As far as I can tell it seems like 'professionals' I've seen seem to want to dance around the fact I have ADHD. I've seen three doctors over the years. Two psychiatrists, and one psychologist. The first doctor I went to I had to see through a social worker. At the time I was trying to sort out what my problems were, and I thought that I might have something like Asperger syndrome. I couldn't have been more wrong, but the doctor didn't seem to want to diagnose me with ADHD even though I get the impression that's what he believed I had. He wrote me a trial script for Provigil, which helped with focus immensely but gave me heart palpitations and left me unable to sleep at night even at half doses. I eventually stopped going to the social worker, because I got the impression she was acting like some sort of gatekeeper trying to keep me from being a 'thief.'

About the same time I saw a psychologist that mentioned ADHD ten minutes after our session started, but I wasn't able to afford to continue seeing her. I wanted to see if I could get better care if I paid the bill myself. Turns out I could, but it wasn't economically feasible for me.

The last doctor I saw was a quack at a hospital my mom lied to have me committed to. He told me flat out that I didn't have ADHD. (which I didn't even bring up) Said 'You wouldn't have been able to get through school.' Mind you I finished high school with a 1.4 GPA, and it took me three tries and 11 semesters worth of classes to graduate from college. (this in spite of the fact that I'd test in 95 plus percentile on standardized tests in school) He also said I don't exhibit hyperactive tendencies, and looked massively offended when I mentioned inattentive type ADHD.

Anyway, I've pretty much given up on the notion of ever getting an official diagnosis, but I'm wondering if other adults have had the same uphill struggle.

It seems pretty plain to me what's wrong, and two out of three doctors (and I suspect the third one knew as well) seem to suggest that I have ADHD. Why would they do this? Do they think I'm an addict out for my fix? Do they think I'm going to try to live like a king on that pittance you get from disability? It seems like they hand these diagnoses out left and right to kids, but why is it that they're so hesitant to diagnose an adult that's pretty obviously been struggling with the problem their entire life?