, you getting a magic pill that upgrades you closer to their level, but there is no pill they can take to upgrade them….is unfair. It's actually about them, not you.

              • bargaino on 18/10/2023 - 00:26
                +1

                @TiredKitty78: I take what you are saying. But there is evidence that stimulants, including ADHD meds, can help anyone in certain contexts, such as studying for exams. I'm not sure what the proper way to deal with that is.

          • TiredKitty78 on 17/10/2023 - 22:18
            +1

            @gardezee: Do not be afraid to get meds. You - potentially - have a legitimate medical condition. Some people end up crying the first time they try meds because they don't realise just how hard they had been working just to be normal…and possibly failling…

            Seriously, the common bit about people taking some form of upper, only to get no 'up' but just….to somehow feel like a normal human that is not feeling so much dread about the chore that is doing their taxes, should tell you that their is benefit to them. And that there must be some legitimate 'deficit' in the brains that is being filled in.

  • mrdevil on 15/10/2023 - 22:45
    +1

    It depends on how things are for you at the moment… are you on anti-depressants… do these make life bearable but with side-effects… do you have trouble concentrating on tasks or memory issues, or any behavioural quirks that seem a bit odd?

    My sister recently went through this in her mid 30s (slightly younger than me), and ended up paying to see a psychologist privately… and was diagnosed with this, which came as a complete shock, but the diagnosis helped with a lot of things suddenly making sense and falling into place… and given ADHD is likely hereditary, and we share a lot of the same personality "quirks", her diagnosis made a lot of sense in regards to some of the things I've been dealing with, to the point where I'm tempted to just through the hurdles to see if I'm in the same boat.

    To be honest I reckon it'd be worth it - if your GP is recommending it, you would hope there's an underlying reason for it. Worst case scenario, you're tested and it comes back positive - at least you may then have some clarity on things, and can then be eligible for medications which may assist you (which you normally wouldn't be able to access).

    • gardezee on 16/10/2023 - 11:18

      I'm not on antidepressants but I def have memory and task related issues. While it's manageable, I wonder if it can be better with some medication. I'm also very conservative when it comes to taking medication (not sure why) but willing to take the leap to see how it helps.

      Thanks for you sharing. I think I might go in and get an eval

    • TiredKitty78 on 17/10/2023 - 23:03

      and was diagnosed with this, which came as a complete shock, but the diagnosis helped with a lot of things suddenly making sense and falling into place… and given ADHD is likely hereditary, and we share a lot of the same personality "quirks", her diagnosis made a lot of sense in regards to some of the things I've been dealing with

      This is super correct and super common. Let's not forget adhd can be co-morbid with a lot of things, like depression. It's also super common for idk, parents somehow 'mishandling' their kids 'quirks' who wind up later doing their own work to find out they have adhd. Because well, the kid's just like their parents at that age, and their parents are absolutely completely f'ing normal, and the kid also just needs to suck it up and try harder just like they did. They didn't pass on a disorder, they are completely fine, how dare you.

      This is part of why i'm not sure adhd is over-diagnosed now, but that is has been previously under-diagnosed, because everyone just put it down as 'you know how they are', and people just tried and tried and struggled to hold it together, wondering why others seemed to just….do it.

      Medication or not, there is something great about at least eventually being able to admit to yourself and others, it's not me, it's the adhd. I do have it harder then others. Especially since we tend to internalise a lot of 'wtf is wrong with me, why can't i just be normal. Why do i never feel ok. Why do i always feel like an outsider' from an earlier age then you might think, i think. I have an inkling, a hunch, one of my neices is showing early signs of it. It's those little interactions…or reactions. Like an inner child seeing myself in a child, except i forgot i was like that but it does feel familiar. And i'm already feeling a denial vibe from my sister. She might be completely right….but i've had a feeling, a feeling of kinship ever since she was little. And right about her age is when at least my life started getting complicated. It breaks my heart.

      Granted, we are still responsible for our lives and choices.

  • outlander on 15/10/2023 - 23:01

    If you're doing well in life and are satisfied, then why would you need a diagnosis?

    ADHD isn't like a traditional mental sickness like schizophrenia or alzheimers, where not treating it leads to it getting worse and causing harm. Most people only treat ADHD because it's ruining their life.

    Plus it's not just the money. Getting an official diagnosis goes on your medical record, which will affect future career opportunities. I think it's pilots that can't fly if they have ADHD

    • Mokr on 15/10/2023 - 23:20

      Social anxiety is a chain and ball dragging

      • TiredKitty78 on 17/10/2023 - 23:23

        I dropped that ball. I keep meaning to pick it up again. Fook that ball and it's chain.

