[animal87]

I did theses tests on this site for ADHD, I got 26 on the short one and 86 on the longer one i dont really know how to approach my doctor about this because i know she doesnt like it when patients go looking online for diagnosis. Also i went to see her about 2 months ago cos i wasnt sleeping well and she had a go at me because i was dead fidgity and i said that nothing worrying me and she wouldnt believe me. Ive looked at stuff about ADHD online and it seems to fit how ive been all my life. But now im unsure about what to do about it now.

[chaotic13]

Animal87,

Welcome to PC.

I have a few recommendations for where to start. First how old are you? Also you mentioned your doctor, what type of doctor are we talking about? Is she your family physician or a psychiatrist?

One of the things you will likely encounter as you discuss ADHD with any medical practitioner is the attitude that a) you just want to gain access to stimulant medications, b) that you are struggling academically or career wise and your are looking for an excuse, or c) you are suffering from some other mental health issue such as anxiety or depression. You will need to be prepared to answer questions related to all of these concerns. The practitioners as part of the diagnostic process must rule out other conditions before making a final judgment that you suffer from ADHD. This is especially true if you are an adult, with no previously medical history relating to this condition. All I can say is get ready for these questions and try not to get defensive or take them personally. It is just simply part of the diagnostic process.

If you are an adolescent (under 18) then I would recommend starting with your parents. I know if you are this age this advice likely really sucks. But for most, it really is the best place to start when looking for proper medical diagnosis and treatment. If only for the basic reason... they have the insurance card and the money to cover your co-pay.

If you are a college student, a good place to start would be the campus tutoring center, student services, instructional support or academic support. Most universities/colleges have a place on campus that students can go to get information on these types of services. Although the school may not provide diagnostic services they can give you the names of providers in your area that diagnose and treat ADHD. Also campus counseling centers can be a good starting point. Although they cannot Rx medications, psychologists often have the training to evaluate for and provide non-pharmacological treatment for ADHD. This would be especially helpful if you had some other conditions, such as loss of sleep, anxiety, depression, etc.

If you are an adult, then either your family physician or scheduling an appointment with a psychologist who list ADHD as a specialty would both be good starting options. In my case, I started with a psychologist for treatment of another condition. Then during this treatment, my ADHD was identified. I later went to my family physician. I believe that my family physician listened to my complaints more closely because my psychologist's clinical assessment, supported the ADHD diagnosis. I was not just making an online diagnosis.

If you look at some of my earlier posts, they describe the chain of events that I took to get officially diagnosed and treated for ADHD.

[baby_britain85]

I've been wondering the same thing about getting ADHD treatment. I scored a 102 on the ADHD quiz, and I've had symptoms of ADHD since I was in elementary school, although no one seemed to recognize it because I'm predominantly inattentive type and I wasn't hyperactive or out-of-control...not at school anyway. At home I was always throwing tantrums over every little thing and was impulsive, violent towards my sister, etc. I was always in the gifted classes at school but my grades alwauys suffered because of not finishing/completing homework and then not turning it in...or not paying attention in classes (especially math and science). I work with kids who have behavioral problems now and I can see so much of myself in some of them.

Anyways, now I'm 23 and I finally went yesterday to the counseling center in town to get an appointment, although they were booked up for a month.
I've been treated for depression by an MD but when I told him I thought I might have ADHD he said that I probably couldn't pay attention because I was depressed. argh! How do you get a Dr. to listen to you, let alone believe you?...I mean, you're the one who knows your symptoms best...

I don't even know if I want medication necessarily, I mostly just want to find some understanding right off the bat. It's so frusterating when people are always mad at you for constantly being late, forgetful, (seemingly) thoughtless, etc. I guess that's why I joined this forum, too. It's nice to be able to talk to another adult with ADHD just to say, "Hey, I do that too!"