i chickened out | ADHD Information

My argument with myself kind of went like you are not a success in life in many ways by your own measure, and are unhappy. You have a wife and children who deserve your best, and if you don't explore treatment for ADHD it doesn't make you strong, manly or well, and it shortchanges your family.

I had an appointment for blood work this morning at my regular doctor and when the nurse asked me for details, so she could write them down on my chart, I was too scared to mention adult ADD. I thought she'd laugh at me, humiliate me......or just dismiss my concerns.

I'm in the process of finding a neurologist and psychiatrist for my 6 yo son and my 16 yo daughter and this is a bit overwhelming for me, keeping appointments straight, making the phone calls, figuring out when to make appointments etc. In the back of my head I keep thinking, I can't help them if I don't help myself and yet I'm so terrified of bringing up ADD for myself and my doctors office.

just looking for some support here. even though I don't think anyone will respond to me.

Why do you care what anybody else thinks of you? Screw them. You are sacrificing your own mental health and happiness because you are afraid of what somebody else will think? Don't you think it is time to look out for yourself and put yourself first? I think you should just bite the bullet and mention it. I know how you feel - I almost chickened out myself before I mentioned it to my own doctor. I had an appointment for something else entirely, and I mulled it over and over in my head about mentioning it. I had almost made the decidion to not bother, when she asked "so is there anything else I can help you with today?". I took a deep breath, and found myself asking how one would go about being screened for ADD. She seemed a bit taken aback, and I immediately wished I could grab the words back, but then she started asking me all kinds of questions and then referred me to a psychiatrist. She's been very helpful and supportive - I can't believe I almost didn't mention it at all!
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[QUOTE=GoBigOrange]Why do you care what anybody else thinks of you? Screw them. You are sacrificing your own mental health and happiness because you are afraid of what somebody else will think? Don't you think it is time to look out for yourself and put yourself first? [/QUOTE]

thanks so much for your support @@

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I think GoBigOrange gave great support! YOU do what is best for YOU, not anyone else. If you go on worrying about what other people will think then you will always worry and be absolutely miserable. Think of it this way, adult ADD is not something to be ashamed with, it is something that you are lucky to have! I use to think it was a "disability" in some ways, however, now I have channeled it to really help me think beyond the "normal" people I work with. I tear it up in brainstorming sessions and doing creative work. I have had co-workers say to me "how do you come up with 30 great ideas in 2 minutes when it takes me 30 days to come up with 2 good ideas?!"

NEVER be ashamed! Learn all you can about Adult ADD, if you need meds (which I did and I love life now because of it) get them and accept the fact that you can leverage Adult ADD to work wonders for your life. You have a gift, not a disability.
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thanks so much for your support @@

I know exactly what you mean. I was so humiliated in
my doctor’s office that I burst out crying and couldn’t
stop, further embarrassing myself. But I also knew
that I had to tell someone because my level of
agitation was starting to endanger my job, marriage
and health. Just remember – doctors work for you.
They are there to provide services for you. I know with
me, I get this childlike-complex around doctors that
makes it hard to be assertive. Maybe it would be
easier if you wrote down a list of your symptoms (in
the private, low-stress atmosphere of home) and
gave it to your doctor? You could just hand it over
and say "these are some things I need to discuss
with you."