Silly question, but how do you even begin that process when you’re not a kid? I’m 34 and feel like I might have had ADHD my whole life, but never bothered looking into it. I’ve made it this far into a successful career without meds and I just assume that any doc will think I’m a wannabe pillhead or something.
I’m 54, dealing with perimenopause symptoms finally drove me to desperation to finally address my needs. Consultation with a neuropsychologist, 2 weeks later an appointment for 4 hrs worth of testing, 4 weeks later we sat down and she went over my 16 pages of test results/eval. Inattentive ADHD, executive dysfunction, with some anxiety. Adderall has been life changing. I have greater awareness and understanding in regards to many challenges in my life, and she pointed me in the direction to get more assistance if I need it.
One of the biggest motivations for doing this is also to let my adult sons be aware, since there are genetic possibilities. My parents never would have discussed these things, I waited till my 50s to address them. If my son’s are questioning, hopefully they find out earlier in life and can have better quality than waiting like I have.
I asked a therapist for a diagnosis, and she didn’t even attempt to do the questionnaire bcz it was so obvious. My family doctor took her word for it, lol.
Buddy, I used to think the same thing. I told my therapist as much when he suggested I seek medication for my clinical ADHD. What he basically told me was that Psychiatrists are not stupid. They’ll listen to your story and they will evaluate whether or not you are a good candidate for meds. Substance abusers get weeded out fairly quickly, from what I have been told.
As long as you are honest with the doc, and willing to be open minded about treatment options, you’ll be fine.
I feel like my kids having it diagnosed helped me a bit but it started with getting a therapist and talking about my life experiences. I expected to have to take a test but they just put me on the meds pretty quickly. My 3rd grade teacher suspected me but my parents never acted. I guess I am a clear case so testing wasn’t involved in my diagnosis
As someone who’s in the same boat as you, what makes you think you’ve got it, out of curiosity (unless you don’t want to share, which is completely fine too)?
Ask PCP for referral. Talk to psych lady. Try some meds. See how it goes.
I originally went in for post-lockdown depression, but as I was describing my life and symptoms, she realized there was more going on. First she gave me prozac, which was terrible. Then we tried some Wellbutrin and Adderall, and that was the ticket.
you can book a consultation with a psychologist or a psychiatrist. In order to be diagnosed, the symptoms you have must have been present before age 12. They will likely have you sit and do a 20 minute test to measure attention and memory. It will sound like it’s going to be easy. If you have the condition, I assure you it is not!
Then your provider can talk meds. There’s lots of options. The lambo of pills is Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine), but there are a lot of others w various benefits and drawbacks.
e: the doctors are only there to prescribe pills, more or less. they won’t think you’re abusing the system
Vyvance is the lambo? Bruh it’s maybe the Honda Accord, reliable, long lasting, but definitely nothing flashy. Maybe a chip tune because it is technically dex. But seriously, straight dex is the Lambo. Hard to control, 0-60 in Oh fuck me, almost no levo side effects, put it anywhere and it works. As an undiagnosed individual I have run the gamut of different chems and Dex is beyond my favorite
maybe the wrong analogy to use for people that actually know cars lol. thats just how my psych described it. Probably because it’s top of the line and everyone wants it. I don’t want a come-up or down. I don’t want to feel wired for 4 hours then crash. Some people do, but that’s why I avoided adderall and friends. I didn’t ever want to feel the urge to abuse my drug either.
Vyvanse is so smooth and lasts so long that I’m on the lowest dosage and plan to stay there forevs by taking tolerance breaks. Lasts all day into the evening so I can be productive at more than just work. shits real nice
Honestly it’s what I should probably accept and go beg for, because A) they will never give me IR anything, I have been too honest, and B) yea you really cannot abuse it. It’s just some days I don’t feel like being stimmed for 16 hours straight and just need a morning boost. I’m also very sensitive to phenethylamines, stimulants in particular and 10mg of mixed salts at 9am has me still chatty 12 hours later…
Silly question, but how do you even begin that process when you’re not a kid? I’m 34 and feel like I might have had ADHD my whole life, but never bothered looking into it. I’ve made it this far into a successful career without meds and I just assume that any doc will think I’m a wannabe pillhead or something.
