Psychiatrist has diagnosed me with ADHD inattentive- Still in shock

[Guest1020]

Psychiatrist has said he is ready to go, he is ready to start medication. He has said I scored off the charts for inattentive ADHD, and have three hyperactive symptoms.

I scored 9 and a half out of 10 for inattentive-ADHD. He has said women go underdiagnosed in childhood.

He has said socialisation and masking played a part in me going undetected.

I have requested a formal psychometric testing, because I am still in shock. My mum is going ballistic, saying that psychiatrist diagnosing you with brain problem will tamper with your record making sure you are unemployed forever.

Mum is furious about me seeking psychiatrist help. Saying that I am a hypochondriac and tampering me with my health record.

I am still shocked about my diagnosis.

[Positive_vibes89]

Dear Guest1020,

You are going through alot right now and I am sorry to hear this. Being told that you have a mental illness, of course is going to make you feel shocked its only natural. I am happy to hear that you are going to receive prompt treatment and support. Receving support and treatment will help assist you to manage your ADHD and be able to live a quality life . You mum is acting out the way she is because she does not understand what ADHD means or how people live day to day with it. There are alot of people in society who do have ADHD and have jobs (we just dont know about it). Also there are organisations that employ people who have disabilites. It is against the law for a employer to descrimate someone based on a mental illness or disability. It is also an employers responsibility to provide resources and support to assist you within your job. I think some education about ADHD would be good for your mum, you could ask your doctor for some pamphlets or booklets to take home for her to read. Im sure she is just as shocked as you are. When people have a lack of understanding of a diagnosis they may show anger and frustration. Your mum loves you and only wants what is best for you. If you help her to understand ADHD she might feel more at ease. Youtube videos might be helpful.

I hope this helps

[therising]

Hi Guest1020

Taking it a step further and working out exactly how spot on the diagnosis is, looking at the further testing, definitely couldn't hurt. If it does turn out to be adhd, I'm wondering whether this could actually help make better sense of some of the focus issues you may have been experiencing over time.

When it comes to employment, there are employers who (in certain industries) will specifically look for people who hold the abilities that can come with certain forms of adhd. If you were to Google 'The abilities that come with adhd', there are actually quite a lot. Sounds a bit strange but some refer to such abilities as 'Superpowers'. Wondering if you can relate to any, if you were to have a look.

I can recall meeting a young guy some years ago who was diagnosed with adhd. While he copped a fair bit of grief for jumping from job to job on a regular basis, he was a brilliant hyperactive thinker/natural problem solver with a sensational imagination, that of a true visionary. By the way, he was never an academic but, heck, neither was I. I don't think a lot of those who criticised him fully realised that the jobs he was trying to maintain were incredibly boring for him and seriously underutilised his natural born skills. On the other hand, I've heard of people with adhd who, when put in the right environment, suddenly flourish, well beyond their peers.

It's so unfortunate and unfair that there can be so much stigma attached to certain labels. There's just nowhere near enough focus on the amazing abilities that come with specific types of energy and function and nowhere near enough focus on how to naturally manage such energy and function either with or without medication as an aid, in creating a sense of balance.

You went looking for answers to questions, when it comes to better understanding yourself. I think your efforts should be admired, not criticised.

You're a legend 🙂

🙂

[geoff]

Hello Guest, you are always entitled to query any diagnosis from a psychiatrist, and if you are in shock, then you could see another psychiatrist and see what they think, this may also need you to have another doctor and start afresh.

When applying for a job, sometimes questions are asked about medical disorders and what medication you might be taking, it's your decision whether or not you want to mention this.

Geoff.