Adult ADHD Advice

cannex · 15-06-2016 5:33pm #1

This thread for adults who think they might have ADHD, want advice about what it means to be an adult with this neurological disorder and how to access help in Ireland to reach a diagnosis and what you are entitled to.

If you are here to spout ignorant nonsense about it being a pretend condition you are not welcome.
This thread is specifically for people looking for support.

I am a recently diagnosed adult and I am willing and able to anwer questions, to the best of my abilty, and from my own experience about managing ADHD and how to deal with a new diagnosis.

I can also answer questions about tips and techniques.

Dr Bob · 15-06-2016 5:48pm

Hi
This is something thats really close to me as I have it , and Adult ADHD support is thin on the ground.
It might be worth getting the thread moved by a mod to somewhere more suitable though (as this forum is move about pyschology as a subject ) possibly Long term ilness?Just ..not after hours!
Also most forums have a very strict 'no medical advice' rule , so just to clarify no medical advice or pharmacuetical advice , maybe just coping tips.
sorry if I'm back seat modding here , but I dont want to see this shut down , (I've seen one or two of these kind of threads killed before)

cannex · 15-06-2016 5:51pm

Ok thanks.
Been on forums for years so I am aware of the rules regarding dangerous advice so will be steering well clear of that. cheers for the clarity.

Adult support is non-existent in Ireland unfortunately so I would really like this thread to be helpful and in the right place.

Requested that it be moved to long term illness

goz83 · 21-06-2016 9:09am

Interesting to see this thread, as I wonder if I have a touch of adhd. My 5 year old sone was just diagnosed a couple of days ago and was also diagnosed with asbergers. His behaviour is very similar to mine when I was his age. I really didn't want to be bold, but I often got into trouble without realising there would be consequences. I would be seen to smile and grin when I was in trouble, but I certainly didn't find it funny.....a trait my son has which caused confusion to others.

I became intersted in girls at a young age, I was about 9 and that's when I started to control my behaviour. I have always had urges to do and say immature things, which bothers me alot, because I consider myself to be an intelligent person, but it's like I have this immature person fighting for control of my body, who gets out in little doses. Its the side of me that prefer AH on boards :a

I have always had a sensitivity to light and I squint on brighter days and get tension headache if its sunny out and I dont have my sunglasses. I hate loud sounds and raised voices, unless I am in control of those sounds.

cannex · 21-06-2016 10:33am

Hi goz83
Are you aware that a lot of adults find out they have ADHD after they have been through the diagnosis process with their children?

Do you feel you are learning a lot about yourself through your childs diagnosis? This is really common too.
Without wanting to delve into too personal a question but answer as much as you like, do your "quirks" and "differences" have a negative
impact on your day to day life?

Do you feel you would benefit from a diagnosis or do you think some adult geared daily management tools would help you?
A doctor is much more likely to take you seriously when a child is diagnosed as it is hereditary.

goz83 · 21-06-2016 3:46pm

cannex wrote: »

Hi goz83
Are you aware that a lot of adults find out they have ADHD after they have been through the diagnosis process with their children?

Do you feel you are learning a lot about yourself through your childs diagnosis? This is really common too.
Without wanting to delve into too personal a question but answer as much as you like, do your "quirks" and "differences" have a negative
impact on your day to day life?

Do you feel you would benefit from a diagnosis or do you think some adult geared daily management tools would help you?
A doctor is much more likely to take you seriously when a child is diagnosed as it is hereditary.

I can imagine that a lot of adults get diagnosed while getting their children diagnosed, but I was previously not fully aware of the hereditary nature of ADHD.

As he was only diagnosed a few days ago, I haven't really analysed myself in any detail with regards to the diagnosis, but my wife has learned a little about me as a result of it. I am not sure how a diagnosis would help me tbh. You see, nothing has changed and I don't think I need to change anything as such, but as per my original post, some of the "quirks" on the immature side bother me, but some of that defines me too. I sometimes feel compelled to make others see things as I see them, which is very often a very broken down version of things. So, I am good at explaining most things in a simple way.

I suppose I have learned to live with myself and get on with it. I have a great family...a bunch of kids and I work for myself, which gives me some flexibility. I call myself "unemployable" because while I have no real issues with authority...I just hate seeing things not being done as I see they should be done. When I was employed and asked to do something where I could see a better way of doing it, I can only describe the feeling like being to told to wear your shoes on the wrong feet and then put your socks on over them :P

I have watched the Big Bang Theory and the Sheldon character reminds me of me, but not quite nearly as obsessive as that and I don't have a Phd. I hope that helps.

Shint0 · 21-06-2016 8:47pm

I just want to acknowledge this thread. I have a lot to say on this topic which I hope to come back to but glad to see that people are raising the issue and open to discussion.

cannex · 21-06-2016 10:03pm

The unemployable thing is funny because being self employed is a lot better for people with ADHD. I consider myself unemployable too and all I work towards is being self employed.

The main criteria of being diagnosed as an adult is that there should be a detrimental effect on many aspects of life: work, relationships, finances, college, more likely to be in a car crash. Trouble maintaining friendships, depression, chaos in home and work and trouble maintaining employment.

If you dont have major problems across all these aspects of life then there really is no need to get a diagnosis.

