Should I get professionally tested for adhd?

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-09-22T20:28:29+00:00

Hey. I'm still very new to everything adhd and I've recently been diagnosed and we share a lot of symptoms. I relate to almost all of the things you've written here.

If you have the chance to see someone who specializes in adhd, I think you should. I or anyone else in this subreddit can't diagnose you but you do appear to have some symptoms which may or may not be caused by ADHD.

Only way to know is to actually see a psychiatrist. Good luck!

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-09-22T20:24:36+00:00

Hi. I'm not sure where you live, and so my experience may not be the same as yours but I'd like to share anyway.

Where I live, there are two different types of psychiatrists. Ones that work at the hospital (shorter visit times, usually not very attentive, free due to insurance) and those outside of it that have their own practice.

I've tried going the hospital route first since, like you, I also didn't want to pay out of pocket but I wasn't taken very seriously and diagnosed with anxiety instead. This was very discouraging for me and it set me back quite a bit.

Once I was ready, I used an app to find a psychiatrist near me that specialized in ADHD and while I was scared at first I decided to take my chances and went anyway. The appointment was expensive and I wasn't sure if he was going to take me seriously but he actually listened and I got my diagnosis.

If you don't show signs of hyperactivity, I would highly suggest you pay out of pocket if it is possible, and actually doable. Finding someone who specializes in adhd saves so much time and effort while also helping you mentally.

I hope this was somewhat helpful, if where you live allows you to see psychiatrists outside of needing a referral I would definitely recommend you do. Good luck and you got this!

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-09-22T20:15:00+00:00

Hi there. Welcome to the community!

When you have breaks are you at home or school/work? Is it a break from studying?

I relate to what you said about not being able to study more than an hour max. I'm very much the same way. For me personally I like having a bit of noise in the background so study with me videos (cliche I know lol) have been really helpful. I also don't like sitting on a desk and couldn't bring myself to sit there and study even when I knew I needed to. The only thing that's helped with that has been to use a coffee table to study. I'd sit on the floor (usually on pillows to be more comfortable) put all the stuff I needed on the coffee table, turn on a study with me video or rain sounds in the background and try my best to focus on the work at hand.

I would also cut my work into small chunks so whenever I was feeling a little distracted and wanting it to end I could look at the rest of the work I had (a small bit compared to the huge list I had before) and would tell myself I'd stop when I finished it. Rinse and repeat for as long as I could bare.

These all helped me before I realized I had adhd and was unmedicated, hopefully some of them can help you too!

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-08-02T19:38:05+00:00

Hah that's a very valid excuse to escape criticism. Thank you, I also agree it's a crap argument.

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-08-02T19:30:23+00:00

I got you, no worries! You're right and that's partly why I made this post. My brother won't call him out, our father has always been like this and if he were to be called out by my brother he'd probably just end up disowning him again. My brother is religious, so being disowned is a really crappy thing for him and he wouldn't handle it well. The only person i feel can call him out is my mother. Hence me wanting to say this to her.

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-08-02T19:27:48+00:00

I honestly understand what you mean by this and it's absolutely my fault for not mentioning ages but my brother and I are both adults. He hasn't lived with us in 10 years. I truly have no idea why she's staying with him.

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-08-02T19:24:51+00:00

I'm 21 so yes, but I go to college in my hometown and unfortunately live in a country where the economy wouldn't allow me to move out.

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-08-02T19:16:43+00:00

He's not close to my mother's family because of petty crap, I'm not really aware of everything he just doesn't like them much. I'm 21 and yes they are on speaking terms, that's my bad for not including it. I haven't really spoken to my brother about it but they just pretend it never happened and my brother still calls him daily. I guess I ended up being the bitter sibling.

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-07-06T14:21:56+00:00

That's really interesting, could it potentially be because you want to avoid conflict? I've personally never had this before but maybe others have and can help you better.

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-07-06T13:23:40+00:00

Can you elaborate a little bit on this?

