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I was told by my doctor that since I have a successful career as a software engineer I do not have ADHD. I'm still fighting to get a prescription. What he doesn

I was told by my doctor that since I have a successful career as a software engineer I do not have ADHD. I'm still fighting to get a prescription. What he doesn't understand how my coping mechanisms are probably more unhealthy then the drug. I have allocate recreation time to work, use a lot of caffeine, and sleep deprivation to overcome my ADHD. Sleep deprivation is probably the strongest tool to combat ADHD but as I get older it takes a greater toll on my body.

elcritch 7y ago
If your doctor is a family medicine practitioner, you really should visit a practice that specializes in ADHD. It can cost a lot more but well worth it. They’ll be much more proficient in providing an actual diagnosis and subtype along with the knowledge to help find treatments. IMHO, as others mention, medication still requires behavioral/mental habit changes which having a psychiatrist familiar with the details of ADHD will be a huge boon in incorporating into your lifestyle. Oddly I get the bit about sleep deprivation. It can be oddly effective. I also sometimes do more effective work when I have a cold/flu as well.
jacoblambda 7y ago
Other than your experience with your doctor, what you described is near perfect recreation of my experience prior to getting medication. Afterwards those coping mechanisms nigh complete disappeared almost overnight. Keep pushing to at least get a trial run with the medication and seeing if it helps you. Also if your doctor is seriously ignoring your concerns, consider looking for a better doctor. People often place way too much confidence in their doctors and stick with crappy doctors who don't make efforts to resolve their patients concerns. Best of luck finding something that helps you get away from those coping mechanisms. Note: This post is a little rambly since I am typing this up while doing something else but I felt the need to comment.
- easton_s 7y ago
  Thanks for the push. I've been working with ADHD my entire life. I never considered medication before until my son started on it and I watched an absolute transformation in the way he works at school. His 4th grade teacher literally cried it was so positive.
walshemj 7y ago
That's unusual as the profession is known for having a lot of neurodiverse members.
steve_adams_86 7y ago
> I have allocate recreation time to work Ugh, this. So many lost days, weeks, months to ADHD. Just trying to keep up. Can't focus for a day? There goes the weekend. Shame, fear of losing my job, fear of work piling up - all of it. I have to make up for it at some point.
rtchau 7y ago
I can relate to this. I was diagnosed at 31, and my doctor at the time asked me "so, are you having issues at work? Is anyone pulling you up on your effort?" The answer was "No". His response was "well, then what's the problem?" The longer answer from me should have been "no, but keeping up appearances requires Herculian effort, and I pay a tremendous emotional and personal cost, I am distant from my wife and 2 kids, and at night time, the anxiety is enough to materialize a cold ball of steel in the pit of stomach". I managed to get a diagnosis anyway, and my psychiatrist got me started on Ritalin, and then onto Concerta (I take Vyvanse now). The difference was like flipping a switch. My work output improved out of sight, I stopped being a zombie at night time because I didn't have to go through a cycle of wake up -> work -> burnout -> sleep -> recover every day, and I'm earning more than twice what I was at the time of my diagnosis, and I don't think any of that would have been possible if I'd remained in the same situation. What I've learned over the years is that the problems associated with ADHD don't "go away" with medication, they just become more manageable, and knowing how my brain works both on and off medication has been TREMENDOUS tool for increasing self-awareness and understanding that the anxiety/procrastination/apathy etc is a function of neurochemistry, and not a harbinger of doom or destruction.

elcritch 7y ago

If your doctor is a family medicine practitioner, you really should visit a practice that specializes in ADHD. It can cost a lot more but well worth it. They’ll be much more proficient in providing an actual diagnosis and subtype along with the knowledge to help find treatments. IMHO, as others mention, medication still requires behavioral/mental habit changes which having a psychiatrist familiar with the details of ADHD will be a huge boon in incorporating into your lifestyle. Oddly I get the bit about sleep deprivation. It can be oddly effective. I also sometimes do more effective work when I have a cold/flu as well.

jacoblambda 7y ago

Other than your experience with your doctor, what you described is near perfect recreation of my experience prior to getting medication. Afterwards those coping mechanisms nigh complete disappeared almost overnight. Keep pushing to at least get a trial run with the medication and seeing if it helps you. Also if your doctor is seriously ignoring your concerns, consider looking for a better doctor. People often place way too much confidence in their doctors and stick with crappy doctors who don't make efforts to resolve their patients concerns. Best of luck finding something that helps you get away from those coping mechanisms. Note: This post is a little rambly since I am typing this up while doing something else but I felt the need to comment.

easton_s 7y ago
Thanks for the push. I've been working with ADHD my entire life. I never considered medication before until my son started on it and I watched an absolute transformation in the way he works at school. His 4th grade teacher literally cried it was so positive.

walshemj 7y ago

That's unusual as the profession is known for having a lot of neurodiverse members.

steve_adams_86 7y ago

> I have allocate recreation time to work Ugh, this. So many lost days, weeks, months to ADHD. Just trying to keep up. Can't focus for a day? There goes the weekend. Shame, fear of losing my job, fear of work piling up - all of it. I have to make up for it at some point.

rtchau 7y ago

I can relate to this. I was diagnosed at 31, and my doctor at the time asked me "so, are you having issues at work? Is anyone pulling you up on your effort?" The answer was "No". His response was "well, then what's the problem?" The longer answer from me should have been "no, but keeping up appearances requires Herculian effort, and I pay a tremendous emotional and personal cost, I am distant from my wife and 2 kids, and at night time, the anxiety is enough to materialize a cold ball of steel in the pit of stomach". I managed to get a diagnosis anyway, and my psychiatrist got me started on Ritalin, and then onto Concerta (I take Vyvanse now). The difference was like flipping a switch. My work output improved out of sight, I stopped being a zombie at night time because I didn't have to go through a cycle of wake up -> work -> burnout -> sleep -> recover every day, and I'm earning more than twice what I was at the time of my diagnosis, and I don't think any of that would have been possible if I'd remained in the same situation. What I've learned over the years is that the problems associated with ADHD don't "go away" with medication, they just become more manageable, and knowing how my brain works both on and off medication has been TREMENDOUS tool for increasing self-awareness and understanding that the anxiety/procrastination/apathy etc is a function of neurochemistry, and not a harbinger of doom or destruction.