The sensory issues with noises that you have no control over are quite common on the ASD/aspergers diagnosis.
But it seems to me that you are getting along just fine

goz83 · 21-06-2016 11:59pm

I've been in no less than 3 car accidents that were not my fault and I was injured. Ive also had a couple where i was to blame but thankfully they were all crawling speed and no injury. The other stuff...let me see;

Work: As I said, not really the employee type.

Friendshios/Relationships: Tough to call. I can be a recluse at times, which doesn't suit someone in my situation (married with children). I find it hard to let go if someone has wronged me, even though intellectually, I know it's better to forgive and forget. I can feel awkward around people on a personal level, yet when it comes to my work, you would never know this. I'm a decent sales person and im a hypnotist who spends alot of time counselling people.

Finances: I never feel like there is enough and I am not as bad as I was, but I have been an awful waster of money. Shiney things.

College: didn't quite get there. No leaving cert. Hated school to the point where I was a genius at finding ways not to go. I did a diploma in clinical hypnotherapy, but it's not the same thing. Oddly enough, my OH is a teacher.

Chaos: i like watching stuff burn. I'm not an arsonist, or anything, but i've always been fascinated with fire consuming things. I used to light fires alot as a kid (safely) and i still like to watch a fire, even if it's just watching the stove doing its thing.

Depression: wasn't something I noticed until about a year and a half ago, but I was in a lot of physicsl pain for several months and it wore me down. The lows still hit me unexpectedly since then. I distract myself as best I can, often using boards as an escape if i'm honest.

Employment: the only job i had more than a year was a pizza delivery job, unless you count door to door sales, which i did for longer. Otherwise, it would be a couple of months here and there. Ive had my own practice for 8 years and have been running a different company the past year.

All in all, yeah, i'm doing fine. It's interesting now that I can somewhat explain some of my behaviour, past and present. The gift is that I can understand my son, when others cannot.

cannex · 22-06-2016 10:03am

goz83 wrote: »

The gift is that I can understand my son, when others cannot.

Perfect

If any questions or thoughts come up relating to living with ADHD then feel free pop in and ask away.

Shint0 · 23-06-2016 6:12pm

goz83 wrote: »

Chaos: i like watching stuff burn. I'm not an arsonist, or anything, but i've always been fascinated with fire consuming things. I used to light fires alot as a kid (safely) and i still like to watch a fire, even if it's just watching the stove doing its thing.

To me ADHD is chaos. It's not just having to think about an example of chaos. Chaos is the essence of ADHD. It is the defining effect. The OP hits the nail on the head. ADHD permeates every single aspect of life in terms of functioning.

My diagnosis is completely up in the air. I had an absolutely horrible negative experience with certain doctors around the assessment process in a well known private mental health service provider which I might elaborate more on in another post.

There is so much ignorance and lack of awareness around Adult ADHD here. Not just among the general public but among the medical profession and actual doctors within the mental health service.

There is a general perception that people with ADHD can't pay attention. That's absolute hogwash. ADHD is nothing to do with the lack of ability to pay attention. It involves difficulty in regulating attention which is a completely different issue.

I had been posting in the ongoing thread here on depression/anxiety and some of my experience around severe depression in the past which I realised in more recent years was essentially linked to my difficulties with ADHD type symptoms and behaviour, and huge difficulties in trying to understand why my brain works as it does.

I had searched for threads on here before but as someone else mentioned they often get shut down so I was always reluctant to start one and the depression/anxiety thread doesn't quite reflect a lot of my struggles and always felt limited in what I could post. It is an excellent thread but for me my issues extend beyond that and are more ADHD related.

cannex · 23-06-2016 11:13pm

Yip, chaos is the the word that pretty much summed it up for me.
No matter how hard I tried I could never remove myself from the chaos.

Its a crying shame that you had such a terrible experience from the ignorance of doctors and specialists. I'm curious, how long ago was that and do you think things might be a little bit better if you were to try again?

ITs interesting that at the age of 19 I went to the mental helth service as I was dealing with depression and one of the doctors I encountered there met me again a few weeks ago, he said: have I met you before? and his face popped into my mind and I said yes I saw you 15 years ago with depression. Since then he had become an expert in ADHD in children and spent over an hour with me at my appointment and had a student psychologist in tow as we went through all my symptoms and experiences and difficulties, he was nodding and explaining to the student the reasons and background to my symptoms.

It was a very positive experience to have the dots joined together after all these years and to actually meet the same doctor I met when I was 19.

So for me the debilitating anxiety and subsequent depression that come about dealing with undiagnosed ADD was finally understood as a symptom of ADD and not a condition in itself, although it can be.

Have you thought about trying to get a diagnosis again?
If you do want to think about it again just remember that in the last 6-7 years the understanding has changed and I can help you with tips on standing up for yourself to get the treatment you deserve.

The difference in being diagnosed and getting the help and aknowledgement of your difficulties really helps.

I hear ya

Shint0 · 23-06-2016 11:37pm

It was actually much more recent than that, Cannex, much more recently, just to answer that part of your question but I'll come back to the thread again to post more on my thoughts and experience around the whole issue as well as my experience of the assessment process.

Shint0 · 27-06-2016 10:19pm

I wanted to come back to this thread but it seems there might only be a couple of us interested in the topic. It might have the potential to end up becoming more like a chat rather than a discussion between a few interested individuals which can be frowned upon by Boards but just to bump the thread anyway.

cannex · 28-06-2016 10:04am

Quite possibly but my idea behind posting this thread was so anybody, who like me searched Adult ADHD on this board and only came across a thread that descended into ill-informed illness bashing.

