ADD Diagnosis Blues

[Pocketplayer]

Just a week ago I was so thrilled to realize I might indeed have found an answer to a lifelong problem...namely ADD or ADHD.
I just a week, I have found out this is more complicated than I hoped for. There is so many sub-categories, the psychiatrist, the psychologist, the coach, the different testing options...UGH! Make life simple. Then there is the therapist who wants to work with the ADD and then the whole of life.

Can anyone email privately on how to take some steps towards disagnosis without spending my life savings? I don't have insurance right now and have been out of work for almost two years.

[Tara]

Wow, I was diagnosed 6 years ago and I thought that having to go a psychologist for therapy and somebody else for medication was overwhelming. I never even thought about how much more compicated it is now since there has been so much more research done on AD/HD and there so also so many theories.

Have you chelcked out http://www.chadd.org or http:www.add.org

[Andrew]

Welcome aboard Pocketplayer. Yes, ADD is complicated, but then, what in life isn't? On top of that...I think its "cool" to have a sub-type It means you're closer to understanding exactly what you've got, and you're that much closer to learning how to deal with it Hang in there!

[Pocketplayer]

Thanks! You 2 seem to be at the helm of many posts. I've just been really depressed these past fews days. I'm not really sure why, but WOW...I just woke up and it's 12:30pm.

My self diagnosis is thought out. I believe I had BDD (body dysmorphic disorder) as a kid and young man. I obsessed on a body part and then another for most of my growing up years. That led to an inability to concentrate, ruminating & obsessive thinking, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, impulsivity, feeling like a piece of driftwood, hyperfocus, etc.

So, what came first, the chicken or the egg? If ADD/ADHD is a neurological problem, then I was misfiring transmitters as a hyper-sensitive 6 year old when confronted with my lazy eye which led to never looking at anyone in the eye as a kid (I was thought to be a shy kid) and all the negative self-imagery (called cross-eyed; feeling like I was a freak, etc). All kids get teased, but not all take the teasing to such a degree as I did. This consumed me (obsessive) and I only recently thought how this might have affected others (imagine speaking to someone who never looked at you--how would that make you feel?). In self-protection, I alienated others from me.

Livingwith ADD--you're right, there is an overdose of info on ADD out there today. So, when you speak with a professional, many times you are more in the "moment" than the professional, making it frustrating when a psychologist says, "Oh, I didn't know a psychiatrist can do an ADD evaluation." WHAT?

I like what Lynn Weiss says: "There are generally 3 types of ADD: Outwardly Expressive ADD, Inwardly Directed ADD, and Highly Structured ADD. These three are not set types for every person; a person can have a combination of these three types..." I am really a blend of all three, emphasizing the highly structured type (I wrote a book).

I do think this forum is instrumental. I know there are many who have held this hidden disorder or issue within for MANY years. Finding a place to be understood is HUGE... Your impact might be more of a friendly ear than an advisor of sorts. Yet, your experience is greatly needed.

[Tara]

My suggestion is find somebody who you can afford to get the diagnosis then go from there. I know it may sound discouraging but many of us have to go through a number of professionals before we find somebody who matches our needs.

[healthwiz]

I agree...it can be trial and error to find someone good. However, you can shorten the time and hit the mark closer by getting in the phone book and calling psychologists to ask a question, not to set an appt. Simply ask them to tell you who they deem to be the 3 most highly regarded talented educated professionals on the topic of ADHD in this region. You can use this by the way to find the best in any profession. You will notice that certain names keep popping up over and over from several different professionals. Along the way, they will sometimes throw in some advice of their own on how to judge a psychologist or psychiatrist...or how to treat your condition, so they give you 5 or 10 minutes of teaching for no charge. In this way, I was able to locate the best developmental pediatrician in our region to successfully treat our daughter. As it turned out, people were coming here from other countries to see this dr, who I would not have found without this type of inquiry. I recommend you call until you have spoken to about 10 professionals in the industry who give you an opinion. Then you call the three that are the top names, and decide between those three who you are feeling best about seeing. If you get secretaries who only want to set appts, simply say you are not ready to set an appt, and would like a call from the doctor him/herself when he/she has time. They will usually call. Be forwarned almost all professionals will tell you they can treat your condition, regardless of whether they specialize in that area or not. Be prepared to hear that from nearly every psychologist. Simply tell them you are considering that, but you have been so frustrated by this illness that you want to first determine who is considered the tops in the field in this area.

Hope that helps you find some professionals in your area.