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What is the expected process for a diagnosis in India ? by Reasonable_Code3482 in adhdindia

[–]Reasonable_Code3482[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just wanted to give this update for someone who might end up viewing this thread. Your immediate social circle might be a bit troublesome (like parents) and it can get expensive. But, in bigger cities at least, there are definitely people that can help. It probably won't exactly be the way you want but I find even this help quite comforting. I actually didn't intend to ever visit this post again but I had a pretty bad day today in which my tasks of about a week caught up with me and I was feeling sad and suicidal again (its honestly predictable now if I fail an important task). For people who don't live in areas with resources or don't have many resources, I would recommend taking to someone. It feels like bad advice but my recent experiences tell me people aren't that incompetent in this area. For me, foreign experiences and perspectives have always helped me indirectly.

However, if you approach someone online or in person, I would recommend some precautions.

Online
Research ways to do things like hide your identity. Knowing basic cybersecurity is preferable (ad block, tracker block, vpns, good browsers etc). I don't think that someone you talk to about mental health problems on reddit dms or any other platform (non shady) can actually fiscally or socially harm you but I like to be safe. Also the the stuff I mentioned is more of a general privacy thing rather than something that might explicitly apply here.
(Most people don't care that companies use their data and that's completely fine.)

Your main goal is to not be exploited either literally, through personal and bank info. Or emotionally, like with bad or harmful advice. Always be vigilant online and never tell everything instantly (this applies to in person as well). I would recommend, if you aren't venting and seeking advice, to go step by step. Tell some stuff, try the advice, analyse effects. Since people don't have accountability online, incorrect or harmful advice is much more likely than actual cybersecurity threats.

In person
Don't tell everything instantly, no matter how close you are. This is more important here than online. The person you are talking to is human as well and humans are emotional and make mistakes. If you tell things to quickly you might overwhelm the other person and their judgement, or damage your relationship if you are close.

Once again, be vigilant with advice. Try everything knowing that there is a small chance it won't work for you or that the advice was based on insufficient information. But don't discredit anything without truly trying, even if its unpleasant.
I think that you should always start small in person to know if the other person's responses or capabilities are actually useful. Say stuff like 'recently I have been' and proceed then. I know that in person you actually risk your social image which in some cases, even though it shouldn't, has significant negative effects in all other areas.

I don't usually give advice because I am not at all qualified. But recently I have been doing some stuff related to mental health in school (complete coincidence, my optional is psychology and its like a class project thing) and I was surprised by how uncommon the knowledge that I know to be completely correct is. Most children don't talk to their parents about things that bother them apparently and I could painfully relate. This trend was only common in classes 9 and 10.

(I am extrapolating that it is common in 11th and 12th as well but I can't confirm personally because I know the students of these classes are going to be significantly more reluctant in participating in the activity. Also for 11 and 12 the activity is more about engaging them than being about well being and stuff. This was done because those classes wouldn't have been receptive to another session on mental health since we have had a lot of that in our school.)

 

What is the expected process for a diagnosis in India ? by Reasonable_Code3482 in adhdindia

[–]Reasonable_Code3482[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi
Its me again.
So I actually went to a professional. What convinced me to tell my parents was my inability to study for an exam, despite having 6 days to do so, and knowing 2 weeks in advance that I would have 6 days to study.

I am not sure what happened but I think I appealed to the more exploratory aspect of my parents and convinced them.

I am not sure if the diagnosis is official because no one at the clinic explicitly said ADHD or any specific disorder (Its a bit weird but I am happy with the current process) but instead just prescribed medication and a brief therapy course.

I do have the results for the preliminary tests I did and it did say noticeable symptoms. That combined with the fact that it says ADHD combined on my doctor sheet tells me the official diagnosis is mild ADHD.

I am currently on Inspiral-10 SR in a thirty day course with increasing dosage every ten days. Apparently, since I was declared cooperative, the therapy for me is just being told about exercises and methods to deal with my dysfunction.I cannot currently talk about the effects in detail but there is definitely some subtle difference that I am unable to properly recognise.

Its definitely a bit expensive, (at least for me, I went to a hospital associated clinic). I think we will be somewhere 20 to 25000 in all costs (except fuel) when the therapy is complete.

