What would you like to have known pre and post ADHD diagnosis that would have made your transition most effective? - Research request

[ShaneWard]

*As a rider - if this is regarded as "spam" or in violation of community principles please advise me soonest and I will delete (I did read the guidelines and believe I'm fine but am open to correction).

I was late diagnosed at the age of 45 while in rehab for alcoholism (my story in my bio). Prior to rehab I had no inkling that I may have ADHD nor did any of my shrinks ever suggest the possibility when they focused on Depression, Social Anxiety and Substance Abuse. My rehab shrink saw right away and subsequently I have done enough retrospection to see how my ADHD impacted on my decisions and behaviours through life. Add to the fact that the awareness of Adult ADHD in South Africa is rudimentary and possibly 15-20 years behind the current research and available knowledge on the impact on undiagnosed patients.

For this reason I certified as an ADHD Life Coach but am finding that here in SA because of the above-mentioned problems around awareness people are often in the dark wrt the "what next" after diagnosis or simply do not get diagnosed because they are not sufficiently informed to make an informed visit to a psychiatrist. The latter is its own challenge given that finding the right psychiatrist is its own challenge due to the lag in training on up to date ADHD literature. [Note: Creating awareness for these professionals is a secondary pursuit as I believe in the multimodal model of treatment and want to support them not replace them]

So as you see one of my challenges is being brief - I am looking to engage with people who were diagnosed later in life who could give me their perspectives in terms of:

- what you would have liked to have known about ADHD to have allowed you to get an earlier diagnosis? This assumes that you may have always felt "different" but didn't have enough data to approach professionals of your own volition.

- what you would have liked to have been told at diagnosis

- what support you would have like to have received and/or whether your psychiatrist advised any support other than medication

- and (for me anyway) what you would have like to have been warned/told about to expect in the first six months post awareness

The information will assist me in understanding individual perspectives of this transition period in order to design a pilot training program that could be made available to persons either suspecting they have ADHD as well as what comes next when they know. It does not look to cover specific solutions (eg time management) but rather assist newly diagnosed people comfort in knowing that it's normal and that they can seek further assistance locally if they need support in specific areas of their life.

I would preferably like to do this via a 15min zoom conversation (purely for personal research data - this is not a sales call nor will I add anyone to an email list without verbal consent. Once the conversation is over I would only re-engage on specific consent based on your preference at the end of the call).

If you are willing please respond via email to mailto:[e-mail] (Subject: ADHD Pilot call) and I will send you a calendly link where you can select a time at your convenience. This calendly link is specific to this request and separate from my coaching appointments to avoid any semblance of info-harvesting for lists.

If, however, you would still like to assist but would prefer to answer a questionnaire please feel free to send me an email with Subject: ADHD Pilot Questionnaire. The exact same respect for your email address applies irrespective of your preferred contact.

For your own privacy purposes do not post your email to the general forum unless you don't mind doing so.

Once again - there are absolutely no obligations attached. If you were willing and decide otherwise post submitting an email this will also be respected.

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Wow Shane. These are all really good questions and very important. I would have liked to know pretty much everything there is to know about ADHD. I would have liked to know that this is the reason why I'm behind the class. The reason why I don't know how to socialize. The reason why I'm failing at normal. if somebody could have recognized the symptoms and led me to help when I was younger in my life would be so different. I would be open to answering your questionnaire.

[Hidden]

I tried to email you but it took me to the website, which looks very interesting by the way. I would give you my email but this thing popped up that said that I shouldn't and kept blocking me from doing so, so I will try again later. I'm not very tech savvy lol

[lodopo]

I feel like the diagnosis is still be formulated. I didn't know there was such a mood component to adhd but once I started looking into RSD I realized that, I'm either creating my anxiety and adhd or I am just crazy. The thing I am learning now is it is so much more than inattention. My thought or hope is that the folks in education learn about RSD and the classroom environment. I wish that I had gotten help for my self-esteem so very long ago because now I believe that I don't deserve good things in my life and that I am a flawed person. lorenpound@gmail