Discussion
7 years on a waiting list and my ADHD diagnosis was dismissed in 37 minutes, a 30 minute interview 12 weeks ago and a 7 minute chat this week. Don't meet the NHS's diagnosis because there is "no significant impairment to life". In other words I can't possibly have it because I earn money for a living and don't abuse substances.
The person I was dealing with was great and very apologetic but the entire thing was a tick box exercise to get me out the door and off the list ASAP, even though the psychologist agree'd I do actually meet a lot of the symptoms, NHS paperwork said no.
If you are relying on public health service for your diagnosis, good luck!
The person I was dealing with was great and very apologetic but the entire thing was a tick box exercise to get me out the door and off the list ASAP, even though the psychologist agree'd I do actually meet a lot of the symptoms, NHS paperwork said no.
If you are relying on public health service for your diagnosis, good luck!
NaePasaran said:
7 years on a waiting list and my ADHD diagnosis was dismissed in 37 minutes, a 30 minute interview 12 weeks ago and a 7 minute chat this week. Don't meet the NHS's diagnosis because there is "no significant impairment to life". In other words I can't possibly have it because I earn money for a living and don't abuse substances.
The person I was dealing with was great and very apologetic but the entire thing was a tick box exercise to get me out the door and off the list ASAP, even though the psychologist agree'd I do actually meet a lot of the symptoms, NHS paperwork said no.
If you are relying on public health service for your diagnosis, good luck!
That's ridiculous. Can you pay for a private qB test?The person I was dealing with was great and very apologetic but the entire thing was a tick box exercise to get me out the door and off the list ASAP, even though the psychologist agree'd I do actually meet a lot of the symptoms, NHS paperwork said no.
If you are relying on public health service for your diagnosis, good luck!
NaePasaran said:
7 years on a waiting list and my ADHD diagnosis was dismissed in 37 minutes, a 30 minute interview 12 weeks ago and a 7 minute chat this week. Don't meet the NHS's diagnosis because there is "no significant impairment to life". In other words I can't possibly have it because I earn money for a living and don't abuse substances.
The person I was dealing with was great and very apologetic but the entire thing was a tick box exercise to get me out the door and off the list ASAP, even though the psychologist agree'd I do actually meet a lot of the symptoms, NHS paperwork said no.
If you are relying on public health service for your diagnosis, good luck!
That's awful. Like you, I've recently thought i should try to understand why I'm the way i am (and why I feel different to others). My first thought was that I was on the Autism spectrum and, after a conversation with a really helpful GP who I saw for anxiety (which has got progressively worse over the last few years) I was persuaded to get assessed.The person I was dealing with was great and very apologetic but the entire thing was a tick box exercise to get me out the door and off the list ASAP, even though the psychologist agree'd I do actually meet a lot of the symptoms, NHS paperwork said no.
If you are relying on public health service for your diagnosis, good luck!
Having done several AQ tests online, it seemed that I had significant Autism traits but, while discussing this with my wife, she pointed out that my behaviour was also typical of ADHD (she dealt with our nephew a great deal who has ADHD). At the GP's suggestion, I opted for the 'Right to Choose' route and contacted Psychiatry UK through the GP in September last year and, to my surprise, had a consultation with an ADHD specialist just over 4 months later. The psychiatrist diagnosed me with ADHD and put me on the waiting list for the titration process to establish the right medication (a 10 month wait!!), but also referred me to an Autism speciallist who I saw a month later.
He and his colleague agreed that Autism traits were present, but have attributed it to childhood trauma, for which counselling is sometimes recommended, but I declined as I've lived it for so long. They also acknowledged that every individual who is neurodivergent is unique and they only put labels on the things they recognise (childhood trauma has been mis-diagnosed Autism until recently). The most positive outcome for me out of all of this is that I can now accept who i am and have an explanation for how I am and how I feel. It also explains the 'moments' I have which are triggered by events in my childhood and may be PTSD. It's also meant I can talk everything through with my wife (who is incredibly supportive) and it helps her to accept some of my behavior and respond to things like emotional out
bursts in a different way now she understands where they come from.
I strongly recommend going down the 'right to choose' route. It's never too late, I'm 73. All the best on your journey
Andy
I tend to stay out of the PH threads on Autism and ADHD due to insufferable a
holes who claim it's an excuse in many threads, but...if it hasn't been posted already the Rich and Roxy channel on YouTube is worth a watch if you're Aut, ADHD, or AuDHD.
They're funny and light hearted but importantly explore the utter frustrations of living on the spectrum.
