Nervous about appointment | ADHD Information
Thanks everyone. I'm not too sure, exactly, what I'm nervous about. I've always been a little nervous about meeting new doctors, but this is different. It's like the rest of my life hangs in the balance of this one meeting. Not trying to be dramatic, it's just the way my nerves work sometimes.
To be honest, a diagnosis of AD/HD would be ideal, because it would be a relief. I've called myself so many names in my 26 years, I'm just sick of it. I want to know that the spaciness, procrastination, laziness, zero motivation, restlessness, forgetfullness, and all the other horrible labels have an actual cause. Then I can work on it, ya know? If it's not ADD... well.... then maybe I am just screwed up.
Sonya, I can't take a parent with me. First of all, they both live too far away. Second, I am not emotionally close to my dad, and haven't even told him about this. Third, I mentioned all this to my mom and she told me I was looking for excuses... but at the same time I think she was afraid to believe it. I did ask her questions though, about my childhood, and she told me things that I will definintely bring up with the psychiatrist.
I guess I had better get started on my list.
Okay... my appointment with the psychiatrist is only two days away... I'm starting to feel nervous.
Should I make a physical list of my symptoms? I have an extremely hard time remembering lists on the spot when people ask. I always think of things I forgot to mention when it is hours too late.
Or will he think that is something "too organized" for an ADDer to do?
Should I bring in my old grade school report cards? I actually still have them, teacher comments and all.
Aaack!
Why do things like this make me so nervous?Yes, definitely write down anything you may think is helpful! Making lists is one of the things ADHD people do...including losing those lists, so don't lose this one!
And if you can find the report cards, definitely take them with you! (Unfortunately mine burned up in a fire.
)
It's natural to be nervous, hon, because you're probably worried they won't say you're AD(H)D or won't give you any med that might help. Whatever, it's okay to be nervous (and the dr is used to patients being nervous). Just go in there and be yourself. When I went to see a neurologist to be dx'd for Tourettes, I didn't do one single tic or jerk while I was there. If he had been an informed dr about the syndrome, he would have know "we" usually don't in front of people! Sorry, didn't mean to make this in any way about me.
Be yourself and you'll do just fine. If he asks you a list of questions (on paper or verbally), don't give him the answer you THINK you should, be honest with yourself. You're gonna do just fine!!!!GypsyWomyn38426.5580555556
IT WAS SO FUNNY, I MADE A MISTAKE AND HAD PUT THIS POST IN THE WRONG THREAD BY ACCIDENT….BUT ANYHOW, THERE IT IS..:
Hi BCgirl.....
Just a quick question; and you might have wrote something about it before, but I tend to forget these things:
How are you with your parents? How do they feel about your getting diagnosed? I know my mom has always had a feeling that I had it, and they give you like 2 or 3 tests to give to like your partner, if you are an adult/ part of a couple, and your parents because they are very aware of your history and childhood with ad/hd problems.....
Would a parent/guardian come with you if you asked? She/he would be just as invaluable as you having your report card....if not more so.....
I know, when I went, I was alone, and a lot of things my doctor asked me, I did not remember, but if my mom had been there she really would have been a deep source of info to him, you know? But since I could not answer many childhood history questions, he diagnosed me with depression, and prescribed meds for that, and then held off on the ad/hd diagnosis until I could get the questionnare test back from my husband and mother.....He said the ad/hd diagnosis really depends on how long I had been struggling and whether I had been dealing with it since early childhood.....
If you are like me, I only had bad grades to go off of from 5th grade foward, and my doc said that it would have to be since before that....I always made good grades before that, and I did not remember any ad/hd traits...(bad memories of the earlier ad/hd events started resurfacing, however, after I started talking to you guys on this forum)...Had my mom been there, she really would have been able to enlighten him when I could not.
So when I go back again, me personally, I am going to bring her with me.
Just a thought, in case you were interested.
I can relate to the nervousness, LoL. I tend to do the same thing with dr appt's, especially when the outcome is unknown before I go. I have been shaking and light-headed for a dental appt, and I LOVE the dentist....go figure. But I scare myself that something might be wrong, which is a big part of my nerves.
What are you nervous about exactly? Is this your first meeting with him/her? Just remember, if it is someone you don't like after meeting, you can always try somewhere else. I can't see a doctor of any type I don't like...especially when they are snooping around in my brain :)
But if he/she questions your list, just be honest about it. (Such lists are a way to cope w/ having ADD....I know I can't be the only one with random post-its and scattered papers w/ my to-do lists and reminders...which I then forget to take w/ me or look at...hehe)
My psychcologist that I see is always encouraging me to make lists & write out my thoughts, for myself and also so I will remember what it is I want to talk to her about. So I can't imagine how that would be a bad thing....if anything, needing the list is probably a sign that you are forgetful...
Also, Gypsy mentioned you may be nervous they will say you won't have ADD...the reason I asked why you were nervous is because before I was diagnosed, I battled internally because I thought I had it...but a part of me was hoping I didn't (because I didn't want to have something like that). So I was scared either way... The diagnosis would explain my 'issues' but then I have something I can't easily control to deal with (and I have control issues, hehe).
You'll have to let us know how it goes. In a few days, you may very well end up questioning what you were even nervous about to begin with, you know?
Good luck with it!!!
