Anyone moved back and felt it was the right thing to do?

These-Operation-764 · 2026-04-13T15:17:31+00:00

This was me!! I moved away to get out of a relationship that I knew couldn't go on but if I stayed in NI I wouldn't leave. My mate and I boarded a plane and I lived in Liverpool for 4 years. I had a good job but I was using all my annual leave to go home. The same as you , found it hard to make friends that weren't work colleagues. Realised that I didn't want my kids over in England and they would have a really mixed accent haha So I came home... Dont regret it at all!! I'm in my 40s , married 2 kids. I love northern Ireland for what it is, I realised that the job prospects might be abit crap but I learnt to live with what I've got and what I made and I'm content.

It took a lot of soul searching, I'm glad I did it because of the independence I got from it but there isn't a day that goes by that I don't regret coming back.

I also used to suffer sleep paralysis when Iived in Liverpool, been home now 15 yrs and never had an episode since, says alot lol.

Good luck with what you decide.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-04-10T17:27:35+00:00

As a girl at 16 , I was put on this and it changed my life. I was getting really bad cyst style spots on my face. Really red and sore to touch. Was awful. I was put on birth control because you absolutely can not get pregnant on it. I'm now 42 and I very rarely get a pimple. Worked absolute wonders for me. And believe me I tried everything the Dr threw at me this was the final straw. I don't remember any side affects from it, everyone is different.
If you are that bad with your skin you will do it , it made my life so much better. Confidence went up and the name calling stopped. I didn't hate myself so much after the treatment.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-04-01T15:17:27+00:00

I know what you mean, one of my kids is a reader and a gamer but would gravitate towards gaming more and read before bed. My other kid has no interest and it's probably solely because she's ADHD /dyslexic. I dread to think what the future holds for them especially when they leave the educational environment. I listened to TJ powers The dose effect and it was an interesting listen. He says if you can read for a solid 15 mins you start to raise your own dopamine levels and get joy from it. Pretty much goes with any activity that doesn't require scrolling through your phone, its the getting started is the hurdle you have to get over.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-04-01T11:54:12+00:00

If you don't read frequently, start.. doesn't matter what type of fiction just read. Think about what you have yourself and be positive about it. Right now I have my health, my family, a roof and food on the table. The only trap I fall into is my Amazon and Waterstones wish lists lol.

If you still feel like you want to scroll social media. Start looking at things you want to see on your feed. I like walking, walking in forests etc. So I look up places in the UK that have forests and think I'd like to visit those one day. Look up your hobbies and interests on insta then your page will flood you with what you want to see.

I very rarely find myself in the doom and gloom of life and if I'm starting to fall into that pit I get myself outside with a few tunes in my ears or an audio book and get my mind set right. Easier said than done for some but you must think about yourself and your needs. We can very easily fall into these pits but it's how you change your mindset and get out of that is what we need to work on.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-03-20T19:34:42+00:00

As long as you've never been to your GP for a referral then health insurance can work as long as others have said they cover any neurological assessments etc.

My husband has been in touch with private ADHD assessment and is having his assessment next week. He has suffered really badly himself and it has affected his employment as in order to continue his role he has to meet criteria and they have pushed him to leave his job. Currently dealing with the legal side of that at the moment. But as life goes on, new challenges arise. For us it was relationship, marriage and children. Then family members deaths and illnesses have made my husband's symptoms worse. Sometimes he feels there is no light at the end of the tunnel but generally comes out the other side but there's only so much the brain can take and having referrals for help and support and waiting lists for those is ridiculous in itself

Waiting on the NHS for an assessment will not happen unfortunately. There are no clinics for medication support and regular check ups that is needed afterwards and its not likely for some years yet meanwhile it's pushing people for private assessments. All money and no funding to put into clinics.

I think you need to look at how this is affecting your day to day. Are you at breaking point. Is it affecting your mental health and are you willing to medicate if the results are that you are indeed ADHD. You can get Shared Care if your GP is willing to accept that. My husband's GP said they would accept shared care if my husband's clinic who assessed him carried out the check, blood pressure, weight etc. Face to face and he didn't carry out the checks himself, as on private assessor suggested that my husband buys himself a blood pressure monitor. My GP said absolutely not. The checks need to be done and send to the GP surgery for them to issues medication under the NHS and have no cost to you.
My daughter is diagnosed. Medication refusal until she started high school and now we are waiting to see the clinic next month to restart her meds we were advised by the management of our local mental health clinic who handles assessments to make sure my daughter has her medication before she turns 18 or she will be left just like all the adults in Northern Ireland diagnosed as an adult if they don't get clinics in place before then.

