What should I expect from a diagnosis

[daverussell]

Hi, I'm 48 yrs old and Im awaiting an appointment for a diagnosis on the NHS. I already knew I'd could be waiting 2 years. Anyway I spoke to my doctor and he said all they are going to say you have it or you don't.If I do have ADHD, Ive probably adopted many strategies which is why I've dismissed myself as having ADHD. Although, it might explain why I feel exhausted.

I guess I just want to know for my piece of mind.

So my question is what should I expect from private Vs NHS? Is it just as my doctor says, that it's I have it or I don't? Even if the latter is the case, what are the benefits?

I found a [ADHD 360](adhd-360.com/), does anyone have experience of this clinic?

Many thanks.

[whycantidothis]

Hi Dave - sorry don't have any answers to your questions but just saying hi. and also that i cant believe how long its going to take you to get a diagnosis wow - with that can you access services? i worked around my adhd so much that it only got unmanageable now - and im 50

[daverussell in reply to whycantidothis]

Hi @whycantidothis, thank you for the reply. It's useful to hear from others who share their stories and experience. I've joked for years that if I was a school kid nowadays I would probably be diagnosed with ADHD. I'm now a teacher and come across students who have ADHD daily. Well they just seem normal but are anxious and low self-esteem. This has been me. I use the gym for release. Before that I cycled to and from. It was a release from me. In fact, I ended up quitting desk work to move into teaching we at least I move around. I dont relax in the evening and/or sit for long - I'm constantly fidgeting.

However, I've always (well, at least for as long as I remember) been extremely organised and meticulous. I need to have a process when I do things, or put thing in their place before I move onto another task. Just recently, I think maybe these are coping strategies, but I find it more and more exhausting. I've just lived with it and always just felt "it's me, it's me, it's me," I keep telling myself over and over, surely everyone else struggles like this, but they're damn good at hiding it.

A few months ago, I came across hyper-focused as a trait of some people with ADHD. I recently spoke to a student who has diagnosed ADHD. He said, he rushes to get things done otherwise he'll loses interest/mind wanders and it get tiring and then makes careless mistakes (like writing this reply and trying to proof read). I lose track of time when getting things done as I have to focus. I have tinnitus and noise-sensitivity which makes thing all the more challenging.

I can relate to this. I'm renowned for being clumsy or not listening (not having a clue what's going on). Following long conversations are exhausting and I'm finishing their sentences (at least in my head) and I have anecdotes for each tale I'm told.

I wondered whether this is one of my coping mechanisms. I've always (again, far as I remember) having a reputation at work for being commited and love my job. This also my way of zoning out too, but this is exhausting. Over the last few years, I've developed tinnitus and noise-sensitivity, so the effort to focus on a task becoming very difficult.

Thanks again.