I had kind of hit a breaking point at work. I also have social anxiety and the two of them together are a nightmare combination.
When my performance got brought up at my year end review, at the height of my latest "episode", I came clean to them and said I was suspicious of ADHD so they asked for a doctors note.
I thought diagnosis was going to be some drawn out process but I was diagnosed after a 10 min chat & quiz with my doctor. Due to the fact that I have anxiety he wants me to sort that out before starting me on meds for ADHD.
Social anxiety + ADHD is a murderously toxic combination. Social anxiety is a machine for converting small problems into big problems. ADHD is a machine for creating small problems.
Is it ever. He prescribed Exposure Therapy which is a sub-type of CBT. Except he left the onus on me to find a therapist. Small problem, right?
It's something I've been "working on" for 3 months. What's worse is in my initial attempts of a) figuring out what exposure therapy is and b) trying to find a well suited therapist, I found out that ET is one of those sub types of CBT that no one will touch because it can do more harm than good if done improperly.
Ever try ssri's? did the doctor bring it up? i had to try a few dif ones over the years but finally have my social anxiety basically conquered. The side effects are kinda crappy tbh tho.. One of the shitty things about having ADHD and anxiety is that amphetamines contribute to anxiety sometimes.
No I haven't tried anything. He won't put me on ADHD meds until follow ups lead him to believe the anxiety is under control / resolved. He mentioned the possibility of meds for the anxiety but ultimately decided Therapy was the best course of action for now. I've just been putting off finding a therapist cause y'know.. anxiety and ADHD.
That's how I got diagnosed with GAD. Well, that, and months of therapy before meeting a psychiatrist. I always felt like it was a little quick, but maybe not.
Talked to a psychiatrist about it. We started different coping habits at first and after second session, we started trying different meds/doses. Found what worked for me, been taking that med/dose ever since. Now I follow up once every three months to make sure my dosage is still working and that I'm doing alright.
Very very happy that I stopped trying to deal with it myself and talked with a doctor.
Tell the doctor that your having trouble concentrating. Tell him you've read up on cooking "methamphetamine" but believe there's a safer, less drastic alternative out there. Most doctors worth their salt will see that you've made a responsible choice and will give you a prescription for adderal.
haha i think cooking up meth may be a little bit extreme! Also, before trying adderall i'd recommend vyvanse. alternatively Modafinil is pretty good as well. I've been on addy for ~6 years and it for sure is good stuff but dangerous
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u/CHARGER007 May 30 '17
how did you go about to get diagnosed ? just went up and said you had trouble paying attention etc ?