idiot "proffessionals" | ADHD Information
I hate it when people don't believe in ADD. They just don't get it, and I don't know how to really explain things to them.
Maybe you could try getting some books on ADD and highlighting passages that pertain to you. My "Women with ADD" (not sure of the title, not going to get up to cross the room to look for it ) book has information and testimonials that can explain what I go through so much better than I can.
a few weeks ago i went to a counselor, and informed her that I have had symptoms of ad/hd all my life.
After we talked for a while, she informed me that it sounded to her more like I had some sort of "mood disorder" rather than ad/hd, or maybe just a touch of ad/hd but she thought it was more of a mood disorder.
Well, I just took an online questionnaire on mood disorders, and after really contemplating each question, checked "no" to just about every symptom.
I know I may have some depression issues going on, but I don't think I really have the cyclic ups and downs and periods of invincibility followed by huge crashes as the questionnaires signified....
I don't really think that counselor really believed in adult ad/hd, because everything I mentioned to her about ad/hd, she kept referring to children, and saying "well, you're not a child anymore".
And then she asked the question: "do you think maybe you're just scatterbrained?" 
Yes. that's why my car got repoed. that's why i nearly flunked high school. that's why i dropped out of college twice. that's why my house is the way it is and I nearly got fired from my job for loosing my work keys some time ago. yes. i'm just a little scatterbrained. saying that I'm "a little scatterbrained" is like saying the Grand Canyon is "just a little ditch".
She really grated my nerves.
yeah, that's what I will do when I go see another doc. I will take a book in and explain to him the issues I have from the book.
Maybe the issue lies in the fact that I can really explain the right way when I am in front of the person. A book could help me remember.
I just hope they don't think i am just making everything up....i don't know. that "counselor" i went to has kinda shaken my faith in proffessional help.
sonya_h38673.9036689815Yes, well, she definitely was "too quick". Most of the questions she asked me she would not even let me finish answering before cutting across me. she did more talking than I did.
I think she was more intent on "being right" than I was.
I mean, if you know about adult ad/hd and about mood disorder, and you feel I have the mood disorder rather than the ad/hd, then fine. but don't diagnose me based in the fact that you personally don't believe in one over the other.
I know that not proffessionals are idiots, but the particular one I went to has sure shaken my confidence in going to one anytime soon. it took me a long time to get up enough nerve to go see one, and I really don't want to go see another one...
"Counselors" are'nt professionals, they're "wannabees", First, buy a notebook, second, try to write in it everytime you lose your keys, get pi$$ed with others not understanding you, and why, and hope that it doesen't take half the day because of daydreaming
. Then ask her if there is a treatment for"SCATTERBRAIN"! Just about bet it falls under ADHD.
Mania and ADHD really do mimic each other. Taking stims if you are experiencing some manic activity would be a real bad thing. Not all people that experince mania get the lows. Good luck, on your journey. Most Professionals aren't idiots. Many of us are too "quick" for our own good. Get a second opinion but don't be to concrete in your own diagonosis either. The goal is to get help not be right. I'd say going to an expert over a counselor is wise advice. IMO go the a Shrink they know more about the disorder as well as manic disorders. If you are set you want to try an RX route to get relief they can probably find you an RX that helps regardless of wheether you have mood disorder issues or ADHD. In my case I resisted medication for years befre trying it anbd experienciong almost instant relief. I have never felt as consistantly good about myself or my life as I have since I went on ritalin. i beat myself up for all the "not good enough" ADHD stuff i'd done for yr.... now i do less of it and my frustration bar is a bit higher. A win/win combination
[QUOTE=sonya_h]
I don't really think that counselor really believed in adult ad/hd, because everything I mentioned to her about ad/hd, she kept referring to children, and saying "well, you're not a child anymore".
[/QUOTE]
we're supposed to feel comfortable with our counselors/psych's. we're spilling our confused personal feelings to them! we express to them how we dont fit in with the norm, we explain how we cant do simple things everyone else can and we dont know why. tell them how we thought it was saturday when it was really friday so we skipped work and got fired. not to mention, we're paying them to listen too. i dont know about anyone else, but work is HARD for me, partly cuz its so boring to me. whoever gets a chunk of my sweat, blood, and, tears is going to hush for an hour while i yap away about crayons and the laws of physics.
Dont talk to her anymore. she shouldnt be trying to prove you wrong, shes supposed to hear you out and help you find a solution. trust your intuition and your feelings. if you dont feel comfortable or feel like shes competing with you then screw her, she probably got a few mood disorders herself.
im being a bit aggressive. im (not) sorry. its just that i've been with docs that sucked ass and tried to prove me wrong too. one even diagnosed me withsomething i wasnt and prescribed me with some sh*t that messed up my life for 2 years. dont give up and research as much as u can!
[QUOTE=sonya_h]
saying that I'm "a little scatterbrained" is like saying the Grand Canyon is "just a little ditch".
She really grated my nerves.
[/QUOTE]
hahahahahaha
i love analogies from add/adhd people..
And then she asked the question: "do you think maybe you're just scatterbrained?"
[/QUOTE]
A health care professional using the term "scatterbrained" is the equivalent of using "retarded" "stupid" or "crazy" - that's totally uncalled for.
