I just went through ADHD screening from a professional group. They confirmed that I have ADHD. I had already taken all of the tests that I could Google and already knew that I was. I am 62 years old, and in retrospect, a lot thing in that happended in the past finally seem to fit. Well I'm thinking - what do I do next. The behaviour management group that did my testing, scheduled a meeting with a clinical psychologist -- all he did was visit with me, and suggest that I eliminate caffine, and switch from Effexor to Lexapro. I am looking for help, I realize that I need help and I want help, but I can not find anywhere that his advise makes sense. Maybe if his recommendations are only for "step one". I am not seriously deprressed and while some of the GAD symptons are similar to ADHD, most are not. Lexapro is reported by many to cause weight gain. I am trying to lose 65 lbs. not gain more. Amphetamine salts or similar seem to be the most reported best meds. I don't know! I am old enough that I don't think Dr's are gods and all knowing. But where do you start. It seems that I should switch from PHD's to MD's, where there is some knowledge of pharmacology. Maybe some one can save me from trying to the wrong doors, I have gone down enough of them already. I guess my question is "where do I start".
Thanks for reading, any suggestions will be appreciated.

62? :confused:

Were you in an accident that may have damaged your chemical flow?

62 is a lot of years to live before realising you have ADHD.

Hi, exfarmer. I'm 56 and just got diagnosed, and I know how you feel. After the absolute shock of realizing that there was a reason other than laziness and lack of will power for why my life has been such chaos, I became furious. I was furious that my therapist for many, many years had never picked up on this. I was furious that the various psychiatrists I'd seen over the years had never considered this. I was furious that I was born long before the educational system overall learned about AD/HD.

I was also angry and sad that so much of my life just drifted by. Careers I might have had, education I might have completed, financial security I could have been building...all gone.

I've finally moved into a more positive frame of mind. One of the things that helped me was reading everything I could find about AD/HD. It made me realize that along with medication, there is a lot of other things I can learn and do to help myself. I've accepted that while there are people out there who can help me, I am going to have to be the one to do the research and decide where i want to put my energy in dealing with this.

I'd suggest checking your local library and asking the librarian or checking the card catalog for books on adult AD/HD. Two to start with which I found very helpful: "You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?" and "Delivered from Distraction" (and an earlier book by the same authors, which I haven't read yet but will: "Driven to Distraction"). Both of these books are written by people with AD/HD, and they are easy to read.

I hope this helps as a starting point.

Nightwing

Thank You Nightwing:
You put my thoughts into better language than I did. I did not even know what ADHD was until some 15-20 years ago, and then thought it was a child thing, It was not until my 27 year old daughter was diagnoised with it, that I really started delving into finding what it was about.

Well I'm glad you finally sloved the mystery! And hopefully you and your daughter can be a very unique support system for each other.

Defintely you want to see a medical doctor about this. I use my psychologist to discuss the feelings surrounding ADHD, so don't 'throw the baby out with the bathwater' so to speak. I believe they are a very valuable member of your ADHD team :)

Taking medication is one method of dealing with your ADHD. It's not the end all be all of ADHD management though. More than likely, you will still need some kind of organization method to plan your day, and keep things in check. Some also choose not to take medication at all, and manage their ADHD in other ways.

Keep reading, as everyone says, make sure you seek help from people who know what ADHD is. That's the best piece of advice I can give.

Good luck!!

But where do you start. It seems that I should switch from PHD's to MD's, where there is some knowledge of pharmacology

If you are looking at trying medications then you will have to see am MD for this. Psychologist can not write prescriptions, they normally do the talk therapy although some do have MDs working with then who do the actually prescription writing.


Diagnostic Criteria for ADHD (http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23276) scroll down to end of first post, there is a list of professionals who can prescribe medications for ADD.


Where Can I Find a Health Care Professional? (http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33989)

Directories that may help you locate a health care professional that treats adult ADD.