“I should have been asked more than is the medication working and are there any side effects” OMG this!!!! This is all my psychiatrist asks me. There is zero discussion on adhd management skills or tools or any guidance on how I can better set myself up for some (if any at all) success with my treatment. Medication had the power to relax my brain enough to where I can finally be able to put in the psychological and behavioural work that will help me to better cope with/manage my adhd but without any assistance or what to do or guidance on what I could be improving on I’m at a loss. I keep trying things but I feel so lost and on my own with this. I got diagnosed at 37 and it felt like a life saving revelation in my life to finally have answers. But I need to do something with this knowledge and understanding for it to have any real long lasting value in my life. I need someone to guide me on my journey of learning how to make my brain work in this world or how to beat use my brain to make the most of what I can do. This video touched me so much. I feel your struggle so deeply. I am sending you so much love and a huge hug. You, we and *all* of us are not alone. Even in our loneliness. ❤️
Of all the changes I would like to see, this might be the #1 and also VERY doable. Given that the recommended treatment for ADHD is *multimodal* -- medication for symptoms, behavioral therapy for impairment -- our treatment providers can and should ABSOLUTELY be asking about how we're managing our ADHD besides medication.
@Indykitty1 Yes the nurse who prescribed my meds a few years ago said she could only ask me those questions about effectiveness and side effects of the meds. I would have to go to a separate psychologist or cognitive behavioral therapist for any deep life discussions. She did offer a little advice but her job was not to talk out the problems.
@@Indykitty1 Agreed, anyone will struggle to get more than medication prescriptions from the vast majority of Psychiatrists, multimodal approaches aren't typically part of their approach. They generally hand over to other practitioners at that point which can make multimodal therpay a bit clunky (which in turn can certainly serve as a disincentive to try that mixed approach for many folk).
Yes, I 100% understand what everyone is saying, but unfortunately on the NHS you only get access to a psychiatrist to check on your medication. Even if there's suspected comorbid conditions (although I understand that you have to work on 1 before seeing if there's more). What I'm saying is, if you can't afford a psychologist/counselling/behavioural therapy then you just end up with someone who asks about your meds.
Crane it’s understandable that they would be thorough when trying to diagnose and prescribe a medication, but it’s absolutely unacceptable for a lifelong diagnosis (which is often diagnosed in children, where it would be incredibly unlikely that they sought a diagnosis to get and misuse medication) to be treated like a ploy to feed an addiction. If a person has a standing diagnosis, follow up appointments to get a prescription renewed should be treated like a check-up (ie how are you sleeping? is the medication causing unintended side effects? does your dosage need to be adjusted? etc) not an interrogation.
I had to explain several times to my GP why I thought I needed to try medication and I was still advised to see a psychiatrist first, even though I was already diagnosed by my therapist. When she heard I did not work when I first raised this discussion, GP prescribed me antidepressants (which I needed too) and suggested between the lines that in daily life I'll be ok without meds since I don't have to do hard mental labor. Duh!
@@rizznrita also they could look for signs of addiction or ask u questions abt ppl u know to figure out if they're addicted. For example "does anyone u know seem to be severely lacking in sleep?".
It really is. There is so much anxiety trying to navigate all of this, on top of the stigma around even taking stimulant meds in the first place. Thanks for watching
It's sad that when I started meds, I deliberately undermedicated for the first month to build up an "emergency reserve" of pills (all of a week worth). Already, I've needed to break into it twice.
I had a doctor who told me that being an adult I should be able to handle myself and he offered to put me in psych clinic, I only needed a prescription for my medication.
I once saw a meme on Reddit where the caption said “what navigating the health care system with ADHD feels like”. The picture was of a dog holding the end of its own leash in its mouth.
I talked to a doctor a few months ago where I told him that my goal is to eventually get off medications if possible. He told me I was the first one to ever ask him that. Mind blown
@@merturquoise9661 To be able to find ways to manage your ADHD mind without medication. I'm sure everyone would opt to go that route, I'm on medication as we speak. and I'm taking it to make sure I'm "stable" while I'm stable I'm hoping I can find methods and other sources to help me other than being on medication.
I still remember the look on my Dr's face when he realized that I wasn't a drug-seeker and that this ADHD thing has to be real and I have to have it because nothing else would explain me. :P Also....what makes you feel like you have to get off the meds? If you had diabetes would you be trying to get off insulin? ADHD is not a contest. There's not beating it. It's just the way your brain works.
Thank god I'm not from the USA but even here they make it harder on us to get our medication regularly. I have to go in every 3 weeks to get it because I only get one bottle now where I used to get two. I assume they're doing it to keep people from selling their medication on the streets but that's not my responsibility to stop, its the polices responsibility to stop drug abuse.
Damn, this made me cry. In Norway we have a "tounge in cheek" -saying: "You have to be healthy to be ill." -Meaning the helthcare bureaucracy is so infuriating convoluted that you won't be able to navigate it when actually ill.
We have the same saying in Sweden, and even our level of abusive bureaucracy should be criminal to even implement, not to mention the infinitely worse corporate bureaucracy Jessica and other US citizens and inhabitants suffer.
Flashback to the time my therapist said I didn't have ADHD bc I "wasn't impulsive and inappropriate" enough. That my impulsiveness just "didn't impress her"
Flashback to the time the therapist shamed my mom for taking me for an adhd intake accusing her of expecting too much from a kid (I was around 20). And ended up asking us to leave and never come back unless we had something serious to talk about.
Holy- I didn't realise how terrible mental health services are globally. Hope you guys found the understanding therapist. I'll try my best finding one too.
I'm a pharmacy technician with ADHD and I completely understand. My heart breaks every time I have to tell someone that their med is on backorder or insurance won't pay for it because they're an adult. A few of my own coworkers go on rants about how these days, anyone can go to a doctor and say "I can't focus" and they'll come to us with a prescription for Adderall. Or how when they get upset that they can't get their medication, that it's just because they're addicted and want to keep abusing it. I completely understand that there are people out there who do abuse ADHD medication, but I get so angry when my coworkers scoff at our patients who are getting meds. How do they know that whoever it is doesn't actually have ADHD? And it is NOT that easy to get a prescription for Adderall. At least not for me. This year I started my own journey for finding a medication that works for me. I had a therapist that knew me really well and believed me, but he couldn't prescribe me anything and then he got a different job. I started seeing a psychiatrist, but even after I came in saying I had been diagnosed by a mental health professional, towards the end he told me that he was still on the fence if I had ADHD. For that and a few more reasons, I started to have anxiety when I see him. He eventually prescribed me one of the meds, but it was a nightmare to actually get it filled. My usual pharmacy told me that they had stopped manufacturing the generic a while ago (a total lie because I knew for a fact that the pharmacy I work at had plenty of it and had no trouble getting it in). So I took the prescription to my work (on my day off) and my coworker told me that my insurance doesn't cover the med for anyone over 18yo without a prior authorization. Because either ADHD magically disappears when you turn 19 or they just want you to suck it up and stop being lazy or just try harder. So I call my psychiatrist's office and ask them to work on the prior authorization. By the time Monday rolls around, they still haven't done it. So I called them again and they just told me to try the store discount card because it would probably be cheaper anyway. It was $98. Next day, I called them AGAIN and the guy I talked to got it done in less than an hour. Even with the PA, I still had to pay almost $70 for a one-month supply. I started taking it and I haven't noticed any effect yet on my ADHD symptoms, but I was short of breath with an increased heart rate and I started to feel nauseous when I tried to eat food I would normally really enjoy. I have enough trouble eating enough as it is without getting nauseous about my food. I just started college and I was trying to get accommodations for my classes. They told me to get a letter from my psychiatrist at my next appointment which, at the time, was a couple of weeks away. When I was finally able to talk to him about accomodations, he questioned if I really needed a couple of them and because I'm a doormat, I gave in and he didn't write those ones down. When he wrote the letter, he didn't do it right and the accommodations center at my college told me he had to rewrite it. So I gave up on accommodations because I didn't feel that I was worth the hassle and there was no way I was going to push for him to write it again because of the anxiety that he's been causing me. So now I need to find a new psychiatrist and I probably also need to try a new med that may or may not be on backorder at every pharmacy in the area and that may or may not even work if I do get it. I know this is 3 years after the release of this video and probably no one will see this comment. But I'm really frustrated about it all too. I needed to see this video today, thanks.
People will sit here and try to tell us that adhd is a lie fed to us to get us to buy meds and yet its this difficult for us to get meds? Make it make sense 🤷
Hi my name is Austin, I have felt ashamed of myself and dumb my whole life. I didn't know I had adhd, but once I did I still didn't get the right treatment. Posted above I listed some facts, I hope they help. It was painful being alone, come take my hand lets make a communityC:
Update -- 1) My doctor said to have the pharmacy fill the prescription for just 1 week, which was cheaper than paying for the full month, while we waited for the pre-authorization. 2) When the pre-authorization went through, my insurance still wouldn't cover my meds. They aren't in their formulary. 3) I use a discount card now, which helps a bit, but I still have to tell the pharmacy every month that yes, I understand how expensive it is, before they will fill it. 4) I'm considering switching back to a medication that didn't work as well for me because my insurance will pay for it.
I'm a mom to a beautiful Adhd'er like yourself and I just want to give you a virtual hug. I hope that things change soon. You all deserve to live your best lives medication included.
I really appreciate how honest and transparent you are about your struggles with ADHD. There’s no simple solution or short answer for a lot of the struggles we go through but it really helps to know that there are others that go through the same difficulties everyday. I hope an easier road is paved for us to work out our lives and be successful with ADHD.
I am so upset for you. Legitimately so upset. I wasn't told that my lack of emotional control might have been impacted by my ADHD as well until I found that out mid high school online. You're seriously so important to so many brains and I am so mad at the stupidity here
I wasn’t sure mine was worth 800$ to get re-evaluated by a clinic who would want to prescribe me the right meds, but after years of struggling, i decided it was.
I don't have ADHD, but I can SOOOOOO relate to this!!! I'm diabetic, and my doctor and I have been trying for more than TWO YEARS to get medicine added that my insurance company will approve. My doctor will prescribe something, then the insurance will say no. Then she'll try something else, and they'll say fine, but it's $500 out of pocket (which I can't afford). Meanwhile my blood sugar is out of control, and there's not a damn thing we can do until we hit on their magic formula (which they won't tell me what medicines the doctor IS allowed to prescribe). Anyone who says that the US has the best healthcare in the world is seriously delusional.
Yes, I have had many hassles getting my diabetic meds. As to the ADHD, my doc blew me off first time...then I started seeing a counselor, she sent me back, he tested me and I am now on those meds. None of this is easy.
Can you talk to your state's insurance commissioner? Apparently insurance companies are slightly afraid of them and will listen. They should at least say what drugs are Ok.
I am Diabetic too. Lucky my insurance pays, but I looked into a backup plan in case I don't have insurance one day. If you are in the US, diabetic medication (insulin ) is a fraction of the US retail price. It's still more than I pay with the insurance in the US but if I had no insurance I would go there to buy it. I actually went across the border and picked up a coupe of boxes. The pharmacist that I bought it from said that a lot of people come from across the border to get such medications. You may want to look into doing that. That's horrible the insurance company won't pick it up. Our healthcare system is horrible.
Your blood sugar is out of control because you keep adding thi in your mouth that puts sugar in your blood 🤷🏽♀️ it’s not rocket science!! Veggies and meats PERIOD!!! Nothing else and you won’t be killing your self. Type 1 is a different story but no one else has any excuse but greedy and gluttony
This actually describes a lot of the healthcare system - "Oh, you need help for your debilitating condition? Are you sure? Are you really sure? Are you really, really, really sure?" Something here has got to change.
And then there are people who are in a depressive mood for a while - not suffering from clinical depression! - whose doctors instantly want to give them anti-depressants. And doctors who earn a reputation for being "trigger-happy" when it comes to describing ADHD meds to a lot of children ... As if it were so difficult to do the right thing based on what you know. No, it has to be either refusing people the meds that might help them or overprescription nonsense.
My ex had a doctor throw his script on the floor and called him an addict when he tried to get his pain meds refilled. No compassion. Now mds are afraid to write scripts for those who truly need them and dope fiends just come up with new scams to trick the system. We are a sad sick country.
It’s because of “The War on Drugs” and government subsidizing a few mega pharmaceutical corporations with billions of dollars, plus a library of arbitrary regulations and fine print.
When I went to a general practitioner, between the Dr and pharmacy the prior authorizations were a nightmare! Once every year, I’d drop off the prescription, and get a phone call saying the insurance company wouldn’t cover it, and prior authorizations usually take a week. So I put a yearly reminder in my calendar, and a month early, I told the pharmacist it was about to expire; would they please start the process, so I don’t run out completely? Their answer: “Oh, we never do that until after they’ve refused it.”
I have a doctor's appointment in 20 minutes. And because I'm uninsured, I get the pleasure of spending $300 on a degrading and humiliating appointment that I am forced to go to to prove that I'm not addicted to adderall. I haven't watched the video yet though because I cried enough on the phone making the appointment and I'm struggling to hold it back now.
Doc chuckled and tried to make it out that I was unreasonable for thinking that being forced to come in every 3 months to make sure I'm not an addict is degrading. He even had the audacity to tell me that he understood my side of things after I had explicitly asked if he had ever had to do what I was doing, which he hadn't. Doctors just really don't care about us. We're just an addict they control.
The biggest thing about being told "you are smart" is that they don't address where you are smart. Sure, you excel at your job, but your personal life matters can be in complete shambles.
This makes me think of how I would get good grades in school because I was good at guessing and bs-ing my way through tests off of the bits of knowledge I retained, or skimming the textbook chapters for how to do the homework, but I had trouble paying attention in class, and the reason I was skimming the chapters was because I hadn't read them. I hated being praised for how I was being so successful in life when I felt I didn't really deserve it and was just getting lucky. Because I absolutely did not have good work ethic. Thank goodness I'm graduated from college now and don't have to worry about schoolwork anymore (As well as the personal life being in shambles)
I just want to share a personal story, so I go to college at Indiana and I have been diagnosed with ADHD when I was 7. More than a decade ago, I’m 18 now. My college’s Disability services straight up told me that because my ADHD was diagnosed a decade ago it’s not valid and therefore I need a new diagnosis. Which for the record costs roughly 3000-4000$ alongside tuition. I have had this condition for as long as I can remember every day was a struggle, and it infuriates me that this part of me was so unexplained for a long time. I’m thankful that I found away around this particular problem but it’s important to address that this is a problem. Later into the first year of college I had a math exam and the professor did something that really impacted me, he pulled me aside and asked me “hey I notice you’ve been struggling but you do every problem and seem to run out of time? Would extended time be beneficial for you?” This surprised me because I had genuinely had no idea that I didn’t need approval to get support. So yeah this video hits close to home and it’s one of the things that I want to change.
