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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 t

by 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.
verall 4y ago
The shortage with demand outstripping supply is completely synthetic, because the DEA limits how much amphetamine (and other schedule 2 drugs) may be produced/sold each year and it is completely independent of the US population or the rate that the drugs are prescribed. It is a wholly synthetic limitation of supply.
- nvarsj 4y ago
  Interesting - I guess it still implies demand has increased though, assuming supply is fixed?
astrange 4y ago
> 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. Nothing like this should happen. They will improve your sleep and your symptoms will get better over time without medication. If you get tolerance, take magnesium and NAC.
- 331c8c71 4y ago
  > They will improve your sleep Stims? Definitely not in the long term IMO - I am fully with the parent comment here.
  - astrange 4y ago
    If you have ADHD your sleep is already bad. They help by tiring you out properly once they wear off. Just don't take them too late in the day.
    - 331c8c71 4y ago
      Probably works differently for different people. I was taking them for a while and was waking up with a feeling I hadn't slept at all. Every morning that is (a few years in, not initially). This was the main reason I stopped taking them.

by nvarsj 4y ago

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.

verall 4y ago

The shortage with demand outstripping supply is completely synthetic, because the DEA limits how much amphetamine (and other schedule 2 drugs) may be produced/sold each year and it is completely independent of the US population or the rate that the drugs are prescribed. It is a wholly synthetic limitation of supply.

nvarsj 4y ago
Interesting - I guess it still implies demand has increased though, assuming supply is fixed?

astrange 4y ago

> 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. Nothing like this should happen. They will improve your sleep and your symptoms will get better over time without medication. If you get tolerance, take magnesium and NAC.

331c8c71 4y ago
> They will improve your sleep Stims? Definitely not in the long term IMO - I am fully with the parent comment here.
- astrange 4y ago
  If you have ADHD your sleep is already bad. They help by tiring you out properly once they wear off. Just don't take them too late in the day.
  - 331c8c71 4y ago
    Probably works differently for different people. I was taking them for a while and was waking up with a feeling I hadn't slept at all. Every morning that is (a few years in, not initially). This was the main reason I stopped taking them.