So hopefully if anyone in Ireland decides to search Adult ADHD again they will see this thread and not feel threatened or ashamed.

They might/will be able to ask about it and know there will be an informed response.

No worries if the thread gets lower on the recent threads spot. I'm just thinking long-term if someone wants advice I will do my best to answer and anyone else who has advice or wants to tell their experiences good and bad.

Post away though about your experiences, I actually wrote a post yesterday about the kind of things I find the most difficult but I forgot to press the reply button

Will get back to that post.

Didnt realise boards would frown upon it though

Shint0 · 28-06-2016 11:02am

cannex wrote: »

Quite possibly but my idea behind posting this thread was so anybody, who like me searched Adult ADHD on this board and only came across a thread that descended into ill-informed illness bashing.

So hopefully if anyone in Ireland decides to search Adult ADHD again they will see this thread and not feel threatened or ashamed.

They might/will be able to ask about it and know there will be an informed response.
(

Exactly. That's always the best motivation for starting a thread.
Regardless if it does appear to be a chat rather than a discussion (how do you distinguish between both?) people reading the thread and the general public might find some points of information useful even if they are not able to contribute.

Indeed one of the reasons I find it even hard to write on this thread is because I have so much to say on this topic. Once I get started I can ramble on and on with thoughts going all over the place once I'm on a roll and it might just look like a wall of text to others going off in tangents without paragraphs. Ya get the point?

That indeed is a reflection of an ADHD-type brain and would be a defining hallmark. Of course not everybody who rambles has ADHD but if you start to tick enough boxes.....

Cannex you mentioned your assessment process. I'm curious to know more about that. Did you have a formal assessment or was it more conversational style during the course of a consultation? I have a diagnosis and I don't have a diagnosis.

I might not always reply straight away but it would be good to try to keep the thread flowing and dip in and out of it. Of course there is always the danger in this type of instance that in order to share personal experiences for the benefit of others you might make yourself personally identifiable as Ireland's such a small country. Feck that. Anyone who already knows me knows I always play out in left field anyway.

cannex · 29-06-2016 12:49pm

Shint0 wrote: »

Cannex you mentioned your assessment process. I'm curious to know more about that. Did you have a formal assessment or was it more conversational style during the course of a consultation? I have a diagnosis and I don't have a diagnosis.

I might not always reply straight away but it would be good to try to keep the thread flowing and dip in and out of it. Of course there is always the danger in this type of instance that in order to share personal experiences for the benefit of others you might make yourself personally identifiable as Ireland's such a small country. Feck that. Anyone who already knows me knows I always play out in left field anyway.

Well, the diagnosis process needs to be preceeded by saying that I was tested in 2007 for a learning disability and I was diagnosed with dyscalculia - I wonder do people think this is fake too

After that diagnosis I tried to study and moved away from Ireland.
It really stood out how unable I was to look after the basics like paying bills, holding down a job, making friends and looking after myself in general.

Moved back to Ireland and after another few months of thinking something was up, why couldnt I get on in life like my peers, why couldnt I pay a bill on time (gas was cut in the middle of winter) etc etc.

I always thought I might have ADHD but any time I did some research it described 9 year old boys hopping off walls!

Anyway I decided to search for adult ADHD and after doing non stop research for 3 months, including how to get tested in Ireland I found the only reasonable way to get tested was to go privately.

I booked an appointment with a psychiatrist who specialises in ADHD.
Before I went to my appointment I had decided to write down all the difficulties I experience on a daily basis and my life history.

By the time my appointment came around I had written boths sides of 5 foolscap pages, 10 pages!
I also searched for ADHD screening tests online, and not the quick 10 question ones that are like pop quizes - no the one I printed out and filled in was a Canadian form for psychiatrists (very detailed) that asked approx 50 questions that were questions to rule out or in disorders like ADHD, bi-polar, schizophrenia and OCD and probably others too.
I filled one out related to my life now in blue pen and marked the ones that affected me as a child and teenager in red pen.

As an adult it is recommended that you bring someone to the appointment who knows you well or preferably all your life. I brough my mum. I had no school reports or anything like that.

The consultant spoke to my mum in private first for half and hour. He read all the foolscap pages I had written, he read the forms, he also read the psychoeducational report I got from the dyscalcualia diagnosis. The dyscalculia report also included all the other descriptions and results from all the IQ and cognition tests that were done.

I spoke with the consultant for another 40 mins while he asked me questions and ticked boxes while recording the whole appointment.

He said I most likely have ADD and had Oppositional Defiance Disorder as a child.

I was a textbook case of ADD.

I got a diagnosis letter sent to me as an attachment in an email and it was posted to me too. This took about 3 weeks I think.

He recommended meds that I cant talk about here, he recommended occupational therapy and advised that I access certain services.
I was refered previously to the mental health department in the HSE so I waited for my first appointment.

Because I had gotten a private diagnosis the process of getting treatment went smoothly after that although there are periods of waiting between 6 and 10 months for different services.
During that time I have to just wait and help myself.

nelbot · 29-06-2016 12:55pm

cannex wrote: »

The unemployable thing is funny because being self employed is a lot better for people with ADHD. I consider myself unemployable too and all I work towards is being self employed.

The main criteria of being diagnosed as an adult is that there should be a detrimental effect on many aspects of life: work, relationships, finances, college, more likely to be in a car crash. Trouble maintaining friendships, depression, chaos in home and work and trouble maintaining employment.

