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As an adult who feels like they identify with these characteristics, it is hard to know when to try to get help, or whether you are just seeing what you want to

As an adult who feels like they identify with these characteristics, it is hard to know when to try to get help, or whether you are just seeing what you want to see and looking for an excuse. I have always shied away from seeking an adult ADHD diagnosis, partly because of prideful denial (not wanting to acknowledge that there might be something wrong with me), and partly because I have no faith in the NHS giving a shit, since I am an otherwise health and successful 30-something.

whatshisface 4y ago
I think you have those switched around, the one where something is wrong with you is if you're lazy, ADHD would be if something was wrong with your inborn biological configuration. If you want a reason for that, it's because the "you" that is responsible for their actions and subject to criticism is the one that can listen to words and control stuff, which doesn't extend to the looser sense of the word "you" that includes what your face looks like or how your various receptors are shaped.
- Moissanite 4y ago
  Yeah I should have put quotes on "wrong"; I acknowledge (intellectually) that it is not a personal failing to have ADHD and would not think less of other people for it, but I apply a higher standard to myself for reasons passing understanding.
  - whatshisface 4y ago
    It's too late for you to apply any standards to your DNA, you've already been born.
    - cheeseomlit 4y ago
      Is there any evidence ADHD is genetic? The only connection I've read about is that parents who are diagnosed with ADHD are more likely to have their children diagnosed with it, but that itself is not evidence of a genetic trait. Seems just as likely to be nurture than nature to me- for example if parents over-stimulate their kids by putting them in front of TVs/iPads/etc. from a young age it's not surprising they'll develop attention problems
      - whatshisface 4y ago
        You can subtract out nuture by comparing identical to fraternal twins, and by doing that they've found that it has a large genetic component.
      - 4ec0755f5522 4y ago
        Yes, it is a genetic neurological condition related to dopamine and not due to iPads.
        cheeseomlit 4y ago
        You say that like it's a fact but diagnosis is not based on genetic/neurological testing, it's mostly just observing behavior in interviews.
        whatshisface 4y ago
        Twin and family studies reveal that it is genetic but don't reveal how genes cause it or which ones are involved.
        cheeseomlit 4y ago
        How can those studies prove it is genetic if there is no quantitative way to diagnose it? If you could do a blood test or brain scan and make a diagnosis on physical data then sure, but until then it's all just conjecture
        whatshisface 4y ago
        If ADHD diagnoses were random, fraternal and identical twins wouldn't have correlated diagnoses.
        alwillis 4y ago
        > How can those studies prove it is genetic if there is no quantitative way to diagnose it? If you could do a blood test or brain scan and make a diagnosis on physical data then sure, but until then it's all just conjecture It's quite arrogant to suggest that an ADHD diagnosis is speculative or some kind of guess. It's thinking like this that causes people to not seek help or talk openly with family, friends and co-workers if they've been diagnosed with ADHD. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can make a diagnosis based on clinically accepted criteria of what constitutes ADHD and other mental health and neurological issues. There are lots of mental health conditions and disorders that don't have a blood test or brain scan that "proves" someone has that condition. Brain scans do show differences between people with and without ADHD, but most of the time, you aren't going to get a $5000 brain scan (or whatever it might cost even if insurance pays for it) to diagnose something that's been in the medical literature for over 100 years when it can be diagnosed more conventionally and at less cost. Turns out brain scans aren't 100% accurate and there are trade-offs [1]: Brain imaging scans may be appealing because they appear to offer a firm diagnosis. However, these tests are still new in regards to their use in ADHD, and they have many limitations. These tests are also expensive and can potentially expose children to radiation. Currently, brain scans are more useful for research purposes than for making clinical diagnoses. ADHD isn't just one thing; there are subtypes where certain symptoms are more prominent than others. Because the heritability of ADHD is 74% [2], I wouldn't be surprised that one day we'll have a genetic test that can help diagnose ADHD but we aren't there yet. [1]: https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/brain-scans#limitations https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/brain-scans#limitatio... [2]: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder#Genetics https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactiv...
friedman23 4y ago
I tried everything before considering medication. I took every vitamin under the sun, walked 5 to 10 miles a day, lifted weights, did cardio, slept at the same exact time every day, and ate at the same exact time every day. None of it worked. Medication, so far, has been life changing.
- adhdthrowaway11 4y ago
