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.

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!