    • gardezee on 16/10/2023 - 11:19

      Hmmm didn't consider job prospects. Any idea if you're legally required to share your condition for normal jobs? I'm in product management and never been asked before

      • outlander on 16/10/2023 - 11:54
        +4

        It's a possibility. Sometimes on employment forms there will be questions like "Do you have any conditions that will affect your performance in this role?" and that's where it might come into play. Australia and most of the world is in this weird spot, where mental conditions are celebrated publicly and persecuted privately. I think you can get away with not disclosing it, but if something happens later in the job it is ammunition that can be used against you and you could possibly get terminated without notice (not for having adhd, but for not disclosing it)

        Now for your average ADHD sufferer whose life is a mess, this is a minor consideration. You give up the potential of doing some cool like flying fighter jets, in exchange for a decent life where you can actually achieve things without constantly feeling like you want to throw yourself off a bridge. Its a good gamble, because that potential is 99.9% unlikely to ever be used, and unused potential is worth exactly 0.

        But if you have a job that you're keeping up with alright, have decent relationships with people, and your house isn't a mess of half finished projects, then the gamble is different.

        • mskeggs on 16/10/2023 - 13:49
          +5

          I think the comment saying mental health is celebrated publicly, but persecuted in private bears repeating.
          The positive, healthy way to operate society is by encouraging everyone to look after their mental health, destigmatise conditions and provide supportive workplaces, schools, families etc.
          Unfortunately, there is a cohort who are dismissive of mental health - snowflakes, tough it out etc. Sometimes the same people could benefit from improved mental wellbeing themselves.
          Problematically, they are over represented in senior business positions. The result can be a stigma, and less support from those people, and invisible discrimination, which could be limiting and put people with a mental illness at a disadvantage.

          • TiredKitty78 on 17/10/2023 - 23:29
            +1

            @mskeggs:

            I think the comment saying mental health is celebrated publicly, but persecuted in private bears repeating.

            Doubly i think, because even socially, and with family, they might talk the talk about how mental health is important and how they think everyone should get the help they need….but then things change when you find out you have a mental health issue. tldr; I think it scares them on some level, or they think it makes you defective, and being around you could lower their status. Or that they just have no interest in changing or doing anything to help a person fit in, when you become a person who they've always talked about that should get the help and accommodations they need.

    • TiredKitty78 on 17/10/2023 - 23:23

      where not treating it leads to it getting worse and causing harm.
      Most people only treat ADHD because it's ruining their life.

      Same same but different. Especially since getting worse can be repeated failures in life, and harm to your potential, and especially harm to your mental health - which you might call ruining your life.

      If you're doing well in life and are satisfied

      There's the rub, if they where doing well and satisfied, they wouldn't even be considering adhd.
      Plus, a lot of people don't realise there's so much more to adhd then they think, especially in women, like seen here

  • AngoraFish on 16/10/2023 - 02:33
    +1

    A diagnosis basically gives you access to meds. It's not like the condition is 'cureable', but the good thing with ADHD is that you can take meds when you need them, it's not a daily thing - just when you have a deadline and your brain is about to explode.

    Also, it's nice to put a name on a condition. Sure, you've learned coping strategies and have a job that suits the condition, but they're all necessary because your brain works differently than many other people.

    I've had GP referrals, but not done anything with them. In the end it's not like I need anyone else to confirm what I already know. Has this been a good decision? Certainly there's been no upside… or immediate downside… same old same and all that, so perhaps not. The only real saving there is the $500.

    A child has (diagnosed and medicated) ADHD (inheritability is one of the diagnostic criteria) and the diagnosis has certainly had some benefit to them… or at least, less yelling, fewer breakdowns and something to explain to the teachers.

    Basically, I think the main reason why I haven't bothered to get a formal diagnosis is for the same reason you haven't. Life is fine, good even, so why bother?

    I think, however, if I didn't have ADHD, I probably would have followed through with the referrals. If for no other reason than to have it in writing in case I ever do get sacked for failing to finish the last 1% of an urgent project.

    • jjjaar on 16/10/2023 - 07:59
      +1

      Also, it's nice to put a name on a condition.

      It’s nice to know you’re a normal zebra, not a strange horse.

    • gardezee on 16/10/2023 - 11:24

      Personally, I thought the meds would be a daily thing like it's a requirement. Good to know it's not.

      I'm in the same boat you are. Keep thinking why it would be necessary considering I'm doing okay. But I keep wondering how much it'll help you know? Some days are def worse than others and I can never seem to work on myself.

      Especially when it comes to any personal projects or my health.

      • AngoraFish on 16/10/2023 - 12:44

        My high schooler only takes meds in the morning on school days when tests, major assignments or other stressors are likely, and it's been a massive help. They're out of the system in 8 hours or so. They take nothing at all during school holidays.

        I investigated it a lot when I was really struggling at work. I literally couldn't push myself to do some exceptionally trivial and routine things (too simple, I suspect, being the problem - ADHD and all), and I kept expecting to get some blow back from management.

        As it turned out things blew over and work has mostly not been an issue recently, hence it's been easy to procrastinate about not doing anything (also an ADHD trait, lol), but waiting until something goes bad again may not be the best strategy given that there are, as I understand it, significant delays associated with getting an appointment with psychiatrists who specialize in Adult ADHD.