If you dont have major problems across all these aspects of life then there really is no need to get a diagnosis.

The sensory issues with noises that you have no control over are quite common on the ASD/aspergers diagnosis.
But it seems to me that you are getting along just fine

I have ADHD, I got diagnosed 6 years ago. Before diagnosis and treatment I never finished a course, couldn't keep a job longer than a few months and jumped from one relationship to another. I had no concept of building for the future. Since I began treatment I have done my leaving cert, gained a degree, am engaged and have seen a job through. Even being aware of the condition has helped me enormously. Before diagnosis I was one of those stupid people who regarded the condition as a fabrication.

cannex · 29-06-2016 1:05pm

nelbot wrote: »

I have ADHD, I got diagnosed 6 years ago. Before diagnosis and treatment I never finished a course, couldn't keep a job longer than a few months and jumped from one relationship to another. I had no concept of building for the future. Since I began treatment I have done my leaving cert, gained a degree, am engaged and have seen a job through. Even being aware of the condition has helped me enormously. Before diagnosis I was one of those stupid people who regarded the condition as a fabrication.

It can feel very hopeless and baffling to wonder why all these things cant be controlled and then the diagnosis can be a relief and set up another sense of hopelessness.........until I could see an inkling of progress in learning skills to manage my life through occupational therapy.

A long way off yet but it really made me happy to read your post. WOW!!
Just shows you what awareness and getting treatment can do to turn around the life of a person with ADHD who is getting the right help.

So reassuring to read. Because we are not stupid for sure, just need aknowledgement and treatment.

nelbot · 29-06-2016 1:14pm

cannex wrote: »

It can feel very hopeless and baffling to wonder why all these things cant be controlled and then the diagnosis can be a relief and set up another sense of hopelessness.........until I could see an inkling of progress in learning skills to manage my life through occupational therapy.

A long way off yet but it really made me happy to read your post. WOW!!
Just shows you what awareness and getting treatment can do to turn around the life of a person with ADHD who is getting the right help.

So reassuring to read. Because we are not stupid for sure, just need aknowledgement and treatment.

I would just have this sudden loss of priority. It could happen anytime, I could be doing really well and just suddenly just walk, I couldn't explain it to myself, this would be followed by a period of self-deprecation for failing again. The stability didn't come immediately after treatment started, it took time and practice, and a lot of research into the condition. I found some very interesting facts which I can't discuss here as it might fall under medical advice. Let me just say for the first two years I was angry at what I viewed as a waste of a lot of years and potential, but as this condition was not recognised when I was a child, there was no one to blame. Once I got past that, and I became more used to managing the condition, the time since has been full of optimism.

cannex · 29-06-2016 1:35pm

nelbot wrote: »

I would just have this sudden loss of priority. It could happen anytime, I could be doing really well and just suddenly just walk, I couldn't explain it to myself, this would be followed by a period of self-deprecation for failing again.

My lifes story...

Its only been a year since diagnosis and started treatment in November 2015.

nelbot · 29-06-2016 1:41pm

cannex wrote: »

My lifes story...

Its only been a year and started treatment in November 2015.

I can't give you medical advise, but I strongly advise regular cardio exercise such as jogging, swimming or cycling. Besides from the obvious health benefits, over a period of time these activities are a major help in establishing routine.

Greenmachine · 29-06-2016 1:48pm

@Cannex

Just wanted to confirm you got your diagnosis in Ireland and that you were an Adult at the time.

cannex · 29-06-2016 6:07pm

Greenmachine wrote: »

@Cannex

Just wanted to confirm you got your diagnosis in Ireland and that you were an Adult at the time.

Yes diagnosed in Ireland by a private consultant psychologist at the age of 35.

cannex · 29-06-2016 6:11pm

nelbot wrote: »

I can't give you medical advise, but I strongly advise regular cardio exercise such as jogging, swimming or cycling. Besides from the obvious health benefits, over a period of time these activities are a major help in establishing routine.

Getting a routine is my sole focus right now lol starting with the basics.

nelbot · 29-06-2016 6:32pm

cannex wrote: »

Getting a routine is my sole focus right now lol starting with the basics.

Vitiman b complex, fish oils and regular cardio all go a long way to regulating endorphin release. Irregular endorphin release is the problem.

cannex · 29-06-2016 6:54pm

Eat lots of oily fish and cook everything from scratch. Must look into the vitamin B thing

In the interest of clarity and being a pinickity fuddy duddy I just wanted to clarify the endorphin and other neurotransmitter lingo. Just so anyone reading this gets as much info as possible.

Dopamine, endorphin, serotonin and oxytocin are all neurotransmitters that have varying functions in the brain but are interconnected.

Dopamine is more to do with regulating behaviour, repeating behaviours and regulating attention - all things it is proven that the ADHD brain is mis-firing or not transmitting properly.
Endorphin - the feel good neurotransmitter is released with exercise, in an accident so you dont feel pain - but in getting excercise it helps to regulate these neurotransmitters and help them help each other. Endorphin also regulate sleep cycles - something the ADHD brain struggles to regulate therefore causing more routine issues - not being able to go to bed at the right time and not being able to wake up on time.

