Diagnosing ADD in women – Toronto area

[Anonymous]

Apparently women present different symptoms, having fewer problems with impulse control and hyperactivity. I assume, given that AD(H)D is an unwelcome diagnosis in most GPs’ offices anyway, that this probably means women are undertreated.

I’m a woman. I have serious organizational problems. No hyperactivity or restlessness (apart from at work, when I worked, but that’s an occupational hazard for cubicle monkeys).

I’ve not pursued a diagnosis, though my brother has – ADHD; he’s suggesting now that I really ought to do something about it. I’m going to now, because my life’s way past ‘mess’.

While I’m not hung up on getting a label, I *do* want to exclude other frontal lobe/’executive function’ problems.

(I really, really do not want drug treatment. I’ve been a guinea pig before – Paxil – and suffered for it. With apologies and respect to the lucky who’ve happened to be helped, it’s a crapshoot. Those drugs are not trialled effectively enough before being released to the public, and I will not go through anything like that again.) I intend to use coaching, compensation, and other strategies.

As I say though, I’d like to be sure something else isn’t going on.

Can anyone recommend the best way to do this in Toronto? Recs for docs who know ADD in women? Can I self-refer or do I need to go through my doc?

Finally, is diagnosis always out-of-pocket? Trying to work out if my few dollars are best spent on coaching or the diagnosis itself…

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[Anonymous]

I’d spend it on diagnosis, sounds strange, but my diagnosis ended up being narcolepsy, perhaps ADD is there (I think so) but it’s not the major issue, treatment is similar but different. It’s so important to get a proper diagnosis, there could be other co-morbities present.

I believe you have to be referred by your GP.

Also, try to stay open to the possibility of meds, there are newer drugs out there and many have said that ADD treatment needs to be a combination of meds and other forms of non-drug treatment, meds alone are not enough, non-drug treatments alone are not enough. As my therapist says “if you have a broken leg and you need a crutch, you should use a crutch”

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[nellie]

Here’s a list of Toronto area practitioners to start with.

http://www.adrn.org/html/adult_adhd.html

http://www.addadhdblog.com/about/#12603

This is the result of a 30 second google search – try adult adhd toronto to see what’s out there for starters.

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[Author]

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