Whether you have a friend who’s recently been diagnosed and can recognize some of your struggles in what they have been through or have suspected that something isn’t quite right with you for a while, going through the process of being diagnosed with ADHD and beyond can be confusing and a little scary. Yet it doesn’t have to be. You can find out all about what to do if you suspect that you may have ADHD in the post below. Keep reading to find out more.
What is ADHD?
ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It is closely related to ADD, which is attention deficit disorder. ADHD can affect both children and adults, and is present across all genders, although historically, diagnosis has been biased towards younger males. ADHD can significantly impact a person’s ability to thrive in life, causing issues with executive function, focus, memory, organisation, boredom and social interaction.
Collecting Evidence
If you suspect that you may be struggling with ADHD or ADD, then it can be helpful to collect evidence that will demonstrate this to your medical team. To do this, the best approach is to log instances when you feel that the disorder has got in the way of you doing things or has made things harder for you. You can do this in a simple paper notebook, or you can use an app if that makes things easier to track.
Seeing Your Doctor
Once you have at least a month’s worth of evidence, you can go and see your doctor and ask them to refer you to an ADHD specialist who will be able to evaluate the evidence and assess you. Although it is worth noting that sometimes the wait for these assessments can be 2 years plus, as the backlog is so long.
With that in mind, if you are looking to get help sooner than this, then getting a private adhd assessment may be the better option. Indeed, the sooner you get diagnosed, the sooner you will be able to access treatment options, including medication, which means you will not have to struggle alone with this condition anymore
Getting An Assessment
You can expect an ADHD assessment to be a combination of a questionnaire created in line with the DSM-5 guidelines on the condition. It’s important to be as honest as possible when answering these questions. Your assessor will also ask you questions about your life now and your life as a child to help them get a better idea of whether you have had it and how severely it’s affecting your life.
Getting The Help You Need
Once you have been diagnosed with ADHD, you will be able to access the support you need to better manage your condition. For some, this will include medications like Ritalin. While for others, therapy including CBT and ADHD coaching can be particularly helpful as it teaches them the skills they need to counter their disorder and thrive in their everyday lives.