The most recent agreement is that the ADHD brain has problems regulating and transmitting dopamine - which is responsible for a lot of things people take for granted like
planning ahead, choosing what to focus on, what to tune in and out in a busy cafe for example. Lots more but this gives an idea.
The part of the brain that deals with daily tasks and future planning etc is called the executive function. Daily choices, planning, estimating how long it takes to do something, regulating frustration/emotions to not act them out. All executive function.

We are treated with a medication that regulates the firing of the neurotransmitter dopamine and and a hormone called norepinephrine which is responsible for the flight or fight response and attention.

nelbot · 29-06-2016 7:05pm

cannex wrote: »

Eat lots of oily fish and cook everything from scratch. Must look into the vitamin B thing

In the interest of clarity and being a pinickity fuddy duddy I just wanted to clarify the endorphin and other neurotransmitter lingo. Just so anyone reading this gets as much info as possible.

Dopamine, endorphin, serotonin and oxytocin are all neurotransmitters that have varying functions in the brain but are interconnected.

Dopamine is more to do with regulating behaviour, repeating behaviours and regulating attention - all things it is proven that the ADHD brain is mis-firing or not transmitting properly.
Endorphin - the feel good neurotransmitter is released with exercise, in an accident so you dont feel pain - but in getting excercise it helps to regulate these neurotransmitters and help them help each other. Endorphin also regulate sleep cycles - something the ADHD brain struggles to regulate therefore causing more routine issues - not being able to go to bed at the right time and not being able to wake up on time.

The most recent agreement is that the ADHD brain has problems regulating and transmitting dopamine - which is responsible for a lot of things people take for granted like
planning ahead, choosing what to focus on, what to tune in and out in a busy cafe for example. Lots more but this gives an idea.
The part of the brain that deals with daily tasks and future planning etc is call the executive function. Daily choices, planning, estimating how long it takes to do something, regulating frustration/emotions to not act them out. All executive function.

We are treated with a medication that regulates the firing of the neurotransmitter dopamine and and a hormone called norepinephrine which is responsible for the flight or fight response.

Outside hormones, most biological messengers are proteins, Vitamin b6 is the 'glue' for building proteins.

Shint0 · 29-06-2016 7:22pm

nelbot wrote: »

Let me just say for the first two years I was angry at what I viewed as a waste of a lot of years and potential.

I could sing that from the rooftops.

This is so common among adults with ADHD. All the time lost and the limitations on your potential despite your own awareness of your own level of intelligence. That's what causes so much frustration. The gap between your own level of intelligence and being able to apply it, and that gap is huge for people with ADHD as with other types of specific learning disabilities. That frustration can lead to anger issues which I have seen in one of my male siblings who clearly has the condition.

I, myself, would be affected to a degree in that way where it's completely out of character and not a reflection of my own personality and struggled to understand where it would come from out of nowhere but I have learned to keep a lid on it somewhat.

Cannex also referred to anger issues that go with it and anger issues in women are viewed very differently by society and more socially unacepptable than it is for boys and men.

Just to get back to the point of time management and wasted time in the broader sense. Even before I considered myself as having ADHD I always felt I was operating on a different channel. You are always playing catch up. The analogy I have always used is everybody else is watching RTE 1 or SKY but you're always watching RTE +1 or SKY+1.

There's a reason behind all that which has only been minimally researched. There was one study ( and yes I've done all the endless research as well Cannex

) which compared 'normal' 'neurotypical' brains to the ADHD brain. It was found that the 'normal neurotypical' brain operates at a particular frequency but the ADHD brain is one beat out which makes a huge amount of sense around the vast difficulties with time management and validated my own theory as well as issues around circadian rhythms which I have always had huge issues with.

When I went to research that theory it seems someone in NUIM is currently investigating that angle. So many of my own hunches are now starting to add up the more I delved into it. Still so much more in terms of research needs to be done.

Greenmachine · 29-06-2016 7:29pm

Greenmachine wrote: »

@Cannex

Just wanted to confirm you got your diagnosis in Ireland and that you were an Adult at the time.

Was not aware there were any medicines approved for use in adults in this country for adhd.

Shint0 · 29-06-2016 7:33pm

Cannex it seems we are both very much on the same page here and it's a hugely vast complex issue well beyond the stereotypical image that it's just five year old boys bouncing around a classroom.

So much of my situation would mirror your situation Cannex but I want to come back to your point about dyscalculia which I won't get into now as I type on my mobile so is difficult to elaborate and expand when there are so many cross issues but it was a pivotal issue in one of my assessments. I have had two.

I picked up on your point that people seem to think it's a fake issue as well. I'm inferring from that you seem to have had negative reaction to that diagnosis as well as ADHD beyond just the usual societal view of ADHD being a fake diagnosis. Again very hard typing on my mobile and my brain works faster than my fingers.

Shint0 · 29-06-2016 7:38pm

Greenmachine wrote: »

Was not aware there were any medicines approved for use in adults in this country for adhd.

Yes, there are, Greenmachine, just to answer you but you need a positive diagnosis because some of them would fall under 'controlled substances' so would have various regulations around them as to how they are dispensed.

cannex · 29-06-2016 8:21pm

Greenmachine wrote: »

Was not aware there were any medicines approved for use in adults in this country for adhd.

Yup, cant talk about it here I dont think. I dont want to cross the line talking about medicines.
That would be a conversation reserved for someone and the consultant psychologist to decide.

nelbot · 29-06-2016 8:24pm

cannex wrote: »

Yup, cant talk about it here I dont think. I dont want to cross the line talking about medicines.
That would be a conversation reserved for someone and the consultant psychologist to decide.

