[RunningAmuk]

I'm basically looking for some answers. I am confident that after all the research and reading I have done that I can confidently say that I suffer from Adult ADD. The question is how do you address it. I have a occupation that really wouldn't "embrace" the fact I was on meds/therapy. I'm in my 30's and have been battling this for a long time, however, I'm now going back to school. I have the ability to do great things & have done pretty well so far but,I've had to crawl & scratch my way to get it. Going back to further my degree is incredibly dificult as you may know my brain is always running amok. (hence-the user name). Is there any other options ? If not who do you go & see first a general doctor?
I would greatly apreciate any info.

[sunrise]

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.

[RunningAmuk]

Thank you for the info!!

[AnaHannah]

What really gets me is that employers don't need to know you have blood pressure, diabetic, etc. issues. Why do they have to know our psych issues?
I am in the midst of a knock-down-drag-out w/ my employer because my Dyslexia and ADHD has caused three absences from work due to misreading the work schedule in 2008....I thought I was off those days and the grid like way the schedule is made and posted on a wall is difficult to "track" w/ Dyslexia. Well, they said I HAD to "prove" I was Dyslexic. I am already on SSI because of a physical disability I caused myself w/ a botched suicide attempt in 1998. Anyway, it was very hard to even find someone who would test an adult and they wanted like $800 and NO insurance coverage for that. I jsut....oops...just started calling people in the phone book and I found a psychologist who would "evaluate" me for $100. That was on Saturday and he saw my obvious ADHD and anorexia and questioned me about the Dyslexia. He then wrote two pages for my employer and I haven't talked to him since I faxed the letter. I HOPE this has been put to bed now!! I have a "few" other "labels" too.....I just spent 3 days in The Booby-Hatch for flipping out on my 87 y.o. father. He exaggerates!! I had a close friend die suddenly...and...yeah....I did sorta flip out...fell down stairs and broke my ankle too....in my panic and rush! I was out of the hospital in time for the funeral of my friend, Tim. We all took it very hard.
My ADHD is probably a bit obvious here, too. I'm all over.....pinging...hyper and untreated. I need treatment but don't want drugs. Alternatives??
What do y'all think? AnaHannah

[Simcha]

Originally Posted by sunrise

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.

[Simcha]

Originally Posted by AnaHannah

What really gets me is that employers don't need to know you have blood pressure, diabetic, etc. issues. Why do they have to know our psych issues?
I am in the midst of a knock-down-drag-out w/ my employer because my Dyslexia and ADHD has caused three absences from work due to misreading the work schedule in 2008....I thought I was off those days and the grid like way the schedule is made and posted on a wall is difficult to "track" w/ Dyslexia. Well, they said I HAD to "prove" I was Dyslexic. I am already on SSI because of a physical disability I caused myself w/ a botched suicide attempt in 1998. Anyway, it was very hard to even find someone who would test an adult and they wanted like $800 and NO insurance coverage for that. I jsut....oops...just started calling people in the phone book and I found a psychologist who would "evaluate" me for $100. That was on Saturday and he saw my obvious ADHD and anorexia and questioned me about the Dyslexia. He then wrote two pages for my employer and I haven't talked to him since I faxed the letter. I HOPE this has been put to bed now!! I have a "few" other "labels" too.....I just spent 3 days in The Booby-Hatch for flipping out on my 87 y.o. father. He exaggerates!! I had a close friend die suddenly...and...yeah....I did sorta flip out...fell down stairs and broke my ankle too....in my panic and rush! I was out of the hospital in time for the funeral of my friend, Tim. We all took it very hard.
My ADHD is probably a bit obvious here, too. I'm all over.....pinging...hyper and untreated. I need treatment but don't want drugs. Alternatives??
What do y'all think? AnaHannah

The law in the US dictates that employers are not allowed to ask about your health, be it mental or physical. It's a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. Why are you providing them this information anyway? Did they threaten to fire you? If so, they can't do that either, as it is illegal.

The only "test" for ADHD is the diagnostic skill of the examiner. If the psychologist uses psych/neuropsych. tests in conjunction with his other findings. Tests are used to aid in diagnosis by ruling out other neuro-cognitive conditions that could account for the ADHD symptoms, but they do not actually diagnose ADHD.

I think your dealing with a lot of issues AnaHannah. I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. Have you considered seeing a therapist on a regular basis? There are programs that are subsidized in your state and county that you should look into.

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by Simcha

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?

My T suspected ADHD and felt that medication might be of possible use so wanted me to see someone who could prescribe but was also experienced in diagnosing this condition. Since I would have to see someone who could prescribe anyway, if I wanted meds, it was kind of like killing 2 birds with one stone. That way he didn't have to spend his time doing a diagnosis. (I don't think he does the same kind of diagnosis as the PNP, who used vetted instruments, such as the CARS. He's really not into diagnoses. I think they can be harmful and I can work on problems in therapy without having to give them medical names. My T didn't give me a diagnosis for over a year and a half--he never offered one and I didn't ask, then it slipped out one day--PTSD. Whoops. I guess I knew that since we did a lot of trauma work, but it was strange to hear him say it--ascribe a mental condition/pathology to me. See, I consider myself pretty "normal" and I also consider the range of "normalcy" in the population to be huge. ) Anyway, that's why he sent me to the PNP. He called her up and talked to her in my presence with her on speaker phone so I could get a sense of her and what she could offer. They talked meds and I got to hear lots of options for ADHD. I just saw her today, actually. She was interested to hear of my experience going 2 weeks off of the stims. I now have dual stim prescriptions: one for 30 mg Vyvanse (my typical) and one for 20 mg Vyvanse (if I don't feel I need as much in certain circumstances such as weekends, vacations, getting up late in the day, etc.) It's nice to have a couple of different doses at one's disposal to choose from.

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.

It was more that T was telling me there are different things you can do to help with ADHD: meds, therapy, etc. Then he gave me referrals for each: the PNP for meds, and this therapist he knew for ADHD support groups. He specifically suggested group therapy not individual. When I went to the web site of the therapist he suggested, I saw he also did individual therapy. But the groups looked really good--for adults with ADHD. I just wasn't into that, though. I am sure they talk about really good behavioral strategies, coping, etc. But I feel I can get that out of books. Or posting here! My own therapist and I do not work on my ADHD like symptoms. They aren't problematic enough to devote therapy minutes/dollars to, and the more important problems in my life take precedence.