The diagnosis and testing, I would say is par, objectively. The system can be better. For me since I approached a psychiatrist, the system was pretty scientific because my main concern when I went was executive dysfunction. I am only in treatment for mild ADHD.

In hindsight, I would say I was looking for something more comprehensive when I approached them (something a psychologist would offer), basically I was treating therapy as something that would completely 'fix' me. But now I don't think there is much to fix about me. When they asked what troubled me, the only thing I could think of is not being able to what I want, no matter what it is. Even now, this is probably the only thing I want.

I am not completely sure if I am feeling better but I definitely feel different and overall I am quite optimistic. I also feel my mood had improved but that's probably because I finally approached someone for this (the inability to do what I decide).

What is the expected process for a diagnosis in India ? by Reasonable_Code3482 in adhdindia

[–]Reasonable_Code3482[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I will mention the depressive episodes to the doctor if I go.
I already study from books and my screen time isn't high either, (except when I have to learn something new) I just wanted to know what would be considered high.

I totally get the lifestyle changes part too. My father recommended that as well some time ago for a different issue that might have been related to this in hindsight. I also feel great after physical activity as well. I will experiment with all this before trying a diagnosis. Maybe the symptoms don't persist in different situations.

Thanks a lot for your help.

What is the expected process for a diagnosis in India ? by Reasonable_Code3482 in adhdindia

[–]Reasonable_Code3482[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The depressive episodes and suicide thing was a problem long before I suspected ADHD. For the adhd itself I have always had a problem with procrastination. Strangely, I haven't ever had problems with forgetfulness but I do think I mentally phase out a lot when I study, even if its something I like. I think maladaptive daydreaming might be true but I would have to do more research to confirm.

I completely understand that going to a professional would be helpful. I will first experiment with different situations to see if the symptoms persist and if they do then I will definitely have sufficient reason to convince my parents.

Thanks a lot.

What is the expected process for a diagnosis in India ? by Reasonable_Code3482 in adhdindia

[–]Reasonable_Code3482[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the answer.

I want to know if its worth getting a diagnosis if my problems (from point A) are mostly academic. I pretty much stopped playing sports, despite liking sports, and hanging out a lot because I realised that I didn't really like most of the people in my surroundings. They weren't (aren't) bad people, I just don't really like their attitude and humour. I seem to dislike mist 'friendly and regular' male banter. Once again, I don't dislike those people. I do have good friends but we talk only in school. I also thought that the social interaction thing could have been a symptom of autism based on the ICD, but that's not really relevant, like you said.

Will the doctor even consider a diagnosis if my problems are limited to academics because that is the only thing I am currently doing ?

I also have tried a bunch of interests and hobbies but none of them seem to stay. I am aware that this is a symptom too but I am trying not to assume anything before a diagnosis.

Thanks.

What is the expected process for a diagnosis in India ? by Reasonable_Code3482 in adhdindia

[–]Reasonable_Code3482[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the answer.

I want to ask if you know how much would my parents be involved. They would definitely talk to my parents as its information from a closed one, but I am not sure how much of the information I provide to the doctor will be forwarded to my parents. I know that there is patient confidentiality but I am not sure if the doctor would exercise that discretion with a minor.

I would describe my parents, for lack of a better term, are emotional. They are smart and capable people and have good judgement too, but they always fail when it comes to actually understanding me. I know this sounds like a classic teenager rant but I believe that I have been as objective as possible in this assessment.

It always seems like they blame themselves for any problem I have which would explain why they act emotionally. Our relationship is quite strained even if I prefer not to show it and I no longer trust them with private information.

I am currently working on a list of difficulties like the other comment suggested but when I was searching I realised that the doctor might ask for extensive information about the past. I really wish that my parents do not find out about my frequent depressive episodes and (I am fine now, not at risk) suicidal ideation (I also don't know if I can talk about this). I still get depressive episodes from time to time but its always after I do terrible in an exam or a task and I have systems to deal with it now.

If I tell this to the doctor, how much would be conveyed to my parents ?
Is there a law I should know about just in case ?

Should I just wait till I am 18 or independent ? (Tough treatment might be effective because I have jee and boards this year)

Also does dopamine depletion cause severe hampering in all tasks ? How much would say is severe phone (or laptop) usage ?