        Right now at work I specialize in a crisis-management style of focused productivity that is a classic ADHD strength and which people appreciate, but I expect this is going to be a month by month thing as the next management change could easily decide to be less flexible, to reallocate tasks, to start micromanaging, or just force me back into the office more often, any of which could go bad very quickly.

    • TiredKitty78 on 17/10/2023 - 23:45
      -3

      A diagnosis basically gives you access to meds.

      Wrong, more then that, it helps you realise it wasn't you that failed, it was the adhd. For you and other people. Those 'quirks' were adhd. And it helps you advocate for yourself more and recognise when some 'quirk' of yours needs to be handled differently.

      you can take meds when you need them, it's not a daily thing - just when you have a deadline and your brain is about to explode

      Wrong, wrong, and wrong. Some meds should be taken daily, and some need to be taken daily because the dose builds up. It is not a magic pill to take at random because things go a lot harder, like it's street meth.

      it's not like I need anyone else to confirm what I already know.

      They say adhd is a tiktok trend, and your comment thus far would make me believe it, because the you're talking, sounds like you decided from tiktok you have adhd, and are giving the wrong advice because you tell yourself you adhd, because tiktok.

      I've had GP referrals

      Have you? Most people would pay the $500 for the peace of mind. Others….might avoid acting on those referrals because they don't want to be told something they don't want to hear.

      Basically, I think the main reason why I haven't bothered to get a formal diagnosis is for the same reason you haven't. Life is fine, good even, so why bother?

      Are you trolling? Are you trolling people with adhd by acting like the person who actually is the 'everyone has a little adhd' by which i mean…you are fine, you don't have adhd. At best, you'd be the person that wants to have it, so they could 'be lazy' and…it's god tier trolling but so messed up.

  • jjjaar on 16/10/2023 - 07:56
    +4

    I personally found my diagnosis life changing. As I said above, it’s nice to know you’re a normal zebra instead of a strange horse.

    Personally though I was struggling. Not so much outwardly, but I couldn’t keep up with my personal/home life. I struggle mostly with task initiation so being able to start tasks like cleaning my house or even cooking dinner were immensely difficult.

    The first day I had medication I had a list of things I wanted to do around the house (as I do most days) and I said if I could do one I’d be happy. I was half way through my second task and I was in shock because I “just did it”. I had never “just” done anything before. I ended up completing the whole list and then some.

    Many ADHDers don’t want meds as they don’t believe there’s anything they need to “fix”, and I agree with this too. I often go weeks without medication. It’s just another tool available to you, but it doesn’t solve all the problems.

    In saying that, I’ve found a lot of other things besides medication to be extremely helpful. Sleeping well, eating well (even though that’s a struggle for me), and exercising are all really useful. There’s also many resources out there - My favourite is a book called How To Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis. This focuses on being kind to yourself and accepting that it’s ok to struggle. There’s a bunch of strategies in there too, many of which I had actually adopted before suspecting I had ADHD.

    I’ve also found some local ADHD Facebook groups helpful, and also talking to friends and family who had also been diagnosed has honestly been the best. It’s that zebra thing: you’re not alone.

    Just a note that a psychologist cannot offer you medication, only help you with strategies and therapies to help. For many people this is more than enough, but if you are keen to explore medication, you will need a separate diagnosis by a psychiatrist.

    • gardezee on 16/10/2023 - 11:32

      Thanks for this. I think in the past few years some methods have really helped in managing things. Like I said above, I didn't know the meds are a choice. Thought they're almost compulsory. Def has helped reach my decision

      • jjjaar on 16/10/2023 - 12:15

        That sucks you thought they were compulsory - this is the danger of the stigma surrounding the condition. They’re definitely a choice.

        Just another tool in the belt, that’s all. One day the tool may be a good fit for your task, another day it might not be. You may use it daily or once a year, if that. It’s all up to you.

  • shaybisc on 16/10/2023 - 08:14
    +1

    Leading US psychiatrist Dr Allen Frances warned of the increasing dangers of over-medicalisation and overdiagnosis

    https://australia.cochrane.org/news/leading-us-psychiatrist-…

    • jjjaar on 16/10/2023 - 08:54
      +2

      What a load of crap.

      ‘You wouldn't go and buy your house after a 10 minute evaluation,’ says Dr Frances.

      Actually, yes. Many people literally do, so this is a stupid thing to say anyway.

      ‘People should be as careful about accepting or giving diagnoses and as careful about considering medication as they would be for a major life decision.'

      Absolutely agree, but this isn’t a door to door salesman who has decided to sell you a problem to sell you a solution. For many people they suspect they have ADHD for months, if not years before they even seek a diagnosis, which will also take months or years of waiting to see someone. If you didn’t legitimately think you had ADHD, you would not bother with this process. You’ll also spend this waiting time researching ADHD even more and reflecting on your life and how it’s impacted you.

