What should I be doing?

[Hexcypher]

Hello everyone,

I think I have ADD and I’m 31 yrs old.

I’ve had a Major Depression diagnosis since I was a kid.

I’ve had 30+ jobs and 15+ girlfriends in the last 5 years.

I managed to get an associates degree, but it took me 4 years instead of 2.

I’m in unimaginable debt and have no credit left to my name.

I’m ready to get this fixed, but it seems like all the appointments and paperwork are taking forever.

My PCP put me on Effexor and Clonidine (insurance ran out 3 months ago so I had to stop taking Effexor/Wellbutrin), but I go see the specialist tomorrow.

Should I wait to take the Effexor/Clonidine until I see the psychiatrist?

What can I do in the meantime while I wait to get on ADD meds (If I even have ADD)?

How long does it take to get a diagnosis?

How long does it take to find the right meds/dosage?

Will it even make me feel any better?

I have a feeling they’re gunna either tell me it’s just depression even though nothing’s working, or they’ll put me on meds and it’ll just make me feel worse / kill me.

I’ve all but given up on life; maybe this is just a convenient excuse for me.

Dunno

What would you guys do? Should I pretend I have it and live like I do, or should I pretend like I don’t and live that way. Maybe I should just go stagnant until I talk to the doc? I probably wont get any asnwers tomorrow it’ll prolly just be more paperwork.

[Penny Williams]

It absolutely can get better.

Here’s what to expect of evaluation and diagnosis:

Your Complete ADHD / ADD Diagnosis Guide

The timing can vary widely, depending on the clinician — some will diagnose in one visit, some are much more thorough and might spend several appointments over 2-3 months evaluating you.

Finding the right ADHD medication and dosage is different for everyone too. A few people do well on the first medication prescribed. For some, it’s trial and error for months, up to a year or two (those are the tough cases).

A Patient’s Primer on the Stimulant Medications Used to Treat ADHD

It’s wise to follow your doctor’s advice until you learn otherwise from your evaluation.

Penny
ADDconnect Moderator, Author on Parenting ADHD, Mom to teen boy with ADHD, LDs, and autism

[Getittogethergirl]

I feel like some doctors can be dismissive of adult adhd. My primary doctor first told me it was just a childhood condition. I then went to a neuropsychologist for testing. Since my focus and memory scores were average, she told me it was anxiety and depression and that any young mom would feel as if she had it. By then, I was completely discouraged because I have been treated for anxiety and depression and it never quite fixed my biggest concerns. Plus I was insecure in my self-diagnosis already. Then, I read a chapter in Driven to Distraction about neuropsych testing that said it is not very effective in identifying adhd because of the novelty, motivation to do well, one on one setup, and distraction free room, which all treat adhd symptoms. It also said that sometimes a large gap between performance and verbal scores is an indication, which I had. Anyways, I met with a psychiatrist who asked me a series of questions and confirmed that I had enough long term, invasive symptoms to get a diagnosis. She started me on Adderrall. I was very unsure about starting meds, but after the first pill, I could not believe the calm and relief and I knew I would not have been able to learn coping strategies without first getting the medication. For me, I could tell pretty quickly that the 10mg wasn’t going to be enough because I still had the symptoms even though they were not as “loud” as they had been.

What I am trying to say is 1. Advocate for yourself. It is normal to feel like you are “just making it up” or “using it as an excuse” especially when doctors mislead you or friends and family don’t believe you. Find a doctor who specializes in adult adhd. 2. Treatment is everything! Not even just meds, but understanding yourself and condition. After Adderall I feel like my depression and anxiety stemmed from untreated adhd and the out of control, overwhelmed feelings can be helped. 3. Hang in there! While you are waiting for meds, I would read Driven to Distraction.

Good luck to you.

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