I’m 54, dealing with perimenopause symptoms finally drove me to desperation to finally address my needs. Consultation with a neuropsychologist, 2 weeks later an appointment for 4 hrs worth of testing, 4 weeks later we sat down and she went over my 16 pages of test results/eval. Inattentive ADHD, executive dysfunction, with some anxiety. Adderall has been life changing. I have greater awareness and understanding in regards to many challenges in my life, and she pointed me in the direction to get more assistance if I need it.
One of the biggest motivations for doing this is also to let my adult sons be aware, since there are genetic possibilities. My parents never would have discussed these things, I waited till my 50s to address them. If my son’s are questioning, hopefully they find out earlier in life and can have better quality than waiting like I have.
I asked a therapist for a diagnosis, and she didn’t even attempt to do the questionnaire bcz it was so obvious. My family doctor took her word for it, lol.
ask your family doctor, most can start the process of a diagnosis.
Thanks , I will have my butler ring my family doctor.
Family doctor as in general practitioner, not private md on retainer
And if you have regular doctors appointments in your 30s, probably you don’t need the meds. Lol.
Just because someone is surviving, doesn’t mean they’re living. Having quality in your life is important.
Or they have other issues that make maintaining healthcare vital.
Buddy, I used to think the same thing. I told my therapist as much when he suggested I seek medication for my clinical ADHD. What he basically told me was that Psychiatrists are not stupid. They’ll listen to your story and they will evaluate whether or not you are a good candidate for meds. Substance abusers get weeded out fairly quickly, from what I have been told.
As long as you are honest with the doc, and willing to be open minded about treatment options, you’ll be fine.
I feel like my kids having it diagnosed helped me a bit but it started with getting a therapist and talking about my life experiences. I expected to have to take a test but they just put me on the meds pretty quickly. My 3rd grade teacher suspected me but my parents never acted. I guess I am a clear case so testing wasn’t involved in my diagnosis
As someone who’s in the same boat as you, what makes you think you’ve got it, out of curiosity (unless you don’t want to share, which is completely fine too)?
Ask PCP for referral. Talk to psych lady. Try some meds. See how it goes.
I originally went in for post-lockdown depression, but as I was describing my life and symptoms, she realized there was more going on. First she gave me prozac, which was terrible. Then we tried some Wellbutrin and Adderall, and that was the ticket.
you can book a consultation with a psychologist or a psychiatrist. In order to be diagnosed, the symptoms you have must have been present before age 12. They will likely have you sit and do a 20 minute test to measure attention and memory. It will sound like it’s going to be easy. If you have the condition, I assure you it is not!
Then your provider can talk meds. There’s lots of options. The lambo of pills is Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine), but there are a lot of others w various benefits and drawbacks.
e: the doctors are only there to prescribe pills, more or less. they won’t think you’re abusing the system
Vyvance is the lambo? Bruh it’s maybe the Honda Accord, reliable, long lasting, but definitely nothing flashy. Maybe a chip tune because it is technically dex. But seriously, straight dex is the Lambo. Hard to control, 0-60 in Oh fuck me, almost no levo side effects, put it anywhere and it works. As an undiagnosed individual I have run the gamut of different chems and Dex is beyond my favorite
maybe the wrong analogy to use for people that actually know cars lol. thats just how my psych described it. Probably because it’s top of the line and everyone wants it. I don’t want a come-up or down. I don’t want to feel wired for 4 hours then crash. Some people do, but that’s why I avoided adderall and friends. I didn’t ever want to feel the urge to abuse my drug either.
Vyvanse is so smooth and lasts so long that I’m on the lowest dosage and plan to stay there forevs by taking tolerance breaks. Lasts all day into the evening so I can be productive at more than just work. shits real nice
Honestly it’s what I should probably accept and go beg for, because A) they will never give me IR anything, I have been too honest, and B) yea you really cannot abuse it. It’s just some days I don’t feel like being stimmed for 16 hours straight and just need a morning boost. I’m also very sensitive to phenethylamines, stimulants in particular and 10mg of mixed salts at 9am has me still chatty 12 hours later…
That is a silly question. Everyone knows this. If chalupapocalypse wants to explain it anyway for those of you who weren’t paying attention though…