Reassessment for meds

[Blackedout]

Hey, just writing because I was diagnosed with adhd when I was about 10. I was on my meds for years until I turned 18 and wanted to come off them. Couldnt remember what I was like without them. Now however I'm trying to get back on them or at least the one that helps me focus. My problem is they are going to be reassessing me and I'm afraid they won't take me seriously, will assume I just want pills or that they won't let me go back on my meds.

I honestly hate who I am without them. Feel like I'm annoying, no one really likes me, I get too hyper at times, I interrupt people, like I just feel like most things I don't like about myself are due to my adhd. So I'm worried ill have a hard time getting back on them. Anyone have any input? My appointment is on the 12th to start this all in the works again. Also I'm in Canada, not sure how different the health care system is

[BatWoman87]

Hi Blackedout,

I'm also in Canada (Ontario), recently diagnosed by psychologist and waiting for my appointment with psychiatrist to get meds.

I get where you're coming from with the worry about not being able to get meds. For me, it was intense worry that my assessment would come back without a diagnosis of ADHD, because I feel that if I'm not able to give medication a try I don't know what I'm even going to do with myself, because I know the other available interventions, therapy etc. will only go so far. I knew that if I did have ADHD it would be mild because my symptoms are close to borderline - the psychiatrist wasn't able to diagnose me, I had to pay out of pocket for a psychologist assessment.

I had to prevent my worry and anxiety from spiralling just long enough to make it until I had my results appointment to find out that I was diagnosed with ADHD - because there was impairment to my life. That validation has meant the world to me. Waiting for validation to come can be excruciating though! With your history of ADHD and the impairments you describe (e.g. description of yourself not on meds) I'm sure any reasonable doctor would see that it's worth a try again.

To help with keeping anxiety in check, and prepare for your appointment, perhaps you could try writing a list of all of the reasons why you think medication will be helpful for you once again.

What benefits did you see when you were a teen?

What were your motivations for coming off of it at 18?

What impairments in your daily life are troubling you that you believe medication (or at least trying medication again) might be able to help with?

What other non-medication supports have you been trying for the particular issues that you believe medication will help with?

If you are honest about the answers to those questions, and go over them all with your doctor sincerely, then your doctor can make the best recommendations.

Do you have the same doctor as when you were a teenager? If not, and your doctor isn't comfortable with ADHD medications, ask to be referred to a psychiatrist. I'm blessed with an amazing family doctor who is very self-aware about the limitations of her knowledge and has directed me to the appropriate places to get the care I need, including follow-ups to make sure that I'm booking appointments etc.

What province are you in? I can tell you what services are covered or not in Ontario but unfortunately I know nothing about what's covered in the other provinces.

[Blackedout in reply to BatWoman87]

I think i may write it all out, I fell like that would help the stress factor for me a ton! I don't have the same doctor since it was my pediatrician that specialized in adhd , autism and stuff like that. My doctor referred my for a psychiatrist but I haven't met the new one or even know if its a girl or guy. Oh and I happen to be in ontario as well! St catharines to be exact

[BatWoman87 in reply to Blackedout]

okay cool, the psychiatrist will be covered. Psychologist would not be covered unless partially covered by a benefits plan through work, but they can't prescribe medication anyway.

Good luck with your writing! That is something tangible that you can refer to (as I say for myself, to "keep the crazies in check"), for self-validation at least until your appointment.

[Blackedout in reply to BatWoman87]

Thank you for the info! 😊

[MtMan]

A-ADHD may be the whole issue, or the coping skills you learned to live without continuing to address your AADHD may actually BE annoying and interruptive and rude. A diagnosis is a place to start. A therapist's diagnosis (and ask them first if they Bieber AADHD exists) could help you determine which obstacles have what source(s) so you can adjust your approach to life and be happy again - with or WITHOUT meds. YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary). Good luck.

[Blackedout in reply to MtMan]

I think maybe that's what I'm afraid of lol I'm just annoying now and use to not noticing my adhd so now I feel like I notice it and over analyze everything. What I say, what I do, how people react, like I overthink it now and feel like everyone hates me or is annoyed with me

[MtMan in reply to Blackedout]

IF (and I stress IF...) your current coping mechanisms are not working for you, that is GREAT news: because a person cannot BE, annoying, they can only make choices that other people FIND annoying. If you are making choices that are not working g for you, you can read, and learn, and evaluate, and make choices, and change those behaviors, since what you think, decide, and do are just about the only things a person CAN control.

If the problem was that you have stage 4 cancer there might be very little you could do to make that go away, but IF you are Maki g choices that don't work for you, with a little dedication and behavior modification, you can make COMPLETELY different choices Please remember: You are a human BEING-not a human DOING.

Learn, grow, embrace changes YOU want to make..then Kick a** & take names.

[IgnoranceWasNotBliss]

Getting diagnoses (or re-diagnosed) is a bit scary. When you are 100% sure what your problem is it can be hard to trust it in someone else’s hands to determine your fate. Hopefully, this detail eases your tension:

One of the most important, if not THE MOST important diagnostic criteria for ADHD is “present in childhood”. Not only was yours “present” it was also diagnosed and treated successfully until you were 18 years old.

Chances are, the only thing a new assessment is going to be looking for is if your currently struggling enough for medication. Because regardless of ADHD, stimulant use is a risk. So if the benefits of the medication outweighs the risks, it’s likely you’ll get what you need. I think some practitioners don’t like to diagnose and manage people with ADHD because of the strict control on their profession. If you do come across someone like that, don’t give up hope. Just try another Dr.

Good luck. Hopefully it’s all said and done soon so you can relax.

[park88]

I’m in Ontario and I didn’t have to go to a psychiatrist as my family doctor was able to manage my medication. Good luck!