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Old Jan 16, 2009, 10:22 AM
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Simcha Simcha is offline
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Member Since: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,156
Quote:
Originally Posted by sunrise View Post
Hi RunningAmuk, welcome to PC.

Let's say you begin therapy or meds for ADHD. Is there a reason you would have to tell those in your occupation or at your place of employment? Most healthcare issues can be left private--no need to tell anyone. One thing that might be an exception is if you were a pilot or something like that and they were very restrictive on what drugs you could take.

My point of entry into the ADHD system was through my therapist. I was going to see him for other reasons and he recommend I go to a psychiatric nurse practitioner for diagnosis for possible ADHD. He also gave me a referral to a therapist who specialized in treating ADHD and also had therapy groups for ADHD. I decided I did not wish to do therapy for ADHD at this time. (I was content to work on my other issues in therapy with my current therapist.) I did go see the PNP, however, and began taking meds to help with ADHD-like symptoms. They have been very helpful to me.

I think if you don't have a therapist who can give you a referral to a professional who is qualified to make a diagnosis, then your general doctor might be able to provide a referral. Just don't rely on your general practitioner for diagnosis and prescribing. General practitioners usually do not have the training for ADHD diagnosis and prescribing and may even give counterproductive advice.

Best of luck.
I agree about staying away from the general practitioner for diagnosis, but I also feel that way about psychiatrists to a lesser degree, but that's because psychiatrists are much better at figuring out psychiatric drugs than they are in diagnosing and psychotherapy. I'd see a PNP like you do before I'd ever see a psychiatrist.

Therapists (psychologists and master's level therapists) are qualified to make any psychiatric diagnosis, including ADHD, so why didn't your T feel confident in tackling the ADHD dx? I'm also confused about your reference to ADHD specific therapy; why would you have to see someone else to deal with ADHD problems? I deal with all of my problems in therapy, not just the non-ADHD problems.
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