I took a list in with me. What I did was put a pad and paper out on the dining room table, and write down any adhd related thing that has affected my life, past and present, whenever I walked by. It ended up being 3 pages long. I took it with me bc like you, I knew I wouldnt remember anything I wanted to say until 3 days later. And, I also knew that if he said "so, tell me why you think you have adhd" God knows what I wouldve ended up talking about since I go off on tangents so badly. We didnt entirely work off the list, but it was pretty handy to have to refer to.I'd definitely take the report cards.
And, remember, if you arent satisfied with the experience or results, you can always go for a second opinion with someone else.
Sending you good luck vibes
Hers a link to a good checklist. I printed it out and took it,
and had my wife do it as she sees me. We were very close,
talk about a high score LOL Any way if you take it with you
it can save alot of time for the psychiatrist.the link:
http://www.oneaddplace.com/addcheck.htm
good luck!!!!
Hi BCGirl,
Just wanted to say good luck with the appointment. Let us know how it goes. Rootin' for ya!
Buccaneer
PS my parents are convinced it is a "mind over matter" thing. I, on the other hand, am an ecstatic, productive, enthusiastic, embracer of my ADD and consider ritalin to be the greatest discovery of the 21st century!
PPS weather bureau says it is going to be bright sunny day on the 17th (must be a good sign!).
Yeah....don't worry....
Although my brother has ADHD, my mom didn't understand when she was confronted with the idea that I have ADD....it is very very different without hyperactivity, and i wasn't diagnosed until spring semester my sophomore year of college...She understands now, and actually can put a name to why she's so "different" too...my diagnosis has also helped open up my family to discussion...i can tell my parents what my 11 year old brother is going through too.
Don't be nervous...(easier said than done, right?) the doctor is trained to understand that people will be nervous around them....answer all their questions honestly, and you will get an honest answer.
I understand what it was like too to not know....I have to re-take my stats. of psyc. class because i didn't have enough time to finish tests with the rest of the class...diagnosis does make a difference. i can now take tests separate from other students and have extra time; everything is going soooo much better....it is nice to know that there is a reason i have 15 sticky notes on my desk in my dorm room (yes, there are that many...i just counted)
p.s. good book for everyone to read is Driven to Distraction.....really really helps, especially giving it to family to have them read
[QUOTE=bcgirl1978] ... It'slike the rest of my life hangs in the balance of this one meeting.
Not trying to be dramatic, it's just the way my nerves work sometimes. ..[/QUOTE]
Totally understandable! In fact, the "counselor from hell" I saw for two years (don't ask why I didn't change in those two years!) Whenever I asked if she could give me some sort of Dx, she would reply, "Why, does it make a difference?" I always told her "YES, then I can understand why I've been like I have, begin to work on it, and get on with my life!" She just never GOT IT! and she would never give a formal dx!
But my nurse practitioner DID, finally.
GypsyWomyn38426.6332523148If you can't take a parent BCGirl, write down the ad/hd quirks they tell you about your childhood....I think the doctor would appreciate those.
hope everything goes well for u...
Hi bcgirl. I'm brand new myself. Been lurking here a while but this is my first post. You struck a cord since I just had my appointment yesterday and walked out of there with a definite "YES YOU ARE ADD".
My 8 year old son was diagnosed last week and my Dad DEFINITELY was also. My 6 year old daughter may be too - we'll keep an eye on her. I feel for my husband but he's keeping a sense of humor.
I did exactly what chocoholic did and it seemed to work and was fun and releasing also. I found an empty little book (at one time I had visions of yet again trying another diary-ha! ha! never get past about two days and forget about it). Anyway I kept it fairly handy, taking it with me for a couple of days and just wrote down anything that came to mind - funny, frustrating, memories, losing the frying pan I had in my hand for two days till my husband found it in with the Tupperware things. It helped to jog my memory when I got into the meeting so I wouldn't just look at him going "UUUHHHH".
I also filled out the www.amenclinic.com 's two tests with results and printed them (you need to select sections at a time and print then recircle the answers by hand - little radio buttons won't seem to print) - as well as a test the Psy. had sent me and my husband filled one out for me also. (He rated me very high on things I didn't even think were that much of a problem - it may help to have a close friend that knows you well you feel secure in confiding in to help with this since your parents are so far away.)
The main thing was that I went in with a sense of whatever the outcome - I'll be just fine. And if I didn't feel comfy with him I was going to leave and find someone I did feel comfy confiding in. (Haven't been too impressed with some mental health "experts" I've meet in the past - but I really liked this gentleman and am continuing with him for counseling).
Remember- be yourself (I talked his ear off), and if you get a confirmation of ADD - it's not a death sentence or some horrible disease. It helped me to just put a name to it and know that there are things I can do by acknowledging that I may have to take several extra steps more than most other people do.
Personally, I feel blessed to NOT be like EVERYONE ELSE. How I look at it and how I explain it to my son is that it is a gift. We can see things differently with our super fast minds, we are adventurers - never satisfied to sit quietly while life floats by. We both have the abilities to do great things. Anyone in the past who has done great things has also made great big blundering messes in their lives. We just need perservance and HUMOR!
You just go in there, be yourself and know that when you walk out that door- no matter what that person said - you are still a wonderful unique person with awesome abilities.
Best of luck!