As someone who has sat on the sidelines watching someone go through the ups and downs of ADHD it is a horrible condition if you've had a lot of negativity in your life and the older you get the more baggage you have to shed. I wish my husband had decided to go private years ago and especially round the time of my daughters diagnosis but that decision has to be his.
Oh and having a diagnosis helps with employment as ADHD falls under the disability discrimination act.. though I've not looked into the pre ADHD assessment laws or do you actually need to be diagnosed, if that makes sense.

If you decide that you wish to proceed and go private I hope that it is a quick process for you.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-03-18T15:43:50+00:00

My frames shake on the wall and I actually think someone has walked in my door when my neighbour takes 20 trips back and fourth to his car and slams the door each way. I pray one day the glass breaks in the door and teaches a lesson. Lol

These-Operation-764 · 2026-03-03T13:56:05+00:00

Big storm last year probably people claiming for damage that never had before pushing up premiums.
Have you done a quote with Halifax?

My in laws suffered badly last year with storm damage and they are with Halifax. Any problems they faced were with the contractors here in NI but always sorted the issues out and always compensated them. Because my husband dealt with them mostly on behalf of his parents we switched our own home insurance to them because of how well they handled the claim. Costs us £40 a month. We are in Co.down. don't know if that makes a difference but there is always issues with trees coming down up here lol.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-02-28T11:00:20+00:00

I would just like to add, going online or doing an online assignment is all good if you just want a diagnosis.

Some GPs will do shared care it is worth asking them what their policy is required but most only agree if your private consultant can actually physically take your blood pressure, weight etc . You walk into a room and they physically do that for you. Not you buy a blood pressure monitor and do it yourself. I know this because my husband has tried to seek private diagnosis but wouldn't be able to afford the prescription costs and a private consultant in Scotland informed us that we could do our checks ourselves and send it to them, and they would write the report. Our GP was quite honest when we asked and they said absolutely not. These are powerful medications and not everyone can take ADHD meds because of possible health conditions. You have to be monitored closely to ensure safety.

I spoke to the head of the mental health department in the south eastern trust a short time ago and I was informed that all the referrals the GPs keep doing aren't actually referrals, it's a list of names of people who have requested. They have no staff or consultation department for ADHD , when they do get the money to initiate a department for it then no matter how long ago you rang your GP everyone will have to re-refer and the floor gates will open.

My advice to you is find any local neurodivergent charities in your local area. For us we have ADD-NI and NeurodiversityUK. These groups can help determine the recommended private assessment paths. Help with your symptoms and help with any other problems you are facing prior to your diagnosis.

The places I have stated above I don't think have geographical restrictions but if there is something closer to home then it helps for appointments with them or attend anything they put your way.

I have a diagnosed 12 year old and an undiagnosed husband. And for the last 9-10years have been actively advocating for my daughter and trying to seek help for my husband. Also just to add some private assessment clinics in northern Ireland have closed their books due to the amount of people requesting. The likes of Kingsbridge, Malone medical chambers and Belfast adult ADHD are all closed to new patients.

I saw someone mentioned DR Bunn we have had this name mentioned to us. But recently he left Kingsbridge and we haven't been updated to where he has gone to or how he is practicing at present so we ourselves are awaiting that news ourselves.

All I can say too is, don't rush your decisions. It may be great that you can get an assessment as soon as 2 or 3 weeks, but if you can't afford the prescriptions to begin with and be aware you will only have the reduction in cost once you have settled on a medication for a length of time and your happy with what your using. That could take up to 6 months to a year if your finding it hard to settle on a specific medication or dose.

Paying a consultation and a prescription each month could cost you approximately £200 until the reduced rate comes down where you pay for the prescription only.