Only reason I can think for that would be since we're constantly learning new information they might want to be sure your diagnosis was still correct. It's still super sucky of them though, esp knowing how expensive it can be. They should have at least given you some options like "Dr SuchAndSuch works with us and gives students discounts" or something.
@@pranksandcomedyaroundworld7475 To be perfectly honest I do not know. I can't provide guidance but what I can say is if you are financially stable and can get a diagnosis and talk to your school/college about it and dont be too harsh on yourself remember our brains work differently than neurotypical people and it'd not your or my fault. I hope this helps!!!!
I feel this so hard. They treat adults with ADHD like we're criminals or addicts. There's a ridiculous amount of hoops to jump through and the doctors don't even care about how you're feeling.
I feel like when the doctor sayings you don’t have adhd, it’s like “oh you don’t have adhd, you are perfectly normal and functioning well” but obviously you are seeking out treatment, you are not functioning well in some way and you owe to yourself to figure out what’s wrong. I wish there was more support but the healthcare system is very constrained in terms of resources and money.
Our daughter has autism, but she has had four psychological evaluations and no one ever found her to be autistic. She is fourteen years old and this last psychiatrists finally saw what we saw and she is now labeled as being on the autistic spectrum. First off, the therapist couldn't understand why the other psychiatrists didn't catch her autism, and then he says she is functioning at a higher level. I get no two autisms look alike, but her functioning is so impaired that it makes day to day living a struggle regardless of how much she is autistic.
Way to much stigma around ADHD. I was diagnosed with ADHD around the same time I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I mentioned to the doctor at the sleep clinic that I was diagnosed with ADHD and going on Adderall. He told me I didn't have ADHD and that Adderall "helps everyone." Fortunately, I had what I needed from that doctor and never went back to see him ever again.
its actually really common. I'm not sure why the body's reaction to strong emotions is to constrict breathing and burn your eyes, but here we are. Because of my brand of depression, even on medication; every emotion for me is some flavor of crying.
@@xSaraxMxNeffx According to tumblr crying is an emotional release. With mental health emotions are heightened so anything that causes an overflow of emotions could trigger crying.
Oh man, this is my experience, too. One time I was completely disrespected by a surgeon, and although I defended myself, I was on the verge of tears during the entire encounter despite my anger. So frustrating that our "aggressive emotion" can come out as "weakness" (in the eyes of others).
I'm a 59 year old woman. I was diagnosed with, "Hyperactive Disorder," when I was 7. It was new and my doc was sharp. My meds finally work. It's taken so long. I understand and I'm tearing up. Thank you for your channel.
I'm a 22, before get meds I lost my ID, my phone and many, many things, many many times, and in the blink of an eye I forgot where I put my phone. however, meds can treat limitation. when you are young, Is there medicine for the disease, I feel soooo lucky I can buy meds to help me, even if it's a little expensive. I can't imagine rest of my life without meds
@@samarnadra That mentality - to judge people over things you're ignorant about - is most common in conservative states. And conservatives ppl are the main ones who can't accept that ADHD exists. A lot of right wingers are judgmental of poor people, too, and others they don't want to help, but don't want to feel guilty about not helping.
@@anarcho-communist11 Don't make this political. I'm an independent leaning to conservative. You do a disservice to many to label in this manner. Humans don't understand. Political party is not part of it.
@@samarnadra These are the kind of people that do everything according to the book, without thinking about common sense. It's common sense that someone who is injured and had difficulty walking can't travel to get their crutches. But common sense goes out the window, and they're pretty much just reading the script.
and have to do it again every month, and the leg never gets better. And x2 a month if you have two separate prescriptions, both controlled substance. And they cant fill one of them for a week or two, so you have to decide whether you dont take one for a couple weeks till you can refill both at the same time or just habe to deal with the pharmacy twice a month.
Manda Celestyna same. I was offered psychology appointments only because I I have Anxiety Disorder, none of it was because of my ADHD. I had to TELL my psychologist to help me with my adhd before she even mentioned it.
I was given a workbook but no tips on completing it so I powered through the first chapter that day and since then it's been in my ever-growing stack of "things I need to get to". I'm grateful to have it, but it's really hard to focus on
I know this will probably get buried, but if anyone who reads this is in the Portland metro area and struggling to find a doctor/therapist who can help, contact NW-ADHD. They're an ADHD clinic that provides diagnosis, therapy, skill building groups, and medication management. They do require you to do therapy exclusively through them if you want to try medication, so that is a possible barrier to entry for someone who already has a therapist that they like. However, the benefit is that they approach therapy for depression, anxiety, and more from the perspective of a patient with ADHD rather than someone without it.
Another possibility in the area would be western psychological in Portland & in Vancouver (WA). They don't specialize in ADHD (although there might be some in the practice who do) but do have some group therapy focused at it and some prescribing professionals too
I know this video is old, but it absolutely broke me. It was relatable to the point I was getting pretty emotional. The pain and struggle of dealing with the Healthcare system in regards to these medications is almost as bad as adhd itself. It's always a fight. Always an inquisition, and it does not have to be this way. To anyone else out there struggling to get their proper meds, my heart goes out to you.
US "health" care is such a joke. For those of us with any sort of chronic condition it gets exponentially worse. I'm behind you on everything you've said here.
Especially when chronic health conditions wear the patient down and are something we have to deal with and manage daily. For those with chronic health conditions getting the treatment they need can be out of reach because in order to receive treatment they need to do things and stay on top of things that people with their chronic illness can’t do... WITHOUT TREATMENT to help them. It’s so backwards. A complete catch 22 where you need [x] to get [y] but you can’t get [x] without [y] so then you got to get [y] but you can’t get [y] without [x]... etc. I’ve been exceptionally lucky to have people close to me who can help me advocate for the care I need to get but if I was in a less privileged situation with the health conditions I have I would straight up be unable to get the necessary treatment because I wouldn’t be able to get myself to doctors appointments regularly
I dont understand why this is considered a psychiatrist thing in so many countries? Ive been going to a Neurologist for 6 years now and according to him, ADHD is a Neurologist jurisdiction, not a Psychiatrist. As a Psychology graduate, I 100% agree.
What's a neurologist? What makes ADHD a neurologist jurisdiction rather than psychiatric? This is the first I'm hearing about this, so I'm very interested to learn more.
Paraticristi a neurologist is a doctor that specializes in the brain. The thing with adhd is that our brains are different than a normal brain. We have chemical imbalances and other things that make our brains different from everyone else.
A cat with bread on its head I completely agree with you! That’s I’m going to do my masters in neuro psychology. We need more neuro diverse Heath care providers
as a medical assistant with ADHD, i am. forever infuriated and devastated by how UNNECESSARILY chaotic, unorganized, and downright greedy the healthcare system in the USA is. because that's what this is. this is a failure of the system as a whole, in every aspect, not just for mental health but for a staggering majority of conditions. it's shameful. the US healthcare system is not patient friendly. period. and it breaks my heart.
“the US healthcare system is not patient friendly.” omg this. a no-brainer concept and yet we’re holding on to this awful version of a healthcare industry. we need change and i hope it comes within our lifetime. and major kudos to you for being a medical assistant! 💛
Paige, unfortunately I think this is a reality everywhere. I'm a medical physicist from Brazil, and here we have the same problem. I have ADHD too and work with Quality in Healthcare and it's so difficult to see that the health system likes to be chaotic and unorganized. Like Dr. Don Berwick sad, the healthcare system needs systems thinkers, and we, with our gift, are that naturally.
I was a dental assistant for well over a decade and I left because of a combination of exactly what you're saying and having autoimmune issues along with ADHD. I just became so disgusted with the field of Dentistry and now over the past few years of trying to take care of my other issues I find that it's not only Dentistry that has fallen apart but pretty much every aspect of Medicine.
@@amberdow6218 i wouldn't go that far, if only because the medicine we do practice today can and does save lives, and is backed by science. the main problem within the field is ease of access- both literally, and financially.
00:00 ADHD Treatments: Are They Truly ADHD-Friendly? 01:16 Challenges: Missed Appointments & Accessing Medication 02:16 Navigating Health Insurance & Locating ADHD Specialists 03:19 Hurdles in Securing ADHD Medication 04:24 Advocating for an ADHD-Friendly Treatment Process 05:36 ADHD Care: Beyond Just Medication 06:38 Healthcare & Insurance Barriers in ADHD Treatment 07:41 Despite Challenges, ADHD Treatment is Crucial Thank you for shedding light on these vital issues surrounding ADHD treatment. Your dedication to raising awareness and educating the community is truly commendable. Keep up the amazing work! 👏🌟
Don’t even start me on how hard it is to have parents who don’t believe in medication, therapy, but still compare me to their neurotypical children. That didn’t even get me extended time on my highschool placement/entrance exam. I should have been in honors, but instead I was in basics with extreme support.
Hi Nora! Adhd usually runs in the family in some form. My youngest son was diagnosed this year with add and when I talked to the psycologyst, I told her that I was surprised because I am pretty sure my eldest son was more likely to have adhd. She said " your most probably right that he is adhd but right now he can lead a normal life and your youngest can't". I say we are an Adhd household because I believe I probably have add as well. However still, as a parent it is SO SO HARD and heartbreaking. I want my kids to have a good life without too many hardships and we live in a world where different is n't easy. Therefore, parenting my kids to be "normal" is not as easy and maybe not good for their mental health... as a parent I feel lost in accepting my child and trying to prepare him for life...
Elena Marco, my advice as a 15 year old with adhd innatentive, is to accept his challenges, don’t make fun of them, stop your other family members from making fun of your kid, and put their needs before your beliefs on medication therapy or accommodations. With these things ( love, support, acceptance, school accommodations, medication, and therapy) your child is a lot more likely to not develop anxiety and depression disorders as a result from lack of support. The first three are non-negotiable, but your family can make the decision with your school and doctor on what accommodations would be helpful and if medication could help. Get your kid in therapy before it’s needed. Not only would it give him a place to learn techniques and coping skills, but can also “catch” the depression and anxiety early enough it’s not with them the rest of his life. Also, try and be orderly when getting referrals and iep/504 forms filled out. And if he does get in therapy, check in to see if he likes them. I hated my first therapist but my parents didn’t tell her about my adhd until the last session before she moved away.
@@elenamarco4785 I'm going to have to negotiate this train of thought too, but honestly, everyone has something in life that they find especially difficult - ADHD just happens to be something that has a recognizable pattern and we kind of know what to expect. That being said, I know my older son at least will have difficulties with things that other kids find to be easy, but they're the same things I've always had problems with, so here's hoping we can figure it out together!
First Dr I saw said I can't have ADHD because "you can focus sometimes if its interesting". How do these people get degrees again!?!? I have another appointment in about an hour so fingers crossed.
That’s so ridiculous, I’m sorry you talked to someone who clearly doesn’t know what they’re talking about. From my understanding of my ADD brain, it’s that we have an interest based nervous system! We can hyper focus if it’s interesting to us, which is a superpower, but has its kryptonite downsides of avoiding what’s not interesting.
@@kinseydesignsbrands fully agreed! Thankfully when I mentioned it to the clinic they put me in touch with someone who was actually really helpful and that original person is no longer there.
@@publicserviceannouncement4777 thankfully this person was getting out of the field and the new person is getting my medication dialed in. Its made a huge difference.
@@ChrisMurrayEWC Love you both. I got a therapist who was a Socialworker not psychologist, and she started by asking "How in the world are you NOT in prison?" And then she explained how people like me wind up in prison because our impulsivity takes over when we're confronted by idiots. She put me in touch with a good doc, a program to help me get a job/stay employed, everything but a support group... which I'm still afraid of. Maybe I'll get there, maybe not. She also pointed out that a LOT of firemen and paramedics have exactly my issues... but because of my physical limitations I can't do those jobs. Hang in there. My insurance has a nurseline you can call-in, and a lot of those types of people (nurses) can recommend strategies that they've seen work for people with closed-head trauma or other organic brain damage.
My psychiatrist told me "if you weren't jumping up and down on tables and disrupting class and getting bad grades as a kid, you don't have ADHD." I feel your pain. It seems impossible sometimes.
This happened to me!! I'm seeking a second opinion elsewhere and I'm going to stand my ground 100%. It's dangerous how little mental health professionals know about most mental health issues.
This. I was one of the "smart kids". I didn't get diagnosed until sophomore year of college when I couldn't keep up anymore and was having mental breakdowns.
It’s such a relief to hear other brains have struggled with this as well. US healthcare system is not ADHD friendly. It’s very difficult to find a doctor or providers that takes the disability seriously. We shouldn’t have to suffer so much just to get help. I have and have heard too many horror stories just for people to get help. Humans shouldn’t be treated less then for needing help.
In one of my ADHD support groups, the moderator asked how many of us have had to educate a mental health professional--someone that was supposed to be treating us--on ADHD, and more than half raised their hands. I think it was ~2/3
It's interesting that in a situation like this, the person who has the authority to decide on the accessibility of treatment for adhd, knows less about what the condition and the treatment than the patient themselves. I think there are new ways of thinking that are emerging in the clinical community that are more conducive to the wisdom of the patient about their own experience, so that is good. Many people with ADHD can be current or future experts who are going to be primary educators of mental-health professionals. The struggle is real AND we are in a powerful position to make the future better for others with ADHD.
It was a breath of fresh air for me to see a new doc for getting on meds without them being standoffish. My new doc said "oh I just went to a seminar on ADHD medications" Then they just said the rules and I had to take a drug test and wrote me a prescription. I'm blessed I had a good doc not assuming I'm a drug user/abuser!
@@ralfwashington1502 why do you need to take a drug test? i mean isn't that already bad or do you have to do that legally in your country? I mean you got diagnosed with ADHD why would you need a drug test?
The US definitely has an incredibly sheety health care system! Even in Germany where it's pretty okay normally I experience a lot of the things jess describes. Everybody with adhd probably knows some of these problems and that's so sad, it really shouldn't be like that...
my friend suffered the whole ‘you’re too smart thing too’. some people tried to tell me that when I was complaining. why can’t people wrap their head around the fact that you can be smart AND neurodivergent??? A lot of things are honestly just stress inducing and it makes me even more tired that I already always am
Unfortunately, degree programs for therapists today STILL teach that a kid or adult CAN'T have ADHD if they did well in school. That is completely untrue. Most people who get diagnosed as adults did fine in school but started struggling once in the work world. I did great in school. That was the one reason my mom did not get me tested, even though she always thought I had it. It's a huge misconception that needs to be broken. I loved school and cared about getting good grades, so I applied myself and could pay attention (somewhat). If something interests you and you have ADHD, you will be able to pay attention to it or hyperfocus. I found a lot of workarounds to do well in school, not realizing that I was actually struggling to pay attention. My biggest memory of school was starting into space and daydreaming every day while the teacher talked. I just read the assignments and studied my butt off.