  Same. Doing any of these (exercise, trying to find a job that's intrinsically more motivating, etc.) would somehow work, for a limited time, but not consistently. And if I stopped doing any of them, I'd go back to exactly where I was before. Dealing with procrastination and self-hate related to it had been a constant for me for the past 20 years. I consulted a therapist for many months (which I also hoped would help with this) and she confirmed that I should seek out medication. I don't want to promote any specific company, but I had a really good experience with one of the newest online medical startups (check reddit for recommendations). I was able to make an appointment, talk to a doctor twice in two days, and get my prescription and medication within 48 hours of signing up... I'm lucky to be in the US right now (I'm not a citizen, just working here legally). Out of pocket (i.e. without any insurance) it cost me roughly speaking $250 all in all which is extremely reasonable...
WheatMillington 4y ago
FWIW here's my experience: mid 30s, New Zealand, wife read about ADHD due to young kids and recognised the adult symptoms in me. After some prodding I saw a specialist and was diagnosed. I take daily ritalin - outside of the first few days (which were dramatic) I haven't had a life altering experience on the drugs, and tbh it doesn't change much whether or not I take it. However, having a diagnoses changes the way I approach things in life - it's helpful to know why my brain works the way it does, and how to work around it and with it. I don't think you need a formal diagnoses for this though. It's extremely helpful to take a big dose just before a long meeting, to be fair. Where previously I'd struggle to even make it through, I can now be engaged.
- Moissanite 4y ago
  My reluctance to engage with the health service has led me to experiment with a few things like exercise, vitamin D and better sleep, which all had positive outcomes even if they didn't fix the problem. Your description of ritalin is similar to what I found when I took my experiments further and tried modafinil for about 18 months. It was just about effective enough to justify the (legal but awkward) way of obtaining it. Speaking to a doctor would of course be the sensible next step if I wasn't so bloody stubborn.
- ravenstine 4y ago
  I find that stimulants are mostly good for one thing, which is the ability to push through uninteresting tasks. Listening to others also becomes much easier. I don't find they have that dramatic of an effect, but I feel more "normal" if that makes any sense. Stimulants won't fix ADHD and magically make uninteresting work stimulating. They just lift a thin veil a bit.
- Zircom 4y ago
  You might try switching to strattera or Adderall for a month or two, there can be a dramatic difference between the effectiveness of ADD medications on individuals.
ghorto 4y ago
I got diagnosed and medicated, significantly improved my ability to work, got promoted way past what I ever would have expected ... and still feel like a fraud who doesn't really have ADHD and who will get caught out any minute. But I'm still glad I sought help, even if it didn't fix the underlying self-doubt and self-derision.
falcolas 4y ago
> it is hard to know when to try to get help, or whether you are just seeing what you want to see and looking for an excuse And that's why you see a professional. If you don't, you'll never know. It's hard, it's embarrassing, and ultimately, it can be redeeming to know that no, you're not just lazy.
opportune 4y ago
A diagnosis might help you get something like medication which does actually help. I agree that if you don’t plan on taking medication there is no need to seek a diagnosis. Unless you want to get involved in ADHD support groups and stuff, where you’d (imo rightfully) draw some errant looks if you admitted you’d never been diagnosed with it. For me the medication is life changingly effective so I’m very glad I got formally diagnosed at 25
- falcolas 4y ago
  I was once in the "no medication" camp. Even without medication, a diagnosis can get you: - Help via CBT and other thereputical techniques. - Knowledge of what's imposter syndrome and what's a real issue you're facing. - Allowances (the legally required ADA type) at work.
gnicholas 4y ago
FWIW, there seem to be more employee affinity groups for dyslexia or neurodiversity in general. I think you've identified some of the reasons why. I've also heard nightmares about getting support services in the UK. One person told me that she had been diagnosed and was receiving some assistive technology supports, but to get access to tools she wasn't previously aware of (my startup's browser plugin), she would need to go through the diagnosis process again. Not surprisingly, she chose not to and just paid out-of-pocket.
ojhughes 4y ago
I got a private diagnosis for around £1000 and was then transferred to the NHS for my prescription and yearly consultations. It was well worth the money for me
adolph 4y ago
> looking for an excuse. > not wanting to acknowledge that there might be something wrong with me I had a similar mindset about a diagnosis. Here is why I changed my mind: The purpose of the diagnosis is to guide a course of actions that may improve your life and that of the people around you. It is the opposite of an excuse because getting help is good for you and others. You need never disclose to anyone that a diagnosis affects you but it can be helpful for others to understand some characteristics about you. ADHD (and many conditions) isn't something wrong with anyone. It is a term for a cluster of cognitive/behavior differences in the area known as "executive function." [0] These difference can be thought of like height or eyesight in that they can be [dis]advantageous or not and they can be compensated for or not. The choice to go on the road of self discovery is your own. As far as I can tell there is nothing to lose and much to gain. 0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_functions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_functions
