Epiphany

Now I'm really beginning to question my Childhood ADHD DX even more, and the MH field in general. I've been reading from various Trauma resources that early childhood Trauma can also be a cause of Inattention and Hyperactivity! Who would've thought?! The only reason I got the PTSD diagnosis when I went to the shrink as an adult is because I'm much more in touch with myself than I was when I was still growing up. Plus giving children an ADHD diagnosis and Ritalin seems to be a big fad amongst Child Psychiatrists. It also explains why the pills never made me sit still, just allowed me to concentrate better. Nothing can make me sit besides hardcore sedatives!

Needless to say my childhood was very traumatic to the point that it makes people angry when I share what it was like for me growing up. I didn't share any of my traumatic history with my Child Psychiatrists, all they were interested in was hearing about my symptoms, my parents probably lied/denied any trauma going on (even though there was a lot). I guess it is possible for me to have PTSD and ADHD, and explains why I have so many other mental disorders. Seems like if you have one you have them all. My DX sheet looks like an alphabet soup! My childhood diagnoses looked something like this: MDD, ADHD, OCD. I almost died again today!

Resources to see what I'm talking about: ADHD or Trauma?

Diagnosis: ADHD or Is It Trauma? - ADHD - MSN Healthy Living

((HealingandSuffering)),

I had a hard time paying attention in school too. It was not hyperactivity for me, now I know it was "hyper vigilance". If I described what my days were like you would understand. No, a child would not know how to explain this to a Child Psychiatrist.

Just know you are not the only one that has been misunderstood and misdiagnosed.

((Hugs))
OE

I think that misdiagnosis, and labelling of people in the MH field happens far too frequently. I have experienced it and am glad to now be content with the Dx that I have. It is something I can understand, identify with and most importantly I can work with it and through it.

I want to let you kow you are not alone, and I am glad to see you finding out more information. Knowledge is power I say.

PS. I'm glad you didn't die today.

Same here, except I couldn't pay attention or sit still. I had a bad case of "the fidgets" that's why they eventually said OCD. The medicine they prescribed to treat the ADHD made me even more anxious and fidgety. I remember telling the shrink "its like there was always something there, but I couldn't touch it" that was the best explanation I could give to him. I was always on the lookout for something that wasn't there. Yeah my current T said she was shocked they missed the PTSD in my childhood. She told me when I first started going "you aren't crazy, you've just been through a lot of sht!" or "its no surprise you couldn't concentrate and were depressed and anxious, look at what was going on at home!" and "I can't believe they missed that!" . Thanks OE! Its nice to know somebody else can relate.
Thank you JaneC! You are right misdiagnosis is common, Motown Johnny got the bipolar diagnosis when he went to the day program at a hospital. I think the reason its so common is because people in the MH field often disagree with each other, and patients are not given enough time to present symptoms. I know firsthand how hard it is to say the right thing when you are in the psychiatrists office and he asks you "so what brings you to my office today?" and you rattle off a bunch of symptoms. Then they try to make a diagnosis out of that without asking you any questions. You practically diagnose yourself, and we aren't the ones who are supposed to be MH professionals. I agree I'm content with my DX's right now to, I feel like I have the right ones. The only part I disagree with on my DX sheet at this point is the substance abuse "disorders" because I quit already. Plus what is the difference between using my psychoactive substances, and their psychoactive substances? Neither of them have all that great of a safety profile, both are addicting, both have withdrawals, both are psychoactive.

I'm glad I didn't die yesterday either, I did hurt my knee and scraped some skin off of my hand but its nothing compared to the fact that I was very close to eating a curb.