[bluestar62]

I was diagnosed with social anxiety a few years ago and underwent a course of CBT. It helped a little but lately I've really been struggling. I asked to be referred to mental health team and I have an assessment on Thursday because I believe there's more to my 'issues' than social anxiety.

I've never been assessed but I believe I have inattentive ADHD. I identify with many of the symptoms like:

- being easily distracted (and I startle really easily too)
- zoning out during conversations
- getting frustrated during conversations because it feels the like person is taking forever to finish their story
- sometimes I get sort of giddy during conversations and have to stop myself interrupting and wait til it's my turn
- I find it really hard to finish tasks because I lose interest
- I find it hard to start tasks because I get overwhelmed about where to start and getting everything organised
- I'm constantly forgetting things like appointments and what someone said to me
- I'm pretty much late for everything, even if I try to leave early
- my room is always cluttered because, although I try, I can never seem to get organised
- I'm irritable and struggle with patience
- Sometimes I get so focused on something I like (reading, researching a topic that interests me) that I lose track of time to find hours have passed.
- I get frustrated watching TV so have to watch on my computer so I can fast forward through slow bits
- in school my report card always sad something like 'talks too much' or 'distracts other with talking'.
-I would procrastinate until the last possible minute before doing homework/essays, etc and could never focus to study for exams

I'm not sure if I should write the symptoms I suffer from down or not to give to the therapist. If I don't write things down then I'll go in there and my mind will go completely blank and I'll forget to say things I wanted to. However, I'm worried that if I go in with everything written down it'll look like I'm fit myself to the diagnosis I want, if that makes sense. I don't want to come across as a hypochondriac or like I'm exaggerating. Or to get the doctor eye-roll for internet diagnosing myself. I've had times in the past where my mental health problems were dismissed because they 'weren't serious enough' or because I'm not as bad off as others and I'm worried about it happening again. Rejection is a huge trigger from my anxiety.

Should I write my symptoms down. Can you go into an assessment and say 'I think I have ADD'? Will the therapist think badly of me if I do that?

I would write your symptoms down. I've done that before. I would hesitate on telling them what you think you have until they say what they think first. Then open a discussion.