DoreenMichele 4y ago
As a general PSA: ADHD is supposed to be a diagnosis of last resort that they give after eliminating all other possibilities. It's useful to know the root cause of whatever problems you may be having. Some studies and some individuals report benefiting from certain nutritional supplements if you get a diagnosis and want to treat it without medication per se.
- _whiteCaps_ 4y ago
  What are the other possibilities?
  - DoreenMichele 4y ago
    My oldest was checked for ADHD in kindergarten and the ruled out ADHD because he paid more attention to longer sentences. It would be some years before I would learn that he was basically suffering from "bored gifted kid syndrome (TM)" and not ADHD. He also has some health issues and can't pay attention when he's under the weather. There can be lots of reasons someone has trouble concentrating at times.
nvarsj 4y ago
Getting an adult ADHD diagnosis on the NHS is very hard and time consuming. Most people in the UK get a private diagnosis - there are many online websites now that will diagnose you completely over zoom in 1 hour. In the US it's even easier. There is a profit motive in the US to get people onto lifetime medication, and many websites for online diagnosis and delivery. If you have private insurance, it's easy - just self refer to a psychiatrist, list your ADHD symptoms, get a prescription. There's even an Adderall shortage in the US right now - demand is outstripping supply. Adult ADHD seems to be rising dramatically in western countries. My thoughts are that a lot of people, esp. intelligent ones, will have a lot of symptoms of adult ADHD. It might even be something normal in people near the top of the IQ bell curve - so especially common in tech workers. I think that what you have, and others, could be diagnosed as mild ADHD, maybe moderate. It's nothing at all like severe ADHD - which would make it literally impossible for you to have a career or get a degree without medication. These are the cases generally diagnosed in children because it's so obvious. So... what to do? You can get a private diagnosis and get medication. It will probably help you a lot, at least initially - you'll be able to crank out 8 hours of boring ass work no problem. Over the long term, you will suffer some side effects - worse sleep, tolerance builds up, and your ADHD symptoms will likely get much worse if you stop medication. I have mixed feelings about it all. I also identify w/ a lot of the ADHD symptoms (and I've been trying to get an NHS diagnosis for ages, and am going to seek out a private one next year). But with good sleep, exercise, and various other techniques, I think I can manage a successful job/career without needing meds. I found WFH really hard though, but in the office I can manage. It's really hard to know where I am on the "normal" curve though - I don't know anyone who doesn't suffer from procrastination to a degree, or struggles with boring tasks, who themselves are not on medication.
- LocalPCGuy 4y ago
  > nothing at all like severe ADHD ... cases generally diagnosed in children because it's so obvious I think the thing you might overlook with this statement (truncated slightly) is that sometime people are able to mask their symptoms, especially those who are highly intelligent and who may fall into an "inattentive" diagnosis, rather than the "hyperactive" side. I agree there are different levels that the affect can have on folks, however there is a difference between the boredom/procrastination/etc. struggles with someone who has ADHD and someone who doesn't. It's isn't just something that "everyone deals with to some extent or another". And proper diagnosis techniques will also sort for false positives, to eliminate folks who are actually "just bored", for example. That said, this is something that studies have shown very much needs to be addressed not only from a medication aspect - sometimes it is definitely necessary and in many cases all the behavior techniques in the world won't make up for the chemical imbalances. But it should also be addressed from a behavior standpoint, via CBT or other therapy as well as other wellness techniques you mention, like good nurtition, sleep, exercise. From the studies I've read, the best results come from a combination of the two, not from ignoring or promoting one over the other.
tailspin2019 4y ago
I’d recommend the book “Delivered From Distraction”. It’s written in a relatively ADHD friendly way and the first chapter or two explains a bit more about the condition and will likely give you enough of a feeling as to whether it would be worth pursuing a diagnosis. (“ADHD 2.0” is also good and is a more recent book by the same author). I get the concern about the NHS (private support options are available too if that’s an option for you) but I would definitely try to move past any stigma concerns - no one cares (in a good way) :) personally I don’t think it’s a big deal and that shouldn’t get in your way of pursuing answers if that’s the right path for you to take.
odiroot 4y ago
> and partly because I have no faith in the NHS giving a shit If you have to deal with NHS for ADHD, them giving a shit is the least of your problems. Getting an appointment with a dedicated specialist is the hardest thing. Currently the waiting times are 6 months to 2 years.

