Just diagnosed...maybe....??? | ADHD Information

My family doctor told me she was 99% positive I have Adult ADD, however, she didn't feel qualified to give me a definate diagnosis. She encouraged me to read books on Adult ADD and follow steps to help me overcome my shortcomings (organization, time management etc) until I felt I needed to see a Psychologist. That was in September of 2004. I have read many books on Adult ADD and they have opened a whole new world and helped make my life make sense. It's great!
Today I went to a Psychologist, spent an hour and a half and she wasn't really sure what I had since I showed strong signs of mood disorder and ADD. She said she didn't feel secure saying I had full blown ADD since I didn't show the hyperactivity and all that trouble making that AD/HD kids have when younger. Since I have researched the hell out of Adult ADD (and I have a Psychology background), I wanted to say "well, that is why it is 'adult ADD', we weren't hyper as kids and that is why they couldn't diagnose it when we were kids". However, I respected her judgement. It was as if she didn't quite understand that the reason I was getting depressed was because of my, what I think is, ADD. People who suffer mood disorders and depression will get depressed and nothing will get them out of it. Now that I know what is going on with me, I don't get depressed. I have learned ways to make things better.

Anyone else had a similar situation like this? A Psychologist that doesn't really seem to understand Adult ADD since we weren't hyper as kids?


Um, it is my understanding that hyperactivity can be totally absent. I'm the typical older person type. I just felt like a puzzle that wasn't put together right. The younger years were always what a bad child I was. Can't sit still, never shut up, don't pay attention, Yada Yada Blah Blah  You also have to find the right medical person to assit you through the maze [QUOTE=The Resistance!]Um, it is my understanding that hyperactivity can be totally absent. [/QUOTE]

Man oh man, how many times did I want to say that tonight!!! :)
I am going to a Psychiatrist next to get another opinion.
[QUOTE=eliza]

I bet she was happy to take your money for a wasted hour.

I really hate it when doctors say, sorry I don't know what is wrong with you, and we;re out of time. Go home and forget about it. Then they want 0. Just because they can't find a problem doesn't mean it will go away by itself.

Wouldn't it be great to go to a psychiatrist and say I know I have ADD, and I have come so you can diagnose me with it, otherwise I'm not paying you.

[/QUOTE]

Actually, I only had to pay instead of her 0 and hour rate and I was there for an hour and a half. :)

I just read an interesting passage in the very informational book A Comprehensive Guide To Attention Deficit Disorders In Adults:

From the book, A Comprehensive Guide To Attention Deficit Disorders In Adults:

"Differentiating between the diagnosis of depression and ADD is sometimes difficult. The overlap in the symptoms of depression and ADD can be sugnificant, and many adult patients may meet criteria for both ADD and depression. Clinitians who are not aware of ADD usually ascribe the symptoms of inattention, susceptibility to frustration and irratibility to depression."

It then goes on to tell about how if you diagnose a mood disorder instead of ADD and it's not a mood disorder that it only makes things worse. Man, am I glad I'm going to get a second opinion!

I am going to the Psychiatrist today and I will let her know that I have done a ton of research myself.

shock38456.193287037

I started with a psychiatrist that knew nothing about ADHD but because he belonged to a large urban multispecialty clinic, he then referred me to a specialist who handled nothing but ADHD evaluations.  After about 15 minutes of talking to me she started laughing and said "oh, you're textbook ADHD."  She then ran me through all the tests but she had seen enough adults to know exactly what I had.  And I never got any of the bullshiat lines that other people have reported getting from MDs or psychologists on this forum. 

Shock, what you need, is a doctor that deals with this on a regular basis.  Of course, this all depends on a.) your location because if you're out in the sticks, it's going to be much harder to find one, and b.) your insurance because some plans and networks will have the mental health coverage that will allow you to seek out a specialist to get evaluated and then on a treatment plan. 

Good luck and hang in there!

the guy evaluating me came pretty quickly to a "yup and there isn't any question in my mind" conclusion too. the thing is he tried to hang hyperactivity on me too, saying come on, you are moving constantly while sitting, looking about the room, fiddling your drink about.
I still don't buy the hyper part.
Just got back from my Psychiatrist visit. Diagnosis:  Adult ADD with possible Bi-polar and mania underlying. Man oh man, I'm nuttier then squirrel turds! Ha ha ha!
I don't feel bi-polar but she said that I might have a little bit of it. Heh, never knew that.

Got prescribed Strattera.
LOL I like that most ADD kids grow up to be manics LMAO

It's like saying most ADD children grow up to be reindeer. I never realised we all transformed after puberty.
< ="">

I bet she was happy to take your money for a wasted hour.

I really hate it when doctors say, sorry I don't know what is wrong with you, and we;re out of time. Go home and forget about it. Then they want 0. Just because they can't find a problem doesn't mean it will go away by itself.

Wouldn't it be great to go to a psychiatrist and say I know I have ADD, and I have come so you can diagnose me with it, otherwise I'm not paying you.

[QUOTE=eliza]

Wouldn't it be great to go to a psychiatrist and say I know I have ADD, and I have come so you can diagnose me with it, otherwise I'm not paying you.

[/QUOTE]

don't give me any ideas....

[QUOTE=shock] [QUOTE=The Resistance!]Um, it is my understanding that hyperactivity can be totally absent. [/QUOTE]

Man oh man, how many times did I want to say that tonight!!! :)
I am going to a Psychiatrist next to get another opinion.
[/QUOTE]

That psych you went to has made me angry!

I am getting SO SICK of running into CLUELESS IDIOTS claiming to be 'PROFFESSIONALS' who don't know NOTHING about adult ad/hd!

BOOKS ARE IN THE LIBRARY!

I KNOW I have add, WITHOUT the hyperactivity....

any book you pick up on adult ad/hd will tell you that it is entirely possible to have HYPOactivity with add....thats what I have...it is the complete OPPOSITE  of hyperactivity.  (i have literraly spend days laying on the couch staring at the ceiling, munching on cereal and only getting up to go to the bathroom...)

Most people have a combination of both hyperactivity and hypoactivity with their ad/hd....

I THOUGHT THIS WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE!  WHY DON'T THESE "PROFFESSIONALS" READ BOOKS??

that reminds me of this one OLD FASHIONED shrink my husband went to for his ad/hd....he was recently diagnosed, about 6 months earlier with adult ad/hd...but we moved, and were unable to keep seeing that doc, so we were looking for another, and we ran into this one shrink that was trying DESPERATELY to convince us that it is IMPOSSIBLE for my hubby to have ad/hd because he was 22 years old, and CHILDREN GROW OUT OF AD/HD!!..she said that most children with ad/hd "GROW UP TO BE MANICS"...i was furious! 

that shrink reminds me of yours....

WHY DON'T THEY GET WITH THE TIMES ALREADY???

sonya_h38455.7342592593No matter how good their intentions, if you know more about the disorder then your doctor it is usually a good idea to get a new doctor.< =""> I was not a hyperactive child. I do get hyperactive episodes. They come every once in awhile. Parents & teachers just claimed I wasn't paying attention or didn't listen & follow directions. You can be just the wandering mind type with no hyperactivity.I was hyper as a kid and still am so my diagnosis was never questioned.