Exact same story down to every detail. Both parents teachers, but no clue. The weirdest conclusions and theories about me. Like: Far below average intelligence, but with a talent for languages and mathematics (is that even a thing?), which got me through school with effortless Cs. Most of the time I (and probably others) thought I was just a general shithead.

I realised what it was 4 years ago and told a psychiatrist, who did not disagree, but was like: woa, hold your horses. Got a referral to a full neurological & psychiatric check-up from my GP, who wrote on the referral that he suspects ADD without hyperactivity, 1 1/2 years ago. Couldn't use it, because they are overrun by more urgent cases.

Started paying out of pocked to a private clinic 6 months ago and got the official, written diagnosis 1 month ago (exactly what my GP already suspected). Since then, lots of delays to get treatment. No appointments, then appointment available, but latest bloodwork and ECG expired etc. Had one appointment last week cancelled 2 hours before start.

Honestly, with a medical system so overrun, a GP should just be authorised to do the diagnostic if supported by purely computer evaluated multiple choice test. The standardized tests appear to be the foundation anyway, and the many hours of additional psychiatric evaluation are just something that the medical system can't support.

And yes, now my child. He is a true math genius who could do 2 or 3 classes above his own, but he hates books (only since school, not before!) and his reading & writing is just a hateful, effortless B. In two languages equally well, though. I suspect something is up there, but don't want to project. I never had problems understanding math, but was certainly not ahead of the class. Loved books though, perfect spelling.

Let's hope things work out for us and our children!

[–] candybrie@lemmy.world 14 points 1 month ago

Yeah, it's incredibly frustrating. GPs can diagnose and prescribe for things like anxiety and depression. But the main treatment for ADHD is a "fun" drug that people would like to abuse as much as opioids and we saw how GPs abused prescriptions for that.

So now no one can be trusted, so the test isn't good enough because what if they're gaming the system to get drugs?? Psychiatrists are overbooked because we never have enough of them, and we're heaping all these extra checks just to make sure it's not someone trying to abuse the meds. And people who have a diagnosis that means they already aren't good at these kinds of things have to make sure to get a script and bring it to the pharmacy on the exact right day every single month.

I'm not even sure what the solution is. I wish we just a way more holistic treatment of drug abuse and mental health treatment in general so that we aren't having to make everyone jump through hoops to get the things they need to function.

[–] eleitl@lemm.ee 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

ADD subtype PI, for primary inattentive. If methylphenidate and atomoxetine don't work for you make sure you try lysdexamfetamine.

[–] AddLemmus@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Thanks, noted! Currently helping myself with Modafinil with pretty good results, but too many side effects. Doc seems to be very fixated on Methylphenidate, so we'll see if they are even open to trying something else. In standardised tests, I maxed out the ADD scale, but missed criteria for hyperactivity by a little, if I understood correctly. Same with childhood ADD; they said they can't tell for sure when it started after so much time has passed.

[–] eleitl@lemm.ee 5 points 1 month ago

Zero hyperactivity here. Just leg jerking and pacing back and forth during calls/meetings. Modafinil kinda sorta works but Elvanse/Vyvanse is a whole different league.

Methylphenidate just gave me brain fog. Atomoxetine worked great for 6 months but then just stopped. I stopped taking Vyvanse a long while ago due to side effects.

[–] angrystego@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

Be sure to test your kid, these things seem to be very hereditary.