whatshisface 4y ago

I think you have those switched around, the one where something is wrong with you is if you're lazy, ADHD would be if something was wrong with your inborn biological configuration. If you want a reason for that, it's because the "you" that is responsible for their actions and subject to criticism is the one that can listen to words and control stuff, which doesn't extend to the looser sense of the word "you" that includes what your face looks like or how your various receptors are shaped.

Moissanite 4y ago
Yeah I should have put quotes on "wrong"; I acknowledge (intellectually) that it is not a personal failing to have ADHD and would not think less of other people for it, but I apply a higher standard to myself for reasons passing understanding.
- whatshisface 4y ago
  It's too late for you to apply any standards to your DNA, you've already been born.
  - cheeseomlit 4y ago
    Is there any evidence ADHD is genetic? The only connection I've read about is that parents who are diagnosed with ADHD are more likely to have their children diagnosed with it, but that itself is not evidence of a genetic trait. Seems just as likely to be nurture than nature to me- for example if parents over-stimulate their kids by putting them in front of TVs/iPads/etc. from a young age it's not surprising they'll develop attention problems
    - whatshisface 4y ago
      You can subtract out nuture by comparing identical to fraternal twins, and by doing that they've found that it has a large genetic component.
    - 4ec0755f5522 4y ago
      Yes, it is a genetic neurological condition related to dopamine and not due to iPads.
      - cheeseomlit 4y ago
        You say that like it's a fact but diagnosis is not based on genetic/neurological testing, it's mostly just observing behavior in interviews.
        whatshisface 4y ago
        Twin and family studies reveal that it is genetic but don't reveal how genes cause it or which ones are involved.
        cheeseomlit 4y ago
        How can those studies prove it is genetic if there is no quantitative way to diagnose it? If you could do a blood test or brain scan and make a diagnosis on physical data then sure, but until then it's all just conjecture
        whatshisface 4y ago
        If ADHD diagnoses were random, fraternal and identical twins wouldn't have correlated diagnoses.
        alwillis 4y ago
        > How can those studies prove it is genetic if there is no quantitative way to diagnose it? If you could do a blood test or brain scan and make a diagnosis on physical data then sure, but until then it's all just conjecture It's quite arrogant to suggest that an ADHD diagnosis is speculative or some kind of guess. It's thinking like this that causes people to not seek help or talk openly with family, friends and co-workers if they've been diagnosed with ADHD. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can make a diagnosis based on clinically accepted criteria of what constitutes ADHD and other mental health and neurological issues. There are lots of mental health conditions and disorders that don't have a blood test or brain scan that "proves" someone has that condition. Brain scans do show differences between people with and without ADHD, but most of the time, you aren't going to get a $5000 brain scan (or whatever it might cost even if insurance pays for it) to diagnose something that's been in the medical literature for over 100 years when it can be diagnosed more conventionally and at less cost. Turns out brain scans aren't 100% accurate and there are trade-offs [1]: Brain imaging scans may be appealing because they appear to offer a firm diagnosis. However, these tests are still new in regards to their use in ADHD, and they have many limitations. These tests are also expensive and can potentially expose children to radiation. Currently, brain scans are more useful for research purposes than for making clinical diagnoses. ADHD isn't just one thing; there are subtypes where certain symptoms are more prominent than others. Because the heritability of ADHD is 74% [2], I wouldn't be surprised that one day we'll have a genetic test that can help diagnose ADHD but we aren't there yet. [1]: https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/brain-scans#limitations https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/brain-scans#limitatio... [2]: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder#Genetics https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactiv...

friedman23 4y ago

I tried everything before considering medication. I took every vitamin under the sun, walked 5 to 10 miles a day, lifted weights, did cardio, slept at the same exact time every day, and ate at the same exact time every day. None of it worked. Medication, so far, has been life changing.

adhdthrowaway11 4y ago
Same. Doing any of these (exercise, trying to find a job that's intrinsically more motivating, etc.) would somehow work, for a limited time, but not consistently. And if I stopped doing any of them, I'd go back to exactly where I was before. Dealing with procrastination and self-hate related to it had been a constant for me for the past 20 years. I consulted a therapist for many months (which I also hoped would help with this) and she confirmed that I should seek out medication. I don't want to promote any specific company, but I had a really good experience with one of the newest online medical startups (check reddit for recommendations). I was able to make an appointment, talk to a doctor twice in two days, and get my prescription and medication within 48 hours of signing up... I'm lucky to be in the US right now (I'm not a citizen, just working here legally). Out of pocket (i.e. without any insurance) it cost me roughly speaking $250 all in all which is extremely reasonable...

