Possible quick diagnoses and prescription for ADD?
 

Short version: Is it possible to get diagnosed and prescribed medication within a week?

I have had a concern in my life ever since I had the mind to research this topic, which was sometime early in high school. However, even though I felt I had the symptoms, I never bothered trying to get diagnosed because high school wasn't very hard, at least not at mine since the standards were so low, I could get A/B's without doing much. It is also because I am very much inexperienced with health care because of how my parents raised me (Chinese, eastern remedies and all that). I don't believe we have general health insurance, just insurance for emergency operations and the like. This is still my current problem.

Anyway, I got into UC Berkeley luckily, but have been struggling the whole time here. I went to psychological services (first 5 appts free and only took advantage of those) but I feel I didn't get much out of it. My problem arrives mostly from my attention problems and so I always resorted to trivial things/hobbies, which is always my computer. Psychologist just told me to stop using the computer so much, but I found other ways to distract myself. I wanted a psychiatrist and I wanted prescriptions. I couldn't get it however.

I got through 1st/2nd year with okay grades, but my 3rd year, I withdrew from school because I couldn't focus and was doing terrible. Fall 2011/spring 2012 I was out of school, traveled a little and worked a little. I thought life outside of school would help me fix things, but it didn't.

I came back to school summer 2012 and I was ambitious taking 2 classes at the same time. I ended up dropping one early, and only had to focus on ONE class... and I ended up most likely failing. Grades are not out yet but I did horrible on midterm 2 and final. This class was very important in determining a lot of my future with financial aid, CAPPED majors... and I screwed it up. It was so stupid, near the end, when I tried to focus, it seemed pretty understandable, but I could just not keep attention and had no will of the daunting task of studying.

I keep beating myself up over this. I only had ONE task and I FAILED at it. And this causes me to just be depressed. I'm not finding joy in my distractions as much anymore and find myself just lost on what to do all day, yet still not taking initiative on things I should be doing because I feel no sense of urgency without school hovering over me at the moment.

That said, I'm going back home for a week for my birthday and to visit my family. Is it possible to see a psychiatrist to get diagnosed and prescribed within that week and have me test out medication during my time in school? Or do I need recurring weekly/monthly visit sort of thing? These types of services are not exactly available at the health care center in school, so I'm looking to try and get some help before school starts and hopefully do well in the upcoming semester, and possibly, with diagnosis, appeal some of my academic failures.

Lastly, I want to say that although I have done a lot of research and tested online to see if I have ADD (and I figure I do have the inattention part) -- a big issue is my constant attention towards anything internet/computer/computer games. Reddit, video games, all serve as trivial distractions that put my life on hold while the stopwatch is still running. However, I have tried to force myself to focus, like putting myself at the library for a few hours. I still find ways to distract myself/do nothing/ fall asleep. I hate the feeling that I think i'm taking an easy way out, but honestly... I failed doing just one test that was needed of me this summer... yet, I can't help but attribute this to innate laziness rather than inattention. So I don't know, am I just being lazy. But regardless, I am mentally struggling with myself right now...

Re: Possible quick diagnoses and prescription for ADD?
 

I hear you! I didn't get checked out for ADHD until after I graduated and realized that my inability to study, time management issues, etc. weren't just a figment of immaturity and failure to prioritize. By then, the damage to my GPA had been done, and I already cycled through a very abnormal pre-graduation job history.

Coincidentally, I also went to UC Berkeley and happen to know quite a few with ADHD that didn't get diagnosed until later. People who get in usually already have a base set of coping skills that hides the symptoms.

I suggest that you go seek out a good psychologist and psychiatrist. The university doesn't officially treat ADHD, so use them to get an authorization to seek out someone in private practice. I will PM you with more info.

Re: Possible quick diagnoses and prescription for ADD?
 

I understand your predicament, I really do but in all honesty, you dont want a doctor to whiz through the diagnostic progress and to hand you out meds. Getting meds is tricky you have to start slow and move up and often you visit the doctor more frequently in the beginning. I understand your plight but if there is anyway you can give the process some time i would really recommend it.

Re: Possible quick diagnoses and prescription for ADD?
 

If you come in with very clear and compelling evidence of ADHD symptoms and impairment stretching back to childhood, from multiple sources, maybe.

But don't count on it. There are other problems that can cause poor focus, lack of initiative, etc., and any doctor worth his or her salt will want to look into those, even if only to rule them out. And doctors in general tend to be wary of diagnosing college students, due to reports of diversion/misuse of meds -- which is really unfortunate for those who genuinely do have ADHD and would benefit from medical treatment.

While they don't generally diagnose ADHD and don't prescribe stimulants, you can ask for a referral to an outside psychiatrist for evaluation and possible medication. You should be able to find an in-network or "preferred" provider and it may be reimbursed in large part. Meds you can get from Walgreens, even if you can't get them at the Tang Center pharmacy, and they should also be covered. But check your policy details.

If the counseling center is being a pain, pop in at the DSP office -- one of the LD/ADHD specialists there (and perhaps even the person at the front desk) may know where students can go for evals and treatment.

(You should be clear that you're looking for a psychiatrist, not a psychologist to do psych testing, unless you also plan to seek academic accommodations -- in which case, you'll probably need both.)

UCB may also have support groups for students with ADHD and/or LDs and/or other psych disabilities, either through DSP or the counseling center. Might be worth checking out.

Meanwhile, on the issue of distracting websites, video games, etc. -- look into website blocking apps on your browser(s), go so far as to uninstall video games that suck up your time, etc. Even if it turns out you do have ADHD, don't expect medication to cure you. You'll likely still need to take steps like this to manage sources of/outlets for distraction/time-wasting/procrastination.