Do you know what was an option on the form me and my psychologist filled out when I got my diagnosis? "High intelligence hid the problems during school". Being "too smart to have ADHD" is so COMMON they have added it to the official forms!
Thank you for this video. Currently in my car, crying tears of solidarity and pride in your journey, as I’ve just faced the toughest two weeks in the same position searching for medication during the nationwide stimulant shortage. Two years later, this message still resonates. Thank you.
I hope you have been able to find your meds. I am 64, diagnosed at 34; I could tell you so many stories about not being able to get meds, being afraid of running out, running out and trying to cover at work - it sucks!
I'm a licensed Therapist and unfortunately due to lack of training I only just now started looking at getting myself assessed for ADHD after being frustrated with the hyper-focus on the things that were making it hard to focus on the things I wanted to focus on. There is not enough training for treating ADHD, I'm glad to be a clinician who is going though this experience because I know first hand what it is like to have ADHD and to be undiagnosed with it. The fact that I learned more from CZcams and TikTok about adhd then I did in grad school is alarming to say the least.
I'm also a mental health professional that likely has ADHD. It is definitely difficult to find anyone with expertise in this, it is viewed as a children's disorder, and not something serious enough to warrant intervention in adults. I'm certain that I was able to lean on natural high intelligence in order to mask it for most of my life. I have just gotten away with never doing my work until the last minute for everything, and somehow succeeding. I'm now interested in becoming an expert in it and specializing in it. I think it has become more prevalent in the internet age (at least many of the symptoms), and that we will see numbers for adults seeking intervention go up.
Thank you to each of you. Reading these things from professionals is going a Long way for me as I work to unpack this experience. It means a lot that you commented here - it's easy to feel pressured to gaslight myself when comparing the education I'm receiving online, to the messages I get from the therapists, doctors, parents and teachers in my life who don't believe it's a big deal, or as prevalent as it is. The podcast "Are You Sure Doc?" Has an episode on ADHD interviewing specialist Dr. William Dodson - changed my life in the first 15 minutes. I've been in and out of therapy for 14 years, and only recently come to understand that ADHD can explain a huge amount of my struggle.
@@devinology7 same. My good grades even masked it from myself. Plus my parents would point out my behavior and get on my case about changing it so I was forced to suppress it as much as I could but Lord was it a challenge.
At one of my first attempts to get diagnosed, I heard that " I don't have ADHD because I never failed a school year. I'm just lazy, unorganized and capable of only doing things I want, without taking anything else into consideration". Our appointment lasted less than 20 minutes. It's been a year, but this still enrages me till this day. I finally got my diagnosis a week ago, fortunately... I wanted to share this, in case anyone went to a similar experience. You're not alone 💜
Thank you for helping me remember that my phone/Netflix addiction is also related to a stereotype, someone said something to me earlier and I couldn’t place what was wrong with it til now
@@sperth3849 I tried neurologists, neuropsychologists and this "professional" I mentioned was a psychiatrist. None of them knew anything about DSM-5 tests and couldn't inform me the procedures to get diagnosed, they'd dismiss me after 20 minutes... then finally, I met a psychologist that worked into the ADHD field for 17 years, and she gave me a proper and detailed feedback! My point is, you should try to find someone who's really specialized in ADHD, who's able to inform you the right procedures... I don't know if there's a more qualified professional, though. I wish I could help you more, but I too felt lost and didn't know how to find quality treatment. What helped me a lot was to research more about ADHD and seek professionals online, to know if they were gonna be able to truly help! Sorry for the long post, I wish you can find the right person to assist you!
@@hannahherrmann4921 same for me, and my husband. I am also scared of doctors, so the idea of rejection for my issues or having to break these barriers down to access treatment is paralyzing. I'm sorry this system is so broken. I'm sorry society is pushing neuro-diverse people out. It's heartbreaking.
I feel ya. We're kind of taught to look up to doctors, psychiatrists and therapists, but honestly, the lack of compassion and sheer ignorance and incompetence on display in these fields can be downright staggering. It really can make you feel incredibly frustrated, lonely, overwhelmed, helpless, and hopeless, because you feel like you have to figure EVERYTHING out for yourself. At least nowadays we have the internet and terrific resources like your channel so we can help each other out and build on the knowledge and experience of others.
So many people see ADHD as a moral failing. So many people think I need to try harder. That’s not even to say how hard it is to get medication, or how hard it is to get psychs to take it seriously. It’s so difficult to find someone who even knows how to treat ADHD. YOU have taught me more about ADHD than ANY of the SIX therapists I have seen.
This channel is my only qualitative source for support. I've tried so many things, so many professionnals. They never gave me info on myself. They never seem to know what to do with me. "Make a to do list" is the peak of their input. Somehow this video made me want to try again, because at least I live in a socialised healthcare system where the administrative burden is much lower.
me to my psychiatrist - i always can't sit still, and always have trouble focusing on things- I move onto another thing as soon as i start the other. Then i always forget things even if they are really important... As well as me having problems with time management.... my psychiatrist - well don't then... just learn how to manage your time *this woman just cured adhd ohmygod*
Ugh. There are so many people in the mental health profession who really shouldn’t be. I had a therapist tell me “just don’t think negative thoughts” about my depression. How uninformed, not to mention utterly unhelpful and insulting!!! I really wonder if some of them got their degrees at diploma mills!
@@abigailsmith6977 I think these kinds of people chose their profession due to their parents, if they loved what they did they would absolutely try to help out without being insulting-.
This hit hard. I was diagnosed at 11. I'm 20 now, and I've only RECENTLY started to discover just how much ADHD has affected me. For the longest time I just thought it meant I had trouble focusing. Nobody told me that it can also affect so SO much more like cleaning/clutter managment, emotional control, avoiding things, and much more. And when I say recently started discovering, I mean as in a few weeks ago. I've had to learn on my own through this channel and my own research.
I know exactly what you mean, I was diagnosed at 6 and my parents were a great help teaching me what they knew about the medical side of it. I've been medicated since i was 6, I'm now 26 and only now am I noticing the emotional damage and behavioral problems that make life so much harder than it needs to be. I always just thought that i had a lazy personality, or wasn't motivated enough. But even doing a degree that I love and is a great fit for me isn't enough right now, this has been the hardest year of my life.
Duncan van der Lingen I was never even told what ADHD was and just a few years ago I learned what it even meant, i didn’t know why my brain was this way and I didn’t know what was wrong with me. My mom didn’t even explain it to me other than “there’s something wrong with your brain and you need medicine to fix it”, I never even learned to manage my ADHD because I’ve been on medication for years which I don’t like because I already have problems with eating.
fluffle demon i was diagnosed at the age of 7 1986. It was horrible on my reflection back on it. The adhd medication an the ones i was on never worked for me. The side effects were always way too overwhelming regardless of the focus an I waited until they wore off an was happy when they were. But this is only me i speak for an since i was 16 i have been off medication an life was what it was until 5 years ago I sought alot of self reflection an understanding an someone to talk to an through that an cannabis i am in a much better place in my life an have the focus I always needed without pharma side effects. But again it was my journey🙂. I do realize therapy does help a-lot.
I get this. One of the barriers here in Texas is that you need to schedule an appointment every month due to it being a scheduled drug. If I fail to get my pills it takes months to get back on track. Our system is terrible. My God I've learned more about myself from CZcams then I ever did from a doctor.
Robert Brinkley maybe try to open your mind a bit? I totally understand how scary/ painful drug addiction can be for a person and everyone around them. It’s horrible.... it’s like a disease. I sympathize with every person who is emotionally reacting to stories like this. They think it’s just a buncha drug pushers. I will never deny the reality of people who do FAKE ADHD.... and only to abuse the medication. That’s a very real problem . That being said..... it needs to be understood that there are people who are very VERY valid for such therapy/ prescriptions. It isn’t some fake fallacy. This is about people’s live’s..... they are trying to understand themselves and succeeded THE SAME that you are everyday.
The doctor dismissed your chances of having ADHD because you're intelligent? Sounds like they've never heard of neurodiversity - it's a hallmark of neurodiverse conditions like ADHD to have big weaknesses, yes, but also big strengths. I like this Venn diagram from Genius Within - it emphasizes that these conditions can come with many strengths www.geniuswithin.co.uk/infographics-and-literature/neuro-diversity-venn-diagram/ Also, keep up the great work, you're an absolute blessing for newcomers with ADHD. You should feel massively proud of what you've managed to achieve.
My partner got his autism diagnosis torn up by a doc who was cranky about my partner's high IQ. He felt that it negated my partner's autism.... When my partner got it reinvestigated the new one was baffled because the investigation the first doc had done a more in depth investigation than what is the norm now and it was a no-brainer that he should have an autism diagnosis. My partner was also diagnosed with ADHD. I can't imagine how soul killing it must be to have someone in such a position of power tell you that you don't deserve to be acknowledged just because you test well in exams. That you should be able to be normal and that you should feel bad if you are struggling.
I was part of the “executive team” to co-design Headspace, I advocated for mental health for childrens mental health strategies, I did so many extracurriculars in my school and was even a school leader, I took responsibility for my life to get treatment for ADHD, only to have numberous providers tell me that I don’t have ADHD or that I’ve made it up. I was diagnosed. The medication was working. But no-one believes me either. Jessica ❤️❤️💞Thank you for your videos, you remind me of the fact that I am not alone and that there’s hope. Thank you :)
Hey. I'm a Princeton grad with two master's degrees. People didn't believe I could be ADHD either. BUT I just got very thoroughly evaluated a few months ago by a guy named Dr. Leon Schofield (addexpert.net). He uses the Woodcock Johnson tests, which are really good for getting to the heart of the thing. They're expensive, but I now have solid, data driven paperwork that says 1) Yes, I am definitely combination type ADHD, though I've been masking a long time. 2) I lose around 25% or more of my cognitive capabilities when my ADHD kicks in. 3) I'm really smart (like you) which means that losing 25% of my cognitive capabilities puts me in the average intelligence range, which is why 4) no one ever noticed or believed me. I know it seems like I'm whinging because my disability makes me average. I know that I'm really blessed in the brains department. I also know that I've been struggling just to get by my whole life, and that being smart doesn't make up for the executive skills failures that come with ADHD. And I know that masking is exhausting. I know you've already been diagnosed, but if you haven't already done so, I'd suggest you look into the kind of extensive testing Schofield does, as I think the data will be helpful for convincing the doubters and clarifying to you as your apply your own problem solving skills to your situation. I realize I'm just a voice in the internet, but your words really hit a chord on me. You are definitely not alone.
@@kellydeltoro-white8097 I feel you. YOu're what's called twice exceptional. I was an excellent tester growing up and scored a perfect score on the SAT Writing POrtion. I read somewhere that 1,000 out of every 1,000,000 test takers earn this score. I got tested in college after wondering why I procrastinated on everything and never planned ahead. GOt by because of my high intellgience. Now on medication- my life has changed for the better, and I have breaks for this luxury, Ferrari brain, (Dr. ned hallowell reference).
I can't thank you enough for creating this youtube channel. I am nineteen and I am 100 percent sure that I have ADHD. Before your CZcams channel everyone my parents thought that I am just lazy and can't complete my tasks and I just don't care after a while when ADHD started affecting me a lot in everything mostly my studies I also thought that maybe I am just useless , lazy and a disappointment so thank-you for creating this CZcams channel. It was so hard for me to tell my mom about this that I have ADHD but she doesn't believe me and thinks that it's just a excuse and my father won't believe me either though he is a child specialist doctors himself. So I won't be able to get meds or anything but your videos help me a lot to cope with my daily life struggles thank you for the support I really wanted it. I started crying in the last part of the video thank you for not making me feel alone. I will go to a doctor when I become financially able because my parents will never agree but I wont give up anymore thank you ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Same here brother😢. Now here in hostel life I am struggling with it. And I have the inattentive type predominantly. But I guess I will never get the help I need in my country. Mental health is a joke here
Ex-pharm tech here. SOOOOOO Many issues for us just on the pharmacy side of things. Prior authorizations are the most BS thing to ever happen... especially for ADHD. Most ins companies require one for ANYONE over 18 years of age for ADHD medication. It's absolutely ridiculous.
Being diagnosed with ADHD was a relief but also a tremendous hit, because of how uninformed society and even some doctors are about ADHD. On one hand my life has improved, on another, in my country adult ADHD meds aren't covered by insurance, and I'm terrified of the exact thing that happened to you - if I move to another place, if I need to find another doctor, if I want to travel somewhere and they take my meds away at the airport. Any change in my life will need that extra step of making sure I get my ADHD treatment.
"Don't give up if they dismiss you because you're smart and you've succeeded so far, because you know what it's done to you on the inside to get there." Most emotional part of the video for me. I think many people would be surprised to hear I have ADHD because I have a degree in English and Philosophy. And a college degree. But earning them was really, really hard. My ADHD didn't mean I COULDN'T do it, it just meant that it took so much more effort... but I did it, and I'm now an editor. I still struggle every day. But my ADHD doesn't stop me from doing what I want to do and what I'm good at. It just makes it so much more challenging. My ADHD doesn't make it any less worthwhile to pursue my goals. Don't give up. Never, ever give up. ADHD brains know how much other ADHD brains fight for our place in the world. Don't give up.
My daughter is similar to you. She’s been very successful to this point. What people don’t see is her working 5 hours to accomplish what a neurotypical accomplishes in 2 hours. They don’t see her meltdowns resulting from mental exhaustion. Etc.
My kid is suppose to be enrolled in Vic rehab program... we still haven’t picked up the paperwork to fill out over a week later.... duhhhh, we have adhd!!!!! Sooo hard!
This struck a chord with me. I have ADHD, but I was diagnosed back in 3rd grade started a medicine, taken off that medicine after a short time, and never treated for it again. When I was 18 I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and dealing with the combination of both of these and the medical system that did not believe me or at least thought that I was not as bad was very harmful. I have had agony because I procrastinated calling my pharmacy/doctor/insurance to tell them to call each other and get me the medicine that I needed to just be able to get out of bed so I end up in my bed in pain and agony with huge brain fog on top of ADHD brain that I did not understand calling 2 or all 3 of them to say call the other up to twice a day. This last time that it happened, I spent a month in bed with my boss mad that I was not at work. When I finally got my medicine and went back to work I was given a warning that I could not have any mistakes or I would lose my job. I was just a few minutes late (that was not my fault) and fired. We need to fix the healthcare system and employer attitudes.
On the topic of being told "You don't have ADHD"... When I first started looking into treatment as a teenager, I was waiting in a doctor's office reading a favorite book. I was an avid reader. The NP who saw me asked why I was there and I told her that I wanted to seek help for possible ADHD, the first thing she said was "You don't have ADHD. If you did, you'd be bouncing off the walls instead of sitting down reading a book." She tested me for thyroid issues, despite "inattention" being my only symptom of such an issue, and I never heard another thing about it. It took ten years for me to get a diagnosis. Mostly because I didn't have insurance for ten years. Even then, I had to pay hundreds of dollars just to be evaluated. Another two years before I was medicated because no one told me my next steps. Y'all.