Some medicines that are used in other countries are banned here, but not all.

Greenmachine · 30-06-2016 10:14pm

cannex wrote: »

Yup, cant talk about it here I dont think. I dont want to cross the line talking about medicines.
That would be a conversation reserved for someone and the consultant psychologist to decide.

Wouldn't expect you to mention specific medications. The regime would be tailored for you specifically.

cannex · 16-07-2016 10:04pm

I really wish we could talk about medication.

I read through the guidlines and I couldnt find the part that says to not discuss medications.

It did say to not give advice on medications so I'm not sure where the line is drawn???

Can any of you guys enlighten me as to what is taboo and what is acceptable?

Because as an adult with recently diagnosed ADHD I want to discuss the types of medication available to adults in Ireland and I want to describe the rules, laws and regulations around them.

Is this OK?

Where do I draw the line?

I would really like to pick peoples brains here on the type of treatments, ie. therapy, meds and anything else they have experienced in Ireland and how they found it helped them.

Can we do that without it being seen as advice????

Confused.

On another note would anyone like to discuss the other facet of ADHD which is anxiety.......for me especially it is crippling social anxiety and its getting worse. I have no psychological support as I am on a waiting list but not deemed a high priority as I dont want to harm myself.

Have quite bad tremors in my hands and neck today over the meds.

Rant over.......I can see a few of ye are online so hoping for a discussion with fellow adult ADHDers in Ireland.

Gremlinertia · 16-07-2016 10:14pm

Hi Cannex, basically you can discuss types of treatments, the critical words are not giving medical advice so suggesting medications or treatments to other posters is a no, as is discussing levels of medications, rule of thumb, if you think you are starting to sound like a doctor or other health professional stop and read back to make sure you're not crossing the line.. Hope this helps

Grem

cannex · 16-07-2016 10:22pm

Thanks for your reply, can I ask a couple more questions about this^^^^^^^

CAn I talk about and mention the type of medication and treatments I am getting and talk about the side effects and benefits?

Or should I just stear clear altogether of mentioning any types of medication by name?

OR do I just always preface any discussion on treatment, including medications with - this is not advice and you should speak to your DR, this is my experience only?

And, can you explain a little bit more about what you mean by levels of medication please?

Thank you so much.

Gremlinertia · 16-07-2016 10:30pm

cannex wrote: »

Thanks for your reply, can I ask a couple more questions about this^^^^^^^

CAn I talk about and mention the type of medication and treatments I am getting and talk about the side effects and benefits?
In short, yes, just steer clear of recommending or warning others off anything

Or should I just stear clear altogether of mentioning any types of medication by name?
You can certainly mention names of meds and treatments

OR do I just always preface any discussion on treatment, including medications with - this is not advice and you should speak to your DR, this is my experience only?
The charter covers this so it's a given that the poster speaks from personal experience

And, can you explain a little bit more about what you mean ny levels of medication please?
I mean dosages, people vary hugely in what they may be prescribed, so posters may get concerned if their numbers a very different from someone else

Thank you so much.

Grem

cannex · 16-07-2016 11:10pm

Greenmachine wrote: »

Was not aware there were any medicines approved for use in adults in this country for adhd.

Now that I am clearer on discussing medications I will answer your question a bit better.

There is only one medication that is licensed for adults with adhd in Ireland and it is called Strattera.
It is relatively new and is hailed as a non addictive treatment for adults.

Stimulants are licenced for children and the idea behind this is that parents have control over the dosages and therefore there is little chance of them being abused.

Stimulants are not licenced for adults for a few reasons:
Adults with ADHD are more likely to have abused drugs in the past according to research so prescribing a controlled substance is a big no no in Ireland.
I also think this could be down to a lack of understanding due to Ireland being fairly behind in general regarding this issue.
The reason being is that first of all, there are now slow release stimulants that have a much lower potential for abuse.
Research points to the fact that once adults who are treated with medication, stimulant or not, will in general stop abusing illegal drugs or self medicating with alcohol and other drugs.

I take slow release ritalin and unlicensed medication like this can only be prescribed by the consultant psychologist and secondly the GP must be comfortable writing the prescription.

The GP cannot offer advice and discuss dosage. To do this I must wait for my appointment with the mental health team.
The last time my dosage changed I had an hour long meeting with the head clinical psychologist. I guess because it is a controlled medication.

The reason stimulants are not licenced for adults in Ireland is because there is concern for abuse.

Methylphenidate - ritalin, adderall, concerta and vyanse are all versions of methylphenidate.

cannex · 29-07-2016 2:30pm

The HSE in Cork do not accept any private diagnosis for adult ADHD, just found out that today and it needs to change.

I am seeing a HSE psychlogist and she is trying to back track and find other reasons why I am having certain difficulties.
Apparently they do not accept a diagnosis from the the foremost expert on ADHD in Ireland.
I spent the day looking for HSE approved assessment through a private psychologist and the prices range from €600 - €800.

There a plenty out there who are willing to take the money.

Today I spoke to another psychologist who informed me that I do not need to seek another diagnosis, I already have one.
If the HSE has an issue with my diagnosis then I will need to ask for the reasons in writing which I will be doing.

I have a fight on my hands and I will not back down.

Extremely stressful to say the least.

