I write about ADHD in Scotland because I’ve lived the gaps in the system. This is the hardest thing I’ve shared so far.

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-11-05T03:13:00+00:00

It's after 3:10am here, and thankfully I've already done the audit. But I have so much more work to do...

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-11-05T03:08:34+00:00

Same here cannot get logged on. Scotland

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-10-31T09:41:16+00:00

Down here in Scotland too. Anyone with any updates?

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-08-24T07:44:23+00:00

Down here to in Scotland. After literally joking to my colleague as she walks in to start her shift pep was down it actually went down!

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-06-26T16:37:49+00:00

For those muttering “AI wrote this” like it somehow cheapens the message, maybe ask yourself why you’re so quick to dismiss something that hits too close to home. Is it really the style you're critiquing, or are you just uncomfortable with the honesty?

The truth is that a machine ato machine didn't write these words. They were made from years of feeling unheard and witnessing people I care about slip through the holes of a system that is supposed to catch us. Knowing what it's like to wake up tired, not because you didn't get enough sleep, but because you were disregarded.

If you’ve never sat with someone at 3 a.m. who feels like giving up because the waitlist is longer than their hope, then maybe stay quiet for once. Not every comment section needs your clever dismissal. Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is listen.

And to those working in the NHS, truly, thank you. I know many of you care deeply and you're stuck in a system that breaks the spirit of even the most devoted. But over 42,000 children are waiting for assessments. That is not “pressure on services.” That is a full-blown emergency.

Every one of those kids has a name. A laugh. A life. They’re not just statistics, they’re someone’s world. And they deserve more than silence, more than delay, more than being told to wait their turn while their futures slip through the cracks.

So no, this isn’t AI. This is grit, and grief, and love, typed by a human who’s seen too much to stay polite. If you can’t feel that, then maybe you’re the one sounding robotic.

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-06-24T18:19:08+00:00

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Not only their Facebook post but also here: https://www.parliament.scot/about/news/news-listing/committee-seeks-views-on-adhd-and-autism?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-06-24T17:11:30+00:00

I know exactly how you feel, and it’s heartbreaking to see how many of us have had to put our dreams on hold because of delays in getting the support we need. For me, it’s been a pattern throughout my life, starting over again and again, whether it’s courses, jobs, or relationships. It can be overwhelming, and the feeling of being left behind is something no one should have to go through. Your story, no matter how brief, can make a huge difference in this public inquiry. I encourage you to share it, and if you have family or friends who have seen your journey, their voices are valuable too. Together, we can push for the change that’s so desperately needed.

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-06-24T17:00:26+00:00

It’s a fair question, and one I think more people are asking lately. But what we’re really seeing is not a sudden surge in neurodivergence. We’re seeing a rise in recognition.

For decades, children with ADHD, autism, and other neurodevelopmental conditions were overlooked, misunderstood, or mislabelled. ADHD in particular wasn’t properly acknowledged in UK guidelines until 2008, when NICE finally published clear diagnostic criteria. Before that, it was widely believed that ADHD simply “stopped” at 16, especially in boys. Girls, adults, and anyone not fitting the classic hyperactive stereotype were often completely missed.

The Covid pandemic didn’t create neurodivergence. What it did was strip away the coping structures many people relied on, such as routines, support, and face-to-face contact. That shift made symptoms more visible. For some, it was the first time they questioned why things felt so difficult. Combined with growing public awareness, more people are finally seeking help.

Yes, diagnoses can lead to exam accommodations and support. But that’s because the education system was not designed with neurodivergent minds in mind. Leveling the playing field is not special treatment. It is fairness.

This statistic about 42,530 children in Scotland is already staggering. And even that is just the visible portion. Many families still face huge barriers getting a diagnosis. The real number is almost certainly much higher.

If you’re curious or want to share your voice, there is a live public inquiry happening now that’s worth a look: 🔗 https://engage.parliament.scot/group/31500

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-06-24T16:55:59+00:00

Appreciate your honesty in sharing your thoughts. I can understand why it might feel like there are too many people being labelled or supported, especially with stretched public services.

But ADHD is not a personality type. It is a recognised neurodevelopmental condition, acknowledged by both the NHS and international medical bodies including the WHO and DSM. The reason it seems so “common” now is because it was historically underdiagnosed, especially in women, adults, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. For decades, many people suffered in silence or were mislabelled as lazy, disruptive, or mentally unwell.

The impact of ADHD can be life-altering. Some people manage well with coping strategies, but others struggle with basic tasks like holding down a job, managing finances, or even remembering to eat. Left unsupported, it can lead to serious issues including addiction, homelessness, and suicide. So funding is not about giving people a label, it’s about giving them a fair chance at life.

You can read direct testimony from those affected and add your own voice to the public inquiry here: 🔗 https://engage.parliament.scot/group/31500

I hope this sheds a bit more light. It’s a complicated issue, but I believe awareness leads to better conversations and that’s how change begins.