      So it’s not just a 10 minute conversation that someone else has started with you, it’s years of self reflection that has brought you to this point.

      overdiagnosis

      There’s not an over diagnosis. More and more people are being diagnosed now as a result of significant under diagnosis previously. It’s estimated that 75% of people with the condition are not diagnosed.

      Boys and men are much more likely to be diagnosed, especially as children, because the key ADHD symptoms to trigger a diagnosis is based on how boys experience it.

      Diagnosis of girls and women has slipped through the cracks, with many girls and women forced to mask and cover up or misdiagnosed with anxiety and/or depression and ironically medicated for these without objection by society.

      It’s not until later in life that they realise their struggles. For those that were misdiagnosed, once they learn of their ADHD and treat that, with or without medication, their anxiety/depression symptoms reduce substantially.

      (There are also many boys and men who are under diagnosed or are misdiagnosed too, not trying to downplay how much this happens as well)

      over-medicalisation

      And there’s no over medication. Many people trial multiple types of medication in their first year after diagnosis to find the right one. It takes ages, but many people are prescribed 1-4 different drugs and then the dose within that drug is modified to find the right dose. But no one stays on all of these, you find one drug/dose that works and stick to that.

      So sure the stats will show multiple prescriptions for one person, which makes it look like it’s over medicated, but if you only go on the long term prescription, it’s not.

      In fact, it’s extremely hard to get. When you’re trialling, you literally only get enough until your next review with your doctor.

      Once you’ve settled on your dose, your doctor will determine how long your script will last. I’ve been prescribed a 1 a day tablet and I get 6 exactly months supply and 6 months validity in my script. If your script expires, tough. You forgo anything left. But also you can’t fill your script too early. You basically have to go and collect each month’s within a 3 day window. I’ve never filled all 6 on mine as once you miss that 3 day window, it’s all out of whack. In fact I think I’ve only ever filled 4…

    • AngoraFish on 16/10/2023 - 10:35
      +2

      Dropping terms like over-medicalisation and overdiagnosis into a conversation about mental illness is not helpful.

      Mental illness is actual illness, and 'overdiagnosis' is not the same as 'not a thing'.

      Dr Allen Frances has no direct experience with the Australian context, and in any case his views are far more nuanced than suggested by the click bait headlines.

      There are numerous issues associated with the dysfunctional US health system that do not apply here, including advertising of medication directly to patients and limited oversight of prescribing.

    • gardezee on 16/10/2023 - 11:37

      Oh yeah. I totally agree. I kinda have this belief since forever (to an unhealthy amount tbh like I don't even take meds for a headache most of the time)

      That's why I was cautious of actually getting medication for this. But it seems like it's a choice of taking it and not something that's mandatory once you're diagnosed.

      • AngoraFish on 16/10/2023 - 12:58

        ADHD medication has been the subject of an extremely successful anti-psychiatry campaign by the Church of Scientology going back decades. See this article from 1990, for example https://www.latimes.com/local/la-scientology062990a-story.ht…

        As a result there's a huge amount of fear and misinformation out there on the topic, much of it well intentioned. I mean, who doesn't want to believe that the problem isn't kids with a mental health issue at all, it's actually bad or overly permissive parenting, nature deficit disorder and too much time on electronic devices.

  • Rear CreviceEruption on 16/10/2023 - 08:46
    +1

    Nothing could be worse than being diagnosed incorrectly and assuming you are massively different from other people and require medication for the rest of your life.

    ADHD medication is amphetamine (a drug that is chemically identical to speed, or ice) while some alternative more recent ADHD drugs are very similar to amphetamine (in terms of effects and side-effects). ADHD medication is addictive, even if you read online that it isn't. All drugs are addictive in some way. If you need the medication, then that's fine, but if you don't need it, the medication may change some of your symptoms, but it will give you new symptoms, some of which could possibly ruin your life.

    I have witnessed a close friend change from a relatively normal person before ADHD diagnosis, to a drug-addicted, paranoid person whose life is effectively ruined after ADHD diagnosis. Meanwhile they are absolutely convinced they need this medication, even while they have completely isolated themselves, lost all their friends, etc., and display all the symptoms of a speed addict.

    The problem with incorrect diagnosis of some psychological disorders is that the symptoms upon which diagnosis is based are relatively common traits to all humans to some extent. All psychological symptoms and disorders are essentially a scale or spectrum, and we all fit somewhere along that scale/spectrum, from very low to very high. If you are not aware of this, you could see mild symptoms of ADHD in yourself, and automatically assume you need diagnosis. In fact, when I read the symptoms of ADHD, they very closely aligned with some of my behavioural tendencies. But I'm knowledgeable enough to know that these traits describe common human behaviour, and I am functioning well in life, and am reasonably happy. Why would I need to assume I'm different from the rest of the population and need to receive an extremely serious drug for the rest of my life? The same goes for several other disorders.