Shint0 · 29-07-2016 3:43pm

Very interesting, Cannex, very interesting. To be honest that's why I have been hesitant to post in this thread because as I said before my diagnosis is up in the air so I almost feel like an impostor posting here if you understand me because of such confusion and professional disagreement about my diagnosis. I was refused medication so can't even discuss that point thoroughly although a mental health professional that was allocated to me after my second assesment made a case on my behalf in support of ADHD meds. I will refer to something else I found of benefit in another post but won't name specifically.

I was referred by my GP to what is supposed to be a specialist unit for Adult ADHD in this country in a private healthcare institution to see a general consultant and registrar first. My GP, who knows me well and has all my medical history did tell me at the time while my medical history started to make absolute sense from an ADHD perspective, to get a diagnosis in Ireland at my age would be next to impossible. I had heard similar from someone else.

Years ago I was prescibed lithium from a different mental health service here. While I was never given a formal diagnosis of bipolar I was prescibed it to see if it would help with my symptoms. Severe depression with a non-stop thought process and restlessness in situations of overstimulation and intellectual stimulalation which might appear to look identical to bipolar. The restlessness was there from a very young age but it was much more internal than external so would never have been observed. I understand this is actually quite common among people with ADHD.

I remained on lithium for 15 years even when I was no longer depressed but in the belief that it was preventative and maybe there was a bipolar element there but nonetheless I continued to experience all the symptoms and behaviours similar to ADHD and which bipolar alone could never explain. Of course I never even considered ADHD because as we all know that's mostly experienced by young boys with outwardly disruptive behaviour in a classroom. Or is it.

For me something just never added up until it did start to add up. A parent considered one of my siblings to possibly have ADHD from a young age but it was never investigated. Now I can identify so many ADHD behaviours all on one side of my family. It all makes sense and listening to stories and narratives of various relatives when I was growing up I can trace it back possibly even five generations all on one side of the family.

When I asked my GP to refer me for an assessment he believed it would only be a matter of weeks as it was private but clearly he didn't know. As I discovered the waiting list was so long for an assessment with that paryicular ADHD unit I asked them if I got a diagnosis elsewhere could I still avail of their services as they appeared to offer a range of supports. I was told no problem.

So off I went to a separate consultant psychologist who at least claims to specialise in the area of Adult ADHD as well as other specific learning disabilities and lectures in universities here from what I understand. He conducted a thorough interview of my life history, my medical history and I disclosed fully everything about my situation, my cognitive processes, behaviours etc. He administered certain questionnaires but he said in all honesty if you are hoping to avail of the supports of the other service they will still want to conduct their own assessment.

He told me he absolutely believed I have ADHD in the mix of of life circumstances. I also disclosed all significant behaviours of family members whom I strongly believe have ADHD which is relevant as there is such a strong genetic component. He told me if he was working with me he would initially start with six months of behavioural therapy to address the ADHD issues and if that approach didn't work then he would recommend ADHD medication and refer me to a psychiatrist who could prescribe same.

I still wanted to opt for the other service as I felt it would be a one-stop shop with access to doctors, therapy and seemingly various other supports all within the same organisation. In any event I didn't find I could gel with that particular cinsultant psychologist and while he had expertise in the area I feel rapport is essential and half the battle which I know from my own work. Somebody made a similar reference in a thread on Reddit Ireland in relation to ADHD here. Some months later an appointment did come up for an assessment in the original service and I decided to attend which I will describe in the next post.

cannex · 29-07-2016 3:56pm

I guessed that you had experienced this situation when I went back to the thread and began writing about my situation, it made sense all of a sudden!

So you do have a diagnosis but not according to the HSE? Because they didnt conduct the assessment....?
Except - their adult assessment does not exist only by being assessed by a HSE psychologist who does not have the expertise?

I am now being told by the psyciatrist that I will be assessed again........and she is arguementative and trying to run rings round me using her training to get me to say waht she wants to hear reagarding how I "feel" about my diagnosis!!!
She keeps asking me about my mood and I cut her off and told I do not have bi-polar as I have agood friend with it and know what it looks like.
She tried to imply that issues were due to my life experiences etc etc etc. Anything but ADHD.

I spoke to a private psychologist and she told me I absolutely do not need another assessment, the problem is with the HSE trying to steer things on their responsibility towards adults with ADHD.

I was told to get it in writing, what their problem is with my diagnosis and refuse another assessment and that is what I am going to do.
I was told to go to a solicitor and that is what I am going to do. I spoke to a solicitors office today and will hear back from them after the long weekend.

I look forward to reading your further posts on this matter as I want to see how similiar it is.

Shint0 · 29-07-2016 11:18pm

No, I didn't have any contact with the HSE in relation to ADHD assessments and never intend to. My assessments were all private but I have had a very similar experience to you in relation to differing diagnoses being suggested by both. One saying everything appears to indicate ADHD while the second, a team of doctors, a psychologist and a nurse carried out an assessment and offered a completely different diagnosis instead.

However, another mental health professional they referred me to within their own organisation after that assessment disagreed with their diagnosis. I believed they had got it wrong and he agreed with me that everything pointed towards ADHD and expressed shock that they didn't diagnose me with it after he met with me several times and he apparently has lots of experience working directly with adults with ADHD.

I think any attempts he made to have my diagnosis reviewed again to include ADHD just fell on deaf ears. It seems they would simply not back down and accept their own 'experts' may have got it wrong even when one of their own colleagues disagreed. It was a complete farce and I will post more about my experience and their assessment over the next few days if I can.