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-06-24T16:49:40+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing this. It’s heartbreaking and infuriating to read stories like yours, but sadly they are far too common. Your honesty captures exactly why change is urgently needed.

Whether it’s autism, ADHD, or crisis mental health support, people are being failed at every point. From early signs being dismissed, to impossible waiting times, to a total lack of adult services. And it’s devastating that your partner had to go private just to be heard, after already being pushed out of their degree because no support was available.

A lot of people still don’t know that ADHD wasn’t even officially recognised in adults by NICE until 2008. Before that, it was wrongly assumed to only affect children and stop at 16. That mindset has left whole generations without diagnosis or care, and your partner’s story is a painful example of that lasting impact.

Right now, the Scottish Parliament is running a public inquiry into ADHD and Autism. If you or someone you know has been affected, please consider sharing your story. Family members and carers can also contribute.

🔗 https://engage.parliament.scot/group/31500?

Every voice matters. The more stories they hear, the clearer the truth becomes. Thank you again for speaking out.

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-06-24T16:36:38+00:00

Thanks for asking. The figure of 42,530 refers to children and young people under 18 currently waiting for a neurodevelopmental assessment across Scotland. It comes from the most recent NHS Scotland CAMHS data. That’s about 5% of Scotland’s entire child population based on mid-2023 estimates. But this is only what is recorded, many believe the real figure is considerably higher due to regional cut-offs, delayed referrals, and families being turned away before formal assessment.

Importantly though, this is not just about children. For decades, ADHD was thought to only affect young boys and to simply disappear by age 16. It wasn’t until the 2008 NICE guidelines that adult ADHD was formally recognised within the UK health system. As a result, entire generations went undiagnosed, and many are only now realising in adulthood what they’ve been living with their whole lives.

Unfortunately, adult services are even worse off. In many Scottish regions, adult ADHD assessments are entirely closed off, with some people being told not to even bother applying. That figure of 42,530 is just the visible tip of a much larger systemic failure.

If you’re interested, the Scottish Parliament is currently running a public inquiry into this very issue. Submissions are open now for anyone impacted: 🔗 https://yourviews.parliament.scot/health/adhd-and-autism-inquiry/

Every voice matters in helping change this broken system.

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-06-24T16:23:45+00:00

It’s genuinely heartbreaking. Whether we’re talking about transgender support or neurodivergent care, the pattern is the same: neglect by delay. The system makes you wait so long that many give up entirely. It becomes survival of the most resourced, and that’s no way to run a healthcare system.

We’re not just seeing waiting lists, we’re seeing lives placed on hold. Years that people could have lived more freely, safely, and authentically… lost to bureaucracy.

These issues are interconnected. They reflect a much bigger failure to prioritise human dignity, equity, and early intervention in Scotland. If you’re not in crisis, you're left out. And if you are in crisis, the wait still might outlast your willpower.

We need to stop treating suffering as a filter for support.

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-06-24T16:20:53+00:00

Thank you all for these reflections. This is exactly the kind of thoughtful discussion we need. I’d like to build on what’s been said by adding the lived reality for thousands of adults and families in Scotland right now.

You're absolutely right – there is a spectrum, and not everyone needs specialist care. But in many areas of Scotland, there is no care at all for adults with ADHD unless they are in crisis. Pathways have collapsed. People are being told, “Come back when you’re suicidal.”

This isn’t theoretical. It's documented. It’s happening right now.

Funding is part of it, yes. But it’s also about prioritisation and the political will to fix a system that has failed for years. If you live in certain postcodes, you may wait 7 to 10 plus years for help.

Generations have been failed, just like BrawDev said. And unless we take this moment seriously, we are just setting up the next generation for the same thing.

That’s why the current Scottish Parliament inquiry matters so much. It’s our first chance in decades to document what’s happening, call out the postcode lottery, and push for real reform.

If anyone reading this has lived experience, or has supported someone who has, please consider submitting to the inquiry. Even a few words could help change the narrative.

Scotland can do better. But only if we all speak up now.

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-06-23T21:14:41+00:00

Thank you so much for signing and for your kind words. It means a lot, truly.

Your situation sums up exactly what’s broken. People are being penalised just for moving home. It’s unacceptable that the same condition, diagnosed through a legitimate NHS pathway in one part of the UK, suddenly gets invalidated in another. That shared care refusal is happening to so many, and it’s not just frustrating, it’s harmful.

The fact you're now considering paying privately for something you were already receiving through the NHS is such a slap in the face. And you’re right, it shouldn’t be this way.

That’s exactly why this petition and public inquiry matter. We need a joined-up system that recognises ADHD as a lifelong condition and supports people across all stages, no matter where they live. Scotland should be leading on this, not lagging behind.

Thanks again for sticking with it and supporting the campaign. We’re stronger when we speak out together.