    Similarly, if you're not up-to-date on the science of personality types, you could read those nonsense Myers–Briggs personality types on social media and miscategorise yourself as belonging to a non-existent personality type, while being unaware than every human on the planet can fit several or all of those types depending on how you describe them.

    If you see mild symptoms of ADHD affecting your life but you are still relatively happy and functioning fairly well in society, perhaps you could see a psychologist and try psychological techniques or just read a well-received book and try common, proven techniques to address those symptoms, such as those proven to help with attention or procrastination. It would be far better than becoming a speed addict.

    • fantombloo on 16/10/2023 - 10:17
      +3

      I have witnessed a close friend change from a relatively normal person before ADHD diagnosis, to a drug-addicted, paranoid person whose life is effectively ruined after ADHD diagnosis.

      If that is true then the psych is not doing their job properly or the patient is not forthcoming and therefore inhibiting the psych from doing their job properly. Like any medical treatment this requires proper ongoing observation and possible adjustments. Like any medical practitioners some psychs will be dunces.

      Be honest with your medical practitioner - they can't help if they don't have good information to work on. Also be aware that your doc ain't a god too and can get things wrong - push back gently if you need to, or get another opinion.

      • Rear CreviceEruption on 16/10/2023 - 10:25
        +1

        My friend does not believe he has a problem with the medication. He believes he is fine, and blames all the problems in his life on other people, which has resulted in him losing support from all his friends and family. I can only suspect that years of medication (amphetamines) has affected his judgement/ability to reason.

        • fantombloo on 16/10/2023 - 10:41
          +3

          Dexamphetamine is known to commonly increase clarity of thought but also can increase irritability. As I already said

          If that is true then the psych is not doing their job properly or the patient is not forthcoming and therefore inhibiting the psych from doing their job properly.

          It's not (usually) a "pop a pill and everything will be bettter" situation.

          In any event there should be no addictions formed to amphetamines at the doses properly prescribed by psychs.

    • gardezee on 16/10/2023 - 11:49

      Thanks for the insight. It's def one of my concerns. I def have addiction tendency so I'm aware of my 'tipping off' point but it's a very slippery slope

      • jjjaar on 16/10/2023 - 12:09
        +1

        Addiction is a very common ADHD symptom. A lot of people also knowingly or unknowingly self medicate, with coffee being the most common example, but this is accepted in society so often overlooked.

        Many people with ADHD that suffer addiction tend to see an improvement in their addictions once they’re able to manage their ADHD.

    • TiredKitty78 on 18/10/2023 - 00:10
      +2

      ADHD medication is amphetamine (a drug that is chemically identical to speed, or ice)

      So. You think psychs are prescribing literal speed? Or maybe Meth? Literally. Literally what you get off the street? I bet you're considering now that well, maybe not exactly…..
      Exactly. There's a bunch of shit that's different, but you just presented a lie as fact, because you are pretending to know what you are talking about.

      You're also saying what? It's just the 'some version of meth'. That's the only medication. You can't even name these 'meth' medications, because someone told you sometime 'it's meth'.
      Wrong. There are meds that are not amphetamines.

      ADHD medication is addictive

      Oh that's why so many people with ADHD report forgetting to take their meds, or that they aren't actually sure if it's doing anything so maybe they shouldn't take it, or try something else.

      I have witnessed a close friend change from a relatively normal person before ADHD diagnosis

      Maybe you're a fool in denial, that they might just have been a drug addict telling people they have adhd so they could get drugs, or explain why they have drugs they shouldn't. And why they actually truthfully had a 'bad reaction' - because they didn't have adhd, and they didn't need it. Lot's of people take adhd 'amphetamine' meds - uppers - for fun, and discover it….did nothing but help them do the dishes, and file their taxes. Then they figure out they have adhd. Not to mention, your friend may have just hit the 25+ mark where serious mental health issues like schizophrenia can come out of nowhere.

      I am functioning well in life, and am reasonably happy. Why would I need to assume I'm different from the rest of the population

      "I'm doing great, but the adhd checklist includes some things that i do sometimes, so i really think it's dangerous for people to just go and randomly decide they might have adhd, and i don't know why any one would consider it, when they, like myself, are fine"

      This stance is a great example of people not being able to conceive that the world around them is not made up of people like them. That the eyes and experiences through which they view the world, are the correct one. And give their advice accordingly. They also say it's a sign of low intelligence.

      As for the rest, i think you just asked chatGPT to write a comment from the perspective of the most 'everyone has a little adhd' person ever.

      • Rear CreviceEruption on 25/10/2023 - 10:09

        ADHD medication is amphetamine (a drug that is chemically identical to speed, or ice)
        So. You think psychs are prescribing literal speed? Or maybe Meth? Literally. Literally what you get off the street? I bet you're considering now that well, maybe not exactly…..
        Exactly. There's a bunch of shit that's different, but you just presented a lie as fact, because you are pretending to know what you are talking about.
        You're also saying what? It's just the 'some version of meth'. That's the only medication. You can't even name these 'meth' medications, because someone told you sometime 'it's meth'.
        Wrong. There are meds that are not amphetamines.