WheatMillington 4y ago

FWIW here's my experience: mid 30s, New Zealand, wife read about ADHD due to young kids and recognised the adult symptoms in me. After some prodding I saw a specialist and was diagnosed. I take daily ritalin - outside of the first few days (which were dramatic) I haven't had a life altering experience on the drugs, and tbh it doesn't change much whether or not I take it. However, having a diagnoses changes the way I approach things in life - it's helpful to know why my brain works the way it does, and how to work around it and with it. I don't think you need a formal diagnoses for this though. It's extremely helpful to take a big dose just before a long meeting, to be fair. Where previously I'd struggle to even make it through, I can now be engaged.

Moissanite 4y ago
My reluctance to engage with the health service has led me to experiment with a few things like exercise, vitamin D and better sleep, which all had positive outcomes even if they didn't fix the problem. Your description of ritalin is similar to what I found when I took my experiments further and tried modafinil for about 18 months. It was just about effective enough to justify the (legal but awkward) way of obtaining it. Speaking to a doctor would of course be the sensible next step if I wasn't so bloody stubborn.
ravenstine 4y ago
I find that stimulants are mostly good for one thing, which is the ability to push through uninteresting tasks. Listening to others also becomes much easier. I don't find they have that dramatic of an effect, but I feel more "normal" if that makes any sense. Stimulants won't fix ADHD and magically make uninteresting work stimulating. They just lift a thin veil a bit.
Zircom 4y ago
You might try switching to strattera or Adderall for a month or two, there can be a dramatic difference between the effectiveness of ADD medications on individuals.

ghorto 4y ago

I got diagnosed and medicated, significantly improved my ability to work, got promoted way past what I ever would have expected ... and still feel like a fraud who doesn't really have ADHD and who will get caught out any minute. But I'm still glad I sought help, even if it didn't fix the underlying self-doubt and self-derision.

falcolas 4y ago

> it is hard to know when to try to get help, or whether you are just seeing what you want to see and looking for an excuse And that's why you see a professional. If you don't, you'll never know. It's hard, it's embarrassing, and ultimately, it can be redeeming to know that no, you're not just lazy.

opportune 4y ago

A diagnosis might help you get something like medication which does actually help. I agree that if you don’t plan on taking medication there is no need to seek a diagnosis. Unless you want to get involved in ADHD support groups and stuff, where you’d (imo rightfully) draw some errant looks if you admitted you’d never been diagnosed with it. For me the medication is life changingly effective so I’m very glad I got formally diagnosed at 25

falcolas 4y ago
I was once in the "no medication" camp. Even without medication, a diagnosis can get you: - Help via CBT and other thereputical techniques. - Knowledge of what's imposter syndrome and what's a real issue you're facing. - Allowances (the legally required ADA type) at work.

gnicholas 4y ago

FWIW, there seem to be more employee affinity groups for dyslexia or neurodiversity in general. I think you've identified some of the reasons why. I've also heard nightmares about getting support services in the UK. One person told me that she had been diagnosed and was receiving some assistive technology supports, but to get access to tools she wasn't previously aware of (my startup's browser plugin), she would need to go through the diagnosis process again. Not surprisingly, she chose not to and just paid out-of-pocket.

ojhughes 4y ago

I got a private diagnosis for around £1000 and was then transferred to the NHS for my prescription and yearly consultations. It was well worth the money for me

adolph 4y ago

> looking for an excuse. > not wanting to acknowledge that there might be something wrong with me I had a similar mindset about a diagnosis. Here is why I changed my mind: The purpose of the diagnosis is to guide a course of actions that may improve your life and that of the people around you. It is the opposite of an excuse because getting help is good for you and others. You need never disclose to anyone that a diagnosis affects you but it can be helpful for others to understand some characteristics about you. ADHD (and many conditions) isn't something wrong with anyone. It is a term for a cluster of cognitive/behavior differences in the area known as "executive function." [0] These difference can be thought of like height or eyesight in that they can be [dis]advantageous or not and they can be compensated for or not. The choice to go on the road of self discovery is your own. As far as I can tell there is nothing to lose and much to gain. 0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_functions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_functions

DoreenMichele 4y ago

As a general PSA: ADHD is supposed to be a diagnosis of last resort that they give after eliminating all other possibilities. It's useful to know the root cause of whatever problems you may be having. Some studies and some individuals report benefiting from certain nutritional supplements if you get a diagnosis and want to treat it without medication per se.

