This is an anonymous post from an Elpha member.

ADHD Diagnosis as an adult?

Posted in:Mental Health Health & Wellness

Hey community! I'm currently seeing a psychiatrist regularly for anxiety. It's thankfully gotten so much better with medication. I brought up to my doc that I have a really hard time focusing, getting things done, and not procrastinating at work among other personal challenges with the way I think about tasks and get things done in and outside of work.

I was hesitant to even bring it up, because my fear was that she would just think I'm looking for a prescription for stimulants and I was questioning if my issues were even valid or just a symptom of work boredom.

Her response was cautious but logical. She emphasized that it's rare for adults to get diagnosed with it if they weren't as a kid. She wants me to do this exam (tons of behavior questions) and then evaluate before diagnosing, which I get it's just LONG. I'm weighing if it's worth it or if I just need to deal with the work-related issues in another way. However, a good friend said it's pretty common for women to think this way and many of us that have some spectrum of ADHD even as kids weren't thought to be diagnosed because we didn't show the same behaviors as boys.

All of that to say, I just wondered if anyone had been diadgnosed as an adult, if you have/had some of the same work issues I'm experiencing and found that medication helped. Thanks for sharing your experience and perspectives!

Iynna·Sep 17

We actually have a number of Elphas who got diagnosed at an adult age, many posted anonymously but you can probably see the few who commented under their identity https://elpha.com/posts/3w0dg6li/adult-adhd-diagnosis-and-interviewing (specifically https://elpha.com/posts/3w0dg6li/adult-adhd-diagnosis-and-interviewing#fr4cli6s or https://elpha.com/posts/3w0dg6li/adult-adhd-diagnosis-and-interviewing#fahahmqc) https://elpha.com/posts/a9pzzpu7/quitting-without-having-my-next-job-lined-uphttps://elpha.com/posts/ymeus75i/any-female-engineers-with-adhd-herehttps://elpha.com/posts/hxbuayvk/recently-came-to-terms-with-having-adhd-what-resources-are-out-there

Lesha93·Sep 18

Thanks Iyanna! I will check those out :)

Iynna·Sep 18

My pleasure! I hope it helps!

malindalloyd·Sep 18

Please, please, please get tested. It will help one way or another. ADHD testing for women was rare before the late 90's because it generally presents differently. My brother had a stereotypical ADHD presentation but I did not and wasn't diagnosed until my late 40's.

libbymicheletti·Sep 23

I know SO MANY women who were not diagnosed until later in life. Remember, most of the research about women with adhd was done in the last 20 years. Before then, they really didn’t understand it in girls at all, and also believed children grew out of it. Further, for women symptoms change with our hormone fluctuations, which makes them even more complicated.IMHO, as a total aside, if it will give you peace of mind to understand diagnosis, do it.

Monserrate82·Sep 23

I was diagnosed at 19. My college professor brought it to my attention that I never could sit still and didn't stop talking to my friends the entire time.I had already been seeing a psychiatrist for 5 years at that point and asked him about it. I don't recall being put through a battery of tests as he said there was no real test for it. He gave me meds for ADHD and told me to try them out and that if I had it, I'd be able to sit down and focus and if I didn't, I'd be bouncing off the walls. For the first time in my life I could sit down for more than 2 seconds and focus. I definitely had it as child as my mom used to bribe me to sit down to eat, to be quiet at church, and as a teen when I was studying I was up and down every 2 seconds - see a pattern?!) I've been taking Vyvanse for 25 years and I CANNOT live without it. Feel free to message me directly if you'd like to chat. Hope this helps.

francescavarney·Oct 23

I hadn’t thought about it much when I got diagnosed but in high school, one of my math teachers referred to my two pals and I as “the triangle of terror” because we were always talking and passing notes. The gym teacher also referred to two other pals and myself as “the breakfast club” because it was first period and we mostly just socialized. 😂 The part I did mention was how, if not chatting, I was likely sleeping in class or doing homework for the next class. My psychology teacher tried calling my parents once about this, but, if my dad was telling the truth, he seemed to be trying to get me in trouble or something. My dad claimed my teacher “complained” and brushed him off after inquiring about my grade (which was an A). It baffles me that the psych teacher out of all teachers didn’t seriously think there were any issues going on….

MichelleFuentes·Sep 24

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety that resulted in ADHD among other symptoms in college. My psychiatrist approached it as treating the underlying issue while prescribing a low dosage stimulant (adderall extended release) to help me concentrate and get through the day. I think they were more willing to prescribe a stimulant because I was also seeing a therapist through the same practice, so it was a good faith effort in a way? Showing that I was putting in the effort to work on the core issue, I think helped my psychiatrist in their decision of prescribing a stimulant. Unsure if this is helpful, but just thought I'd share my story if it gives any insight!

angiehaider·Sep 30

Check out "How to ADHD" by Jessica McCabe, it may give you the validation you need to either go get tested or just accept you have this gift and how to unlock your true potential! It will definitely help change your life for the better, woman are often discounted or dismissed or bottled into an alternative which we later learn in life can make all the difference. all the best on your journey!

francescavarney·Oct 23

I don’t think it’s rare for women to be diagnosed as adults but it sounds like your psychiatrist is taking you seriously as they suggested a full evaluation. I’d say go for it especially if you want to try stimulants. I did one around 26. I had struggled with severe depression for almost a decade and eventually tried like ten different medications for that. SNRIs kinda worked. I managed to overcome the worst of the worst but after a year or so I really couldn’t stand the side effects anymore (primarily teeth-clenching and drowsiness). Don’t remember many details but I eventually came across something regarding ADHD that dispelled the hyperactive boy idea I had about it and simultaneously it occurred to me that maybe serotonin was not the issue for me…By the time I got diagnosed I was self-medicating with multiple energy drinks a day along with soda and/or coffee (tbf, I later found out I have the fast metabolizer caffeine gene) and chewing so much gum my jaw hurt. Medication made the diagnosis worth it. I struggled to find something that suited me at first but eventually settled on a good enough option. Aside from typical ADHD issues, meds really did alleviate a lot of the depressive issues for me. They really tone down the negativity and the incessant “I don’t wanna”s and “icanticanticant”s in my mind and reduced the bored or fidgety, can’t sit still, anxious energy significantly (but no meds still cannot make you tolerate every single thing that you may find boring or otherwise dislike). It’s nice being able to not just be patient and calm(er) but to also have an almost matching internal state.A symptom I have that meds also improve that is particularly helpful at work is being able to speak more clearly. I trip over my words so much without meds and it feels embarrassing from a professional standpoint.For some months leading up to my eventual evaluation, I looked at Reddit/ADHD and it helped me think about various experiences I had and what felt relatable or how diagnostic criteria could apply. As suggested How to ADHD is a nice resource and I think the HealthyGamerGG YouTube also has some videos on mental health or ADHD, a handful specifically focusing on girls/women (keep in mind the target demographic there is boys/men though).I still have a screenshot of a comment from some thread in r/ADHD circa 2015 which I recall exemplifying the all-consuming bored feeling I experience without medication. Here is the text: “conversation i have too often:me: GOD i'm so BOREDflatmates: oh that sucks. you could...do some art? read a book? do you want to watch a film me: NO I DONT WANT TO DO ANY OF THAT I'M TOO BOREDflatmates: are you okayme: *has slid off my chair and am doing that thing that cats do where they squirm about on their backs* MY SPINE IS HURTING FROM HOW BORED I AMflatmates: try taking a walk or something me: no that sounds like too much effort”