Oh man, I'm glad I got diagnosed early then for my mostly inattentive type. My cousin is hyper active dominant and his ADHD is obvious. My ADHD was only discovered because I would be so focused on the TV that I would not register my mom calling my name, who was sometimes a few feet away. She thought I had a hearing problem and got me checked out, but my hearing was fine which of course lead to my diagnosis.
i'm also a bookworm. they don't seem to understand it's a focus PROBLEM, not a total inability to do so :( it doesn't go where we NEED it to people. i think one sign for me was the fact i could not put the book down until it was finished. and since the executive dysfunction is such a huge part of it, just focusing on hyperactivity is nuts imo. i don't get why they do that. even for the people with that symptom, it probably doesn't affect them as much as the overall inability to stop one task and initiate another. i need a lot of self bribery and trickery and mental acrobatics just to get basic things done each day. no one sees that until i'm late, but i feel it constantly i only "sat still" because my mom was horrible lol. if sneakily repositioning my legs 302874298 times counts as sitting still, sure. oh gosh when i had a creaky chair. i'd rather die from whatever i was sick with than sit by my mom for an hour in a silent waiting room :P
I’ve been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, despite me going into for a ADHD test. My doctor did say it’s likely that I have both. But my mom won’t believe me because the it can only be 1 thing. No mom, I’ve also done research about this, I have symptoms of adhd that aren’t listed as hypothyroidism. As well the combine symptoms that worsen the two conditions combined. But I guess my mom knows my inside of my brain better than I do.’\°_°/’
@@curevolcano4501 when you get treatment for the thyroid, and its better. But you still have other problems. Point that out to mom. And also lookup adhd morbidity. Very common.
Just today I got accused of manipulating my psychiatrist. I was recently diagnosed and started meds, but had some complications when I realised that the only brand of the med available here in Australia has both gluten and dairy in it, both of which I can't have because of an autoimmune condition. So I had to return the meds, and then jump through hoops to get a new script for a compounding pharmacy to get them to make the medication without these very common allergens, which costs 8 times as much as the regular brand. And somehow me advocating for my own health so I don't take a med containing ingredients that flare my other condition amounts to me manipulating the psychiatrist... Idk, I'm honestly so disheartened, this journey has been challenge after challenge, and now I'm going to have to find a new psychiatrist, because there's no way I'm going back to this one who I don't trust, and who clearly doesn't have my best interests at heart. Tired and upset.
That's so disheartening, and I'm sorry. But you are amazing for doing the hard work of trying to find another psychiatrist, and also good job recognizing that psychiatrist was being a jerk. If it helps to have strangers on the internet validate you and root for you, I am here for it.
I am sorry you had this experience my friend. I am training to be a psychiatrist and I hope to never let my ego get in the way of my patients’ care like this.
I'm so sorry. Honestly it's heartbreaking to hear that. I thought that this was a particularly American problem. But knowing that someone on the other side of the world is having the same issues we are is really disheartening. But now you've got me wondering about medications ingredients because I also have autoimmune problems.
Whenever I go to pick up my meds I jokingly say "I'm going to get drugs", because they treat me like they don't trust me. They treat me like I'm buying drugs, not medication.
I can’t tell you how many doctors have treated me like a drug addict. I personally have had a lot of good experiences with pharmacists but I know a lot of people haven’t. This is an issue for chronic pain patients too. A lot of people are committing suicide because of it.
Don't forget that missing appointments is a reason health care professionals will drop you and refuse to treat you. So you are punished for having ADHD instead of helped.
My husband and daughter have ADHD. In March, he went to his doctor to get his Rx renewed. His doctor told him that he did not believe that adults can have ADHD and told him he would not prescribe him his medication (this was the start of the pandemic when getting a new provider was no small feat). It took until May to get him in to see a psychologist at the northwest ADHD clinic. A full evaluation was done but he still cannot see the nurse practitioner who will prescribe medication until the end of this month. That’s nearly 6 months of no treatment. This has had real and lasting impacts on our whole family. On Friday, he was fired from his job because of symptoms and behaviors directly related to his untreated adhd. It is Not okay.
The important thing is to over-exaggerate when describing symptoms to your doctor. Especially if you're a woman or a person of color, because doctors won't believe you (this has been studied and proven). I'll never forget my mom's advice to me, "always tell the doctor that [insert problem here] is RUINING YOUR LIFE".
I am very thankful for these videos that you make. As a kid I always struggled just about everywhere but I couldn’t possibly have ADHD because I was too “smart”. It wasn’t til last spring that my mom got diagnosed after a childhood of my parents telling me that I couldn’t possibly have ADHD that I decided to get evaluated. Doctor after doctor and multiple therapists telling me that I’m “just depressed and anxious” or that “it’s just childhood trauma”, telling me to stay on SSRIs. Like, seriously, take me at my word. I cannot focus no matter how hard I try. Starting stimulant medication completely changed my life, but still, I am stressed for the time that I’m going to eventually move, change doctors, and have to go through that process again. ADHD is a disability and I’m sick of not just doctors, but friends and partners treating it like a quirky disposition that I’m choosing to put on. I am a competent adult and I intend to be treated with dignity and respect.
"ADHD is a disability and I’m sick of not just doctors, but friends and partners treating it like a quirky disposition that I’m choosing to put on." It doesn't matter how delicately or carefully I explain it, my partner still seems to think that I chose this, and that I'm trying to drive a wedge between us. At the moment I'm doing everything I can to keep us drifting further apart by educating us both, but I don't think she's really believing any of it yet.
THIS. I was diagnosed about a year ago at 16, So many people have told me that my attempts to explain my behaviour and issues on ADHD (rightfully so!) is me using it as an excuse. It’s Especially when they are also uneducated about ADHD… on top of the fact that NO you do NOT know more about how MY medical condition effects ME than I do?! I know it’s been a while but I hope that the people around you treat you properly now too. It really is frustrating and I really feel for you. Thank you for this comment
I have had to walk into my doctor's office in tears trying to get my prescription approved two days earlier because the renewal fell on a weekend and my pharmacy was not open on the weekend. I hated that feeling. I hated feeling like I was seeking drugs when I just didn't want the disruption it would bring. I didn't want the chaos it would bring.
being gifted and not hyperactive delayed me getting my adhd diagnosed until i was in my mid to late 30's. this was found out after i went to get help with forgetfulness with a family history of dementia. my parents still do not believe me even though my diagnosis was confirmed by a neuropsychologist, psychiatrist, neurologist, and primary care internal medicine doctor. i am only now learning how to manage it and meds are a night // day difference.
Literally at 30 for myself as well. Was diagnosed as a child but took meds for a good 2 months and the madre took me off. Genuinely forgot about it until I got to 30. Still not on meds. Def need them but 🤷♂️
Oh wow...I'm 14 and I thought I had dementia for the longest time (yeah dementia lol) because my memory was so horrible. Now thanks to this channel and this comment I think I'm gonna seek out help
I watched a mini-movie where there was a kid with ADHD having a breakdown and his friends got mad at him. He explained he has ADHD and apologizing saying he couldn't control it and his so-called "friends" said "Well I wish I had ADHD because then I could get away with everything just by saying it happened because of ADHD" It made me cry so much because, while teachers will try to help you sometimes if you are professionally diagnosed, but people who are not or just when to kid is extra emotional or confused the teachers will put it off as lazy or being a drama queen or king (or whatever you might call a nonbinary person, maybe a royal subject drama royal subject sounds weird but it works ). It is very hard having ADHD :(
This is why medication management is extra important. People who understand the disorder might cut you a break if you're having a bad day, but everyone else won't. This is why I've called in sick to work the couple of times I've ran out of meds. I don't want to risk having a freakout in front of my coworkers.
@@StylishHobo I get super stressed when I'm running low on my meds. I'm afraid of when might happen if for some reason (like waking up late or just travel problems) I'm not able to get my meds. The thought of having to work without meds and keep a level head scare me. Thankfully it hasn't happened yet.
the other day i was watching a show with my partner (who tries his best to understand me but often forgets) and altho i was paying attention to it, i was also browsing social media on my phone. i asked him what the name of the new character was and he got fussy about telling me and said I wasn't watching and that we should just stop bc im doing something else and i had to remind him that i have adhd. i often talk about my adhd in casual conversation because i feel like if i dont, people will forget i have this disability.
I only learned through your channel that my struggle actually wasnt, what "everyone has to go through in life" as my family and teachers told me. And I only recently understood that no one percieved my struggle as "worth beeing helped" because no one understood it. It was only when my ptsd symptoms got the best of me that I was (finally) diagnosed with adhd, even tho I had much bigger problems then that at the time...
I think we’re still seeing the effects of the stigma that it’s not a “real” illness. Also, I’ve been trying for almost a year to find a therapist for my ADHD and it has been very very difficult even with full mental health coverage through work. The two I have talked with need to watch your videos because they do not understand ADHD. So frustrating and exhausting!
I don’t see it as an illness myself. I rather see it as a difference. I don’t see it as a disorder either. But it doesn’t mean we don’t need help. The thing is, life and society is built around neurotypical brains. So we don’t fit in. Therefore we need help from neurotypical brains to fit in. So even if I don’t see it as a bad disease or disorder or whatever. We still need help. It’s a difference. One that can make us struggle at times.
ADHD is treated like we have to self manage. That’s why so many of us self medicate or self cope. When you have depression it’s then labeled maniac when your out of a cycle or cast aside because you just don’t think the same. It’s beyond a frustrating life to live.
Then those of us who do or have self medicated and ran into addiction issues have an extremely hard time to be prescribed stimulant medications. Non-stimulant medications can help but even over forty years later and realizing that I have ADHD I now understand how those drugs helped me until I went overboard with them due to other unrelated issues. So, I now manage with a bit of help from Non-stimulant medication.
Self management in adhd is an oxymoron. It is literally the problem. It’s so horrible and you’re absolutely right. I hope my country is a bit better with this, but the amount of doctors who just do not believe ADHD is real is terrible. As someone who is both a woman and someone who is gifted, I got diagnosed so late. With layers and layers of unneeded anxiety, trauma and depression. Never felt understood and always felt hopeless. I thought I was broken beyond repair. Meds have changed my life in 2 months. 2 pills a day and the effect is has had is beyond what I had hoped for. Restricting care and medication for those with ADHD is abuse.
Adhd people can thrive if they have a pursuit and people around them to support the weaknesses associated with adhd. Learning to cope alone can be done and the person would be a force, but would they not turn bitter by then? Or dead
When I was diagnosed it was like 'here's a pamphlet, here's some pills, go pass your classes.' I have learned everything I know now about ADHD from you. ❤
That's basically what happened to me both times I got diagnosed, both as a kid and later as an adult. Just "Here's some medication, let's touch base in a month and see if it's working for you." And it seems like the only other outcomes are "Oh you don't have ADHD" or "ADHD isn't even a real thing." I'll be honest, because the meds at least help I'm grateful that I got the more helpful of the outcomes, but at the same time I agree that we have to do better.
@@stevencowan37 I'm learning about ADHD rn because I highly suspect that I have it. But in my country many people and even psychiatrists don't take ADHD seriously. Also, most of ADHD medication is banned except for one, but I can't remember its name rn. I feel a bit relieved after finding out what ADHD is, because it can explain why my life is so sad and useless,but I also want to cry because I don't know if I will ever get help.
I am just starting my official diagnosis process but I’ve been sure I’ve had ADHD for years. I reached a point in my therapy where I was ready to address it head on this winter. I watched your TED talk and felt like you were telling my biography. Then I’ve been listening to your videos through my CZcams premium subscription. Your information has brought me so much peace. Thank you for your work!
Best of luck! I hope the process goes smoothly for you 😊 And thank you so much for your kind words, we're glad our videos could provide you with some peace. And thank you for watching and supporting what we do! 🧡
I've learned more from this channel about my ADHD than my parents and doctor......I learn more about my mental illnesses on the internet than the professionals (and my parents)
One thing that helped me also as a kid was meditation, it sounds crazy but i found that if was my only soloution, nobody knew what i was going through and 20min in the morning and evening helped me control the hyper energy to a point that i could be productive
My high school refused to test me because I was "doing well" in school despite how hard it was to get through the year. My mom ended up taking the school's side, thinking I was just copying my friend when honestly, I hadn't considered ADHD until he listed his symptoms and something clicked. It took a breakdown Freshman year of college to get a test, and then these videos ended up being my lifeline so I could have some strategies. In February, right before the pandemic hit and I was sent home for online schooling, my insurance company decided it would no longer cover the medication I had been taking for two years. I got no warning. I simply showed up to the pharmacy to find a much larger price tag. I ran out of meds the week we went online because I couldn't afford to pay out of pocket. As I struggled with my insurance company, I was taking college courses with no support system and a brain that refused to cooperate. I was off meds for a month as we switched me to something I had to order from an online pharmacy and cost 5x as much. It took until June for me to get new meds that I could also afford. And still remembering to call on time every month is a Struggle. Thank you and everyone who commented about similar experiences to remind me that I'm not alone.
This is very similar to my story. I was staying up till 2 in the morning in high school every night just to be a "good student". I got picked on because some crazy people thought my good grades came easy to me. My mom always told me my whole life I wasn't trying hard enough. HAH! I was working way harder than I should have. You shouldn't have to regularly stay up till 2 in the morning in high school, that is what college is for. And hah I barely slept in college.
the insurance thing and the costs of meds in the US is absurd. I take ritalin, and I think 60 pills would be like 15 dollars. I only take them when I'm working, and only if I feel I really need it, so it's like 2 months worth of pills for me.
I’ve gone through nearly everything mentioned in this video. Treated like a criminal, denied by insurance. And nearly every coping strategy I’ve learned has been through blogs and CZcams channels like this one
I relate to this so much. Not just that, but when you're in this incredibly angering, frustrating situation -- and you DON'T act calm, collected and neurotypical -- they can turn on you and revoke assistance at their whim.
