Assessment from Psychiatrist and Psychologist counseling

[JimWalter]

Hello everyone,

I visited a Psychiatrist for my ADHD issue, dr. prescribed Atomoxetine Attera 18mg tablets once every day and to increase the dose after a week, he also recommended to get Psychologist tested and counseling to test my intelligence. FYI, Atomoxetine is not a cure, I need to take it consistently, missing a dose will not do any good.

I am an above-average candidate who falls in 16% of the population, (90 percentile) I also validated my IQ from online tests and scored 117 - pretty decent.

Here is my problem, I am still having issues with grasping things, unable to understand any new and simple concepts, very basic things; below is the definition of smartness from a website. Which explains exactly what I am struggling with (Smartness). But I am intelligent, please note both are very different. I just need some help from your personal experience on how to overcome this challenge, my job demands me to be a smart person, intelligence is not helping much. Below is the definition of Smartness according to - perfectstrang3r.wordpress.c...

""Smart refers to quick intelligence and often a ready capability for taking care of one’s own interests.

I guess smart person should not just be able to make oneself, but must also be able to help others form themselves.

– should be able to learn and to teach.

– should be able to see and to show.

– should be able to listen and to speak""

[FindingTheAnswers]

Your discussion about Intelligence vs Smartness is true. But to me it sounds like you're putting a lot more pressure on yourself. And maybe getting ahead of yourself?

How long ago we're you diagnosed with ADHD. How long have you been on Atomoxetine (Strattera)? If both have come about here lately, I'd try to get my ADHD Rx figured out correctly. The correct ADHD Rx may solve several things for you.

Atomoxetine (A non-stimulant) may not be the best Rx for you. Has your Dr let you try different ADHD Rx to see how you react to them. For me-this is just my experience-Atomoxetine did nothing for me (for another take, Atomoxetine worked great for a neighbor of mine). Ritalin did nothing for me. Adderall was the Rx that works for me (again, this is just my experience). Some Dr's are afraid to give their patient a stimulant. Adderall, like Atomoxetine, is not a cure. For me, I usually take it 1st thing in the morning, and later when I notice my symptoms acting up.

Your Dr also recommended to get Psychologist tested and counseling to test my intelligence.

Tested for? ADHD? Counseling for the problems that ADHD (and life's other issues) has caused you and that you're still dealing with makes sense to me. For the Intelligence vs Smartness, I can't answer that. But I do believe for some of us here on this website, that we've been 'Dumbed Down' because of our ADHD and/our the environment we grew up in.

I commend you for trying to find out what's best for you. Best of luck.

[theDudeishere]

You just have to be very careful. Need to take your time evaluate move forward. The medication helps tremendously. You also need to take care of yourself, exercise and cognitive behavior therapy really shows where your weaknesses and strengths are so that you can protect yourself. I was able to get two degrees post college. You’ll be fine but you do have to work.

[Gettingittogether]

ADHD and anxiety will lower our ability to apply our intelligence. So intelligence is not really the issue as I see it. The issue is how to you slow down and work with your mind as it is. How can you give yourself permission to engage in trial and error. You may need to take notes and on and on ... But basically anxiety messes up a lot of brain power. So you probably need to get the anxiety treated--therapy and meds.

I'm not sure I'm understanding your question. Yes, we people with ADHD typically perform below our intelligence levels when there is tedious work involved or deadlines and so on.

And yes, ADHD meds are a treatment, not a cure. Most medical conditions are treated and managed, not cured--heart disease, diabetes and on and on. Nothing unusual about that.

You will need to go through a process to try out different medications. There is no medical magic. It can take a year or more ... to figure out an optimal medication. Sounds to me though that you would benefit from therapy, which can help you be compassionate towards yourself and to come up with practical strategies for remembering and ways of lowering the anxiety.

You also want to learn to know your mind. You indicate what you struggle with. What concepts or types of issues do you enjoy figuring out? Again, therapy with a strong therapist can be good for that.

[Hidden]

It is unrealistic to think that concepts will come easy or you’ll have an understanding of a subject in a short amount of time. Your job like every job requires training. Training over time to be successful. Whatever you’re feeling or the views that you have of yourself are not true. This self doubt needs to truly be rationalized for what it really is. It’s false. Can smartness truly defined? You already have one piece of evidence validating your intelligence. Go gather some more.