Hi, I'm in a bit of shock as I've only realised over the last couple of days that I have ADHD. I'm overwhelmed and don't know what to do, say or how to act! Everything I read is describing me and I can't believe it. I'm 37 and keep thinking back throughout my whole life and how things are now explained. I've been saying for years 'my brain doesn't work like that' and now I know its real, my brain doesn't work like other people's. What do I do now? I can't just turn up at my Dr and say 'I have ADHD' he'll laugh at me and tell me not to be so silly. Please help me, I'm so new to this I'm still coming to terms with it.

PB

Hey PinkBeauty.

I think a good first step would be to find a doctor or psychiatrist specialized with ADD. Go to them and tell them that what you've been reading sounds a lot like yourself and you think you may have ADD. You're in the UK so it might be hard to find a specialist, another UKer might come along and have a better recommendation regarding this, hopefully. There might be a website or ADD organization that can help you with this, try doing a google search they often have lists of doctors and psychiatrist that can treat ADD. I assume you're looking for treatment (meds) to help you 'organize' your ADD so to speak :)

The doctor would probably get you to do a simple test that will give him a good idea if you have ADD or not. He may also ask for some old assessments from teachers if you have any laying around still. Gather up any old school reports you have if you can find them.

Sorry for asking but are your Mum and Dad still around, do they understand you've had difficulty with ADD throughout your life? If they do you could always organize them to come and talk to the doc about what you were like when you were a child. Doctors usually find this sort of information coming from a parent extremely useful in making a diagnoses. Although this might be impossible to organize for some/most people. I also realize you're 37 :)

Another good idea might be reading a book that explains ADD and everything that surrounds it. I believe "Driven to Distraction - by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. and John Ratey, M.D." is a really good one to start with.

I hope my post isn't too long and I wish you luck with coming to terms with having ADD. I found it a bit difficult at first and their were a lot of "oh that explains why I did that!" moments.

Hello Pink!

Well, I must say I was/am in a very similar position - just realizing a month or so ago that there are other people like me at all...(I'm 41). Was reading about ADHD because my 5 y/o son appears to be a poster-boy for the hyperactive type. I related to a few things myself, but didn't give it much serious thought since I have never considered myself hyperactive. After a time, I got curious and did a search for ADULT symptoms of ADHD - found this place - and found these Inattentive types telling my life story in their own words. Weird. Thrilling, though - after all this time of thinking I was completely alone.

I had just gone back to therapy a few weeks before because depression was at a low again and anxiety (as usual) was making my life miserable. Was a little embarrassed, but I brought it up to my therapist just like ozchris suggested - - "I found this forum and can't believe how much I relate to these people (and visa versa)!" Well she right away suggested I be tested for ADHD because I obviously have problems, and if it's not ADHD it's OCD or something else - and it's a little hard to proceed w/therapy not knowing what the heck's going on!

Anyways, I'd recommend bringing it up that way and try not to sound like you've already made your own diagnosis, because some drs react badly to that and may be less likely to really listen and take you seriously.

OH - and BTW, I must say that I have never felt so ...accepting (?)... of myself and the way I am than right now. Credit goes to the forum and all of the great and caring people here.

Print out This List (http://www.oneaddplace.com/addcheck.htm) and tick all your symptoms and give them to the doctor that you will be seeing for your ADD. It might also be helpful to find some old school records to support the diagnosis as it will prove you had the symptoms as a child as well.

Good luck :D

It's all a bit overwhelming isn't it? Just get yourself that offical stamp from a doctor who knows their stuff, and then take it from there. Trust me, getting that stamp is the first of a long journey.

Welcome to ADD Forums!:) I would suggest getting Sari Solden's book Women with Attention Deficit Disorder. It will give you a better understanding of what you may be dealing with and where to go from here.

It's important to find a psychologist or other mental health professional who is knowledgable about what ADD looks like in adult women. It might be more difficult to find someone knowledgable about ADD in adults in the UK, so you might want to start by learning all you can first. Another good book is Driven to Distraction by Hallowell and Ratey.

Take care!

Thank you all for your replies. Believe me I'm taking all your advice on board, just gonna take me a moment or two to digest it all!

If you are in South Wales, the you could try and find the address for a Professor Thome, who is from Swansea. You could ask your GP to referr you there. Or if you are in South Wales, I know a couple of people, myself included, who are being treated at Hergest.

It will be difficult to convince your GP you have ADHD, as most are so influenced by the media, they don't consider it a real condition. I even once read on an online forum, a Dr referr to it as "A DickHead in Denial Syndrome"....

You could maybe take a copy of an adult ADHD scale, readily filled in and show that to him. I think there is one called the Wender Utah Scale, maybe people on here will be able to provide you links to others.

Good-Luck!

Thanks Amazing Lobster, I am in South Wales. Do I have to go through my GP?

Yes - speak to your GP, explain how much the distress the symptons are causing you, and you could suggest that as this guy is an expert in adult ADHD, he would be the best person to decide if you have it, or if your problems could best be explained by something else.

But find the guys details before you go for your appointment, just google professor Thome ADHD, or similar words, until you find his details. Then take these with you to your appointment.

Hope that's useful : )

*my post above should have read North Wales is where I am being treated. Professor Thomes is in South Wales.

Thanks for your help Amazing Lobster. My Dr is ringing Pro Thome and asking him if he takes NHS referraks, he's then going to write a letter asking permission to send me to him as its out of area. It may take a bit of time but at least its happening. My GP told me the problem I have is that Adult ADHD is newly recognised and he doesn't know anyone who has been diagnosed with it even though he has lots of ADHD children patients. (I knew that anyway, but at least he didn't just dismiss it.)

Hey there :)
I´m kinda going through the same thing, I´m 23 and have recently realized that I have ADD after I started reading about it in places like this forum.
It certainly explains a whole lot of things and it freaks me out as well to read all this as it really is describing yourself!
I´m waiting to see a doctor about this as well, really hope it works out for ya!

hi Pink Beauty and Amazing Lobster

I have not come across either Dr Thome or the Hergest. I'd appreciate it if you could post if the request for referral was positive and if they take NHS and/or Private patients. There are so few places diagnosing Adult ADD its worth knowing about every one

Referring to the OP.....yes it is a overwhelming, I found out about Adult ADD at the beginning of the year and still haven't come to terms with what it means for me if I actually have it....which I'm 99% certain of. The ramifications can be profound, the first one being my partners desire for there to be a pill to stop me being such a disorganised pain in the neck. The second thing is that if I have it then there's a chance one r both of my kids have it....and I wouldn't wish some of the struggles I've had on them.

This is a good place and the more that post here from the UK the better will be the support for ADD+ people on our side of the pond.

kilt

hi Pink Beauty and Amazing Lobster

I have not come across either Dr Thome or the Hergest. I'd appreciate it if you could post if the request for referral was positive and if they take NHS and/or Private patients. There are so few places diagnosing Adult ADD its worth knowing about every one
Yes Kilted Scotsman, I will do that. I have asked my GP to ask him if he doesn't take NHS referrals if he can recommend someone with Adult ADHD knowledge who does.