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I think I have ADHD? Maybe I should pursue a diagnosis?

thenewkaty July 13th, 2021

Hi, I'm 18 and I'm sure I got a few issues and disturbs that stop me from doing the stuff I want and am supposed to do... Recently I found out I may have ADHD and I think that would explain a lot of stuff. Like, I always let stuff to the last minute, I was always late going to places (school, courses, appointments, everything with specific hour of starting), I can't follow routines, I'm having a lot of trouble remembering stuff I just saw, I'm having a hard time focusing... Idk... I have a lot of stuff going on at the same time in my mind that I just get lost and tired... p.s.: I'm not allowed to go to therapy, so I don't know when I'll get professional help and try to get any diagnosis... I do know other disturbs can cause ADHD symptoms and I'm just so lost.

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wonderfulRainbow817 July 16th, 2021

Hello @thenewkaty. We are not trained enough to provide medical advice but if you would like to talk further our listeners would be happy to talk 1-on-1 with you!

IceCream4IceCream July 18th, 2021
@thenewkaty, thank you so much for sharing! It takes courage to speak about something so personal.

<3 I have ADHD and that was only confirmed by diagnosis, as you so rightly said. Importantly, ADHD is often misunderstood, and it's more than just struggling to focus, or being a hyperactive little boy in a classroom. These stereotypes are not reflective of the entire specturm of experiences I have. Is there any way to seek a diagnosis through your school or college?

I believe this is possible in some countries. In the mean time, you might find it helpful to check out the ADHD self help guide. I'd like to reiterate that this is no substitute for expert guidance and you really can't know if you have ADHD unless you receive a diagnosis from a qualfied professional after a thorough assessment.

Wishing you the best of luck with everything heart Remember, we're here and we care! This sub-community is here to support you heart

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1 reply
thenewkaty OP July 20th, 2021

Unfortunately, no. I'm no longer in high school and I'm not in college yet. My family isn't as mind-opened as I wish they were (so they could help me get through it). I'll try tips for better time-managing and you know doing tasks, focused on ADHD, I mean. It's worth it a try. I need to live somehow, not to just exist. Thank you.

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Treedome July 19th, 2021

If you want to persue a formal diagnosis the way I’m familiar with that happening is you bring it up with your primary care doctor. I’m not sure if they will refer you to a specialist or do the testing themselves, or just do a screener. However you may not need a formal diagnosis, and it’s up to you to decide that. If you know you have ADHD you can give yourself accommodations and you already understand more of how your brain works. What will a formal diagnosis get you that self diagnosis won’t?

3 replies
thenewkaty OP July 19th, 2021

I'm not an expert, I may be wrong about my self diagnosis... But having certainty will help me to understand it better and treat it... Life isn't supposed to be a 24/7 struggle.

wonderfulRainbow817 July 20th, 2021

While this is a good answer, in some countries you have to have a formal diagnosis to receive accommodations. We can certainly give yourself accommodations in how we approach our daily lives but a formal diagnosis may be needed to receive accommodations for living arrangements on campus and/or classroom accommodations to ensure the person is receiving the best care possible. Also, while I see your point, if we aren't trained and experts on these things then we can't be 100% sure we actually have something.

1 reply
Treedome July 21st, 2021

Yes, but it’s important to keep in mind “experts” get things wrong as well. Nothing is 100% and no one can be 100% sure about anything, especially when it comes to other people. And if a label helps you and isn’t hurting anyone I see no reason not to use it. My sibbling is self diagnosed ADHD and it’s helped us understand her behavior and how to go about making functioning for her easier, and formal diagnosis isn’t available to her atm. Sure we could be wrong about their ADHD but she has almost all of the symptoms for innitentive, relates to the experiences of other ADHDer’s, and saying that they have ADHD has improved their life by explaining what’s going on and giving tools to communicate, as well as giving ideas as to what may help manage their ADHD. Witch is in a lot of circumstances what diagnosis is about! Sure getting a formal diagnosis helps but it’s not always available, and can still be inaccurate. We know what is going on inside our own brains better than anyone else, “experts” just take the knolage we have about our brains and give it a name, if someone was able to give it a name themselves and are confident with that, it doesn’t hurt anyone, and it’s helpful, good for them. Not every diagnosis is correct, and there are obstacles to getting that diagnosis. And I did just mean personal accommodations. /nm /g 🎨

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