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Originally Posted by chaotic13
Just to answer your questions...
NO, and I am not totally sure why I seem to have a different view of this condition compared to some other chronic conditions. I think much of my questioning comes from the the fact that a) there is no definitive test for it, b) compared to many sufferers I would say that my condition is towards the milder end of the spectrum, c) when I am on medication or not engaged in higher order thinking my symptoms are much more subtle, d) because it is a cognitive/mental health condition I don't like admitting that I have i
No, my T put me on track to getting medication. Since then we have talked very little about the ADHD. At this point... I have no idea why I'm continuing to go to therapy.. but that is another issue. :-)
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Thanks for your candidness.
There isn't a definitive test for any mental health disorder, as with many conditions that negatively affect health in the total sense of the word. There isn't a diagnostic test (diagnostic in the same manner that we test blood samples for elevated TSH or T4 or glucose levels for instance) for Alzheimers either, but Alzhimers is heavily studied and definitely exists.
You make a good point about the spectrum of continuity regarding how and under what conditions the disorder(s) affect you. Everyone manifests symptoms in different ways, along with different severity levels. It makes it difficult to generalize I suppose. Personally, I don't like having to contend with stigmatization on a daily basis, so I don't usually discuss with other people that I have a so-called "mental disorder"... but then again, I don't share with other people that I have asthma either (barring certain circumstances). I also don't like to feel impaired compared to the non-affected population. I feel on less equal ground than they are, and it takes more effort on the same tasks than it does for a non-affected person.
I'm glad though that you get some benefit from whatever medication you take for your ADHD symptoms. I don't like the feeling I get sometimes when the medication wears off, and sometimes it makes me irritated, alongside other effects as it wears off. Fortunately, it usually works well when I'm on it. Your probably in therapy still because you get benefit out of it. ADHD is usually comorbid in adults that go untreated throughout their childhood, who discover they have ADHD as an adult (or those kids who didn't get the right treatment but knew they had ADHD). ADHD brings with it a lot of depression and anxiety alongside low self esteem that needs to be worked with, and while your on the medication and in therapy, the medication enables you to retain what you learn and fully contribute in a meaningful way to therapy. Sometimes I know I get things out of therapy, even though I might not be able to recount exactly how it was therapeutic or sometimes even what we discussed. Thanks.