I've read the general page on resources for getting ADHD diagnoses but wondering if anyone has any suggestions for affordable diagnoses. Everywhere I look is wanting to charge $700 to $1000 to assess which feels steep.
I"m in Sydney Australia . Although online treatment is an option.
Suspected ADHD Inattentive - From online tests/ family history.
It would be borderline but I still think it's affecting various areas of my life - career/ work, relationships, financial decisions.
Any help appreciated.
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PaulSyd
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I was able to use an Employee Assistance Program, one of the benefits offered by my employer, to get counseling (for anxiety). When I met with the counselor, I asked the counselor to also assess me for ADHD, since I suspected it was a contributing factor in the anxiety. The EAP program covered the full cost of a set number of appointments.(Soon after, I had a second opinion confirmation diagnosis by my GP, who I needed to go to for medication, anyway.)
I'm in the USA, and the state I was living in at the time allowed more types of healthcare and mental health providers to diagnose ADHD. (I think some states here only allow medical doctors or psychiatrists to diagnose ADHD.)
I found it stated on the website for the Australian Psychological Society (APS) that an assessment there can be made by a Psychologist, Psychiatrist, GP or other medical practitioner.
Could you schedule an assessment with your regular GP? Or, do you have work benefit of an Employee Assistance Program, and if so, might it cover a qualified provider?
(If I had to pay for the counseling appointments out of pocket, it probably would have cost me $800-$1000. I'm very grateful for the work benefit I had at the time. My current employer also has an EAP, but it covers fewer counseling appointments than the first one did. Not all programs are the same.)
My GP said he wasn't able to prescribe drugs unfortunately. I'm half interested in trying medication route but first priority is getting a diagnosis which is the main issue. It's on the fence. I might try an online therapy program like Better Help as a place to start.
I've used BetterHelp for therapy, but I don't know if you can get an ADHD evaluation using the service.
I do like that they let you switch therapists, if the first one is a bad match. I actually had to do so. (I used BetterHelp a couple of different times. The other therapists I was helped by were great to work with.)
Do BetterHelp have therapists that understand ADHD? I signed up a few weeks ago and then chickened out without even try it but. Wasn’t sure they could even help with ADHD. Plus when I looked up the therapist I could just pay her the same amount per session rather than a regular payment to BetterHelp.
I've been using BetterHelp for a couple of months now. My therapist has ADHD, but she doesn't specialize in cognitive behavioral therapy, which is (from what I understand) recommended for ADHD patients. I don't know if you can pick a therapist with that specialization at the start. My therapist specializes in acceptance and commitment therapy, which has helped with my anxiety and depression. She identified the ADHD in me, and I got an evaluation from ADHDOnline, which costs about $200. If you choose to use ADHDOnline for meds, make sure they prescribe in your state, but that's when the costs start to really ramp up. (They are also transparent about costs).
BetterHelp therapists can't give evaluations or prescribe meds. For me, the best thing BH has is group therapy for ADHD. They have several ADHD groups per week, and you can sign up for one group session per week. I've gotten a lot of tips and tricks from groups, plus it makes you feel like you're not alone. ❤️
I've already been diagnosed. I didn't even realise I had an issue! I know its astonishing. I was put on Bupropion but I didnt like being on the drug and now I want to try therapy. Coming off bupropion has been a pain as I feel like I'm almost worst now. However, I also have Hashimoto's.
I'm in the UK and I wonder if Better Help have group therapy for ADHD. How did you sign up for that? It sounds great and I'm glad you've benefitted from it.
I didn't know either! I'm 40 and just got diagnosed last month. I knew something was off with me, and I just thought I inherited my mother's scatterbrain. 🤯 I've heard some painful stories about coming off that type of medication. I feel for you. I think we call that Wellbutrin in the US. I was put on Adderall, and it works for me, but I've heard some people get panic attacks or other adverse effects from it. In my groups, I've seen many people have mixed results with ADHD medication. What works for one person might not work for another. I hope you find the things that work for you. ♥️
(All this being said, I just canceled my BetterHelp because it was too pricy for me, even with financial aid for low income. The cost of medication management and BH is too high for me. I'm going to try ADDA groups at add.org.)
Some of the people in my groups were joining from the UK and some other countries. They hold groups at different times of the day. When you sign on to Betterhelp, you have a dashboard on the webpage, and on the left, there is a box where you can schedule a group. When you click schedule, you're taken to a list of available groups for the week. At the top, you can scroll through the topics. Scroll till you find ADHD. It's pretty far down the list. I'm not sure how it works on the phone app. I feel like at least half of the groups were directed toward women with ADHD.
I'd also mention the journal function if you are seriously considering BetterHelp. You have the option to write in a journal every day, and they also give you the option to share it with your therapist. I wrote a couple of times a week and shared every one with my therapist, and she would often respond to my entry. By the time we had a session, she already had a lot of background and issues from me. I feel like I gained a lot in my two months of BetterHelp.
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