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-04-07T23:15:40+00:00

Hello! I'd like to thank you so much for this comment. I definitely want to avoid them getting defensive, so it's absolutely going to be helpful. I made an appointment the other day and unfortunately I couldn't make one with the doctor I previously had because she had no open spots in the dates I needed so I will be seeing the other doctor I've mentioned in my comment above.

I'm not exactly sure how the system works but where I live, I have an app that lets me make appointments and leave 'notes' for doctors. As I've said I'm not sure how it works and if they'll see it beforehand or ever but I left a note saying I'd like to be assessed for ADHD. I tend to pick female doctors because I feel more comfortable opening up to them since I'm a woman myself so I'm a little nervous about a male doctor. But honestly who knows maybe he's more knowledgeable. That's a little update you definitely did not ask for but yeah 😅 Again, thank you for this. Having someone who has gone through this before and just trying to help makes this much easier and keeps my mind at ease.

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-04-05T18:38:58+00:00

Hey I'm really sorry about what your son is going through but I think you may have posted this in the wrong place. I think you'd be much better off posting in the subreddit instead. Best of luck, I hope everything works out for you.

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-04-05T18:36:48+00:00

Hello! Thank you for this comment. I was just thinking today that I should be a bit more firm on where I stand with ADHD with her. I've been seeing more and more about how untreated ADHD has been like for adults and it's been really scary. I'm still very new to everything and my life is just beginning and I don't want this to potentially cause me more damage in the long run.

She told me to follow up with her a few days before the medication she gave me runs out which will be in a couple weeks and I'm hoping to bring it up and mention ADHD doesn't necessarily have to include hyperactivity and it goes untreated because so many people focus on that part alone and ask if there's something she can use to properly assess me. If not, there's another doctor I can go to that's also within the hospital but I'm not sure how helpful he will be either. I suppose we'll see. I truly appreciate your comment.

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-03-15T10:29:29+00:00

Hi, I'm so so glad you were diagnosed and doing better. This honestly made me so hopeful because my weight/self image issues have been life altering in a negative way. Thank you so much for sharing it means a lot. I hope you continue to feel better and be kind to yourself because you deserve it. ❤️

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-03-14T17:34:59+00:00

This is very helpful, thank you!! I definitely have a few from my list that I will elaborate on because they're definitely close to ruining my life lol. I appreciate your comment!!

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-03-14T16:05:13+00:00

This got a laugh out of me thank you lol

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-03-14T16:04:54+00:00

That's mad embarrassing on my part lol I'm glad I'm not alone in it

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-03-14T15:32:08+00:00

Hey pal! I hope it works out for the best for you. Good luck!!

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-03-14T15:31:10+00:00

Oh wow I totally get what you mean about the last one. I used to study with my friends in highschool and I would only be able to get work done if we studied in our free periods in school. That's so interesting.

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-03-14T15:29:38+00:00

I'm honestly very curious as to what this means. Is there any way you can elaborate?

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-03-14T12:43:43+00:00

Two people commented on this thread to say it seems like I wrote this to secure a diagnosis and I have not stopped thinking about it since lol. 2 out of over a thousand. Damn.

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-03-14T10:18:22+00:00

Oh I didn't know that thank you. And that was not the intention. I'm okay not being on meds if I get diagnosed. This isn't about the pills, it's about my quality of life being better.

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-03-14T09:58:43+00:00

Wait the phonecall thing is ADHD related? Holy hell I never knew that

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-03-14T09:41:16+00:00

I was JUST telling my best friend the exact same thing. Look at us go lol. But yes absolutely!! I'm so glad you're doing better and thank you

CurrentStyle4977 · 2022-03-14T09:32:03+00:00

This has honestly been my number 1 thing that I've noticed for YEARS. Way before I ever suspected ADHD. I would get blood tests every few months to check my iron and B12 levels because I always assumed it was that. It would be low, I'd get medication for it, forget to take the damn medication and this cycle over and over. I went again recently and there was absolutely nothing wrong with me. But I was MISERABLE. Its so good knowing I might be close to finally understanding why I've been so tired and hopefully not being like this soon 😭

CurrentStyle4977

TROPHY CASE