Post by pumly on Nov 8, 2021 13:46:52 GMT
Hi,
This must be a very common question.
I am in my mid-forties and whilst people have commented on my neurodivergence my whole life with all kinds of suggestions, recently an HR professional suggested that I take a look at ADHD. Due to my prejudiced and uninformed view of ADHD, I was not expecting this to mean much, but once I started reading I found that for the first time in my life I actually found something that chimed with my own experience. The more I think about it the more I discover (a) things that I assumed everybody experienced, but it turns out are not common, an (b) things that explain things about my childhood and past. I now recognise many coping strategies I have developed too.
To the question: should I seek a medical diagnosis? I am probably not an extreme case of ADHD, and online tests class me as 'medium'. I am quite successful and I am sure that my ADHD has been more or less completely masked by success in school and career. Ironically some of my ability has caused people to suggest other possible neurodivergencies that I have not found really to apply to me in the end.
The question can be further broken down in two parts.
Are there any risks or possible negative consequences of a professional diagnosis, e.g. will I be obliged to disclose it under certain circumstances?
Are there benefits (I can see the benefit in knowing this about myself, but don't need a professional diagnosis for this), given that I am not interested in anything my employer can do?
What about the drugs? I have been able to survive very well until now, and a doctor may take the same view. I am not interested in continual taking of drugs, but should I be curious about the possibility that drugs could have a positive effect taken occasionally for the very worst times?
Thanks in advance for any comments. I am only just beginning my journey of discovering more about this and how this knowledge can be used to improve my way of living.
This must be a very common question.
I am in my mid-forties and whilst people have commented on my neurodivergence my whole life with all kinds of suggestions, recently an HR professional suggested that I take a look at ADHD. Due to my prejudiced and uninformed view of ADHD, I was not expecting this to mean much, but once I started reading I found that for the first time in my life I actually found something that chimed with my own experience. The more I think about it the more I discover (a) things that I assumed everybody experienced, but it turns out are not common, an (b) things that explain things about my childhood and past. I now recognise many coping strategies I have developed too.
To the question: should I seek a medical diagnosis? I am probably not an extreme case of ADHD, and online tests class me as 'medium'. I am quite successful and I am sure that my ADHD has been more or less completely masked by success in school and career. Ironically some of my ability has caused people to suggest other possible neurodivergencies that I have not found really to apply to me in the end.
The question can be further broken down in two parts.
Are there any risks or possible negative consequences of a professional diagnosis, e.g. will I be obliged to disclose it under certain circumstances?
Are there benefits (I can see the benefit in knowing this about myself, but don't need a professional diagnosis for this), given that I am not interested in anything my employer can do?
What about the drugs? I have been able to survive very well until now, and a doctor may take the same view. I am not interested in continual taking of drugs, but should I be curious about the possibility that drugs could have a positive effect taken occasionally for the very worst times?
Thanks in advance for any comments. I am only just beginning my journey of discovering more about this and how this knowledge can be used to improve my way of living.