My wife and son both have ADHD, and I've (neuro-typical but dyslexic) found it helpful to understand them both such that I have a much better relationship with them both.
https://youtu.be/7ldDSFR5gcM?si=xwVZCzg1B0Zkis8W
holes who claim it's an excuse in many threads, but...if it hasn't been posted already the Rich and Roxy channel on YouTube is worth a watch if you're Aut, ADHD, or AuDHD. They're funny and light hearted but importantly explore the utter frustrations of living on the spectrum.
My wife and son both have ADHD, and I've (neuro-typical but dyslexic) found it helpful to understand them both such that I have a much better relationship with them both.
https://youtu.be/7ldDSFR5gcM?si=xwVZCzg1B0Zkis8W
NaePasaran said:
7 years on a waiting list and my ADHD diagnosis was dismissed in 37 minutes, a 30 minute interview 12 weeks ago and a 7 minute chat this week. Don't meet the NHS's diagnosis because there is "no significant impairment to life". In other words I can't possibly have it because I earn money for a living and don't abuse substances.
The person I was dealing with was great and very apologetic but the entire thing was a tick box exercise to get me out the door and off the list ASAP, even though the psychologist agree'd I do actually meet a lot of the symptoms, NHS paperwork said no.
If you are relying on public health service for your diagnosis, good luck!
I feel your pain. The person I was dealing with was great and very apologetic but the entire thing was a tick box exercise to get me out the door and off the list ASAP, even though the psychologist agree'd I do actually meet a lot of the symptoms, NHS paperwork said no.
If you are relying on public health service for your diagnosis, good luck!
Obviously i don't know you personally, and obviously there are lots of people with significant trails who rightly won't meet the threshold. However equally there are lots of people who do a half reasonable job at holding down employer and staying of illegal substances, while having a very real and significant battle with the challenges of AHHD symtoms which warrant a diagnosis.
Who was the assessment conducted by, an internal NHS assessor? Doctor or specialist nurse? 7 years is a long time.
Thanks everyone for your replies (can't figure out multi-quotes on the mobile phone).
Unfortunately there is no right to choose in Scotland. Process was visit to the GP 7 years ago, couple of chats with her followed by a questionnaire or 2 then put on the waiting list. Out the blue I got a letter saying goto my local health centre were I met with the psychologist, or Neurodevelopmental Clinician as I think her official title was, chat with her then, followed by the "results" a few months after that, then shown the door.
Not overly fussed about "the label" per se. As I said to her I don't want money or benefits or special treatment, didn't particularly even want meds, was more interested in why my brains like this, and what I can do to make things easier, especially the mental burnout type feeling. Turns out the internet was probably a better place for that anyway...
One thing I listened to (or may have watched, or even read) was about "unmasking" as much as you feel comfortable and as is socially acceptable, which I've attempted in my home in private. Singing, whistling, foot tapping, fidgeting etc, certainly taken a little of the mental load off.
Any other real world bits of advice, tried and tested? Especially around the forgetfulness part of it. Does anyone use a productivity tool or project management tool, thinking along the lines of Monday.com or similar?
I use pen and paper for the daily tasks (830am School run, 10am Hairdressers, 1pm Empty washing machine etc etc) but the longer term tasks I'm absolutely useless with. Running joke in the house about this part of the garden I keep saying I'm meant to weed when I enter the house after work, 45 seconds in the door Ive forgotten about it. Like alot of things, unless it's staring me in the face it's forgotten about. Could probably do with a task or to-do like style app for myself.
Unfortunately there is no right to choose in Scotland. Process was visit to the GP 7 years ago, couple of chats with her followed by a questionnaire or 2 then put on the waiting list. Out the blue I got a letter saying goto my local health centre were I met with the psychologist, or Neurodevelopmental Clinician as I think her official title was, chat with her then, followed by the "results" a few months after that, then shown the door.
Not overly fussed about "the label" per se. As I said to her I don't want money or benefits or special treatment, didn't particularly even want meds, was more interested in why my brains like this, and what I can do to make things easier, especially the mental burnout type feeling. Turns out the internet was probably a better place for that anyway...
One thing I listened to (or may have watched, or even read) was about "unmasking" as much as you feel comfortable and as is socially acceptable, which I've attempted in my home in private. Singing, whistling, foot tapping, fidgeting etc, certainly taken a little of the mental load off.
Any other real world bits of advice, tried and tested? Especially around the forgetfulness part of it. Does anyone use a productivity tool or project management tool, thinking along the lines of Monday.com or similar?
