Late Diagnosis

[Marceline23]

Hey! I’m new here and I just got diagnosed with adhd this year . Is there anyone else here with a late diagnosis ? Also if anyone has any helpful tips about managing adhd that would be great !

[Netjester]

If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? I'm 57 and was diagnosed around 40, after one of my sons was diagnosed. I've been through a couple of psychiatrists, therapists and ADHD coaches and I have to say that it's been a difficult journey, but I feel I have finally found the right person to treat me for ADHD and everything that has come with it. My advice to you is based upon what I attribute to my success. Sorry that it's going to be lengthy. I'll try to make it ADHD friendly.

First off, make sure the person treating you is an expert in ADHD. Ideally this is a psychiatrists who has at least 50% of their patients as those diagnosed with ADHD. It makes a big difference.

Secondly, ask for a pharmacogenetics test. This is a DNA test that will tell your doctor what medications will or won't be effective for you. This takes away the guessing game that could take years(in the case of my previous psychiatrists). Cost is about 350 US dollars, but worth the time and money savings in the long run.

Thirdly, don't resist medication. ADHD is a physical disability. Not only is your brain smaller, but your pre-frontal cortex has taken much longer to develop...35 years, in most cases. Because of this, your neurotransmitters and brain wiring have spent years figuring out paths in your brain that are different than your neurotypical brain. This is what the medication will correct and allow you to do the other work to help manage ADHD. Whatever you do, don't self-medicate. Self-medicating, especially with marijuana is bad for you and will dull your dopamine sensors. Studies show the long term effects of this is much worse than the very short term benefit.

Forth, Don't deny your feelings. Undiagnosed ADHD comes with trauma. That childhood trauma has been a big part of your brain wiring and comes with quite a bit of baggage. I suggest you read or listen to the audiobook of "The Body Keeps the Score." It helps quite a bit to understand why you and others react to things the way you do. This is less about ADHD and more about things associated with the ADHD symptoms.

Fifth, Take the time to understand how your brain works and what the goal of ADHD treatment is. The idea is to get your neurons to connect with your pre-frontal cortex so you can make rational decisions. This is where you want most thoughts to go to. Right now, they go straight up to your dopamine receptors and all they care about is making your happy. Not a bad thing, but we need our rational thinking most of the time.

Sixth, Understand the different types of symptoms that comes with ADHD. Focus ends up being minor compared to Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria, Impulsivity or Pathological Demand Avoidance. These three things will end up running your life if you let them. For instance RSD will potentially allow your brain to believe things are being said, when they aren't...causing a host of problems for you and those around you. Impulsivity is what hurts us when it comes to managing money or addiction. PDA is what many call procrastination, but Procrastination is more of a freeze response of trauma and PDA is the combative resistance of you or someone else making demands of you.

Things that help along with your medication, once settled, are therapy. Therapy can go along way, but unless your medication is settled I found it to be wasted money because of PDA. Exercise, Meditation are great things for ADHD. I can't stress enough the benefits. Just 30 minutes per day will help tremendously.

Another thing is that you need to be in control of your treatment. If something doesn't feel right, make sure your doctor knows right away. With ADHD medication, they can make changes right away, if needed.

Good Luck and hope this helps a bit.

[WolfTamer in reply to Netjester]

Thank you for this.

[Mamamichl in reply to Netjester]

Is the pharmacy genetics these the same as the gene site test?

[Mamamichl in reply to Netjester]

I like to describe it as the counseling gives you the coping skills, but the medication lets you keep those skills in your tool box and actually able to make the decision on what to use that you’ve learned.

[framedrummer in reply to Netjester]

Yes, thank you Netjester . I'm newly diagnosed (at 67) and talking to my doctor about meds this week. I'll ask about the DNA test. I'm listening to The Body Keeps the Score as well. Very helpful.

[Marceline23 in reply to Netjester]

I am 29 by the way . And yes I don’t feel as though I’m on the right track that I need to be on . They are going to have me start vyvanse soon and hopefully that can help kick start some of this . Thank you for your post I’ll definitely be coming back to read it every now and again .

[Mamamichl]

I was diagnosed 2 years ago at 38. Lots of meditation apps (calm is my favorite), counseling with someone who specializes in adhd, and is you are able to get a good psychiatrist, talk with them about medication options.

[samami]

Hi Marceline,

I was finally diagnosed in April this year at 59. It has been a strange time for me. I've tried to read a lot and sign up with different ADHD organizations on the internet. I found a psychiatrist by researching online for a local psychiatrist who works with ADHD. I am on Methylphenidate now and I think it helps.

additudemag.com has great webinars. I also listen to "ADHD chatter" podcast. There are lots of great instagram accounts by people living with ADHD.

Peri-menopause and menopause made my ADHD symptoms much worse over the past 10 years and I repeatedly tried to figure out what was going on with me.

I don't know how old you are but here is an interesting webinar for older adults diagnosed with ADHD:

additudemag.com/webinar/adh...

Some interesting thoughts from this webinar:

- That declining estrogen levels increase ADHD symptoms.

- That our ADHD symptoms can worsen when we cannot meet the demands of our environment (such as when you are overworked or over stressed).

- Other things that could help are: better sleep, aerobic exercise, healthy diet, mental stimulation, reducing social isolation, finding ways to bring structure in to your life.

Hope this helps! I'm just trying to work on things at the moment.... seeing where things go. I think medication is probably key!