My four year journey to being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult
Actually, the entire journey was closer to twenty years.
I first suspected I had Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), around the age of 14. I always struggled to concentrate at school. I couldn’t find the motivation to finish coursework, or complete boring tasks. I remember doing online ADHD self-diagnosis quizzes when I was a teenager and scoring very high.
However, I was an intelligent kid. Smart enough to get decent grades throughout school without much studying, so I did not see it as an issue. Which was fine, until university. That’s when my ability to get good grades without much effort began to wane. I was struggling to turn up to class, to get my essays handed in on time, and I was bored with my choice of degree subject. Yet, I never did anything about it. Which is a shock to no one who knows me, or to anyone who also has ADHD.
While I cruised through most of my life, I started to notice that my condition was affecting my mood, my work, my relationships, and my motivation to do anything I wanted pursue in life. I was depressed and it was becoming more apparent that I had to do something about it. By happy accident I found the inspiration.
Four years ago I was working as a communications officer for Penumbra, the second largest mental health charity in Scotland. A small part of my job was to research interesting articles on mental health and share them on our social media channels. I stumbled upon this article by Lucy Jane, and it had a huge impact on me. Here was someone around my age who suspected they had ADHD, pursued a diagnosis and was correct. It got me thinking, maybe I could do the same.
I made an appointment with my doctor and presented them with the possibility I could had ADHD. They printed me off a questionnaire to fill out and return, which I did immediately. Sure enough, I scored very high and they referred to me to a specialist.
The issue with seeing a specialist in the NHS is the waiting lists are always long. Especially in something as underfunded as mental health and psychiatry. The problem with waiting so long is exacerbated by having ADHD, so I completely forgot I was even referred.
Fast forward two years. I’ve moved to New Zealand Aotearoa, returned to working in hospitality, and I’m living my life as best as possible during a pandemic. My mother texts me to let me know there’s a letter for me from the NHS. Turns out it’s an appointment to see a psychiatrist about my ADHD referral. Considering I’m now 14’000kms away, I declined the appointment. However, it reminded me to pursue the diagnosis where I live now.
I go to my doctor in Wellington. Present the same case I told my doctor in Scotland, filled out a similar questionnaire, along with a questionnaire for my parents, my partner, and a colleague. Same results. I get referred again. Waiting list time length this time, six months!
So I wait the six months, and one day it dawns on me that I still haven’t received any contact from the psychiatrist. I go back to my doctor, we contact the psychiatrist’s office and discover that my referral had been lost. As I’m re-referred, I’m bumped up the appointment waiting list slightly, but frustratingly I’m looking at another three months.
Finally, after nine months from my referral in New Zealand, and four years on from my initial referral in Scotland, I meet a clinical psychiatrist who specialises in ADHD. We spend almost two hours talking about my childhood, family, friends, relationships, work, school, university and everything in between. A deep dive into me, my life, and why I think I have ADHD.
Their conclusion at the end of that appointment?
They agreed.
Validation finally.
However, nothing gets fixed that quick.
I had to make a follow up appointment in another two months and provide more evidence. Thank you to my mother for keeping every school report I ever received! I provided them along with filling out more questionnaires about my day-to-day life.
The second appointment goes smoother than I could have imagined, and I am not only diagnosed, but also prescribed medication.
So here I am. Around 17 years after I first suspected, and four years after I decided to do something about it, I am finally diagnosed with ADHD. It’s been a long road, but I’m finally excited about the future.