My mother, now in her 80s, could have been the poster child for severe ADHD. Being a Mom was overwhelming to her and she had two bad marriages; one husband ended up taking his own life. You can imagine the upbringing me and my brother had on top of both having ADHD. (Both of my brother's sons also have ADHD). I am the only one in this family who sought help for ADHD and the depression that often walks hand and hand with it. I'm in my 60s now and I've got some accomplishments to be proud of -- I put myself through an ivy league university (also ended up with a lot of debt) and I was the first member of my family to earn a bachelor's degree (only took 25 years of plugging away at it!). I was a reporter for more than 30 years and, I am told, a very good one (probably because of my lively, inquisitive, quirky ADHD brain). I published my photography in a couple of national magazines (and got paid!). I went through the very rigorous Master Gardener program (but didn't complete it, mostly because my employers back-pedaled on letting me have Fridays off to attend the class) -- and then I found the funding and volunteers to create a large, beautiful community garden on an empty lot in my neighborhood, now in operation for 11 years. I also taught writing to adults, was recently a substitute teacher and did some other cool stuff. But I also got myself involved with an abusive guy - mentally and verbally controlling and abusive -- precisely because ADHD does a number on your self-esteem and makes you question yourself constantly, and there are people in this world who target insecure people. The longer I was with this guy (a total of 11 years before I finally got him out of my life), the more aware I became of what was "wrong" with me, thanks to looking at myself through his eyes. He enjoyed making me doubt myself. For example, because he knew I struggled with remembering things, he would deliberately say he told me something when he didn't (I started writing everything down because I thought I was going nuts). I think this is probably one of the worst pitfalls of ADHD, which is not trusting your own instincts and assuming everyone else knows what's best for you, and is "normal." So this can also make it difficult to challenge doctors and other "experts." And to not let people make you feel small because you're often late, or you forget names, or you repeat the same stories, or your apartment is a wreck, and you have this label of ADHD. I think this young woman is very brave and very generous and even in my 60s, I can gain more insight from her videos. Keep up the good work! Hang tough! You have a lot of support here.
"I think this is probably one of the worst pitfalls of ADHD, which is not trusting your own instincts and assuming everyone else knows what's best for you, and is "normal." OH MY GOSH that's exactly it. My first marriage was like that. It's gaslighting and we're really vulnerable to it for the exact reasons you stated. Thankfully I was finally diagnosed two years ago (aged 35) after a few years of being married to my lovely second husband who has always encouraged me to advocate for myself (unless it's too overwhelming to make my own decision which does happen at times). I'm sorry you struggled so hard but look at what you managed to achieve!
Wow you have accomplished a lot. I am going to be 50 in a month and have not accomplished anything. I am a mother of two wonderful boys 16. and 11 but it is a daily struggle. I have started a lot of classes and never finish any of them. I hate myself for not having any education other than high school. I took the real estate course to get licensed and never took the test and gave up on that, I took a course to be a phlebotomist finished the course but never pursued getting a job now I am no longer certified....these are the things that I hate the most....Thank you so much for sharing your story very encouraging .
@@dinashomespunfun675 Raising children certainly is an accomplishment! I don't have children mainly because I was afraid I would be a terrible mother. I am easily frustrated and struggle daily with time management, sleep, money management, paperwork, and housekeeping. I was scared that I would be overwhelmed by childcare and possibly be abusive. Just as important, I never found a partner I thought would make a good, stable dad. As for courses, yes it can be hard to stick with them and finish. I think it helps to find ways to make a game or contest out of it, and to give yourself rewards at key points , even little ones like a trip to the park for an hour on your own, or a cheesecake Blizzard at Dairy Queen. Keeping a journal is a good way to track progress, and reminding yourself of your successes can give you a boost. You can also write about whatever threw you off track and try to think of what to do to avoid that glitch in future. Just try not to judge yourself because that steals your zippity do dah. Listening to positive ADHD videos is also encouraging. We can do just about anything, we just need to do stuff our own way. And keep adapting. I hope you will find something satisfying to work towards. Even though you didn't finish your previous courses, you still learned a lot!
Dina's Homespun Fun ... forgive yourself Today is a new day! You know a lot! You are a curious human being-so rare and special. I just turned 64 and started a NEW program yesterday to be a translator. And you think you haven’t finished anything
Girl, tell me about it. Sometimes I wonder “what if I had dementia or more severe mental illness - if I am struggling to take care of myself, how do people who are worse off get help??!!”
I have a friend with schizophrenia. He can't get a job because if he earns too much money they'll take away his disability payments, and he can't afford treatment without it. I have another friend with bipolar. He won't get a diagnosis because if he does, he'll lose his job and with it his insurance. I have anxiety, OCD, and ADHD. I have had good insurance for 15 years. I'm able to function most of the time. But that's only because my wife does the paperwork. Without her, I would be completely unable to navigate the health care system, and I'd probably lose all support for managing my conditions.
Exactly! At one psychiatrist's office, they charged high fees for missing appointments. I know it's up to me to try and make the appointments but...they did realize that they treat mental illness, right??? My GP didn't even do that, and she treats colds!
@@Octa9on I have schizophrenia like your friend also. It is terrible how the mental health field treats it's patients especially those with severe debilitating mental illness like schizophrenia. I was very lucky though that there was a psychosis intervention program in my town for free. I am very well because of it. Sadly those programs are extremely rare😞
Thats a really scary thought. I already can't navigate it well its why I'm 29 and untreated for anything and barely functioning. No wonder mental illness and homelessness have such a correlation
In blunt honesty, I barely cope. I have suspected ADHD (again, yay for the difficulties of getting any diagnosis!/s), multiple mental health problems and an endocrine disorder. I'm approaching 30 and I feel as though I've watched my life leak away from me, and I currently receive almost no health care at all (and for reference, I'm in the UK. Yes, you can be left largely without healthcare in the UK). I'm persistent, but it's hard.
I'm autistic, so while it's not the same thing as ADHD (which I was incorrectly diagnosed with in the past), we do have a lot of symptoms in common and your content is a huge help. I'm currently struggling to get my autistic 12 year old daughter diagnosed and it's a nightmare. Thank you for reminding me not to give up.
I have both, it sucks. But it is weird you're having trouble getting your daughter diagnosed: autism has a strong genetic link, so if you have your diagnosis - it is bloody likely your children will have it as well.
@@muurrarium9460 one would think these professionals would understand that, but they really don't. That was actually one of the biggest reasons I went after an official diagnosis for myself last year - to make it easier to get her the diagnosis and support she needs so she wouldn't have to face the lifetime of struggles I did. But the people we were referred to are unfortunately not autism specialists and have absolutely no idea (and I mean NO IDEA) that autistic girls tend to present very differently from the autistic boys the diagnostic criteria are based on. Needless to say, I will be seeking as many additional opinions as it takes. It's so incredibly frustrating.
@@kikibplays Oh, I feel you! The "help" we autistic females get is ridiculously ineffecient and filled with prejudices about "the autistic person is...." . Hang in there, you are fighting for your childs welfare, and that turns every morther into a lioness. You rule!
Sweetie, I feel for you so much!! I have had a psychologist tell me “it’s learned helplessness.... you need to try harder... it’s anxiety”, when I’ve had multiple professionals say it’s ADHD. After paying out of pocket for that evaluation. Yes, even my university refused to help adapt for me with a referral letter. I withdrew. I am grateful for how I’ve been able to navigate & be resourceful to land my dream job and build off my career to land in instead of struggling through my degree. My wish for the world, is accessibility ❣️🙏🏿
After being misdiagnosed with BPD, avoidant personality, even OSDD, because of this channel I finally realized I have ADHD. I got my diagnosis today. I’ve felt so alone, even talking to people in my therapy group with BPD cause i just couldn’t fully relate to them. Without this channel, I don’t think I would have found out for a long time. I am 25 now and have dropped out of community college 5 times. I want to thank you so much for in a way helping me fix my life, but a professional should have known. A professor should have maybe known. There is so much misinformation about ADHD, even amongst people that are supposed to know.
See if you can apply for students with disabilities. ADHD is considered a learning disability. A note from your doctor should set you up. Different states may have different laws.
Wow, this is exactly what's happened to me! The BPD misdiagnosis, dropping out of college so many times, feeling like I couldn't fully relate to those who apparently had the same condition as me. I'm also 25 and have no idea where to go from now or what to do with my life, the pandemic only made things worse for my mental health. Hopefully we'll get through this in one piece and stronger than before.
Welcome to the tribe, little Brain! There is so much to learn, so much to recognize. The struggles never completely go away, but they do get easier to manage when you have more tools in your toolbox (and especially when you learn to show compassion to yourself. That's something I'm still working on too...)
I've been diagnosed with both BPD and, more recently, ADHD- the healthcare and psychiatry experiences are *very* similar. I think a lot of women being misdiagnosed with BPD for displaying impulsiveness and heightened sensitivity comes from the fact that men are 3x as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD correctly, since when we display the same symptoms, it's seen as 'female hysteria', haha. That being said, you will probably find more luck in ADHD treatment! With it being considered a disability, I've found more people willing to work with me and somewhat less stigma, though it's not vacant. Best of luck!
I don't really get the whole "I'm not prescribing this medication because there are people who abuse it." There are also people who abuse morphines but no one would think about to refuse that for people with severe pain. There are also people who abuse thyroid hormones still those with a dysfunctional thyroid will need those.
I totally get your point but as a healthcare professional in a hospital..they do. They used to have alot freedom, but with the opiod crisis, it's about protecting your license. Obviously excluding physical trauma and obvious pain at 10. There are automated lists that monitor and alarm "sketchy" behavior by the doctors or by patients.
@@cupkate4615 okay I have to differentiate my comment about pain medication. The US health care system seems to be quite lax when it comes to opioid pain medication. In Europe where I'm living those are only prescribed for people with severe illnesses like cancer, multiple sclerosis, severe accidents - but also mostly only when hospitalised and not at home. the exclusion is hospice care of course. as a mental health professional with ADHD I still stand by my opinion nonetheless. ;)
People abuse thyroid hormones? :0 Wow, that's a new one. I'm hypothyroid and definitely have had some issues getting the right dose of meds, but the doctor seemed just worried about overdoing it.
I always get judged by my past..i am 5 years this October sober! I'm quite proud of that but if the health care workers know, I will not receive certain medications! That's just wrong!
when i was diagnosed with ADHD, no one would consider prescribing me medication because they didn't believe i actually had it. i was straight up told by 3 different doctors "i don't think that's the issue, i think you just have anxiety" and similar sentiments, even though i was never once asked about the ADHD symptoms i experience. i just got re-diagnosed a couple weeks ago after struggling for months to find someone who even takes my insurance, and after that i still haven't seen my primary care doctor yet... i'm afraid she's just going to double down. it takes such a mental toll to be continually invalidated like this. i understand why people wouldn't seek diagnosis... and that's sad. healthcare in this country needs to undergo massive change.
Rei Noel I was told it was anxiety as well, by my GP, despite multiple evaluations as a child and young adult, going to a special school and displaying nearly all symptoms. I couldn’t have ADHD because I was not hyperactive. With the other health conditions my energy is drained and obviously often tired.... yet I still fidget through the entire visit. But it’s anxiety, here try this anti anxiety med! (Which I reacted poorly to, couldn’t sleep for nearly 48 hours, became increasingly anxious and jumpy, my normal shakes turned into tremors and I perpetually looked as if I had seen a ghost because my eyes just couldn’t seem to close. Suuuuuper helpful for the anxiety thanks. 🙄)
Weren’t even asked about the adhd symptoms, I really feel that, the system has failed us, and I think a lot of us don’t even realize that it’s a systemic inequality, a human rights violation depending on the country, us people with adhd need to stick together to get through it
I have autism, bipolar, and ADHD. On top of that, I have heart issues. And half the time I can't afford my meds. Right now I'm lucky and can, and I take 'em. But it is so, so, so hard. Thank you for this video. It's bloody hard. Mental health matters.
I was talking to my therapist about how maybe my problems with productivity are related to ADHD and she said stuff like "So what if you have ADHD? You are still you" and I'm just sitting there thinking to myself "Ironically, you seem to have more trouble following conversations because that is NOT what I was talking about!" and it was frustrating. I have no problems with self-acceptance but she went on and on as if she was gonna cure me with words. She's usually very nice but that was weird and frustrating. Update on my therapist, she is very nice and things are going well.
God I hate that mentality. It's easy to say so-called "life-affirming" things like "You are not your ADHD" and "This isn't who you are inside", but it IS. ADHD is a part of me and it might always be, and telling me it's not implies that it's something to be ashamed of or dismissed-- and it's not! People with ADHD are statistically more creative, more empathetic, more "thinking-outside-the-box" type of people, we just need a bit more help in certain areas than neurotypical people do. It's like if I went to a personal trainer and said, "My lower body is super strong, but I have pretty much no upper body strength." If my trainer then told me it was okay, that my lack of upper body strength wasn't who I was and that I could get by without having any, I would fire them. That's not what you're here for-- clearly I want to WORK at it and improve myself so that I can be the best person I can be, and I need some extra help to make that happen!
my teachers act like i don't have ADHD. They're always like: "why aren't you paying attention!! YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION!!! It ISNT that HARD!!!" they don't even take into consideration that i have a way harder time than other kids. it really annoys me and hurts me. they act like it isn't even a thing. its almost like they think that the label of ADHD is a joke to them. and they give me bad report card grades for my work habbits grades. I do get good grades, but my work habbits aren't the best. can anyone relate?
I'm sorry this happening to you. I'm a mom with a child with ADHD and it hurts my heart you go through this because I imagine my daughter in the same place. I am continuously advocating for my daughter to make sure she gets the support she needs. I hope you have an advocate on your side.
Our teachers and doctors need to be better educated on ADHD. I've always felt bad about how badly I did in school and now I know more about ADHD I believe that's why I struggled so much.
I can relate a lot. My teacher would get annoyed with me whenever I fiddled with my fingers, she even started getting more mad at me more then the people that were actually not paying attention. Hardly anyone in my class knows about my ADHD and ASD problems. It’s terrible and whenever I ask someone to not scratch a paper as it is extremely uncomfortable for me they just..... stare..... with a confused expression and then go back to scratching paper.
As a child growing up in the 80s when ADHD didn't seem to be as common as now: I was always in trouble because I couldn't pay attention, sit still, or be quiet. Since I was always in trouble, I was always the scape goat. Since I was always in trouble, no one ever believed my side. I got blamed for things I didn't even do, and no one believed my side. STILL to this day, even in my 30s, I feel I can never do anything right and I'll always be a disappointment💔💔💔💔
“Don’t give up if they dismiss you because you’re smart or because you’ve succeeded so far, when you know what it’s done to you on the inside to make it this far” I’ve never heard it said better by anyone in my life. Thank you so much. I think you’re the only person in the world who really gets it.
carlmckay9862 My parents and teachers told me "Why are you so smart but cannot master such elementary sciences as arithmetics or algebra. Why are you so dumb but smart at the same time? I cannot predict my own behavior, (ergo-hyperfocus) so how did teachers try to predict my behavior if to the present day I cannot predict my own behaviour? It is still a mystery to me. People with ADHD have strong willpower, but it is directed in a wrong direction. If you direct their willpower a right way, they will achieve many great things.
45yo man crying here. The only help and support I can afford *is* youtube channels. Diagnosed ADD early 90s, Dex 5mg for a few years, and unmedicated ever since because even in australia I can't afford to be an adult with adhd treatment. Some days its really difficult to not give up.
