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Originally Posted by nellbells
I just recently began to consider that I have ADD. And by recently I mean since I have joined this sight at the beginning of October. (This was not my reason for joining.. I joined to learn how to better deal with my current diagnosis.) My profile says I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder cuz that's what I've been treated for in the past. I definately have anxiety problems, but I htink there is something else going on. When I first saw a therapist for depression at 17 she mentioned that I should get tested for ADD. I didn't know much about ADD at the time besides the hyperactive kids that had been diagnosed with it in my classes. I'm not hyperactive, but I can not for the life of me concentrate. So needless to say I didn't take her advice and now six years later I wish I had.
I set up my appointment today to get tested for ADD. My question is what can I expect at the intake? What is the testing like? How long does it take, hours, days? I am soo nervous. I'm afraid of the repercussions since I'm kinda already convinced that I have ADD even though I don't have the proper diagnosis. What if i skew the results? What if the doc doesn't agree with me? I'm afraid of how I will handle the news. And the other part of me is just antsy to get this diagnosis and begin treating this problem so I can get some relief. I'm in grad school and I'm terrified that if I don't handle this soon I may fail out. So I want to get this treated ASAP(which I know is unrealistic, treatment takes time; something I don't have a lot of.) This is not helping my anxiety. : (
Okay, this is a lot of questions for one post, but I have another question for those of you who have gone through the process of getting tested. Once you have been given the diagnosis how long did it take until you felt like treatment was taking effect?
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Hello Nellbells! I get my results tomorrow. Though it's rather a moot point- the rest of the world is finally figuring out what I've known for years. I finally got somebody to take this seriously and move forward with it.
The "test"- or at least the one I took was nothing but a series of statements that I had to rate from 0-3 (3 being the highest). I've been buying books on this for the last 10yrs or so and they all claim that there is no out-right test for ADHD. Don't get yourself worked up about it, the extra anxiety will run you right into the ground. Relax and be honest with your answers and take it from there. Until you're actually "labeled", let it ride. There are other illnesses that have a lot of the same symptoms that will need to be ruled out also. Off the top of my head I can't list them- they're in my pile books.
As for school- I'm just figuring this out for myself- get into your academic support center. ADHD is considered a disability. It gets treated the same as a physical disability- the school HAS to make allowances so the "learning field" is level so to speak. Testing in a separate area with no distractions. Extra help. Time adjustments for tests. Stuff like that. BUT you have to get the diagnosis and all of the paperwork that goes with it. YOU have to contact the school and do all of the leg work. There should be info available to you, go ask! I'm right behind you all the way!!
Good luck and let me know what happens