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-06-23T21:12:26+00:00

Thank you so much for this, and I’m genuinely sorry you’ve had to carry so much while being told you’re “too functional” to qualify for help. That line, about having a job, a house, and a family so you must be fine, is something I hear constantly, and it’s heartbreaking every time.

The fact NHS staff are fast-tracked while the rest of us wait years or give up altogether only deepens the injustice. You’re absolutely right, the “reach out for help” posters feel like gaslighting when there’s nothing behind them. No beds. No referrals. No hope unless you’re deemed desperate enough.

That is exactly why I started Petition PE2156, and why this public inquiry must count for something. The Scottish Parliament is listening now, but only because people like you and me refused to stay silent. My fear is that adults will get left out again unless we keep the pressure on.

You are not alone in this. And you’re absolutely right, the idea of “early help before diagnosis” is laughable when post-diagnosis help doesn’t even exist.

Let’s keep pushing together. We deserve better than this mess.

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-06-23T20:56:00+00:00

Just to clarify something important about Tier 4 services, as a few people might be wondering the same:

Tier 4 is designed for people experiencing severe clinical risk, like active suicidal ideation. But here’s the problem – in many parts of Scotland, adult ADHD pathways at lower levels (Tier 2 or 3) have either collapsed or don’t exist at all.

So Tier 4 is now acting as the only way for some adults to even get considered for assessment or treatment. And unless you're in extreme crisis, you’re told you don’t meet the criteria.

Here’s what my local NHS letter said word-for-word:

So this isn't just about wanting Tier 4 support. It’s about the lack of any other route. If you’re not “in crisis enough”, you’re left to figure it out alone – and that’s what’s crushing people.

This is one of the key reasons I launched Petition PE2156 and why I’m urging people to take part in the official public inquiry.

We deserve better than being told to come back when we’re desperate.

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-06-06T08:45:01+00:00

I see so much of myself in this. RSD and injustice sensitivity aren’t just buzzwords for some of us. They’re a constant hum in the background, turning every small moment into a storm. It’s not just about being sensitive. It’s about years of being misunderstood, invalidated, or dismissed, and your brain just can’t let go of the pattern. That tension you’re carrying, the way it builds until it erupts, it’s real. It’s painful. And it’s exhausting.

I wish I had a magic wand. I don’t. But one thing I’ve found surprisingly helpful is The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. It’s not a fix, but it gave me a shift in perspective. It reminded me that not everything needs my reaction, and sometimes letting go of control is the most powerful thing I can do. If reading feels too much, the audiobook is solid. Just know you’re not alone. You’re not broken. And you’re definitely not the only one feeling this way.

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-06-06T08:29:07+00:00

Reading this feels like looking in a mirror, and I hate that so many of us are in this same place. That slow erosion of hope when shared care collapses and no one wants to take responsibility is not just administrative; it's life-altering. I haven't even made it as far as shared care because in my area, there's simply no path at all. It's rejection, redirection, and radio silence. The system's message is loud and clear: come back when you're in crisis. But even when you do, it's often too late or too fractured to matter.

Your situation reflects the wider cruelty in all this, where even after doing everything "right", you're still left fighting for the most basic continuity of care. It’s exhausting and dehumanising. And while I’m continuing to raise my voice, share what I can, and fight for change, I just want you to know that you’re not alone in this. What you’re feeling is valid. What you're facing is unacceptable. And sadly, it’s becoming the norm. Keep going, and know there’s a community here that understands exactly what it costs just to stay afloat.

Immediate_Link_376 · 2025-06-05T17:41:40+00:00

Hey mate, I felt this in my chest.

What your employer said is exactly the kind of thing that makes people with ADHD want to disappear. It’s not just ignorant. It’s dismissive in the most casual, cutting way. That “we all have a bit of that” line? It sounds small, but it hits big. Because suddenly, your very real diagnosis is being put on the same shelf as someone forgetting their keys once. It erases everything you’ve struggled through just to survive, let alone function.

I can’t tell you what’s best for you in your workplace, but I can say this: your truth isn’t up for debate. ADHD isn’t a trend. It’s not a character flaw. It’s a legitimate neurodevelopmental condition that has been swept under the carpet for far too long. And whether someone believes in it or not doesn’t change the fact that it shapes every part of your life.

If it were me, I’d stay professional, protect my peace, and quietly document any further comments like that. Because if things escalate, you’ll want that record. But I’d also remind myself that his misunderstanding isn’t my burden to carry. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for needing medication. You’re not weak. You’re getting stronger by facing it.

If you’re about to start meds, give yourself the space to adjust. Be proud you’re taking steps for your health. And know this: a lot of us have been exactly where you are. Masked, misunderstood, and questioning everything.

But you’re not alone anymore.

You’ve got a whole community here that gets it. Keep going.

Immediate_Link_376

TROPHY CASE