Post by js07 on Dec 20, 2016 17:43:12 GMT
Hi there,
I have a GP appointment tomorrow where I'll asked to be referred to an ADHD specialist (as usual I've left it until now to actually ask for advice!).
I've had most of the symptoms my entire life - constant daydreaming/not concentrating, which my teachers' put in reports. Not listening (apparently) to my parents or teachers. as in, it looked like selective hearing. People always comment on how I bounce my legs up and down, and finish their sentences which is apparently quite rude.
A big problem is forgetting instructions as soon as I'm given them, because I can't seem to pay attention - this has become more interfering now I'm an adult. Overreacting to little criticisms, which at this point is starting to mess with my relationship. It goes without saying that I'm messy and tend to lose things including 150 euros last summer, my glasses, important documents, and my bf feels that he's almost a carer (but my parents and friends tend to say things like 'oh it's jen being jen again/such an jen thing to do' ). I'm perpetually late, and often/always forget the simple things like doing the washing up, so right now there's a collection of 4/5 mugs in my room, and a pile of receipts on my desk which i've been meaning to move for weeks but for some reason just haven't ('it's so easy, it only takes a moment!'). I'm way behind onmy reading because my stupid brain decides to connect one word with something else, and I don't seem to be able to force myself into doing what i need to. saying that, i definitely can hyperfocus - if i#m like that, no one can get my attention and i look like i'm ignoring people. it's getting harder to do that though, seems impossible somewhere like a busy office so i'm stuck with the inability to concentrate ergo work
My main reason for posting is that I'm worried that because I've been diagnosed with anxiety/depression and prescribed meds in the past, the GP will tell me to not bother. Plus, I'm an adult and it would've been noticed by now (I was taught at home age 11-17 which does complicate things). And I do have very low self esteem and have for a long time, and I do feel that things are quite hopeless if I can't get my act together - my bf has said that if I don't get better than he'll have to leave, and I don't blame him. So yes I probably am depressed. But my depressive moods tend to be very intense and last say two hours and then go. I'm not sure how relevant that is. I also tend to be quite fatigued and sluggish and have mentioned this to my GP a few times. This is despite being unable to sit still/the leg shaking and hair pulling, and constantly leaving my office to pace around, sometimes without realising. It all seems very contradictory, the GP must think I'm a bit nuts.
My GP said, last time I went, that an ADHD referral is near impossible on the NHS and won't result in anything and then asked me to book in separately to talk about being referred - hence tomorrow's appointment. I've also spoken with a counsellor at uni (I'm a researcher) who said he thinks I'm looking for a label and the fact I got this far with degrees etc. means I probably don't have ADHD, and should get CBT referral and SSRIs from my GP.
So, is there any point going do you think? does depression/anxiety preclude ADHD diagnosis, even if they're due to what seem to be symptoms?
sorry for the long rambly post.
I have a GP appointment tomorrow where I'll asked to be referred to an ADHD specialist (as usual I've left it until now to actually ask for advice!).
I've had most of the symptoms my entire life - constant daydreaming/not concentrating, which my teachers' put in reports. Not listening (apparently) to my parents or teachers. as in, it looked like selective hearing. People always comment on how I bounce my legs up and down, and finish their sentences which is apparently quite rude.
A big problem is forgetting instructions as soon as I'm given them, because I can't seem to pay attention - this has become more interfering now I'm an adult. Overreacting to little criticisms, which at this point is starting to mess with my relationship. It goes without saying that I'm messy and tend to lose things including 150 euros last summer, my glasses, important documents, and my bf feels that he's almost a carer (but my parents and friends tend to say things like 'oh it's jen being jen again/such an jen thing to do' ). I'm perpetually late, and often/always forget the simple things like doing the washing up, so right now there's a collection of 4/5 mugs in my room, and a pile of receipts on my desk which i've been meaning to move for weeks but for some reason just haven't ('it's so easy, it only takes a moment!'). I'm way behind onmy reading because my stupid brain decides to connect one word with something else, and I don't seem to be able to force myself into doing what i need to. saying that, i definitely can hyperfocus - if i#m like that, no one can get my attention and i look like i'm ignoring people. it's getting harder to do that though, seems impossible somewhere like a busy office so i'm stuck with the inability to concentrate ergo work
My main reason for posting is that I'm worried that because I've been diagnosed with anxiety/depression and prescribed meds in the past, the GP will tell me to not bother. Plus, I'm an adult and it would've been noticed by now (I was taught at home age 11-17 which does complicate things). And I do have very low self esteem and have for a long time, and I do feel that things are quite hopeless if I can't get my act together - my bf has said that if I don't get better than he'll have to leave, and I don't blame him. So yes I probably am depressed. But my depressive moods tend to be very intense and last say two hours and then go. I'm not sure how relevant that is. I also tend to be quite fatigued and sluggish and have mentioned this to my GP a few times. This is despite being unable to sit still/the leg shaking and hair pulling, and constantly leaving my office to pace around, sometimes without realising. It all seems very contradictory, the GP must think I'm a bit nuts.
My GP said, last time I went, that an ADHD referral is near impossible on the NHS and won't result in anything and then asked me to book in separately to talk about being referred - hence tomorrow's appointment. I've also spoken with a counsellor at uni (I'm a researcher) who said he thinks I'm looking for a label and the fact I got this far with degrees etc. means I probably don't have ADHD, and should get CBT referral and SSRIs from my GP.
So, is there any point going do you think? does depression/anxiety preclude ADHD diagnosis, even if they're due to what seem to be symptoms?
sorry for the long rambly post.