ADHD and Europe | ADHD Information
On preconceived notions of ADHD and the Professional response, there seems tobe a particular view that unless an individual has a particular number of the
indicators their is no need to do what is appropriate. On the provision of the
written diagnosis, i had to go to a private clinic in the U.K. to get a detailed
written picture of my particular ADHD. To my understanding, and nobody has
told me otherwise, my written diagnostic picture is internationally respectable.
While it is easy for us as ADHDer's to become addicted in the context you
mention it is important not to be isolated.
The situation in Ireland is that we are only starting to see the term even mentioned.
Where it is acceptable it is still viewed as a child/teen condition. There has over
the last year, been a concerted effort by the support groups and some individual
professionals to do more to increase ADD/ADHD awareness.
The pace of change is so, so frustratingly slow. The professionals have
been the driving force behind the development of a national statigic plan to
streamline existing services or create more ADHD friendly services.
This whole process is however at it,s gestation stage and it does nothing to meet
the needs of Adult ADHDers. The whole area of Adult ADHD is a bigger taboo then
the revelation that sexual abuse is a reality.
I like your idea of this European wide section on this forum. I look forward to
the usage level with great interest.
ryan195038283.3128819444
[/QUOTE] by ryan1950
Hi! madhdline,
It is great to see another European on the board, welcome!.
I find this women's experience of ADD/ADHD facinating as so little is known
about it in Ireland. I am in a support group where i live and am always searching
for practical information. This board is great for that. Am also looking for other
peoples experiences of living with ADHD in different countries. What is the
situation like in your country. I am sure there are others on the board who are
interested as well!
[/QUOTE]
What annoys me most are the preconceived ideas about adhd. There are lots of related afflictions, and people don't necessarily have the same textbook symptoms and behave the same textbook with them. With adhd, people here in Belgium still always expect someone who is the bunjee-jumping, rally-driving, drug-using trouble seeker. I am none of that, I am a "good" person (haha), and people take one look, and say "nah, you don't have adhd", you have a degree, you are smart, and maybe you are a bit weird, but that is just you".
Then people say oh but you have ADD, but no, ADD people as I understand it, are more slow, and spaced out? Where as I am constantly rocketing around, if not in real life, than in my mind, and my muscles are always tense, etc etc.
The toughest thing about ADHD in Belgium is that you have to travel far to get to see specialists, and that even the specialists are very vague and unwilling to give crystal clear diagnoses, and seem to stick to clinical descriptions "attention problem", "bad short term visual memory", impulsive tendencies and that kind of thing. And even though they constantly talk about me having adhd "with your adhd, blablalba", they don't actually sign and seal a diagnosis, which I find annoying. It is as if the word diagnosis frightens them.
we have a really cool forum in the Netherlands and Belgium, which offers good support. Although it becomes obvious that we all are tending to get rather addicted to this forum
.
So Ryan 1950, how is adhd in Ireland? How well is it understood? I'm very curious. And... any other Europeans out there?