"Don’t give up if they dismiss you because you are smart or because you’ve succeeded so far, when you know what it’s done to you on the inside to be able to get this far" :'(
I have had the same issues. As I have grown, my doctor acted as though it was something I was supposed to grow off of. Like the medication was only for kids
Just switched docs due to moving, and I had to really fight to get her to give me a 15-day scrip while I'm being referred to "behavioral" to get rediagnosed (12 years on meds), and she wrote ON THE PRESCRIPTION I had to take to the pharmacy: "Please try to taper off" because she thinks meds are temporary... I hate being treated like a drug addict everywhere I go. So, I'm with you. Luckily, once you get going on the medication, and they see that your blood pressure and heart rate are fine, they'll usually leave you alone. But we're almost always met with that damned skeptical look at first.
I was literally told that “saying you have ADHD is drug seeking behavior” by a receptionist I spoke to when I tried to schedule a visit with a psychiatrist. I still don’t have a formal diagnosis. I was diagnosed by a guidance counsellor in high school and then again by an RN in college who didn’t note it in my chart. (I’m now almost 30) I know this is what’s going on with my brain but now I’m afraid to ask for a diagnosis out of fear of looking like I’m “drug seeking”.
Last time I went into the ER, the receptionist told me I was breathing too much and needed to breathe less. Ignore the receptionist--they don't have medical degrees--and try again.
As a person (specifically us women)on Medicaid with substance abuse history (sober 3+years) living in the bronx, they will never care to make getting a diagnosis available to us. Let alone medication. Let alone stimulant medication. Which is what actually works. In other words. You have to be a certain kind of person to even have the chance of treatment. Knowing I'm not and never will be "that person" just depresses the hell out of me.
Wow, I had never even considered what that must be like. I am so sorry. It's been hard enough for me to get treatment as someone without that kind of history, and even I have dealt with doctors who, though they don't say it, clearly think that I can't possibly have ADHD: since I can sit still and seem intelligent, I must be another drug-seeking college student. I have even had doctors send me for drug screenings the moment I even mention medication. I can't even imagine how impossible it must feel for someone in your situation, and my heart truly goes out to you. You deserve medical care just as much as anyone else.
i truly believe that at the age of 60, my doctors have failed me. I also believe, my granddaughter is worth fighting for. I can't tell you how grateful I am to have found you and this channel.
The moment you said "and i feel like ive been fighting my whole life to learn how my brain works and to do my best" really struck me hard because i feel the same way too!! i struggle so much with adhd and im trying my hardest to figure out how it works still! this channel helps alot and we appreciate you so much for putting yourself out there to help others!!
@@15dust90 I got frusrated having this ADHD , but with the use of dr imenherbal on CZcams herbal remedy , i have been able to get rid of ADHD czcams.com/channels/1PVLGWeT3a6Cto-kOD9IfQ.html
Me as well, super glad to have found your channel Jess, it really helps me and as I can see a ton of other people as well a lot. Stay strong and let's fight this together!
I've felt that same exact way! I would never have suspected that I have ADHD if it hadn't been for my daughter having it, which we knew she most likely would because my husband had been diagnosed since 5. As I've seen her grow & start having more struggles, the more I've realized that she's having the same exact struggles that I had at her age. For me I was "day dreaming", "not paying attention", or "being lazy", but for her I know it's because she's distracted easily, has difficulty focusing on boring/mundane tasks, and she's having mental paralysis because she has challenges with executive functions. I've always wondered what's wrong with my brain & have tried to learn ways to cope with/work around it, but I've had to do that on my own. I'm 33 & even though I've recently been given a stimulant(which has been a miracle medication for me), I don't know if they have actually diagnosed me with adhd yet. I was also told that I'm "too smart" 🙄.
Thank you for being vulnerable because I've been facing this issue for months and I'm glad to know that there is a community out there who knows how I feel. It's been a nightmare figuring out the medical system with ADHD. You and your channel are SO SOOO cherished!
Adding to the “don’t give up” list: don’t give up if you encounter a pharmacy/pharmacist who is judgemental or hostile to you because you’re there to pick up stimulants, or even refuses to fill your prescription because they’re “all out” as how they may have done to Jessica. (This has happened to me at one pharmacy near me; as I’m a 20-something living in a college town I suspect that they thought they were righteously turning away a study drug addict, telling me on two separate occasions at two different times of the year that they were “all out” and it would take significant time/force me to travel miles and miles away to their next location that could fill it. It was absolute BS, I simply sent my prescription elsewhere a few miles away and they filled it as normal.) It’s extremely demeaning and disheatening, but you deserve a shot at feeling normal. Please don’t give up. 💛
Being told we don't fill "those kind" of prescriptions till after 8am after driving an extra 30 minutes at 6am to get your high school kids med from a 24 hour pharmacy because you can't fill them till that day.
I didn’t even know pharmacist do that. Regardless of the type of meds I request it is never the pharmacist’s concern to decide if I really need it or not. As long as I have a prescription written by a doctor WITH 12 YEARS OF EDUCATION then it should be fine for me to get it.
@@PhantomPandaa that's ok in your instance but there are actual addicts that go from doctor to doctor seeking drugs. It is the pharmacists duty to ensure that they don't get multiple prescriptions of highly addictive (to non-ADHD brains) to sell or abuse. If they filled every prescription without hesitation they would be known by the drug seekers and could potentially lose their license.
There is softwares in place to stop that. Doctors and pharmacist both have access to the history of written prescriptions and medicine that is filled for a patient to specifically stop this issue. This is why prescriptions are no longer written on paper and is filled online. Unless I’m missing something @Sally Davidson
Fun fact: Here in Finland we rarely or never use mood lifters or stimulants to cure depression. We use antipsychotics and rarely mood stabilisers. I have an unmedicated ADHD (Since it's very hard to get a perscription here.) And depression. They gave me basically medication that sucks the little dopamine that I had, out of my system. My mom said that I was just drooling on the couch. Also, before DSM-5, you COULDN'T be diagnosed with ASD and ADHD here.
Semantics comment: you don't use medication to cure depression, you use it to treat it. We don't have any cures for depression yet. Sometimes the medice and therapy helps lift people out of depression to the point where they no longer are depressed nor need any more medicine, but it sadly isn't a cure. It will truly be an incredible day when we finally find cures for depression.
Good god, you make my existence feel so validating. I come from a small town where nobody believes in mental health disorders. Nobody understands the nightmare of trying to find meds before finals and no pharmacy carrying the medication so you have to drive for tens of miles trying to find the stuff for your brain to function. Glad I found your channel
I have dyslexia and my wife has depression and anorexia. we view meds as a crutch. not something standard to stay on for the rest of our lives. don't let society alter your brain chemistry to fit you in its normal box. home school and entrepreneurship can help people break free of the system. stop trying to fix yourself. you're not broken.
@@625098evan some people require crutches for the rest of their lives. There are such disorders that require permanent crutches, even physical disorders. Your journey is not their journey, you do not have the right to tell them how to make their journey no more than any of us have the right to tell you how to make your journey.
@@Bells_Lodge, I know from my wife's trials that no one without severe clinical depression will ever understand what she goes through. not even me. however, she does fight, and she is able to rise above. recovery is a choice. difficult? yes. impossible? no. this isn't a message of authoritarian control. I have neither the ability nor the desire to make anyone do anything. this is a message of hope. you can be more than you are. P.S. I have the right to freedom of speech. I can say ALMOST anything I want to whomever I please.
@@625098evan congratulations, your wife doesn't have a chemical imbalance requiring medication to properly treat. I grew up with a parent with Manic depression. (Bipolar) that is a chemical imbalance that most often can't be corrected with just therapy. You wouldn't tell a person with glasses for a vision impairment to not wear glasses because it's a crutch. Medication is similar to glasses. Everyone has different levels of need. Just because your level is different does not mean someone else's level of need is invalid. Would your wife feel comfortable telling you if she needed to go back to medication long term? I am not sure she would since you seem to think long term medicine is a personal failure.
@@Bells_Lodge, my wife has been back to residential treatment 4 different times. thank you for pretending that you know me and deciding that I don't know what I'm talking about. have a nice day.
I got diagnosed last week with ADHD, I’m 40 tommorow! Your videos have been like a guide for me on what to expect! I know this is an older video but your still appreciated so much because anyone with ADHD watches this it will make more sense because this is real life and real things happening, I have combination adhd and was prescribed with 30mg of elvanse for the first month, day 3 I feel like it’s gonna be ok! Thank you x
“I should have been asked more than is the medication working and are there any side effects” OMG this!!!!
This is all my psychiatrist asks me. There is zero discussion on adhd management skills or tools or any guidance on how I can better set myself up for some (if any at all) success with my treatment. Medication had the power to relax my brain enough to where I can finally be able to put in the psychological and behavioural work that will help me to better cope with/manage my adhd but without any assistance or what to do or guidance on what I could be improving on I’m at a loss. I keep trying things but I feel so lost and on my own with this. I got diagnosed at 37 and it felt like a life saving revelation in my life to finally have answers. But I need to do something with this knowledge and understanding for it to have any real long lasting value in my life. I need someone to guide me on my journey of learning how to make my brain work in this world or how to beat use my brain to make the most of what I can do. This video touched me so much. I feel your struggle so deeply. I am sending you so much love and a huge hug. You, we and *all* of us are not alone. Even in our loneliness. ❤️
Of all the changes I would like to see, this might be the #1 and also VERY doable. Given that the recommended treatment for ADHD is *multimodal* -- medication for symptoms, behavioral therapy for impairment -- our treatment providers can and should ABSOLUTELY be asking about how we're managing our ADHD besides medication.
Psychiatrist for meds. Psychologist for therapy.
@Indykitty1 Yes the nurse who prescribed my meds a few years ago said she could only ask me those questions about effectiveness and side effects of the meds. I would have to go to a separate psychologist or cognitive behavioral therapist for any deep life discussions. She did offer a little advice but her job was not to talk out the problems.
@@Indykitty1 Agreed, anyone will struggle to get more than medication prescriptions from the vast majority of Psychiatrists, multimodal approaches aren't typically part of their approach. They generally hand over to other practitioners at that point which can make multimodal therpay a bit clunky (which in turn can certainly serve as a disincentive to try that mixed approach for many folk).
Yes, I 100% understand what everyone is saying, but unfortunately on the NHS you only get access to a psychiatrist to check on your medication. Even if there's suspected comorbid conditions (although I understand that you have to work on 1 before seeing if there's more). What I'm saying is, if you can't afford a psychologist/counselling/behavioural therapy then you just end up with someone who asks about your meds.
The last time I saw a psychiatrist it felt more like a police interrogation than a medical consultation.
oof yeah I feel that. Even though I have this whole channel about it, I still get met with suspicion.
Had a change of GP, so I was dreading the controlled drug interrogation. So much anxiety 😫, but a good new GP was good... they do exist, sadly rare
Crane it’s understandable that they would be thorough when trying to diagnose and prescribe a medication, but it’s absolutely unacceptable for a lifelong diagnosis (which is often diagnosed in children, where it would be incredibly unlikely that they sought a diagnosis to get and misuse medication) to be treated like a ploy to feed an addiction. If a person has a standing diagnosis, follow up appointments to get a prescription renewed should be treated like a check-up (ie how are you sleeping? is the medication causing unintended side effects? does your dosage need to be adjusted? etc) not an interrogation.
I had to explain several times to my GP why I thought I needed to try medication and I was still advised to see a psychiatrist first, even though I was already diagnosed by my therapist. When she heard I did not work when I first raised this discussion, GP prescribed me antidepressants (which I needed too) and suggested between the lines that in daily life I'll be ok without meds since I don't have to do hard mental labor. Duh!
@@rizznrita also they could look for signs of addiction or ask u questions abt ppl u know to figure out if they're addicted. For example "does anyone u know seem to be severely lacking in sleep?".
I wish people understood this. Everything you need to do to get meds is made exceptionally difficult by ADHD. It's a nightmare.
It really is. There is so much anxiety trying to navigate all of this, on top of the stigma around even taking stimulant meds in the first place. Thanks for watching
How to ADHD, What you’re going through Jenna, is one of the reasons why I had gotten off of medication.
@@Joy6168 Jenna? Do you mean, Jessica?
It's sad that when I started meds, I deliberately undermedicated for the first month to build up an "emergency reserve" of pills (all of a week worth).
Already, I've needed to break into it twice.
TimTom you have ADHD too!? I guess I'm not too surprised, very true statement.
I finally had to ask the doctor, "Why is this so hard to get you to take seriously?" I think it shook him a little.
Good that you shook him up. Sad that you actually had to ask that question. You asked for the whole tribe. Thank you. You were brave.
@@92RKID I don't know about brave. I was very angry at that point.
Uncle Sunbro good for you! Hope it nudges him to listen more
How did he respond to that?
Honestly, I need to ask this question to a lot of people in my life, really badly, thankyou for helping me identify that need
There's a mantra of "you need to get help, you need to get help." Medical help needs to be available, affordable and accessible. Period.
THIS OMG
Well said. ADHD “treatment” boils down to “Don’t have ADHD.” It’s barbaric.
YUP; so true!!!
I had a doctor who told me that being an adult I should be able to handle myself and he offered to put me in psych clinic, I only needed a prescription for my medication.
Substance abusers...
@@St.Raphael... loser
CryptoAUBS...let's unpack that thought.
Why am I a loser?!
I once saw a meme on Reddit where the caption said “what navigating the health care system with ADHD feels like”. The picture was of a dog holding the end of its own leash in its mouth.
why did that make me teary
Brilliant
Add signs showing arrows pointing in opposite directions and that’s it exactly
Unhook the leash from the dog’s collar and let it dangle.
Sound about right , I got adhd and I got as much help as the Africans have got water 👍👌
"I feel like I've been trying my whole life to figure out how my brain works and to do my best" - this hit hard
Legit started crying
Totally agree! The system is broken.
Me too 😢
I'm proud of my effort, but it's exhausting. And people who aren't ADHD just don't get it.
Me too but only got my diagnosis at 36. I wish had had known sooner so my life woulda turned out better.
I am a therapist with ADHD and this is a real thing. I try to treat my people as best as I can. I hope everyone else can find a therapist that does.❤
@@zackeriahswartz3776 Therapists cannot prescribe medication, only psychiatrists can.
Correct medical doctors
I’m tired of feeling like a criminal for asking for meds. Or that others get treated better because ADHD is just lazy
I talked to a doctor a few months ago where I told him that my goal is to eventually get off medications if possible. He told me I was the first one to ever ask him that. Mind blown
@@kevindenney7582 Why would you want to be off med?
@@merturquoise9661 To be able to find ways to manage your ADHD mind without medication. I'm sure everyone would opt to go that route, I'm on medication as we speak. and I'm taking it to make sure I'm "stable" while I'm stable I'm hoping I can find methods and other sources to help me other than being on medication.