        It sounds like you have little-to-no knowledge of chemistry. The most common ADHD medication is amphetamine. And yes, it is the same chemical as speed or ice. The dosage amount may be lower than a typical speed or ice dose though.

  • shaybisc on 16/10/2023 - 09:09
    -2

    In the early 1980s, the autism rate was 5.5 per 100,000. between 1995, one year after the DSM-4 was published, and 1997, the rate shot up to 44.9 per 100,000.

    By 2007, one in 150 children were diagnosed with the condition. Today, according to a recent CDC report, 1 in 36 children have autism.

    • DJR9000 on 16/10/2023 - 10:48
      +3

      Uh huh. Rainman was also released in that time period which put a huge amount of awareness out there on the condition. But we are talking about ADD not autism spectrum disorder

    • gardezee on 16/10/2023 - 11:50
      +2

      Isn't that also because of its awareness?

      • GordonD on 16/10/2023 - 12:32
        -1

        Once governments and educational authorities started offering benefits to those diagnosed, everyone wanted in. If you couldn't control your child, get a diagnosis of this or that and you get help, or at least an excuse. If you're a school get diagnoses from a co-operative psychologist and your kids can get assistance at exam time to help them up their exam scores. Certain communities that have their own schools have so many diagnosed, by psychologists that are part of the same community, that its hard not to conclude its an organised scam.

  • GordonD on 16/10/2023 - 09:59

    To help with job-seeking, I tried to get a middle-aged diagnosis of what was then called Aspergers, and is now lumped in with Autism.

    It was like beating your head against a bureaucratic brick wall. There was a questionnaire that HAD to be filled in to get an appointment for a consultation for diagnosis. On the top of the page it said "this questionnaire must be filled in by a parent/teacher/carer". It was totally focused on behaviour. The whole thing was focused not on help for the person, but on help for the people looking after him to cope with his "behavioural problems".

    It didn't matter that in a questionnaire published by a British Aspergers organisation that if you scored more than 32/50 there was a scientifically proven likelihood you'd be diagnosed as having it, and I scored 48. The officially sanctioned expert in my state had created her own unvalidated questionnaire based on her idea of the condition, and if you didn't go through her, you didn't get an official diagnosis.

    • gardezee on 16/10/2023 - 11:51

      Reading through comments here it feels like the person that diagnoses you is very very important.

  • shaybisc on 16/10/2023 - 10:34

    1 in 100 people in America are psychopaths.

    • gardezee on 16/10/2023 - 11:52

      Haha I'm kinda afraid of being picked out as one in the diagnosis tbh

    • GordonD on 16/10/2023 - 15:45

      Yes but there's 2 sorts of people that score high on the psychopath scale.

      There's the ones whose life results in them becoming criminals. They are very dangerous violent criminals.

      Then there's the ones whose life results in the becoming businessmen, politicians or professionals. And they are often very successful.

      Exactly the same quality that defines them as psychopaths, not caring about the consequences of their actions to other people, make them effective in both "careers".

      How could you be the President of the US without being a psychopath who can order people killed and countries invaded? How could any country with a nuclear deterrent defence have as its leader someone whose conscience might stop them pressing the button to fire them. Always remember Madelaine Allbright who was US Secretary of State in the leadup to the Iraq invasion who when someone pointed out that the sanction had killed 600,000 children, replied that "it was worth it to overthrow Saddam". How could a sane person think that? The current most obvious psychopath in the US administration is a woman by the name of Victoria Nuland, who is the Acting Assistant US Secretary of State. She started the Ukraine war to get rid of Putin.

      Even here in Australia, how could you be the head of the Reserve bank and make the right decisions about interest rates if you had a conscience about what the effect would be on millions of people.

  • DJR9000 on 16/10/2023 - 10:48

    Seems like a large part of these responses are probably unhelpful. OP i would suggest seeking out a support group and have a chat to your psych and GP about long-term success - there's plenty of studies out there.

    Here's also a good resource about strategies (yes he does talk medication but the rest of the strategies are standalone) about ADD's effect on executive function https://youtu.be/_tpB-B8BXk0 - lots of other talks - he talks fast and digestible enough to keep people's attention!

    • gardezee on 16/10/2023 - 11:53

      On the contrary, the replies were very helpful for me to understand different perspectives on ADHD.

      Considering my own experience, I 100% believe that it can be managed without medication.

      Thank you for sending the link, I'll check it out.

      • fantombloo on 16/10/2023 - 12:52
        +3

        All good, you do what you need to do for yourself, but please don't let the stigma surrounding ADHD meds alter your course of action. The stigma is bullsh1t and it's harmful.

