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I can't find a provider...

CallMeBungee profile image
15 Replies

Hello, everyone. I have been trying to find a psychologist/psychiatrist/professional that can help assess me for ADHD/ADD without taking $1000+ out of my wallet. I have been searching for a few months now, and I'm starting to second-guess whether or not I even need to be assessed at all.

My grades dropped considerably Senior year of high school. I struggled to focus in school, even though, until then, I was a straight-A student and my work ethic had been top tier. I was making careless mistakes in classes and my motivation was absolutely absent. I thought it was because this is also when I met my girlfriend, but it has persisted and now I can't keep making so many mistakes in my courses. I am in constant limbo about what I want to do with my life, and I don't even want to go pre-med anymore.

I won't go into the grand list of things, but I am often exhausted by social outings and can be impulsive when it comes to even major decisions (like switching career outlooks completely). I also want to eat all of the time, even though I'm not really hungry. I have heard so much about ADHD/ADD, and I can relate to so many references. That being said, I still feel like I am too competent on my own to really need any diagnosis. Sometimes it feels like I really am okay, and that I'm just reaching too hard, because honestly, I used to do well in what I did. Aside from a bit of anxiety, I was alright. Maybe I've just gotten used to feeling this way (so much that I assume it's okay). That's about it. I'm not even sure I need it, but I've heard that treatment can help immensely, and I would hate to trick myself out of it. Any advice would be much appreciated!

TL;DR: I can't find a provider who will assess me for ADHD/ADD (without costing $1000+) and now I believe I may not even really need it.

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CallMeBungee profile image
CallMeBungee
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15 Replies
BlessedLady profile image
BlessedLady

If your are not having major problems functioning on a daily basis at work and/or school and in your personal life. There is no need for an evaluation People have evaluations done when they need medication and/or regular counseling on ways to cope with their issues. Maybe you should look into talking with a counselor. Counselors do not prescribe medication. But if you have doubts you need to be evaluated. Your issues do not sound severe enough to require medication

CallMeBungee profile image
CallMeBungee in reply to BlessedLady

Okay, thank you for your input. I agree, I really don't thing it is that severe. I will look into counseling for sure :)

wtfadhd profile image
wtfadhd in reply to CallMeBungee

HeyBungee, i encourage you to not let yourself be gaslit by well meaning people. You are struggling enough that you took time to reach out to this group and so therefore you are struggling enough to benefit from a mental eval. Just bc your grades were awesome doesnt mean you dont struggle “ enough” . ADHD is not a learning disability!!! its a disability of regulation in all kinds of impt areas of your life! impulsively making huge life decisions has the potential to decimate you as an adult. those of us older folks that got diagnosed later learned how to cope to white knuckle life n we were miserable! why put yourself thru that? if you get an eval, it means nothing more than your symptoms have been identified, grouped, labeled, n a medical provider can offer u meds, u can chose counseling, peer support, or whatever or nothing at all. its your life, its your choice. but sitting around wondering if u “ suffer enough” to get a diagnosis just seems irrational. you are bright n reflective n young with a future ahead of you! dont hesitate to address this situation- if its a burden enough that u have done this much research on it, then stop second guessing yourself n move forward. u got this❤️. oh, and your college might be a good resource also, ask your primary doctor. us females with good grades can have a hellova hard time getting diagnosed properly. PM me if u want more info on how to navigate n advocate.

CallMeBungee profile image
CallMeBungee in reply to wtfadhd

Thank you for this reply, I really needed this information. I appreciate the comforting words. I have checked around my university but it's waitlisted until next year, haha. I will PM you for sure! <3

CallMeBungee profile image
CallMeBungee in reply to wtfadhd

Just an update for you -- I appreciate your help a month ago, and I wanted to let you know that I was diagnosed yesterday with combined type ADHD. The woman I worked with was a specialist and understood that it can present in a variety of ways. I was very fortunate that people like you were willing to reach out and support me in this. Thank you so much :)

wtfadhd profile image
wtfadhd in reply to CallMeBungee

thats wonderful news!!!! omg i bet u feel soooo much better. second guessing ourselves is a form of torture, lol. now that you know what you are dealing with, you can approach it in a way that feels right for you.

you are gonna move mountains and im elated that i got to be in a teeny tiny blip in your journey.☀️

Boo0102 profile image
Boo0102

Your comment about being hungry all the time in conjunction with your other symptoms/experiences makes me want to say to get a good physical checkup that includes tests for thyroid, vit D, iron, etc. It could be that your body is just not getting the nutrition it needs. Plus sleep - chronic sleep deprivation (even by a little bit) can wreak havoc on your life. It doesn’t mean that you might not have ADHD, but if somethings out of whack, it can make things worse. Hope you can find some answers soon.

CallMeBungee profile image
CallMeBungee in reply to Boo0102

ooh, great idea. I really really appreciate your feedback, Boo. I'll get a checkup in place soon!

Boo0102 profile image
Boo0102 in reply to CallMeBungee

Hey - I just saw that you’re a college student. Have you tried checking with university resources for anything? They might be able to pre-screen you - or direct you to a low cost provider. Just a thought.

CallMeBungee profile image
CallMeBungee in reply to Boo0102

I just saw this -- thank you for the idea. I checked with my university a few months ago, and, unfortunately, the waitlist was incredibly long. They didn't have many alternatives that could take my insurance, either. It's all good now, though!

BTV65 profile image
BTV65

Start with your primary care doctor. I know my son's pediatrician was able to diagnose him based on a 20 question evaluation. I'm sure your doctor should be able to at least pre-screen you based on a list of symptoms.

As for medication, you will likely need the services of an actual psychiatrist to start getting medication and playing with different kinds and doses. However, it shouldn't cost $1000 to get started on that process. A formal evaluation is expensive but it's meant to be targeted to finding your strengths/weaknesses and working with other professionals who can look through the results to help you make changes to your life. They aren't used just to get a basic diagnoses or start medication.

I do suggest doing reading and watching some of the videos out there about ADHD. There are a lot of good tips and techniques about organizing your life so that you can't catch a lot of those "mistakes" before they become a major issue.

CallMeBungee profile image
CallMeBungee in reply to BTV65

Will do, thank you so much. I didn't go through all of the symptoms I've experienced. I've read quite a bit about ADHD, and I really appreciate the information.

Find a psychiatrist and show up and report what's going on in your life. You don't need an official "diagnosis." The psychiatrist will diagnose you ... in the way that they diagnose us when we say we have depression ... or anxiety ... And get to a psychologist as well ...

CallMeBungee profile image
CallMeBungee in reply to Gettingittogether

I'm trying my best haha. That's the issue, I can't really find any available Psychiatrist or Psychologist to meet with :/

CallMeBungee profile image
CallMeBungee

Just an update -- I finally found a psychiatric center near me that was able to take my insurance. I was diagnosed with combined type ADHD yesterday. This is a relief to me, since I was feeling like it was all just in my head. I want to thank everyone who replied to this thread for helping me on this journey. I hope you are all doing well :)

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