I would just like to express my gratitude to everyone for sending me down a rabbit hole of research after reading many comments and relating to almost every single meme that was posted.
After my diagnosis, I have a plan moving forward to help better my decisions and what I should do next. Do it if you are questioning and can afford it, is what I would say!
I’ve always thought about getting tested for it but I have no idea where to start. Like, do I have to go to a specific place and see a specific specialist? How do I even find such a place? Also I’m kinda scared of most medications and don’t really want anything too intense. If I do have ADHD it’s not like I can’t function right now so I’m unsure if I should even get tested. I just wish that I’d spend more time and effort on my hobbies. These days I go hard on one of them for a good couple days or weeks and then not touch them again for months or longer.
You see a psychologist (not a psychiatrist). And probably don’t lead with “I think I may have ADHD”. Instead have a list of things you find challenging in your daily life. Focus on these things, looking for ways to manage or mitigate those difficulties. Quite often this means developing habits to address things, such as always putting your keys/wallet/phone in a specific place.
Look at medications like using a crutch for a broken leg. It helps so you can work on strengthening where you’re weak. In ADHD terms that means developing those habits and routines to help reign in the chaos. Everyone is different when it comes to meds, which ones work, and how long you use them. Some people only take meds during the week, and are ok over the weekend. Some take meds that require being taken consistently, every day. Some people have problematic side affects, some don’t.
Start with your primary care doctor! I asked at my annual exam and had a list of things I had noticed I was struggling with and he saved me the hassle of a second appointment. It did help that most of my issues were inattentive based and VERY obvious from what I’ve been told.
He prescribed a non-stimulant which was also nice but if he hadn’t been my doc for a while he would’ve just given me a referral to who I needed to go to.
Follow up question… How do you get a primary care doctor? I’ve never had health insurance until very recently and my parents were very poor teachers for the real world. I’ve been winging it since I was 12 so my gaps in knowledge are surprising and specific. :)
Hey no worries, we all learn sometime. Easiest way in my experience is to login (or create an account) with your insurance company. The website should be on the back of your card or other paperwork. They’ll have a “search for care” option somewhere, mine calls if “find care.”
When we moved I used that to search for primary care doctors and then called one nearby and asked to get a new patient appointment. It did take a few calls as between the lists sometimes being out of date and there not being a huge surplus of doctors but it took maybe a half hour? I think it was the second or third call that got me set up.
If they don’t have that option you can use something like Google maps and search for “primary care doctor” but if you are in the US you will want to ask during the phone call to confirm they take your insurance company.
Thank you so much! I’ll have to give it a shot. Unfortunately I have UnitedHealth through work so I’ll just have to hope for the best. 😅
I am not sure where you are located, but I was able to get tested in NYC through my job. I would suggest for you to search online for ADHD testing and see what comes up, first good step.
I informed my doctor I do not like the idea of taking medication, but if it would help me function better, I just have to face the music and try it out. I’ll follow up later and let you know how that goes.
I had the same feeling and was told I am high functioning with a mild case of ADHD. I’ll see what next steps I want to take in regards to medication once I get access to the full report.
are you me??? lol