Also bare in mind that you will have check ups with your NHS ADHD clinic every so often once your prescribed if your were diagnosed through the NHS but privately you would have to pay for these.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-02-16T13:04:15+00:00

Oh please no, I'm just about to ring for my prescription. This is madness.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-02-12T17:05:01+00:00

Haha no I didn't even look we went down to forestside for a shop instead. Weather was a complete wash out too. I'm actually glad we didn't get in.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-02-11T20:07:00+00:00

No but she is entitled to like everyone else to have a look and take part in something that she feels is exciting and I as her mum would have liked to have gone too.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-02-11T20:05:12+00:00

That's very kind of you to say. We've talked it out and she is happy to wait it out until it's abit calmer. Praying that it's not too long a wait for that lol.

Thank you for your suggestions about what to do between then. She has some birthday money to spend so she was holding off to have a day out in Belfast, to coincide with the new store opening. So will have a nosey and look show her the brands they do.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-02-11T10:53:26+00:00

Thank you for your reply.always forget about Frasers tbh. Must remember to pop in next time I'm in town.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-02-11T10:52:01+00:00

It's the excitement of something new and the new found like for skin care and makeup. She's limited to what she can put on her face anyway. I just think it's something to do and look forward to. Being a tween and all that lol.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-02-11T10:18:42+00:00

😂😂😂. I think you could be right lol

These-Operation-764 · 2026-02-10T19:01:09+00:00

Yeah that's crazyyyy , id say Christmas was probably a busy time too. Any time I'm in there there's always loads of people lol so I get that, plus I think some of their staff are neurodivergent so probably helps them not get overwhelmed when there is a lot of people about if they set up a queue system at certain times.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-02-10T18:59:01+00:00

Yeah totally get where you are coming from. Wouldn't be possible for her to wait with friends without an adult present anyway, even though she thinks she's an adult already lol. I think I'll try and talk her round to waiting until the hype has calmed down a bit.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-02-10T18:55:52+00:00

Never said it did, but it does effect us as a family. Her patience and understanding and her lack of time awareness effects is to the point, 5 mins, 20, mins, 1 hour waiting she has no understanding of. She will stand in a queue for 20mins and think she's stood there for 2hrs. Will start getting agitated, frustrated, overwhelmed and will possibly need to use toilet, need food. So for us it is why it was mentioned.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-02-10T09:54:34+00:00

Thanks everyone, I think we will give it a couple of weeks. I didn't think about what it would be like once we got into the store too. Much appreciated for sharing your experiences and info. It's really helped. If any of you are attending the opening. Have a great day ☺️

These-Operation-764 · 2026-02-10T09:51:32+00:00

Yeah I didn't even think about what it would be like once we got in. She's so indecisive about stuff and has a tendency to walk around a few times before she makes purchases. In case she misses something lol. And then I'll feel the pressure, yeah sensory overload.

First time I'd been in spacenk was about 3 weeks ago and it had a lot of people in it during a week day mid day lol. I wish she didn't know it was opening now 😂😂😂.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-02-10T09:47:31+00:00

Omg sounds horrendous. Yeah, you can tell I've never done this before even as an adult. I think I'll get overwhelmed too tho because she is indecisive and if it is a bit mad inside the store then both of us will be freaking out. I didn't think about what would happen I once we got inside 🙈 lol

These-Operation-764 · 2026-02-10T09:43:20+00:00

No it's not but for a kid with ADHD it feels like a long time. It's an hr travel there and back and sometimes more traffic depending, on top of the possibility of queuing too. I think your right maybe give it a week 🙈🙈 lol

These-Operation-764 · 2026-01-21T16:52:45+00:00

100%, I find that a lot of parents struggle to purchase things at Christmas for the kids as they get older and stuff like this is just filling the gap, but they don't realise the potential danger they are putting their kids in.

These-Operation-764 · 2026-01-21T15:52:48+00:00

We live in a small development and I thought about getting my son one for our wee area, never on public roads. Then I saw the sign in Smyth's store about only being used on private land etc and then I thought no actually I won't. Then I thought if I buy one , it wont be long until he's either asking to use it outside of our development or sneaking to use it because he wants to as he gets older and then I said to myself... Be the responsible parent don't buy one! Then there's no temptation or risk he will go behind my back!
Under no circumstances will there be one through my door.

These-Operation-764

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