        • TiredKitty78 on 18/10/2023 - 00:15

          Yes. And keep in mind, plenty of professionals actually don't know shit about ADHD, and might even give you misinformation, or information based on their own biases because some of them don't even believe adhd exists.

          So where possible, seek out a psych that specifically has an 'interest in' or specialises in ADHD.

  • jugsy on 16/10/2023 - 12:01

    I think it boils down to, do you want to try the medication or not? Even diagnosed, you're not required to disclose it to employers etc.

  • mantra on 16/10/2023 - 13:27
    +1

    not sure if i can input because amount severity of chronic health issues and various other dx that influence my presentation

    spent 9 months on dex was amazing but found i prefered not being able to focus, felt like i lost a part of myself

    for some reason past 5 years my body rejects most food medication so cannot take them now but anyone has a conversation with me if i dont have high linear stress adrealine keeping me focused i literally switch between 5+ different topics (relatable by association) every several minutes of discussion then somehow route my way back to some the loose ends and go back and forth all the time, too hard for anyone to keep up, dont think they know what to do with me

  • Starayo on 16/10/2023 - 13:49
    +2

    I was diagnosed at 21, right before I went into uni as a mature age student. I had ADHD-I - primarily inattentive type - and it slipped under the radar because I did well in school right up until year 11, because I am excellent at working on things given context. Scored first in my year in history class because I actually read the exam and used information from all the sources it said! Failed the next ones which didn't provide readings and relied on rote memorization.

    I was generally a sickly child, had a ton of health problems growing up. Meant one of the few things I was reliably able to do for entertainment was reading, and I was an avid reader, but the first thing I noticed something was up was when I noticed just how often I would read a page, look back up, and realise I didn't remember any of it. A few years after that I was reading someone's experience with ADD on reddit and realised how many parallels there were, so I got my GP to refer me to appropriate resources, and after a bunch of tests over a half a year or so I had my diagnosis.

    The medication, for me, is like night and day. Frankly, I barely function without it. I recall I was working with my father, helping him digitise some records, during a period where I had stopped taking the medication. After finding some of my old (but not expired) medication, ritalin at the time, I tried taking it again and got literally five to six times the work done. Went straight back to my psych for a new prescription, and have bounced around a few different meds since then before settling on my current one, which has the best balance between efficacy and side effects of the ones I've tried. The medication does not get me high. Maybe if I took enough of it, but there are plenty of unpleasant side effects too? Abusing ADD meds sounds wholly unpleasant to me. It's not a magic pill that makes you feel good, it's a pill that makes me able to function almost normally, and kills my appetite so I have to set alarms to remember to eat. And raises my heart rate. That's all.

    I wish I could have been diagnosed earlier, as I probably wouldn't have run into so many difficulties. If the timing of my higher education had been earlier, I would have done a lot better. There are definitely strategies to manage it if you have a lesser case without medication. I've tried them, they're impossible for me. Executive brain disfunction leads to so many downstream issues if it's bad enough. I have to basically externalise my memory and time management, thankfully smartphones and smart watches provide plenty of ways to keep me on track.

    I see you were linked to Dr. Russell Barkley - his videos are extremely informative and even manage to hold MY attention. You can't go wrong with him. I believe he also has a book - "taking charge of adult ADHD" - that you might find helpful.

    So yeah, to actually answer the question - yes, it has been extremely helpful. Life, and especially study, is still a struggle, but it was impossible before - a struggle is doable.

  • bobbified on 16/10/2023 - 19:28
    -2

    I'm not doctor, but I do often wonder if certain conditions are over-diagnosed, just for the purposes of getting more and more funding.

    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/adhd-scripts-and-…

    • Starayo on 17/10/2023 - 12:18
      +1

      ADHD is actually vastly underdiagnosed. Fewer than 20% of adults with ADHD are properly diagnosed.

      • bobbified on 17/10/2023 - 12:28
        +1

        Fewer than 20% of adults with ADHD are properly diagnosed.(ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

        If ADHD is so prevalent, the question that needs to be asked is, have we got "normal" wrong? Should everyone be on medication because they don't fit into the a certain behavioural criteria that seems to be quite subjective?

        There's going to be stacks of "research" that says it's underdiagnosed and stacks that say it's overdiagnosed.

        I'm not saying that ADHD is one, but it's not exactly uncommon for particular interest groups to intentionally exaggerate stats for the purposes of more funding.

        • AngoraFish on 17/10/2023 - 20:20
          +2

          Your first comment is both correct and irrelevant. One of the defining characteristics of mental illness is that it has to negatively effect your life in some way.

          In past centuries people with schizophrenia might have been celebrated as shamen or prophets, and people with ADHD-like characteristics would have been highly valued members of hunter gatherer societies, as indeed they can be extremely valuable employees today for the right employer.

          Unfortunately, most people with ADHD don't currently live in a world where the condition is widely seen as an advantage, or where typical work environments are structured in a way that suits how their brain works.

          Until more or us live in that future fantasy world of acceptance, all we're left with is offering people a bit of extra help fitting into the world we actually live in.

