Hello CTBR:

Welcome to the ADDitude Forums and best of luck with the journey you're embarking on. I think you'll find that the ADDitude web site is filled with people just like you - ready to provide feedback and support. I hope you'll also use our archives - here are a few articles that you might find helpful...

Adult ADHD Diagnosis: What to Ask a New Doctor: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/1860.html

ADHD Symptom Checklist for Women: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd-web/article/1908.html

What Your Doctor Needs to Know About Diagnosing ADHD in Adults: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd-web/article/596.html

You've Got Adult ADD… Now What?: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/815.html

Get Organized: Best Resources for ADD Moms: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/2517.html

Hope this helps! - Anni

Quote

Thanks Anni - this is really helpful. I'll have a good read.

Regards

CTBR

Quote

I'm going to start with my healthcare provider. Just visited their web site and found some helpful information - even a list providers in my area. I'm feeling more hopeful now.

Quote

I've got a bit closer to a diagnosis - A local support group suggested I contact a Dr R Barry in North Caulfield who specialises in ADHD. I rang the clinic and was fortunate enough to speak to his wife - who also has ADHD. She was most reassuring - went through the whole bit - how much it would cost and so on. I have to get my GP to refer me - so I've made an appointment on Monday - there's a six week waiting period - seems like a long wait but he's obviously very busy. He's also very thorough - you see him for an initial consultation which is followed by another and then four sessions with a psychologist for profiling. All up it's about AU$800 - ouch! Probably preferable though to what the psychiatrist suggested which is an MMPI and I understand that they cost thousands. Advice I've received is that MMPI is a very blunt tool to diagnose ADHD. The psychiatrist told me that I was too nice to have ADHD. - what do you do when faced with that kind of attitude?

Quote

Quote:

CanThisBeReal said: . Advice I've received is that MMPI is a very blunt tool to diagnose ADHD. The psychiatrist told me that I was too nice to have ADHD. - what do you do when faced with that kind of attitude?

The MMPI is not set up to diagnose ADHD. You are evaluated according to the symptoms and your history.

Too nice to have ADHD?? What is that supposed to mean? That people with ADHD are not usually nice? That is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard. And coming from a psychiatrist no less. I wouldn't put much faith in his ability as a psychiatrist.

Imagine your GP telling you that you are too nice to have asthma or allergies or whatever other condition you can think of. That wouldn't make much sense either.

I'm sorry that it takes so long to get an appointment with the doctor. Sometimes it can be difficult to find a knowledgeable doctor who understands ADHD. You may want to read something on ADHD in the meantime to help you understand yourself better. A good book that describes what it is like to have ADHD, with a lot of examples of adults who have it, is "Driven to Distraction" by Drs. Ed Hallowell and John Ratey.

Good luck,

Elaine

Quote