Adhd research has really started come on strong in the last 20 yrs or so, but a lot of the doctors who are still in practice under the old model or are set in there ways do not bend there principle's. Most of the time they do not take the time to research the condition, it easier for them just to dismiss the condition and label you with something, but really all they are doing is having a closed mine in there treatments and diagnosis.

The other thing to keep in mind is that some doctors you talk to, if you hint or have an idea of a condition you may have and it is true. That can really ding there ego's so they will play mickey mouse run around games with you and do a bunch of non sense treatments when they have the diagnosis right in front of them. There just not open minded enough to accept it.

For an example, I recently started seeing a psychiatrist because she was a specialist in adhd and she had been in practice in the range of 10 to 13 yrs, which means she probably had adhd showed to her or did research on it while she was in school as she was in school to be a doctor around the time adhd research was taking off. It is hard to find the right doctor though, gotta get lucky.I have been through 2 psychiatrist's and 1 psychologist. she is my 3rd psychiatrist. What set her apart though is she was open minded and tried to get to know you rather then bombard you with papers and written tests to see what you "have". She tries to learn my symptoms through talking to me rather then through written tests and protocols, I am not saying there is no use for written tests, but I feel that many mental health professionals rely on them to much.

Anyway sorry for going off on a tangent, back to my story, I had an appointment set up to see my normal doctor 1 month ago now, well for whatever reason she dropped off the radar and was not around and no one knew why, not even her receptionist. I was almost out of my medication, under 7 days left. Well my doctor had set up a refferal to another doctor at a company, I had dealt with the company before and they had a cookie cutter mold to diagnosing things, I had bad luck with company/psychiatrist/psychologist I saw there before at a different office. But this was a different location so I tried to keep an open mind. The front office staff was great, but man when I went and talked to the nurse practitioner before I talked to the psychiatrist, she was dumb as a rock, I constantly shake my leg or tap a pen or something when I am sitting. So through out the appointment every time I attempt to tell her my story, like I did for my other doctor, she says let me ask questions or lets get back on topic. The whole my leg is shaking and she keep's asking me if I am anxious, I tell her no everytime, my leg always shakes. I have to move it has been that way since I was a child. So she is going down the route of anxiety, and keeps handing me this questionnaire thing's for ocd, it is like really do you listen to me at all. well get through the whole appt finally, I am really frustrated at the end and she says she has to go get a doctor to get my prescription filled. The doc comes in talks to me for a bit and asks me the same damn question, are you anxious. I am like no, the lady there asked me that 3 or 4 times and the answer to her was no as well, I do it to keep myself from exploding, I feel liek if I cannot move I will explode, he goes oh you just seem anxious. I reply I assure you I am not, I am more frustrated at this point because they are both so closed minded talking to me. Then the doctor says we are not attacking you or not believing you on your diagnosis, well I feel like I am being attacked I tell him.( I am unemployed to so not alot of money to throw around.) Well you need to get properly tested for you to obtain the diagnosis. He then says I want you to get tested for anxiety, depression, adhd, ocd. I am like are you gonna pay for this lol. he is like no. well I can't afford I tell him. He is like oh. SO they give me the number to the place to call and the lady in the room tells each test is 300 hundred dollars. I am like, are you bat **** crazy, 300 bucks. If I was working I would do it. no problem. Well anyway after I left with my prescription at least, I did some research on the place they wanted me to go for testing, turns out the person to do the testing was an employee for the same lame company the psychiatrist and N.P. I saw. All they see is dollar signs disguised as protocols.

Cliff notes after all my rambling above:
1. Find doctors/staff who do not try to fit everyone into a single cookie mold. No one is the same and nobody should be treated the same.
2. Try and find offices that are not part of big umbrella corporations, they see dollar signs before they see patients.(They will try to pass of the testing as protocol's, so it pays to do your homework before go do there testing and line there pockets.)
3. Finding people in private practice for themselves is good or find small single office companies is good to.
4. Above all go in there prepared to do your homework on the workers, If it does not feel right to you it probably isn't, You have to almost be selfish as it is not about them it is about you and your health above all. You have to be your own advocate, if you won't they will walk all over you.

--Maus