Is it really ADHD?

[wawabyjohnah]

I’ve suspected I have ADHD for a while now, especially when getting 9/9 and 7/9 in the virtual doctor test on this site, but in my country (Australia) you have to see a psychiatrist specialising in adult adhd. There aren’t many of these, especially outside of the major cities. I’ve been referred for about 7 months, but the psch didn’t even have spaces on the waiting list, but they took my name and said they would call me, so just hanging in limbo atm.

Anyway, I was at a regional meeting for work the other day and our new team leader got us to do one of those learning style questionnaires (Honey and Mumford) and I came out with a very strong preference to activist, and low preference to all the other styles. In reading the general description for an activist it said things like ‘involve themselves fully and without bias in new experiences’, ‘throw caution to the wind’, ‘bored with implementation and longer term consolidation’, ‘life and soul of party’, ‘seek to centre all activities around them’ etc. To me that sounds like someone with ADHD.

My question is might I just learn differently and my ‘shortcomings’ are a result of a learning style, rather than ADHD? Any thoughts?

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[Anonymous]

WaWaB………sounds like a zillion other people on the planet. The description falls a little ….hmmm……short..

If your concerned, a referral is likely the best route……..however…if your healthy, happy , gainfully employed in meaningful work…..with a satisfying social life etc etc…..and don’t suffer with issues like some folks……..what the hell…….why does it matter??? ADD/ADHD for many many people is not an issue …..it is just a label made up to describe alternate brain processing a…different way of viewing the world ….. and for others it is a very real struggle, everyday.

Fact is…not everybody who struggles in life is ADD/ADHD either…….just thoughts.

Toofat

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[Rick Green – Founder of TotallyADD]

Toofat is right, not everyone who struggles in life is ADHD/ADD. Some of them are dealing with Depression, Anxiety, Tourette Syndrome, Schizophrenia, and the list goes on and on. In fact about 70% of ADDers have a second issue. Depression and Anxiety being the most common. But if you qualify as ADHD or ADD then you will be suffering. The very definition of what ADHD ensures that.

As numerous Doctors and researchers have pointed out, the DSM symptoms are all about ways it impairs people–forgetting and losing things, missing instructions, struggling, can’t pay attention when they want to, unable to follow through or finish, unable to do what they want to do, or what they know is the right thing.

Ask an ADDer about their childhood. It’s not just low grades. It’s often, low self esteem, dropping out, failures, no friends, drugs and trouble with the law. Less than 5% of adults are ADHD. But the most conservative estimate I’ve read is that 35% of the prison population is… Why? Because of Impulsivity. Undiagnosed. Not understood. And running the show.

That’s why they come to see the Doctor. They’re failing at school, in relationships, at work, enduring way more bankruptcies, divorces, even higher rates of STDs, car accidents and unplanned pregnancies. The studies show they have lower self esteem, they are holding jobs that are beneath their abilities (Under employed is the term they use.) They’re frustrated and confused. And everyone around them is angry and exhausted.

Of course, this is to varying degrees.

By adulthood they are often misdiagnosed. You want to know why less than 20% of adults who have ADHD/ADD have been formally diagnosed? Because they’ve been misdiagnosed, most often with Depression and Anxiety.

As for your problems getting help in Australia, yeah, Wawabyjohnah, your country is behind the North America in terms of understanding and dealing with ADHD/ADD. There is a huge shortage of doctors here, as there are in pretty much every area of neurology, psychiatry and so on. In fact, it’s part of why Dr. J is in New Zealand, to educate Doctors.

As for the learning style, yes, that list does sound similar to ADHD, (More than ADD) and I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s overlap.

And finally, this site was created to allow people anywhere and everywhere to get the facts, and understand this better. If your doctor doesn’t know about ADHD or ADD, you have to educate yourself and then teach them. That’s what we’re here for.

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[wawabyjohnah]

Hi guys

Thanks for responding. I’ve thought about my initial post and realised I was over thinking the results of the learning style test i did- which isn’t unusual for me! I know the way I learn could be overlapping, but is so different to ADHD. Although I haven’t got a diagnosis yet, I am pretty sure this is what has been affecting me all my life. I struggle in so many ways- not to the extreme some people do but enough to impair aspects of my life. I’m lucky in the fact I have a job that i like and that I’ve had for 7 years, but I think some of that is because I work alone and no one sees the chaos that is me. If I’m late to work, no one knows. When I can’t locate a vital report or forget to do things, I can just avoid the phone and emails until I am ready to send it through. I also don’t look stupid when I get really frustrated when searching for my stapler I used all of five minutes earlier because no one is there to see me. The social world scares me though. I’m only comfortable around my closest friends- they just laugh at my silliness and either put up with my incessant talking or tell me to shut up. Where as with others I am too worried about making a fool out of myself that I find any excuse to get out of the event. Yet put me on the soccer field and I’ll take on anyone and am loud and everyone knows who I am. All a bit weird, hey?

Well enough of that. I’m just going to read up as much as I can and wait for the elusive psych appointment. I’ve lived this long without a diagnosis, what’s a few more months?