I use pen and paper for the daily tasks (830am School run, 10am Hairdressers, 1pm Empty washing machine etc etc) but the longer term tasks I'm absolutely useless with. Running joke in the house about this part of the garden I keep saying I'm meant to weed when I enter the house after work, 45 seconds in the door Ive forgotten about it. Like alot of things, unless it's staring me in the face it's forgotten about. Could probably do with a task or to-do like style app for myself.
NaePasaran said:
I use pen and paper for the daily tasks (830am School run, 10am Hairdressers, 1pm Empty washing machine etc etc) but the longer term tasks I'm absolutely useless with. Running joke in the house about this part of the garden I keep saying I'm meant to weed when I enter the house after work, 45 seconds in the door Ive forgotten about it. Like alot of things, unless it's staring me in the face it's forgotten about. Could probably do with a task or to-do like style app for myself.
I use Google Keep for my non-work stuff. I do, of course, end up with ever growing lists, and then start new ones, but it is the best thing that I have found so far.When I think of something I add it to a check box list. The list items can be moved up and down, ticked or deleted.
It is very handy for creating shopping lists. Moving the items into a logical order for the shop layout.
You need to check the lists to remember to do things.
A small white board is also useful as a visible reminder.
NaePasaran said:
Thanks everyone for your replies (can't figure out multi-quotes on the mobile phone).
Unfortunately there is no right to choose in Scotland. Process was visit to the GP 7 years ago, couple of chats with her followed by a questionnaire or 2 then put on the waiting list. Out the blue I got a letter saying goto my local health centre were I met with the psychologist, or Neurodevelopmental Clinician as I think her official title was, chat with her then, followed by the "results" a few months after that, then shown the door.
Not overly fussed about "the label" per se. As I said to her I don't want money or benefits or special treatment, didn't particularly even want meds, was more interested in why my brains like this, and what I can do to make things easier, especially the mental burnout type feeling. Turns out the internet was probably a better place for that anyway...
One thing I listened to (or may have watched, or even read) was about "unmasking" as much as you feel comfortable and as is socially acceptable, which I've attempted in my home in private. Singing, whistling, foot tapping, fidgeting etc, certainly taken a little of the mental load off.
Any other real world bits of advice, tried and tested? Especially around the forgetfulness part of it. Does anyone use a productivity tool or project management tool, thinking along the lines of Monday.com or similar?
I use pen and paper for the daily tasks (830am School run, 10am Hairdressers, 1pm Empty washing machine etc etc) but the longer term tasks I'm absolutely useless with. Running joke in the house about this part of the garden I keep saying I'm meant to weed when I enter the house after work, 45 seconds in the door Ive forgotten about it. Like alot of things, unless it's staring me in the face it's forgotten about. Could probably do with a task or to-do like style app for myself.
Trello is good as is To DO which is bundled with Office365 although the best by far is alarms on my phone as they can be set to repeat at whatever interval you need. I probably have 20+ set per day and although it winds my partner up (in a jokey way), I don't forget anything.Unfortunately there is no right to choose in Scotland. Process was visit to the GP 7 years ago, couple of chats with her followed by a questionnaire or 2 then put on the waiting list. Out the blue I got a letter saying goto my local health centre were I met with the psychologist, or Neurodevelopmental Clinician as I think her official title was, chat with her then, followed by the "results" a few months after that, then shown the door.
Not overly fussed about "the label" per se. As I said to her I don't want money or benefits or special treatment, didn't particularly even want meds, was more interested in why my brains like this, and what I can do to make things easier, especially the mental burnout type feeling. Turns out the internet was probably a better place for that anyway...
One thing I listened to (or may have watched, or even read) was about "unmasking" as much as you feel comfortable and as is socially acceptable, which I've attempted in my home in private. Singing, whistling, foot tapping, fidgeting etc, certainly taken a little of the mental load off.
Any other real world bits of advice, tried and tested? Especially around the forgetfulness part of it. Does anyone use a productivity tool or project management tool, thinking along the lines of Monday.com or similar?
I use pen and paper for the daily tasks (830am School run, 10am Hairdressers, 1pm Empty washing machine etc etc) but the longer term tasks I'm absolutely useless with. Running joke in the house about this part of the garden I keep saying I'm meant to weed when I enter the house after work, 45 seconds in the door Ive forgotten about it. Like alot of things, unless it's staring me in the face it's forgotten about. Could probably do with a task or to-do like style app for myself.
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