I still remember the look on my Dr's face when he realized that I wasn't a drug-seeker and that this ADHD thing has to be real and I have to have it because nothing else would explain me. :P Also....what makes you feel like you have to get off the meds? If you had diabetes would you be trying to get off insulin? ADHD is not a contest. There's not beating it. It's just the way your brain works.
Thank god I'm not from the USA but even here they make it harder on us to get our medication regularly. I have to go in every 3 weeks to get it because I only get one bottle now where I used to get two. I assume they're doing it to keep people from selling their medication on the streets but that's not my responsibility to stop, its the polices responsibility to stop drug abuse.
Damn, this made me cry.
In Norway we have a "tounge in cheek" -saying: "You have to be healthy to be ill." -Meaning the helthcare bureaucracy is so infuriating convoluted that you won't be able to navigate it when actually ill.
Exactly!! I've often thought this, but have never been able to put it into words, let alone so succinctly. Thank you for sharing.
Wow, that saying is a good way to put it
We have the same saying in Sweden, and even our level of abusive bureaucracy should be criminal to even implement, not to mention the infinitely worse corporate bureaucracy Jessica and other US citizens and inhabitants suffer.
K8 Mae They care so much about mitigating risk and not about accommodating our difficulties. It’s truly infuriating.
😦😭
Flashback to the time my therapist said I didn't have ADHD bc I "wasn't impulsive and inappropriate" enough. That my impulsiveness just "didn't impress her"
Both those adjectives. Let alone the diagnostic strategy. Jesus Christ.
flashback to the time my therapist literally told me I am just a brat and need to grow up
Flashback to the time the therapist shamed my mom for taking me for an adhd intake accusing her of expecting too much from a kid (I was around 20).
And ended up asking us to leave and never come back unless we had something serious to talk about.
Holy- I didn't realise how terrible mental health services are globally.
Hope you guys found the understanding therapist. I'll try my best finding one too.
mine apparently did, my MD knew i had adhd since i was a kid when she was treating my brother
I'm a pharmacy technician with ADHD and I completely understand. My heart breaks every time I have to tell someone that their med is on backorder or insurance won't pay for it because they're an adult. A few of my own coworkers go on rants about how these days, anyone can go to a doctor and say "I can't focus" and they'll come to us with a prescription for Adderall. Or how when they get upset that they can't get their medication, that it's just because they're addicted and want to keep abusing it.
I completely understand that there are people out there who do abuse ADHD medication, but I get so angry when my coworkers scoff at our patients who are getting meds. How do they know that whoever it is doesn't actually have ADHD? And it is NOT that easy to get a prescription for Adderall. At least not for me. This year I started my own journey for finding a medication that works for me. I had a therapist that knew me really well and believed me, but he couldn't prescribe me anything and then he got a different job. I started seeing a psychiatrist, but even after I came in saying I had been diagnosed by a mental health professional, towards the end he told me that he was still on the fence if I had ADHD. For that and a few more reasons, I started to have anxiety when I see him. He eventually prescribed me one of the meds, but it was a nightmare to actually get it filled. My usual pharmacy told me that they had stopped manufacturing the generic a while ago (a total lie because I knew for a fact that the pharmacy I work at had plenty of it and had no trouble getting it in). So I took the prescription to my work (on my day off) and my coworker told me that my insurance doesn't cover the med for anyone over 18yo without a prior authorization. Because either ADHD magically disappears when you turn 19 or they just want you to suck it up and stop being lazy or just try harder. So I call my psychiatrist's office and ask them to work on the prior authorization. By the time Monday rolls around, they still haven't done it. So I called them again and they just told me to try the store discount card because it would probably be cheaper anyway. It was $98. Next day, I called them AGAIN and the guy I talked to got it done in less than an hour. Even with the PA, I still had to pay almost $70 for a one-month supply. I started taking it and I haven't noticed any effect yet on my ADHD symptoms, but I was short of breath with an increased heart rate and I started to feel nauseous when I tried to eat food I would normally really enjoy. I have enough trouble eating enough as it is without getting nauseous about my food.
I just started college and I was trying to get accommodations for my classes. They told me to get a letter from my psychiatrist at my next appointment which, at the time, was a couple of weeks away. When I was finally able to talk to him about accomodations, he questioned if I really needed a couple of them and because I'm a doormat, I gave in and he didn't write those ones down. When he wrote the letter, he didn't do it right and the accommodations center at my college told me he had to rewrite it. So I gave up on accommodations because I didn't feel that I was worth the hassle and there was no way I was going to push for him to write it again because of the anxiety that he's been causing me. So now I need to find a new psychiatrist and I probably also need to try a new med that may or may not be on backorder at every pharmacy in the area and that may or may not even work if I do get it.
I know this is 3 years after the release of this video and probably no one will see this comment. But I'm really frustrated about it all too. I needed to see this video today, thanks.
People will sit here and try to tell us that adhd is a lie fed to us to get us to buy meds and yet its this difficult for us to get meds? Make it make sense 🤷
Yep, perfect logic in an illogical world!
Ignorance and flippant treatment of people is a problem...
Hi my name is Austin, I have felt ashamed of myself and dumb my whole life.
I didn't know I had adhd, but once I did I still didn't get the right treatment.
Posted above I listed some facts, I hope they help.
It was painful being alone, come take my hand lets make a communityC:
People who think ADHD isn’t real have never really experienced someone with serious ADHD on and off meds.
U
Update --
1) My doctor said to have the pharmacy fill the prescription for just 1 week, which was cheaper than paying for the full month, while we waited for the pre-authorization.
2) When the pre-authorization went through, my insurance still wouldn't cover my meds. They aren't in their formulary.
3) I use a discount card now, which helps a bit, but I still have to tell the pharmacy every month that yes, I understand how expensive it is, before they will fill it.
4) I'm considering switching back to a medication that didn't work as well for me because my insurance will pay for it.
I'm a mom to a beautiful Adhd'er like yourself and I just want to give you a virtual hug. I hope that things change soon. You all deserve to live your best lives medication included.
Hey, everything is going to get better :)
@@daniek120 thanks :) it's just frustrating. And expensive.
I really appreciate how honest and transparent you are about your struggles with ADHD. There’s no simple solution or short answer for a lot of the struggles we go through but it really helps to know that there are others that go through the same difficulties everyday. I hope an easier road is paved for us to work out our lives and be successful with ADHD.
I am so upset for you. Legitimately so upset. I wasn't told that my lack of emotional control might have been impacted by my ADHD as well until I found that out mid high school online. You're seriously so important to so many brains and I am so mad at the stupidity here
“[B]ecause I don’t know if my mental health is worth an extra $50 per day” whew, this is too familiar.
Sarah T saaaaaaaame. Hard same.
Only in America. Greetings from Germany.
Sad, but true...
I wasn’t sure mine was worth 800$ to get re-evaluated by a clinic who would want to prescribe me the right meds, but after years of struggling, i decided it was.
Get a loan if u have too ur mental health is worth it by a partical amount until u can get into the drs
I don't have ADHD, but I can SOOOOOO relate to this!!! I'm diabetic, and my doctor and I have been trying for more than TWO YEARS to get medicine added that my insurance company will approve. My doctor will prescribe something, then the insurance will say no. Then she'll try something else, and they'll say fine, but it's $500 out of pocket (which I can't afford). Meanwhile my blood sugar is out of control, and there's not a damn thing we can do until we hit on their magic formula (which they won't tell me what medicines the doctor IS allowed to prescribe). Anyone who says that the US has the best healthcare in the world is seriously delusional.
Yes, I have had many hassles getting my diabetic meds. As to the ADHD, my doc blew me off first time...then I started seeing a counselor, she sent me back, he tested me and I am now on those meds. None of this is easy.
Can you talk to your state's insurance commissioner? Apparently insurance companies are slightly afraid of them and will listen. They should at least say what drugs are Ok.
@@burtonkent4549 Thanks, that's something I didn't know even existed! Appreciate the info! :)
I am Diabetic too. Lucky my insurance pays, but I looked into a backup plan in case I don't have insurance one day. If you are in the US, diabetic medication (insulin ) is a fraction of the US retail price. It's still more than I pay with the insurance in the US but if I had no insurance I would go there to buy it. I actually went across the border and picked up a coupe of boxes. The pharmacist that I bought it from said that a lot of people come from across the border to get such medications. You may want to look into doing that. That's horrible the insurance company won't pick it up. Our healthcare system is horrible.
Your blood sugar is out of control because you keep adding thi in your mouth that puts sugar in your blood 🤷🏽♀️ it’s not rocket science!! Veggies and meats PERIOD!!! Nothing else and you won’t be killing your self. Type 1 is a different story but no one else has any excuse but greedy and gluttony
This actually describes a lot of the healthcare system - "Oh, you need help for your debilitating condition? Are you sure? Are you really sure? Are you really, really, really sure?" Something here has got to change.
Hahaha :)
And then there are people who are in a depressive mood for a while - not suffering from clinical depression! - whose doctors instantly want to give them anti-depressants. And doctors who earn a reputation for being "trigger-happy" when it comes to describing ADHD meds to a lot of children ... As if it were so difficult to do the right thing based on what you know. No, it has to be either refusing people the meds that might help them or overprescription nonsense.
My ex had a doctor throw his script on the floor and called him an addict when he tried to get his pain meds refilled. No compassion. Now mds are afraid to write scripts for those who truly need them and dope fiends just come up with new scams to trick the system. We are a sad sick country.
It’s because of “The War on Drugs” and government subsidizing a few mega pharmaceutical corporations with billions of dollars, plus a library of arbitrary regulations and fine print.
When I went to a general practitioner, between the Dr and pharmacy the prior authorizations were a nightmare! Once every year, I’d drop off the prescription, and get a phone call saying the insurance company wouldn’t cover it, and prior authorizations usually take a week.
So I put a yearly reminder in my calendar, and a month early, I told the pharmacist it was about to expire; would they please start the process, so I don’t run out completely?
Their answer: “Oh, we never do that until after they’ve refused it.”
I have a doctor's appointment in 20 minutes. And because I'm uninsured, I get the pleasure of spending $300 on a degrading and humiliating appointment that I am forced to go to to prove that I'm not addicted to adderall. I haven't watched the video yet though because I cried enough on the phone making the appointment and I'm struggling to hold it back now.
I'm so sorry. Sending hugs and support. You got this.
Doc chuckled and tried to make it out that I was unreasonable for thinking that being forced to come in every 3 months to make sure I'm not an addict is degrading. He even had the audacity to tell me that he understood my side of things after I had explicitly asked if he had ever had to do what I was doing, which he hadn't. Doctors just really don't care about us. We're just an addict they control.
forgotn1. Please find a doctor that treats adhd
@@ys-kv3ug Hard to do when you don't have insurance. :/
Its so embarrassing when you can't keep it together and cry on the phone when everything reaches a head. Sorry man. Been there it sucks.
The biggest thing about being told "you are smart" is that they don't address where you are smart. Sure, you excel at your job, but your personal life matters can be in complete shambles.
So tired of "smart" and "successful" meaning only "Of economic value."
Yes. Or you have fantastic relationships and excelled at school, but can’t hold a job down.
YES. Everyone thinks I’m really smart cause I’m good at math but I literally am so dumb in every other way.
100%!
This makes me think of how I would get good grades in school because I was good at guessing and bs-ing my way through tests off of the bits of knowledge I retained, or skimming the textbook chapters for how to do the homework, but I had trouble paying attention in class, and the reason I was skimming the chapters was because I hadn't read them. I hated being praised for how I was being so successful in life when I felt I didn't really deserve it and was just getting lucky. Because I absolutely did not have good work ethic. Thank goodness I'm graduated from college now and don't have to worry about schoolwork anymore
(As well as the personal life being in shambles)
I just want to share a personal story, so I go to college at Indiana and I have been diagnosed with ADHD when I was 7. More than a decade ago, I’m 18 now. My college’s Disability services straight up told me that because my ADHD was diagnosed a decade ago it’s not valid and therefore I need a new diagnosis. Which for the record costs roughly 3000-4000$ alongside tuition. I have had this condition for as long as I can remember every day was a struggle, and it infuriates me that this part of me was so unexplained for a long time. I’m thankful that I found away around this particular problem but it’s important to address that this is a problem. Later into the first year of college I had a math exam and the professor did something that really impacted me, he pulled me aside and asked me “hey I notice you’ve been struggling but you do every problem and seem to run out of time? Would extended time be beneficial for you?” This surprised me because I had genuinely had no idea that I didn’t need approval to get support. So yeah this video hits close to home and it’s one of the things that I want to change.
So, according to them, ADHD just goes away? 🤬
Only reason I can think for that would be since we're constantly learning new information they might want to be sure your diagnosis was still correct. It's still super sucky of them though, esp knowing how expensive it can be. They should have at least given you some options like "Dr SuchAndSuch works with us and gives students discounts" or something.
I m from India .I have same prblm what shd I do .plzzzzz tell me
@@pranksandcomedyaroundworld7475
To be perfectly honest I do not know. I can't provide guidance but what I can say is if you are financially stable and can get a diagnosis and talk to your school/college about it and dont be too harsh on yourself remember our brains work differently than neurotypical people and it'd not your or my fault. I hope this helps!!!!
I feel this so hard. They treat adults with ADHD like we're criminals or addicts. There's a ridiculous amount of hoops to jump through and the doctors don't even care about how you're feeling.
There are very few doctors who care. I have been blessed and fortunate enough to find a Psychologist and Psychiatrist that care.
@@Caramel1806 I’m very glad you found a doctor that actually cares, I haven’t yet, and because of that I’m still on treatment that’s ineffective.
I feel like when the doctor sayings you don’t have adhd, it’s like “oh you don’t have adhd, you are perfectly normal and functioning well” but obviously you are seeking out treatment, you are not functioning well in some way and you owe to yourself to figure out what’s wrong. I wish there was more support but the healthcare system is very constrained in terms of resources and money.
Ooooh yeah! Omg I wish ppl were more considerate 😖😥
Our daughter has autism, but she has had four psychological evaluations and no one ever found her to be autistic. She is fourteen years old and this last psychiatrists finally saw what we saw and she is now labeled as being on the autistic spectrum. First off, the therapist couldn't understand why the other psychiatrists didn't catch her autism, and then he says she is functioning at a higher level. I get no two autisms look alike, but her functioning is so impaired that it makes day to day living a struggle regardless of how much she is autistic.
Way to much stigma around ADHD. I was diagnosed with ADHD around the same time I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I mentioned to the doctor at the sleep clinic that I was diagnosed with ADHD and going on Adderall. He told me I didn't have ADHD and that Adderall "helps everyone." Fortunately, I had what I needed from that doctor and never went back to see him ever again.