_whiteCaps_ 4y ago
What are the other possibilities?
- DoreenMichele 4y ago
  My oldest was checked for ADHD in kindergarten and the ruled out ADHD because he paid more attention to longer sentences. It would be some years before I would learn that he was basically suffering from "bored gifted kid syndrome (TM)" and not ADHD. He also has some health issues and can't pay attention when he's under the weather. There can be lots of reasons someone has trouble concentrating at times.

nvarsj 4y ago

Getting an adult ADHD diagnosis on the NHS is very hard and time consuming. Most people in the UK get a private diagnosis - there are many online websites now that will diagnose you completely over zoom in 1 hour. In the US it's even easier. There is a profit motive in the US to get people onto lifetime medication, and many websites for online diagnosis and delivery. If you have private insurance, it's easy - just self refer to a psychiatrist, list your ADHD symptoms, get a prescription. There's even an Adderall shortage in the US right now - demand is outstripping supply. Adult ADHD seems to be rising dramatically in western countries. My thoughts are that a lot of people, esp. intelligent ones, will have a lot of symptoms of adult ADHD. It might even be something normal in people near the top of the IQ bell curve - so especially common in tech workers. I think that what you have, and others, could be diagnosed as mild ADHD, maybe moderate. It's nothing at all like severe ADHD - which would make it literally impossible for you to have a career or get a degree without medication. These are the cases generally diagnosed in children because it's so obvious. So... what to do? You can get a private diagnosis and get medication. It will probably help you a lot, at least initially - you'll be able to crank out 8 hours of boring ass work no problem. Over the long term, you will suffer some side effects - worse sleep, tolerance builds up, and your ADHD symptoms will likely get much worse if you stop medication. I have mixed feelings about it all. I also identify w/ a lot of the ADHD symptoms (and I've been trying to get an NHS diagnosis for ages, and am going to seek out a private one next year). But with good sleep, exercise, and various other techniques, I think I can manage a successful job/career without needing meds. I found WFH really hard though, but in the office I can manage. It's really hard to know where I am on the "normal" curve though - I don't know anyone who doesn't suffer from procrastination to a degree, or struggles with boring tasks, who themselves are not on medication.

LocalPCGuy 4y ago
> nothing at all like severe ADHD ... cases generally diagnosed in children because it's so obvious I think the thing you might overlook with this statement (truncated slightly) is that sometime people are able to mask their symptoms, especially those who are highly intelligent and who may fall into an "inattentive" diagnosis, rather than the "hyperactive" side. I agree there are different levels that the affect can have on folks, however there is a difference between the boredom/procrastination/etc. struggles with someone who has ADHD and someone who doesn't. It's isn't just something that "everyone deals with to some extent or another". And proper diagnosis techniques will also sort for false positives, to eliminate folks who are actually "just bored", for example. That said, this is something that studies have shown very much needs to be addressed not only from a medication aspect - sometimes it is definitely necessary and in many cases all the behavior techniques in the world won't make up for the chemical imbalances. But it should also be addressed from a behavior standpoint, via CBT or other therapy as well as other wellness techniques you mention, like good nurtition, sleep, exercise. From the studies I've read, the best results come from a combination of the two, not from ignoring or promoting one over the other.

tailspin2019 4y ago

I’d recommend the book “Delivered From Distraction”. It’s written in a relatively ADHD friendly way and the first chapter or two explains a bit more about the condition and will likely give you enough of a feeling as to whether it would be worth pursuing a diagnosis. (“ADHD 2.0” is also good and is a more recent book by the same author). I get the concern about the NHS (private support options are available too if that’s an option for you) but I would definitely try to move past any stigma concerns - no one cares (in a good way) :) personally I don’t think it’s a big deal and that shouldn’t get in your way of pursuing answers if that’s the right path for you to take.

odiroot 4y ago

> and partly because I have no faith in the NHS giving a shit If you have to deal with NHS for ADHD, them giving a shit is the least of your problems. Getting an appointment with a dedicated specialist is the hardest thing. Currently the waiting times are 6 months to 2 years.