Do get someone who actually knows how to deal with human beings as this one is obviously a veterinary school graduate or something else.
Also - the discounting of what someone is worried about (even if they believe you should try something else) is a big sign that they don't care and have an agenda.
I'm frankly surprised every time I hear something like that. I also thank my lucky stars that I got lucky on try one.
Get yourself a real helpful person - keep looking until you feel comfortable ok?
What a dumbass. As if being organized, on time, and "appropriately focused" are somehow not important at home. Sonya, good luck finding a new therapist.Yes, I will find somebody else. I will search for some one who knows about ad/hd.
I know I do probably have a little depression, perhaps a little postpartum. I was diagnosed with depression a while back, so I may have been suseptible to postpartum... I have a 5 month old and I am breastfeeding him, so I know I can't have strong ad/hd drugs.
But the depression issues probably stemed as a side effect from the ad/hd, from constantly not being able to do things right, and forgetting things....
I mean, I thought that one way of looking at the possibility of having ad/hd is looking at your childhood, right? Well, I would tell her about the things from my childhood, and she would be like, well, you don't have to worry, cause you're not a child anymore.
I am a stay at home mom, and she acts as if just because i am a stay at home mom, there is no way that ad/hd can affect me.
Well, guess what. IT DOES still affect my life even though I am a stay at home mom. I KNOW that I can't be treated with meds right now, but I can at least be diagnosed. She was like, "don't worry about unless you go back to work or school".
I think that is wrong. I think that I should worry about it NOW. I am in charge of PAYING THE BILLS! I can and do still do a little IMPULSE SHOPPING from time to time. There are LOTS of things that at home that my alleged ad/hd make life MURDER for me, even though I am not at work or school.
I mean, sometimes I feel a little guilty because the woman disgusted me so bad. I mean she was doing so-so, but as I was telling her my problems (loosing keys, forgetting things, etc) and she said, "Do you think maybe you're just a little scatterbrained?" that's when she REALLY turned me off like a switch.
Bottom line is, I did not walk away from that meeting feeling good at all. I just felt bad about the whole thing, and at first I couldn't really pinpoint why.
But anyway, I will make an attempt to find some one with at least a little more knowledge on Adult ad/hd.
Thanks for the support, you guys!
sonya_h38675.3114236111
Sonya - I am seeking a new psych. also , because he said the same thing as your counselor did!!!!
That since I do not work outside the home any longer, then I don't "need" to be medicated !!!!!!!
I was FURIOUS !!!!! I had to quit my job...because of the symptoms...I said "Well, what about my quality of life?" can I not just want to be medicated to have some kind of NORMAL life ???? He said well, yes, but if you aren't working.........blah, blah, blah....I quit listening at that point and told him that I HAVE to go back to work, can't stay at home from now on, we just can't afford it(which was kind of a fib)...and he said , oh , OK , so I'll prescribe you some Adderall ...blah, blah, blah....I thought at least I could see how that worked for me doing every day things...and if my home life improved THEN I can see if I can make it in the work force....(I DO work now, it's just that I do Estate Sales for people, and it's not something that I have to go to every day.....it varies from month to month...and I don't have a "boss" ...I AM the "boss" !!!) But what right do they feel they have to tell us that because we don't work , that it's oK for us to waste our lives away staying on the computer 24/7, searching enldessly for things, zoning out , burning food, forgetting IMPORTANT things!!. etc, etc !!!!!
Well, enough of my "rant" , sorry, I wish you the best in finding someone who will listen to you !!! Hope things get better !!!!
can't keep a job without medsNo job = no money
no money = no home
no money = no food
no food = no energy
no energy = no life
no life = death
Guess drugs are a life or death choice
I choose life - Thanks!!
In agreement - find a new doc
Sonya if you dont have to work then dont. Its a real struggle working fulltime with a baby.
I'm forever late for work(luckily where i've worked for the last 11yrs i can get away wih it) the fairies hid my keys everytime I go to bed and I am forever having to turn the car around half way cos I forgot Amelia's bag or nappies and just between us I've even driven off down the street and left her asleep in her bassinet!! Only did that once though.
I'm not on medication yet but luckily the psychologist I saw in the first place was excellent as her son and husband both have ad/hd and she reckons she could have diagnosed me on the spot within ten minutes of talking to her, and yet my parents are non believers. Just when you think YIPEE I've found a reason why I feel strange compared to most someone comes along and makes you think you've made the whole thing up.
My mum actually said it should be called ATTENTION SEEKING DISORDER. That pissed me off a bit to say the least
I suppose we're all just sick of having to convice certain people of who we really are. Its an the worse kind of insult and form of disrespect to deny a person their identity which is what that person tried to do to you.
The WHOLE reason I am a stay at home mom, is because of my AD/HD like issues.
My husband and I were forced to admit that working and caring for a precious little one would be too much on me.
I would be running around like a crazed chicken with the head cut off. I don't work, and I lost the keys to the car, and had to get new keys made. I loose EVERYTHING. The house barely stays decent WITHOUT me having a job.
I CAN JUST ABOUT IMAGINE HOW THINGS WOULD BE if I worked also. I would have had a nervous breakdown by now.