I just wanted to reply at least to say I understand completely the stress and frustration in relation to differences of opinon professionally in relation to Adult ADHD and attempts by various doctors to try to invalidate you and twist things around. Been there. I could write a tome on this but I have pretty much given up on mental health services at this stage and don't intend to pursue it further. After my experience with that well known private institution they have absolutely no credibilty in my eyes.

To be continued.....

RazzaR · 04-08-2016 9:06am

Hi guys, newly Diagnosed but i had to do all the running myself, i walked into my Doctor with a Referral form i Printed from the Dean Clinic website and asked him to refer me. A year later i attended my appointment and got Diagnosed.

cannex · 04-08-2016 11:47am

RazzaR wrote: »

Hi guys, newly Diagnosed but i had to do all the running myself, i walked into my Doctor with a Referral form i Printed from the Dean Clinic website and asked him to refer me. A year later i attended my appointment and got Diagnosed.

Well done. Hope you get the help you need now.

Unfortunately the Dean clinic is no longer taking on any more ADHD assessments. I was told the waiting list is really long so they have stopped taking on new referrals.

Yesterday I discovered the NAAS Clinic. It is private, like the Dean clinic. They specialise in assessing people for neurological disorders. The person who runs it is an expert in ADHD and ASD. The assessment is thorough.

As my diagnosis is not accepted my the HSE from one person I have to go and get assessed again.

One thing to make sure before being assessed is to ask if the assessment is approved by the HSE, otherwise its a waste of time and money. A Dean clinic diagnosis is approved I presume.

Shint0 · 04-08-2016 6:11pm

cannex wrote: »

I was told to go to a solicitor and that is what I am going to do. I spoke to a solicitors office today and will hear back from them after the long weekend.

Any developments on that? Would be interesting to see if the HSE's refusal to accept an external diagnosis can be challenged.

cannex · 04-08-2016 7:19pm

I spoke to a solicitor on the phone and she was so helpful it was unbelievable. She gave me so much free advice.
There were many things she said about the process I need to go through to fight my corner but in reality I think I would be causing myself some amount of stress fighting them.

My worry is that when the HSE assesses me they will minimise everything to depression or anxiety and try to explain it all away or mis-diagnose me. Firstly I have no idea who will be assessing me and what kind of experience of opinion they will have regarding adult ADHD. This, to me is not ideal.

I decided to get another assessment with the NAAS clinic in 2 weeks time. The HSE wants to re-assess me too so I hope I get to Naas before then. Really worried the HSE psychologist will fob me off so gonna beat them to it by choosing myself who I see, based on their expertise.

Shint0 · 04-08-2016 7:50pm

Well that is something very much to be taken into consideration - the cost of any legal fees and resulting challenge to the HSE against just trying to get a diagnosis that will be approved.

You can certainly see my frustraion now from when you first started the thread with differences of opinions among mental health professionals leading to different outcomes and diagnoses.

It's something I've posted about on Boards a few times and the way they zone in on particular issues particularly with regard to life circumstances without being able to take a more holistic and detached perspective. Some of them are simply not able to diiferentiate been cause and effect. That has been my experience and I can see how it is so worrying for you to have to face that challenge.

RazzaR · 05-08-2016 7:41am

And yes i was put on a stimulant

Shint0 · 05-08-2016 9:03am

So how are people here doing anyway regardless of the long-standing battles to get a diagnosis or to have one approved or reconfirmed?

While there has always been so much controversy around overdiagnosis, misdiagnosis and overmedication particularly in kids, in genuine cases I do feel medication is probably the most effective intervention. While behavioural therapy can serve as an adjunct to medication I feel to be used as a single approach is about as effective as a chocloate teapot.

In my case, I think this was recognised by a mental health professional I was sent to after one of my assessments where the assessment team declared I do not have the condition yet they failed to provide me with a written report which they said they would or put anything in writing which is standard common practice following any psychological assessment and which I requested. Funny that! Did they think I was so stupid I would fail to notice that?

When I told their own colleague they referred me to afterwards about this failure he was quite shocked by that too and it seems they also failed to inform him of some significant information they did deduce from the assessment by which he was equally shocked by their omission in their report to him. He was also quite surprised by the huge degree of emphasis they placed on my life circumstances during the assessment but any attempts on his part to have it reviewed were futile as he said he wasn't part of the assessment team so he was powerless.

My main issues revolve around hyperfocus (huge issues with that), understimulation and overstimulation with a high degree of distractibilty and an overall general dislike for the mundane. Being in a highly overcharged state leads to complete blackouts in time and the state in which I am at high risk of losing things.

These would include commonplace, everyday items which you use the most e.g. hairbrushes, combs, keys etc. While I have always tried to develop an automatic reflex of placing my keys in a designated safe place they don't always reach that place . You end up having to try to retrace your steps which is impossible when there is a complete loss of awareness of time and having to pull the entire house apart searching through rubbish bins and wheelie bins with gloves on and going round in a general daze.

The last time I lost my keys I know it was in the night-time. I found them weeks later in the garden mowing the grass somewhere near where the wheelie bins are stored but with no recollection of ever having been there that night. Very costly also as some keys are expensive to replace. That's just one example of one manifestation. Never a dull moment but yet my brain couldn't possibly entertain dull or boring if it was served to me on a platter with sugar on top. Oh the joys!!!

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