That must be incredibly frustrating. Maybe it is time to find a different doctor. Here are some articles that offer some helpful advice about getting an accurate ADHD diagnosis.

Finding an ADHD Professional Who Works for You

ADHD Diagnosis: Your Step-by-Step Guide

When to Fire Your Doctor

I hope this helps. Dena

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My biggest problem was that I suspected Adult ADD when I was a grad student seeking help for serious depression/anxiety issues. The school's psychiatrist just kept prescribing more Zoloft, claiming that it would help with "ruminating thoughts" and WOULD NOT LISTEN when I tried to tell her that my symptoms were otherwise. When I stumbled across earlier diagnses for me as ADD I KNEW I was right and she finally figured out that I wasn't just being paranoid.

I finally requested that I see a different psychiatrist when I realized I was allowed to do so.

The new twist? Three psychiatrists later (long story) I now have someone who has shown a lot of interest in me, my history, and my family history, and she picked up on something I didn't. PDD. Which I had ALSO been diagnosed with while little and is considered to be part of the autism spectrum, and she suspects I still have something along those lines. (Best part, she explained that it didn't mean I was crazy, just different, and that wasn't necessarily bad. She also emphasized my high IQ :) ).

So the last few days I've been reseaching the spectrum like crazy and it turns out that that makes a whole lot of sense, that it explains much that ADD doesn't, and that there's also a common occurence of individuals being diagnosed with both ADD and something along the autism spectrum. Go figure.

The moral of the story is not that I think you have PDD, but that psychiatrists CAN BE WRONG. More over if they blow you off outright, then they're also acting extremely unprofessionally. Don't stand for it. If you have other financially-feasible options, start looking around for someone who doesn't have a personal agenda that blinds them to who you really are. You're not being "difficult" in doing so, you're seeking accuracy, and that's critical.

Best of luck and know that others feel your frustration!

FC

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If that's the case, then you better ask for another opinion from another doctor... Don't stick to one who doesn't listen...

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Firecracker, that is my story too. I just found out that my problems are due to Asperger's Syndrome (which is on the autistic spectrum, like PDD). After 30 years of being MIS-diagnosed with depression, social anxiety, ADD, etc. I finally stumbled upon the correct diagnosis myself. It is so frustrating to know that I have wasted so many years struggling with something that I could have gotten help for all this time. It seems so obvious now. I can't believe not ONE professional ever picked up on it...and I've seen a LOT of professionals in the last 30 years, believe me.

Anyway, my point is the same as FC's...you can't always trust doctors to make the right diagnosis. They don't always have the best information, or they're not up-to-date on the latest diagnostic criteria. If you think the diagnosis isn't quite right, then it probably isn't. I had that uneasy feelng for years, but I didn't know anyhing about the autistic spectrum. I always thought "Rainman" so it never occurred to me to even consider that as a possibility. I wish I had known sooner, but at least I know now.

Good luck getting the correct diagnosis. Just stick to your guns, do as much research as you can, and find a doctor who is willing to listen to you without brushing you off or treating you like a hypochondriac.

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This site and the information provided is a true Godsend! I find it inspiring to come across others that have faced the same difficulty I have - that being a pyschiatrist that won't listen.

I recently went to visit a doctor who i was told had a good reputation. While she agreed that I have ADD - she also diagnosed me with Bipolar Disorder ("BPD"). If someone has bipolar - you have to first treat them with mood stabilizers otherwise the typical stimulant prescribed for ADD can cause a severe manic or depressive episode. I don't have any aversion to whatever label is applied to my; condition - i just want to get better - simple as that. At that same time - I want to be sure the diagnosis is correct and fits. I have researched BPD in the past and it never seemed to fit me (i've never had any manic or depressive episodes typical of BPD.

I mentioned that I was not comfortable to take medication for a diagnosis that i didn't feel a connection with. By saying that, it wasn't with intent to refuse - it was with intent to state where i stood at that time. The more we talked the more questions i asked - because the more the BPD didn't seem to fit. This doctor said that we were arguing and it became obvious that without me being compliant - she lost interest in me as a patient. That's where I get confused - i thought having probing questions was a good thing. I thought that being concerned that i get the right medication was a positive thing - as opposed to simply taking whatever medication was prescribed. If this describe was familiar with ADD - i think she should have been more familiar with the difference between arguing (all conversation was in an even tone) and the ADD propensity to hyper-focus and really engage.

I have found information on this site that really helps differentiate between ADD and BPD (as they can be very similar in many respects). All of the symptoms i experience are geared towards the ADD spectrum.

While I am not disappointed in what i believe to be, the wrong diagnosis - we're all human and the afflications are similar enough that it's easy to confuse - i am however very disappointed this doctor did not take the time to explore with me further and let me ask more pointed questions in conversation - rather then her take my questions as arguing.

I will look for another doctor taking into account now that finding a doctor with the right personality to match mine is as important as anything. Someone who is patient and can work with me, not someone with a God-type complex allowing no room for the possibilty that their diagnosis can be incorrect.

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Find a good doctor or nurse practitioner who knows about ADHD and all the other related conditions (and there are many). You could have bipolar disorder or you could have ADHD and bipolar. I know that lots of people with bipolar get misdiagnosed as having ADHD. The symptoms overlap. But you can have both, so get someone who really knows about these conditions. It's not that easy to sort them out for someone who isn't experienced. A psychiatrist or psych nurse practitioner can do and both could prescribe medication. It is important to know if you may be bipolar, since meds for ADHD can make bipolar much worse. All the symptoms you are describing could be one type of bipolar disorder (there are 4 last time I counted). If you are treated with meds for bipolar (like lithium or one of the other meds) you may find your "ADHD" symptoms get better quickly. My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD, put on meds for that, and then she has a major bipolar episode. So get a real thorough evaluation by someone who will listen and knows how to make a proper diagnosis. Best wishes.

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