Diagnosed ADHD 61yo and distrust of clinicians after misdiagnoses

[Andy_12]

I was diagnosed with ADHD earlier this year, and it came like a bolt of lightning. Totally unexpected, but very grateful to finally at this stage of my life understand a major influencer of my life.

It should not have been unexpected, as both my sons to different mothers have been diagnosed. The condition is 80% inherited.

There are lots of online resources about ADHD. Researching I discovered I am typical ADHD. Why did it take to this time of my life to be diagnosed? It has impacted all aspects of my life including social, emotional, cognitive and behavioural functioning.

15 years ago I saw a clinical psychiatrist, for depression and anxiety. He analysed me for two years and diagnosed me with a cluster B personality disorder. ADHD was not on his radar, nor my GP of over 20years. I was prescribed SSRI's, but they did not help. I then discovered stimulants and went on to self medicate.

In my early 20's I learnt mindfulness and practiced yoga with a mantra, which I still practice. I travelled independently to every corner of the word for up to 4 months a year, from my early 20's to present. I had my own successful business in the adventure tour market, which enabled me to afford it. I also scuba dived to multiple locations around the world and within Australia logging over 1000 dives.

Online, I have discovered clinicians need to take care diagnosing as several Personality Disorders share similar looking symptoms with ADHD, and can be easily confused.

ADHD'ers have advised these personality and mood disorders melt away when properly treated with Psychostimulant medication, the first line of treatment. My personal experience has shown ADHD and its treatment is highly stigmatized and misunderstood by many clinicians. Be careful who you consult with.

A good resource for ADHD'ers is the Comorbidity Guidelines from NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use at Sydney University. It provides a discussion of current best practice and evidence in Australia regarding the management and treatment of the more common comorbid mental health disorders. It is intended for clinicians but easily understood "ADHD and AOD use frequently co-occur, and there is evidence to suggest that the presence of ADHD is a primary risk factor for the development of AOD use disorders"

I have been sober for 2 years now and going strong, with a loving and supportive wife.

[white knight]

Hi Andy and welcome

Well you nearly wrote my life right there. I sympathise with your situation and diagnosis. So I'll briefly mention a few things comparable with my own life.

I'm 65yo and at 17yo joined the Air Force, out at 20yo as I was too often in trouble and had trouble focussing. From then till 57yo I had no less than 90 jobs and 15 professions from prison officer, dog ranger, Telstra (4 roles in 3 years), bar tender, fork lift driver and so on. My last profession lasted 18 years as a PI and that lasted a long time as I worked solo and it stimulated me with every day being different and it was my own business. I've also owned about 80 cars most under finance when younger and had financial issues such was my impulsivity.

In 1987 diagnosed with anxiety, had panic attacks etc. I painted the classic ADHD and I saw a psychiatrist in 2003, was diagnosed and commenced medication. One year later also diagnosed with depression. Over the next 6 years I tried 12 different medications and ALL made me dangerously sleepy while driving and failed to curtail my ADHD symptoms. I decided to see another psychiatrist. His diagnosis- not ADHD! bipolar2, depression, and Dysthymia. I commenced a new medication and presto- it was a sensation for me, things began to improve.

In that psychiatrists opinion there is no doubt that there was some "crossover" of ADHD present in my problems but not significant. Some symptoms of bipolar eg mania can mirror ADHD and so forth. I mention this only to let you know, if you dont already, that we can be misdiagnosed but we can carry on regardless but wary all the same.

You appear to have much insight which is a gift and you do research which is priceless over time. You are correct to wonder why your illness flew under the radar. We can suffer from "what could have been" which I did post 2003 to about 2013 then faced some facts- that I wasnt to blame and it is what I do in my life in the present and future that matters most. It does hurt however when I realise how many bridges with relationships were torn down due to my unmedicated state.

You've recommended some reading. There is a book called "ADHD IN ADULTS" by Weiss. Also the following threads have some more information on this topic, you only need to read the first post of each-

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/the-positives-of-fear-

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/depression/i-think-i-have-adhd-and-or-depres...

TonyWK

[Andy_12]

Thanks Tony for your response. Like yourself I've had many experiences in life and love and live life to the fullest.

My pride and joy is a BMW XR S1000. 0 to 100kms in 3 seconds. I have ridden bikes all my life. It makes you focus in the present, like nothing else. Nearly as good as a session of Bikram Yoga which, like most things I do, with much intensity. Not so much these days.

My drivers record & licence has been an issue for obvious reasons and is an arms length long. Earlier this year I was in court for a traffic infringement. I submitted my ADHD diagnoses and letter form clinician, and the magistrate dismissed the charge under s 11.

National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre University of Sydney, Australia.

"provides a discussion of current best practice and evidence regarding the management and treatment of the more common comorbid mental health disorders seen among clients of AOD services"

It goes on to say "Although evidence supports the pharmacological treatment of those with comorbid ADHD and AOD use,
there has been contention about whether psychostimulants should be used among people with AOD use disorder, due to their potential for misuse [508], leading some treatment guidelines to recommend that
non-stimulants be used as the first-line pharmacotherapy treatment for people with comorbid ADHD and AOD use, despite limited evidence of their efficacy [505]. However, in view of the fact that non-stimulants
are less efficacious than stimulants in treating ADHD, and in the absence of evidence of any misuse of long-acting stimulants in clinical trials, there is a need to balance the potential risk of misuse and diversion, against the risk of untreated or inadequately treated ADHD [504]."

My current clinician prescribed a non-stimulant which I had an adverse reaction too, causing my prostate to enlarge and me ceasing treatment after two weeks. My clinician was very enthusiastic about this drug at the outset, saying he would increase the dosage to 100 mg per day.

I I am seeing a good ADHD coach Via zoom who provides validation and practices Motivational Interviewing (MI). I respond to her very well and find her invaluable. This is probably due to her style of interviewing based on MI. Any way I will probably stay unmedicated despite the profound effect ADHD has had on me. Apart from getting medicated I would like help to reframe and understand the past, in light of the diagnosis. I may ask the ADHD coach to help me.

[white knight]

Hi Andy

I think you're on the right track with your coach. Unfortunately medication plays a significant role in most cases so please keep that door at least ajar.

in the words of Stephen Fry "if I get to be reincarnated, I hope my depression comes with me...as If be lost without it " paraphrasing.

We are sometimes far too harsh on our seemingly twisted actions of the past. But regardless of those bits of our past they are based on who we were and when we look over the fence of greener pastures where others without mental illness appear to be so settled and structured...how boring! That's not us. Yes society will favour such boring stable people most times but it's a fact that without mental illness, ADHD, depression as examples, Australia would never be discovered, many entertainers would not strut the stage, poets would match their versus and you would not be who you are.

It was several years ago when I finally embraced my past,, as chequered as yours and now I stand and defend it because although contraversal, it didn't involve hurting others nor violating them. I hurt myself by an illness out of my control.

BTW. I own a JBA Falcon tourer v6. Your BMW sounds amazing. Lol...my enjoyment is under the limit.

TonyWK