I’m a little confused, I know based on my whole life experiences that I do indeed have ADHD; but I don’t know how I should tell my doctor about it? I mean, it’s disrespectful and yet probably would think I want drugs or something. A little help? Thanks.
Ask your doctor to formally evaluate you for it. Explain what symptoms you have that make you suspect the diagnosis (including how long you’ve experienced them, what the impact is on your day-to-day functioning, etc.). Your doctor will determine whether you meet the diagnostic criteria + discuss possible treatments (e.g., therapy, medication).
Dr here; I won’t know unless you ask! I’m not usually planning to offer meds for AHDH unless you bring it up. Some do ADHD assessments in house, most will send you to a counseling provider to have the assessment done. Just need to verify the diagnosis one way or another to justify prescribing controlled meds so the feds don’t come busting down the door of my clinic.
Hopefully, your doctor will respond better than mine did. I said. “So, for the past year or so, I’ve been realizing that I probably have ADHD. What are your thoughts on seeking a diagnosis?”
He started with, Well, a LOT of people started thinking they had stuff wrong with them during the pandemic. Then went in to how the drugs are performance enhancers and that ANYONE taking them would function better and then what? You just take them forever to live easier?!? (I’m already taking three pills for unrelated things that I will be taking for the rest of my life.) Then he asked where I worked and I told him what I did (but not that it’s my third job in six years) and he said well, that sounds like you’re doing all right, I wouldn’t worry about it.
I was so pissed that he just blew me off like that.
You should be formally assessed rather than just “telling your doctor” / going with a self diagnosis
You need to ask your doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist for a formal evaluation. Your general practice doctor is unlikely to just diagnose you and prescribe medication if they aren’t a specialist.
Can confirm, thats how its done where I’m from too.
Then I met with a psychiatrist, he asked me why I thought I might have it, I presented a post from Reddit which kinda fit some of my descriptions. And we went through a bunch of questions. I answered honestly and ended up with a few of the answers “right” but not enough of them to be diagnosed.
Then he recommended some changes to my anti-depressiva medicine that worked pretty well! So a win! Curiously enough these anti-depressiva, Bupropion, are used sometimes to threat ADHD too.