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[Anonymous]

We are really behind in Oz wawab. It took me five months to get to see a psychiatrist and I live in the middle of a big city (Sydney). My son took even longer – eight months! I think it’s because adult ADHD is not really recognised here and our mental health system all round is extremely under funded. Thank goodness for this website!

I found these guys really helpful http://www.add.org.au (for ‘ADDults with ADHD’) and actually they’re the ones that told me about this website. They’re a not-for-profit, so I recently joined up as a small way of contributing some funds. Hang in there a bit longer

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[wawabyjohnah]

I was having a conversation about mental health the other day, and perceptions people have. One fellow had taught an adult with aspergers and was amazed at how intelligent he was, but he had to be taught in a completely different way to most. Another lady was telling us about her granddaughter who was recently diagnosed with autism. Both said things like no one understands or respects the differences. I said people don’t understand, or want to understand that which isn’t ‘normal’ (I blurted it out actually) and was thinking of my own experiences and how most people think I’m pretty weird and strange! But if people were more open to differences in ways of thinking, living etc then mental health issues wouldn’t be faux pa and people could seek help without the stigma of a mental illness. Then life might be easier.

One day Australia will catch up- we’re too laid back for our own good sometimes!

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[Scattybird]

I think we are ‘behind’ in the UK too, although some good organisations are rocking the boat and speaking out such as AADD-UK. Unfortunately any headway that was being made is being knocked on the head with the recession and the changes to the UK National Health Service. According to AADD-UK, several practices are withdrawing access to medication because ADHD is just not a priority compared to other problems when money is tight. Also it seems that a lot of GPs just don’t believe that ADHD is real.

I think you hit the nail on the head wawabyjohnah in your post – about your job. My psych was curious as to why I don’t have a history of job changes and I hadn’t thought about this before you mentioned it. But I too have a job where the processes of getting something done can be hidden – as long as the final outcome is OK. So, my bosses don’t see the hours I spend looking for files, emails, etc. – they just see the final report or whatever it is, but none of the complete chaos or longer hours than ‘normal’ that went into producing it.

Anyway, good luck with your diagnosis – there’s a lot of good advice out there in general and specifically on this site so you’re not alone whilst you wait for your appointment.

I love the fact that you say in Australia you’re all too laid back to get around to doing anything about ADHD – in the UK it’s probably because we’re all too uptight to acknowledge it! Apart from those of us who have it – we don’t ‘do’ uptight which might be why we don’t fit in!

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[Cyclone]

Hi Wawabyjonah,

Canada isn’t a whole lot better, at least in terms of finding a Psychiatrist. My doctor told be it would be 18 months! So I have to see a Psychologist for a formal diagnosis instead, which is only a 6 week wait but it isn’t covered by provincial healthcare (I’m still waiting to see if my insurance will cover it though).

That said, my doctor can still prescribe medication, so perhaps that’s a difference in Canada. Also, there’s been a major push to raise awareness of mental health issues in recent years, with a big annual campaign led by Bell Media, using the catch phrase “Let’s Talk”. The campaign culminates to a day of fundraising, where Bell applies long distance charges to mental health awareness and research.

My only complaint is that the campaign seems to be overwhelmingly focused on Depression, not other disorders (still hate that word). Maybe it could feature Rick and Patrick next year. It would certainly be more entertaining!

-Cyclone

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[Tiddler]

Cyclone – I’ve totally reclaimed the word ‘disorder’ because my life is completely disordered, so it works for me!

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[wawabyjohnah]

I also think that the perception of ADHD is still of the really hyper, naughty kid at school, which doesn’t help with any efforts to make the world more aware of what adhd really is. It’s still a childhood disorder that you grow out of! I wish! People are starting to realise depression and all that goes with it is a legitimate mental illness but anything else- there is a long way to go. But sites like this one are starting to help. If I hadn’t found this site, I would never have known much about adhd or that it could be what’s been affecting me.

Sarah

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[Anonymous]

Hi, did you have a look at my blog from my recent trip to Australia/NZ

http://totallyadd.com/adhd-down-under/ because there are issues with doctors there. I did three workshops for doctors in Sydney and Brisbane and during that time, it became evident that there needs to be a stronger effort to rally the troops. I have been in discussions with one of the key and senior psychiatrists in Melbourne to begin a national ADHD network there. It still takes time but I will keep you updated.

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[wawabyjohnah]

Hi Dr J

I did read that you visited Australia. Sounds like you have started some good work here. A national ADHD network sounds like a great idea. I’ll keep an eye out to see what comes of it.

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[wawabyjohnah]

Hi Dr J

I did read that you visited Australia. Sounds like you have started some good work here. A national ADHD network sounds like a great idea. I’ll keep an eye out to see what comes of it.

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[wawabyjohnah]

Hmm, sorry bout the double post. I got too impatient with my crappy internet service that I kept pressing send post! Whoops

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[Tiddler]

LOL I’m sure we’ve all done that. I know I have!

There’s a distinct lack of understanding in Britain too. I only know of 2 doctors running a real ADHD clinic in the north of England. One of them was set up after years of protests and lobbying from parents who realised that their children had no support once they became young adults.

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[Author]

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