I was actually diagnosed with ADHD when I was 4 back in 1991. I always thought it was bullshit. Im now 30, I can see all the symptoms and I have to be very conscious of them. My short term memory, distracted easily, and I felt chills when this guy described perfectly the shit that happens to me. My parents never put me on drugs. Back in the early 90's it was riddelin. I just had to learn to deal with it. Now i just carry a small notebook around with lists and notes. It helps a lot, as long as I rememebr to look at it.
Haha. I was going to say everyone suggests lists and notes to me but it's a miracle to get me to remember to look at them.
Similar-ish story. My teachers mentioned to my parents when I was around 4 or 5 that I had trouble paying attention and focusing in class but since I wasn't hyper it was nothing to worry about.
Struggled through every year of school, dropped out of college twice, blah blah blah but I could never figure out why I struggled so much. I just thought I was stupid and hated school because of it.
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.
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u/muddywater87 May 30 '17
I was actually diagnosed with ADHD when I was 4 back in 1991. I always thought it was bullshit. Im now 30, I can see all the symptoms and I have to be very conscious of them. My short term memory, distracted easily, and I felt chills when this guy described perfectly the shit that happens to me. My parents never put me on drugs. Back in the early 90's it was riddelin. I just had to learn to deal with it. Now i just carry a small notebook around with lists and notes. It helps a lot, as long as I rememebr to look at it.