hey

recently i went to the doctors to get tested for add
but my doctor didnt even kno what add was!

i had previously been to the doctors about my anxiety and now when i want my doctor to test me for add, he keeps bringing up anxiety but only because he saw it on the screen from what i mentioned a long time ago.

i want to know the root cause for my anxiety because i have no idea what started it off, which is why im questioning having add, all the pieces of the puzzle keep coming togeather and i feel like i can relate to most of the things that people mention on here.

all my doctor keeps saying to me is "we'll arrange for you to see a counsiler" which is good but it takes alot of time

i was just wondering if there is any other way of getting tested for add and dyslexia (in the uk) other than seeing a doctor or a counsiler on the nhs

:)

I am not in the UK, but I just asked my doctor if she could refer me to a Psychologist.

Hi - I went down this route and the counselor is NOT for getting a diagnosis. It was a waste of time for me as it was for depression. You need to ask your GP to refer you to a psychologist. And if they don't, then see another GP. It may not be easy if your GP has not heard of it but if you print out the N.I.C.E. guidelines and take them he cannot argue with that.There are adult adhd clinics here but it's hard to get referred.

There is another forum...not as good as this one IMO that is based in the UK and has a list of specialists in different areas. It will be worth checking it out. www.aadd.org.uk/ You will find the NICE guidelines on here too. Good luck and keep us posted.

thank you that sites great, gives me some usful info on my area
still not better than this site tho lol :)

I went through something very similar! They tried to treat my anxiety for years, and the conventional anxiety medications and treatments either did nothing or made things much, much worse. For many people with ADHD, the anxiety is actually a symptom of the ADHD itself. Though, left unchecked, it becomes its own beast.

Sounds like the advice here is good. Nab yourself a referral.

From a conversation with a friend who works for the NHS, Mental Health Trust:

"CYPMHS - Children and Young Persons Mental Health Services. They should have specialists in ADHD there."

"The other acronym is CAHMS - Children and Adult Health, Mental Services. Some in London use a variation: CHAMS - Childrens Health and Mental Services. Wouldn't it be nice if we all called it the same d*mn thing?!"

"Sadly, yes, you DO have to stay in your "area" that's not directly defined, since they brought in something called "Choose & Book" - you can choose your hospital from a set "area" list, and book from that. If there is a long wait for appointments, the application brings up alternatives. Usually meaning some travel, but not much."

"He should really go via his local PCT (primary care trust) or Acute Hospital Trust. Their website should be able to tell him all the details of the Mental Health Services in their area. If he picks his local one, it should give him the telephone number of the local Crisis team - if he rings, he can at least raise himself as looking for help. Crisis teams are normally great at putting people at the top of other peoples' lists, if they can't see them themselves."

These are just excerpts from a conversation my friend and I had recently about how to go about getting ADHD diagnosis and care. If you need more specific information, please feel free to PM me with questions and I will do what I can to get answers.

thank you so much, im just googling them now

youv all helped me so much

im so greatful

:)

the problem im faced with now is
is CYPMHS only in scotland?

excuse me if im wrong i just have difficulty reading up on things

Check the website for your local Trust. My friend was fairly certain that you would be able to find information that is area specific there.

CYPMHS is the acronym that her Trust uses- she's in Tyne & Wear. She knew that London uses a different acronym and didn't know if there was a different one in every Trust.

You might try ringing your Primary Care Trust or Acute Hospital Trust. They should be able to direct you.

can i just ask as well

if i do get diagnosed will i be able to control it without meds?
i heard they have alot of side effects and my boy friend wont let me take them

Slayer, that is a tough call. You and your doctor should work together to find the best solution for you.

I have never had a problem with side effects, either with Ritalin or Adderall. I know people who have done well on virtually every drug prescribed for ADHD.

If you want to try doing without meds, there are various things that work. Check out Dr Hallowell's site. I believe that he has information posted for people who decide that meds are not for them.

I understand that your boyfriend may not be comfortable with you being on meds. Make sure that he gets all the information he needs to make an informed decision. Many times the problem is that all we know is the rumors.

The best thing that you and your boyfriend can do is get educated about what ADHD is and what it isn't. There is a ton of information on the web. A Google search will bring up more than you can read. There are a bunch of good books out now.