How can I confirm that I have ADHD
I've been unprofessionally 'diagnosed' by two different phycologists and both my parents think I have it but aren't willing to get me professionally tested. Is there any way I can feel valid to say I have it? I don't want to say I have ADHD but I don't want to rule it out either again because both my parents and two phycologists said I most likely have it and one of the phycologists genuinely asked if I had been diagnosed with it since I had so many symptoms. but It stills feels wrong to 'self diagnose' so is there any place I can get it done? or the easiest way to confirm I have it? because I am REALLY struggling with things that feel like ADHD symptoms and I think once I can confirm I have it I can get proper help on how to manage it. any tips?
Comments
Hello @nedscultmanager
In my opinion, you are valid to say you feel as though you have ADHD without a professional diagnosis if you experience the symptoms associated with ADHD, which it seems like yourself and multiple other people have noticed.
I recently went through the diagnosis process with my partner - he is in his mid 20s and felt like the symptoms were impeding on his everyday work life and studies. I would definitely recommend booking an appointment with your GP, they will be able to discuss the process with you in more detail. However, our journey, started with the GP where they did a referral to a psychiatrist. Our GP was so helpful and did around 12 referrals to a bunch of different places, then it was just waiting for an appointment. The psychiatrist will then do the assessment and diagnosis section, discuss management and prescribe medication if you feel this is necessary. For us, there was an initial appointment, a few tests to do, a follow-up to confirm diagnosis, and then another a few months later to see progress. I am sure this would differ depending on the psychiatry practice, so it would be best to ask the questions when booking the appointment. All up, we were very lucky to get a cancellation appointment, so the process only took around 3 months. All-in-all everyones experiences with the process are different, but this was just ours. I hope this helps give you some clarity 😊
Hi @nedscultmanager , it sounds like you're really attuned to how you're feeling and things that you're experiencing at the moment, and care a lot about your wellbeing. This is incredible and definitely something that you should feel proud of 💛. I think this is a really common experience among people with ADHD, particularly the part about self diagnosis and whether it's 'valid' to say that you might have ADHD. I myself know a little about the diagnosis process, but not heaps! From what I've heard it can be quite lengthy and tie consuming.
I'm so sorry to hear that you're stuggling with things that are potentially ADHD symptoms at the moment💜. It makes a lot of sense what you've mentioned about how a diagnosis might help with management! I think that the social dialogue around ADHD has really opened up in the last 5 years or so in a way which is super helpful for people who have unofficially been diagnosed, or identify strongly with ADHD symptoms. Given that the diagnosis process can take a little while, and that you've had a few psychologists broach the topic of ADHD, I absolutely think that tentative self-diagnosis can be a really valid way of exploring new coping strategies. At the end of the day, if coping strategies designed for ADHD really help you, at the end of the day it doesn't really matter whether you have an official or tentative diagnosis! The most important thing is, after all, your own wellbeing. This said, I completely understand that an official diagnosis would be really validating for your own experiences.
Sending lots of care your way 😊
Hi @nedscultmanager,
I wanted to start by welcoming you to the forums! From what I have read, I can see that you care deeply for your well-being and understand your identity and how you feel. You should be so proud of yourself for wanting to understand and taking the step towards finding that understanding, it can be a very challenging thing and I wanted to commend you on that.
You have every right to feel how you feel and connect with who you are. I wanted to provide you with a link to an article ReachOut on ADHD which explores what ADHD is and different ways to seek a Diagnosis.
I was also wondering if you have been able to talk to other family members or friends about how you have been feeling or even a professional?
I want you to know that the whole community is here for you on this journey 🙂
hey 🙂
I also have been told I possibly have it by my psych but I haven't been diagnosed, I haven't thought about getting it diagnosed, and if I did have it's not affecting my day-to-day life. However, I 100% understand and wanted to know if you have it as it can help you understand why you struggle and how to help your day-to-day life.
There are benefits to getting it done, mainly with around how to manage along with getting assistance when in school and/or uni as you can get support with your studies. Have you talked to your parents about why you want to get tested?
If your parents are strongly against not taking you they always wait till later down the track but maybe you could talk to your parents with the support of your psychologist about it and explain the upside and why you want it.
As I believe the process generally is if you don't already have a psychiatrist you would go to your regular GP and discuss your symptoms and they would ask questions. They then would look at assisting you with a referral to someone who could help with the diagnosis. There's no quick easy way to confirm except professional assessments but maybe some others on here can offer some advice and ways to manage ADHD.
I hope your parents will listen to you and help with this process
Hi @nedscultmanager I totally understand your dilemma of not knowing whether or not it's 'valid' for you to say you have ADHD. Whilst you may not have been professionally diagnosed, if two mental health professionals have suggested it may be the case I personally wouldn't see anything wrong with letting people know that. You can just say my psychologist has told me I probably have it.
If it is something that really effects your abilities and you think you would benefit from treatment or medication please do seek out diagnostic sessions. (I know these can be expensive but if its effecting your life it could be worth it). I work at a psychology clinic and from what I know I am pretty sure you can go to a GP for a mental health care plan referral if you want some rebate for some of the sessions and then ask around at different clinics for a quote of how much an ADHD assessment package would cost. (These assessments usually involve multiple sessions and a report written).
I myself do not have ADHD but one of my friends who does and only got diagnosed at 21 said it was life changing to have that validation and an avenue for further support whether it be medication or creating habit plans with her psychologist.
Also just a reminder psychologists can diagnose disorders but if you are looking for potential medication then you will need to be referred to a psychiatrist 🙂
