ADHD Diagnosis - my journey part 1

February 2021

I write this just back from my first face to face appointment. I naively thought that what all ADHD women I know said about it being hard to get a positive assessment is true, it wasn’t going to happen to me as I’m 100% convinced of my ADHD. However, I was told I may not get a positive assessment and the then tools/help that could make my life easier.

The reason there may be a question mark over me getting this? I’m potentially not impaired enough. Yet it is impairing me, I’m not able to be the best person at work, at home and within myself (for a reason I’m keeping personal for now). For example, being overwhelmed by large amounts of information I find hard to understand and/or have limited interest in, breaking down on a regular basis, managing to but being constantly overwhelmed at running a home; not being able to open letters, crying when doing the dishes and the housework as I just cannot engage with them, half done jobs all over the house because I’ve either been distracted or can’t engage with the task anymore. Sounds REALLY silly doesn’t it if you’ve no experience or knowledge of ADHD. I could write half a book on the way it presents in my everyday life and the consistent challenges that causes, either big or small. But I manage to push through it all but my it’s exhausting!

I’ve read dozens of books, journals and completed a short course through Kings College London on ADHD. In fact, the lady being interviewed as part of this course could well have been me.

Why are we left with the feeling that no one believes us other than other ADHD women who either have or are fighting to get their diagnosis so they can be understood, accepted and gain any help needed? Life can be overwhelming enough for us without then finding little support.

Next step is to complete questionnaires and go back for my next face to face appointment, so we’ll see what’s said from there. I’ll keep you updated.

Carla