I鈥檓 turning 27 tomorrow, so this is kind of like a birthday present. It鈥檚 definitely a good feeling, because it means I haven鈥檛 been lying to myself for months, which I was afraid of.
I鈥檇 been trying hard not to panic all day, just because I knew I鈥檇 be getting the call this afternoon. I鈥檓 fortunate to be off work, so I鈥檓 stoned with my cat in front of the AC. My doctor started off by describing her appraisal of my condition, and I started crying. I stopped her part way through to tell her how much of a relief it was to hear her express back to me, what I had been terrified, for two weeks, that I hadn鈥檛 explained adequately.
It was actually kind of funny, hearing her tell me all these things like they were news. But it鈥檚 official. I may have high logical and reasoning ability, but when presented with large amounts of information, or when having to absorb it over long periods of time, I become inattentive. I have ADHD.
That matches up with my two and a half years of college. With my grades in high school, that fell off over the last couple years. With the constant weight of weariness I feel clocking in at work each day.
As a 27 year old man, with a gorgeous fiance, a high skill job, and a great group of friends (who will definitely managed to schedule another D&D session someday), it鈥檚 hard for me to feel like there鈥檚 anything wrong with me. I think, getting officially diagnosed just makes me believe, even more strongly, that humanity can only improve by learning about each other鈥檚 differences. I鈥檓 glad that a space like this exists, on a free, open platform, for people like us to share our experiences.
I鈥檇 love to hear how anyone else felt about their diagnosis. I鈥檇 also love any tips from my elders (or youngers), on what to do next! Sounds like my PCP can prescribe me Adderall now, so that鈥檚 a pretty cool unlock. What I鈥檓 most unsure about is getting a therapist. Has anyone tried remote therapy? I鈥檓 generally a recluse, so that鈥檚 probably the option I鈥檇 favor if there are good options out there.
Thank you!
I was also diagnosed in my late 20鈥檚. I have a sister who is significantly younger than me, and she was struggling in school. She鈥檚 smart, but she had a ton of missing assignments that she either did and forgot to hand in or just completely never got around to. Same as me when I was her age. She got diagnosed, put on Adderall, and her grades turned around. That set off alarm bells for me.
When I finally got tested, my results were all over the place. They told me I scored in the top 10% in some areas, and in the bottom 10% in others. That was enough for them to prescribe me medication, and it鈥檚 helped a lot.
My big thing was always executive function. I know I need to do a task, I know there will be consequences for not doing it, and I know if I don鈥檛 do the task I will feel miserable the entire time I am putting it off. But I still don鈥檛 do the task.
With medication, it feels like a lot more of a choice. I can still blow things off and feel guilty about it, but actually hunkering down and getting something done actually feels possible now.
No advice (I don鈥檛 think I have ADHD, and I haven鈥檛 been diagnosed), but a word of congratulations on seeking help! Folks in my life that don鈥檛 have a disorder have a hard time sympathizing with my mental health struggles.
I was in a similar situation as you; in a Dr office going over my results saying that I have x disorder. Just that was such a relief, and there were tears.
Thanks from me and past you for taking that step to accepting your situation and seeking help!
Congrats 馃憦
My advice would be to be kind to yourself and find what works for you. Being comfortable as an older ADHD person is about creating routines and accommodations that make things easier.
Did you go through your PCP to have it done or do you have to see a specialist?
My PCP recommended me to a specialist office that does neurological testing at scale, so I was able to get through it all pretty quickly. I asked about it at my yearly insurance physical in March, got an appointment for online testing on the 3rd, and got my results two weeks later. I was surprised by how easy it was. I have pretty good insurance from my job.
I鈥檓 not sure if they take patients outside Michigan or not, but everything I did was remote, so I don鈥檛 see why they couldn鈥檛. Their reviews on Google are bad, but my experience was great, and I鈥檝e had friends say good things about another doctor also at this practice
Was I supposed to be on PCP when I went to the doctor to check? 馃
PCP= personal care provider.
I thought it was Primary Care Physician
Derp! You鈥檙e correct.