I’m in kind of a weird situation. I’m past my 40’s, and a close younger relative of mine got diagnosed with ADHD and I was talking with their psych and she said “uh it’s pretty clear you have this too., and you’ve been masking.”
So I was already seeing a psychiatrist, for anxiety, paying out of pocket because I didn’t want people in my profession or the health insurance company to know.
I told my own psych about the ADHD idea and she started prescribing stimulant meds to see if it helps.
It’s been amazing. My anxiety has practically melted away and just everything has gotten better for me.
Should I get diagnosed officially now?
On one hand I like the privacy.
On the other hand, my current psychiatrist might retire soon, and also if I have to change jobs, I think I’m required to list any pre-existing conditions.
I’d really like to hear other people’s experiences either way.
I was diagnosed about as early as my childhood memories go. As far as i can tell there has been no negatives to getting diagnosed, and it was instrumental in finding the only medication that has ever helped, which is adderall. Without that diagnosis, it was impossible for me to get adderall. As soon as i mentioned i was diagnosed, the pathway became almost easy. And if you have serious adhd issues, i would highly recommend adderall. Its seriously like a cheat. Its unbelievably wild to decide something needs to be done and just be able to do it. It honestly makes me very confused that people without adhd arent more successful, because adderall turned life into easy mode straight from suicidal depression because my life was a mess.
Thanks this is really helpful. Any issues ever getting health or life insurance? Jobs?
Well, im too poor and young for life insurance, same would go for health insurance but before i got my job it was easy enough to get on soonercare. Now that i make more than 1800/month i just dont have health insurance either. As far as a job, no job requires that you disclose that. I do however normally tell my boss im prescribed medicine so they dont think im pill popping, but they dont need to know what medicine.