        • TiredKitty78 on 18/10/2023 - 00:20

          have we got "normal" wrong?

          There is actually thought behind this. That we went from, hunter gatherers that would go hunt, do what was necessary, then, not do much to preserve energy. Perhaps, because nothing needed doing, and life was boring?

          Some believe that we are seeing all the psychological issues because we have strayed so far from the bare essential living, as we foster cultures that tell as to always be going, striving, using resources, buying stuff stuff to be happy.

  • AlienC on 16/10/2023 - 21:06

    Honestly as dumb as this sounds I feel like the saying "if I buy my child nice presents will they love me?" type question kind of is relative here.

    Honestly I feel like it could help you if you let it help you. It might be the small motivation or change you need to do what you want to do or just do it better less worse.

    • bobbified on 17/10/2023 - 13:40
      +2

      What?

    • TiredKitty78 on 18/10/2023 - 00:25

      "if I buy my child nice presents will they love me?"

      Could you expand on this more? I've never heard of it.

      You talk about motivation, like a diagnosis might motivate them. But that's not it. Maybe they need therapy and help planning, but typically, people need medication. Because having adhd is like going through life with one arm tied behind your back, or dragging a ball and change. And you don't realise it. So you don't realise you have a problem, and that's why it seems easy for everyone else, but not for you. You're right though, it might not remove the problem, but even if it fixes it a bit, that's great.

  • Levathian on 13/11/2023 - 12:18
    +2

    Hijacking a month old thread to say I’ve been to a psychiatrist twice and I’ve found the whole experience kinda strange. My psychologist said I probably have ADD and told me to go to my GP and get a referral to a psychiatry place, which I did. So (after a lot of second guessing myself is the fees are worth it) I booked an appointment and got given a first slot in under 2 months. Paid my $100 deposit.

    First appointment, Pay another $500 upfront. Wait 45min see psyc. He looks at referral, spends 10mins discussing my issues, prints off a bunch of blood test forms (so he can prescribe stimulants) and almost tries to shoo me out the door without discussing anything much at all. I almost had to force him to discuss my issues, it felt like he was too busy and wanted to catch up on time.

    I think that appointment probably went for 25minish total. At reception I had to book another appointment, and again another $100 deposit required. I get the job-stimulant drug he prescribed me from a chemist and get the bloods done.

    Second time a month later I go back for 2nd appt. This time it’s only $150 upfront. Psyc is only 10min behind. I go in, he asks how drug 1 went, goes over blood results, asks if drug 1 did much, I say not really (but it did help with insomnia), so says he’ll send an e-prescription to a stimulant, and tries to end the consult after 5mins. I say well can we discuss xyz issue I have, what is this drug and will it help?? So he does and emails a few more forms for me to fill out. Appointment ends 10mins later. Have to make another appointment in 3 months. Again another $100 fee.

    Is this normal for psychiatry? They haven’t done any tests or checked symptoms, he just glanced the results of some clicker test I did with the psychologist and went off that. I feel as if these doctors want to rush people through so they can make as much money as possible without taking the time to see if what they are prescribing actually suits the patient. Thank heavens for the Medicare rebates.

    I’ve so far paid $950, got $427 back from Medicare (still waiting for rebate for 2nd appt) and only had <40min total consultation time with the psyc. The Medicare schedule for appt 1 actually says it’s supposed to be over 45min. I’m kinda wondering if I can stop going, stop taking any drugs and just live my life as I was (chaotic and disorganised) than pay thousands of dollars to doctors just to have random scripts shoved at me so they can get the next mug in.

    • gardezee on 13/11/2023 - 13:20

      Thanks for sharing this experience. This has been my exact fear of going to a doc. I don't want to be just another person they can drug up and ask questions later. Good luck to you!

      • Levathian on 13/11/2023 - 13:43

        Who knows maybe other psycs are better. This one does get good reviews on google maps. When I talk he does listen and provide suggestions but idk the whole experience feels like they’re trying to get people in and out asap.

    • Toph Beifong on 19/11/2023 - 23:05
      +1

      Very much the same experience that I had 1 year ago with a psychiatrist. A public hospital registrar told me that it is very common practice these days for private psychiatrists to "diagnose" people with ADHD and proceed to prescribe them with the minimum dose of 5 or 10mg to keep them coming back. Unfortunately the system has become a bit of a farce

      • Levathian on 19/11/2023 - 23:43

        Yep. I finally got the rebate for appt 2. Medicare only covered half of it so I’m out $123. Item code says “An Attendance of more than 30 mins but not more than 45 mins” dude the appt didn’t even go for 20min.

  • Odin on 18/11/2023 - 22:21

    Have a few friends who have been diagnosed recently as adults. Honestly don't get it.

    It feels like today literally everyone could be diagnosed with ADHD or autism.

    • Levathian on 20/11/2023 - 05:19

      In the case of autism- NDIS funding is probably why.

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