I'm glad that I'm not the only one who cries or seems sad when really angry
Omg yes!! I thought I was weird because I did this. Glad someone else does too :)
its actually really common. I'm not sure why the body's reaction to strong emotions is to constrict breathing and burn your eyes, but here we are. Because of my brand of depression, even on medication; every emotion for me is some flavor of crying.
@@xSaraxMxNeffx According to tumblr crying is an emotional release. With mental health emotions are heightened so anything that causes an overflow of emotions could trigger crying.
Oh man, this is my experience, too. One time I was completely disrespected by a surgeon, and although I defended myself, I was on the verge of tears during the entire encounter despite my anger. So frustrating that our "aggressive emotion" can come out as "weakness" (in the eyes of others).
That's my secret....I'm _always_ angry
I'm a 59 year old woman. I was diagnosed with, "Hyperactive Disorder," when I was 7. It was new and my doc was sharp. My meds finally work. It's taken so long. I understand and I'm tearing up. Thank you for your channel.
I'm a 22, before get meds I lost my ID, my phone and many, many things, many many times, and in the blink of an eye I forgot where I put my phone. however, meds can treat limitation. when you are young, Is there medicine for the disease, I feel soooo lucky I can buy meds to help me, even if it's a little expensive. I can't imagine rest of my life without meds
This would be like making someone with a broken leg walk around to get their cast fitted or get a wheelchair.
@@samarnadra That mentality - to judge people over things you're ignorant about - is most common in conservative states. And conservatives ppl are the main ones who can't accept that ADHD exists. A lot of right wingers are judgmental of poor people, too, and others they don't want to help, but don't want to feel guilty about not helping.
This comment is everything.
@@anarcho-communist11 Don't make this political. I'm an independent leaning to conservative. You do a disservice to many to label in this manner. Humans don't understand. Political party is not part of it.
@@samarnadra These are the kind of people that do everything according to the book, without thinking about common sense.
It's common sense that someone who is injured and had difficulty walking can't travel to get their crutches.
But common sense goes out the window, and they're pretty much just reading the script.
and have to do it again every month, and the leg never gets better.
And x2 a month if you have two separate prescriptions, both controlled substance. And they cant fill one of them for a week or two, so you have to decide whether you dont take one for a couple weeks till you can refill both at the same time or just habe to deal with the pharmacy twice a month.
I was amazed that after my diagnosis I wasn't offered anything other than meds. There's zero post-diagnosis support for adults.
Yep. My psychiatrist suggested therapy, but not because of the adhd--for some grief and trauma that came up in the diagnosis convo.
Manda Celestyna same. I was offered psychology appointments only because I I have Anxiety Disorder, none of it was because of my ADHD. I had to TELL my psychologist to help me with my adhd before she even mentioned it.
This was my experience. They just asked me what meds I was in as a kid and prescribed that
And then most insurances refuse to cover adhd coaching...it's ridiculous.
I was given a workbook but no tips on completing it so I powered through the first chapter that day and since then it's been in my ever-growing stack of "things I need to get to". I'm grateful to have it, but it's really hard to focus on
I know this will probably get buried, but if anyone who reads this is in the Portland metro area and struggling to find a doctor/therapist who can help, contact NW-ADHD. They're an ADHD clinic that provides diagnosis, therapy, skill building groups, and medication management. They do require you to do therapy exclusively through them if you want to try medication, so that is a possible barrier to entry for someone who already has a therapist that they like. However, the benefit is that they approach therapy for depression, anxiety, and more from the perspective of a patient with ADHD rather than someone without it.
Another possibility in the area would be western psychological in Portland & in Vancouver (WA). They don't specialize in ADHD (although there might be some in the practice who do) but do have some group therapy focused at it and some prescribing professionals too
Does anyone know of a resource like this near coastal North Carolina?
Or one near Cleveland?
I know this video is old, but it absolutely broke me. It was relatable to the point I was getting pretty emotional. The pain and struggle of dealing with the Healthcare system in regards to these medications is almost as bad as adhd itself. It's always a fight. Always an inquisition, and it does not have to be this way.
To anyone else out there struggling to get their proper meds, my heart goes out to you.
US "health" care is such a joke. For those of us with any sort of chronic condition it gets exponentially worse. I'm behind you on everything you've said here.
Especially when chronic health conditions wear the patient down and are something we have to deal with and manage daily. For those with chronic health conditions getting the treatment they need can be out of reach because in order to receive treatment they need to do things and stay on top of things that people with their chronic illness can’t do... WITHOUT TREATMENT to help them. It’s so backwards. A complete catch 22 where you need [x] to get [y] but you can’t get [x] without [y] so then you got to get [y] but you can’t get [y] without [x]... etc. I’ve been exceptionally lucky to have people close to me who can help me advocate for the care I need to get but if I was in a less privileged situation with the health conditions I have I would straight up be unable to get the necessary treatment because I wouldn’t be able to get myself to doctors appointments regularly
L from where in Europe are you from?
@L Where, in the world, are you from?...
it's really hard for English people to understand the US health care system.
@L Let's come back to original question: which EU country are you from? :)
I dont understand why this is considered a psychiatrist thing in so many countries? Ive been going to a Neurologist for 6 years now and according to him, ADHD is a Neurologist jurisdiction, not a Psychiatrist. As a Psychology graduate, I 100% agree.
I'm a psychology masters student and I have to agree with you. At the very least it's neuropsychology.
What's a neurologist? What makes ADHD a neurologist jurisdiction rather than psychiatric? This is the first I'm hearing about this, so I'm very interested to learn more.
Paraticristi a neurologist is a doctor that specializes in the brain. The thing with adhd is that our brains are different than a normal brain. We have chemical imbalances and other things that make our brains different from everyone else.
@@DjurslandsEfterskole I agree with the question. I had never thought of that. Glad someone thought to ask!
A cat with bread on its head I completely agree with you! That’s I’m going to do my masters in neuro psychology. We need more neuro diverse Heath care providers
as a medical assistant with ADHD, i am. forever infuriated and devastated by how UNNECESSARILY chaotic, unorganized, and downright greedy the healthcare system in the USA is. because that's what this is. this is a failure of the system as a whole, in every aspect, not just for mental health but for a staggering majority of conditions. it's shameful.
the US healthcare system is not patient friendly. period. and it breaks my heart.
“the US healthcare system is not patient friendly.” omg this. a no-brainer concept and yet we’re holding on to this awful version of a healthcare industry. we need change and i hope it comes within our lifetime. and major kudos to you for being a medical assistant! 💛
Paige, unfortunately I think this is a reality everywhere. I'm a medical physicist from Brazil, and here we have the same problem. I have ADHD too and work with Quality in Healthcare and it's so difficult to see that the health system likes to be chaotic and unorganized.
Like Dr. Don Berwick sad, the healthcare system needs systems thinkers, and we, with our gift, are that naturally.
I was a dental assistant for well over a decade and I left because of a combination of exactly what you're saying and having autoimmune issues along with ADHD.
I just became so disgusted with the field of Dentistry and now over the past few years of trying to take care of my other issues I find that it's not only Dentistry that has fallen apart but pretty much every aspect of Medicine.
The US Medical system is a sham
worse then snake charming medicine men selling holy water.
@@amberdow6218 i wouldn't go that far, if only because the medicine we do practice today can and does save lives, and is backed by science. the main problem within the field is ease of access- both literally, and financially.
00:00 ADHD Treatments: Are They Truly ADHD-Friendly?
01:16 Challenges: Missed Appointments & Accessing Medication
02:16 Navigating Health Insurance & Locating ADHD Specialists
03:19 Hurdles in Securing ADHD Medication
04:24 Advocating for an ADHD-Friendly Treatment Process
05:36 ADHD Care: Beyond Just Medication
06:38 Healthcare & Insurance Barriers in ADHD Treatment
07:41 Despite Challenges, ADHD Treatment is Crucial
Thank you for shedding light on these vital issues surrounding ADHD treatment. Your dedication to raising awareness and educating the community is truly commendable. Keep up the amazing work! 👏🌟
Thank you ☺️
Don’t even start me on how hard it is to have parents who don’t believe in medication, therapy, but still compare me to their neurotypical children. That didn’t even get me extended time on my highschool placement/entrance exam. I should have been in honors, but instead I was in basics with extreme support.
My parents are like this too!
So sad you both experience this. :(
Hi Nora! Adhd usually runs in the family in some form. My youngest son was diagnosed this year with add and when I talked to the psycologyst, I told her that I was surprised because I am pretty sure my eldest son was more likely to have adhd. She said " your most probably right that he is adhd but right now he can lead a normal life and your youngest can't". I say we are an Adhd household because I believe I probably have add as well. However still, as a parent it is SO SO HARD and heartbreaking. I want my kids to have a good life without too many hardships and we live in a world where different is n't easy. Therefore, parenting my kids to be "normal" is not as easy and maybe not good for their mental health... as a parent I feel lost in accepting my child and trying to prepare him for life...
Elena Marco, my advice as a 15 year old with adhd innatentive, is to accept his challenges, don’t make fun of them, stop your other family members from making fun of your kid, and put their needs before your beliefs on medication therapy or accommodations. With these things ( love, support, acceptance, school accommodations, medication, and therapy) your child is a lot more likely to not develop anxiety and depression disorders as a result from lack of support. The first three are non-negotiable, but your family can make the decision with your school and doctor on what accommodations would be helpful and if medication could help. Get your kid in therapy before it’s needed. Not only would it give him a place to learn techniques and coping skills, but can also “catch” the depression and anxiety early enough it’s not with them the rest of his life. Also, try and be orderly when getting referrals and iep/504 forms filled out. And if he does get in therapy, check in to see if he likes them. I hated my first therapist but my parents didn’t tell her about my adhd until the last session before she moved away.
@@elenamarco4785 I'm going to have to negotiate this train of thought too, but honestly, everyone has something in life that they find especially difficult - ADHD just happens to be something that has a recognizable pattern and we kind of know what to expect. That being said, I know my older son at least will have difficulties with things that other kids find to be easy, but they're the same things I've always had problems with, so here's hoping we can figure it out together!
First Dr I saw said I can't have ADHD because "you can focus sometimes if its interesting". How do these people get degrees again!?!? I have another appointment in about an hour so fingers crossed.
That’s so ridiculous, I’m sorry you talked to someone who clearly doesn’t know what they’re talking about. From my understanding of my ADD brain, it’s that we have an interest based nervous system! We can hyper focus if it’s interesting to us, which is a superpower, but has its kryptonite downsides of avoiding what’s not interesting.
@@kinseydesignsbrands fully agreed! Thankfully when I mentioned it to the clinic they put me in touch with someone who was actually really helpful and that original person is no longer there.
Yeah. I was told adults don't take medication for ADD. That was a lie. I wonder how they still have jobs.
@@publicserviceannouncement4777 thankfully this person was getting out of the field and the new person is getting my medication dialed in. Its made a huge difference.
@@ChrisMurrayEWC Love you both. I got a therapist who was a Socialworker not psychologist, and she started by asking "How in the world are you NOT in prison?" And then she explained how people like me wind up in prison because our impulsivity takes over when we're confronted by idiots. She put me in touch with a good doc, a program to help me get a job/stay employed, everything but a support group... which I'm still afraid of. Maybe I'll get there, maybe not.
She also pointed out that a LOT of firemen and paramedics have exactly my issues... but because of my physical limitations I can't do those jobs.
Hang in there. My insurance has a nurseline you can call-in, and a lot of those types of people (nurses) can recommend strategies that they've seen work for people with closed-head trauma or other organic brain damage.
My psychiatrist told me "if you weren't jumping up and down on tables and disrupting class and getting bad grades as a kid, you don't have ADHD." I feel your pain. It seems impossible sometimes.
Many tests don't cover the inattentive type. So if I'm not bouncing off the walls then I can't possibly have adhd. Frustrating.
@@DeltaCodeGames exactly. So frustrating.
This happened to me!! I'm seeking a second opinion elsewhere and I'm going to stand my ground 100%. It's dangerous how little mental health professionals know about most mental health issues.
This. I was one of the "smart kids". I didn't get diagnosed until sophomore year of college when I couldn't keep up anymore and was having mental breakdowns.
@@hippybecca Heeey a fellow college-crasher! I also found out that having to study "on your own time" reaaaally wasn't working...
It’s such a relief to hear other brains have struggled with this as well. US healthcare system is not ADHD friendly. It’s very difficult to find a doctor or providers that takes the disability seriously. We shouldn’t have to suffer so much just to get help. I have and have heard too many horror stories just for people to get help. Humans shouldn’t be treated less then for needing help.
In one of my ADHD support groups, the moderator asked how many of us have had to educate a mental health professional--someone that was supposed to be treating us--on ADHD, and more than half raised their hands. I think it was ~2/3
It's interesting that in a situation like this, the person who has the authority to decide on the accessibility of treatment for adhd, knows less about what the condition and the treatment than the patient themselves. I think there are new ways of thinking that are emerging in the clinical community that are more conducive to the wisdom of the patient about their own experience, so that is good. Many people with ADHD can be current or future experts who are going to be primary educators of mental-health professionals. The struggle is real AND we are in a powerful position to make the future better for others with ADHD.
It was a breath of fresh air for me to see a new doc for getting on meds without them being standoffish. My new doc said "oh I just went to a seminar on ADHD medications" Then they just said the rules and I had to take a drug test and wrote me a prescription. I'm blessed I had a good doc not assuming I'm a drug user/abuser!
@@ralfwashington1502 why do you need to take a drug test? i mean isn't that already bad or do you have to do that legally in your country? I mean you got diagnosed with ADHD why would you need a drug test?
I *Love* my current psychiatrist, and I just educated him about body doubling and the Pomodoro Technique two days ago. ❤
Where did you find adhd support group?? I have been looking since I was recently diagnosed with adult adhd
my heart goes out to the americans with ADHD it sounds like it is horrendous there
It is.
Where do you live?
The US definitely has an incredibly sheety health care system! Even in Germany where it's pretty okay normally I experience a lot of the things jess describes. Everybody with adhd probably knows some of these problems and that's so sad, it really shouldn't be like that...
Yeah we're not doing great.
The one good thing is that we have access to proper stimulates here. I'd hate to have to survive on Vivanse.
my friend suffered the whole ‘you’re too smart thing too’. some people tried to tell me that when I was complaining. why can’t people wrap their head around the fact that you can be smart AND neurodivergent???
A lot of things are honestly just stress inducing and it makes me even more tired that I already always am
Yeah being neurodivergent is already stressful and then having everyone deny it is incredibly stressful
Old stigmas/biases that still seem to be deep-rooted, even in the system.
Unfortunately, degree programs for therapists today STILL teach that a kid or adult CAN'T have ADHD if they did well in school. That is completely untrue. Most people who get diagnosed as adults did fine in school but started struggling once in the work world. I did great in school. That was the one reason my mom did not get me tested, even though she always thought I had it. It's a huge misconception that needs to be broken. I loved school and cared about getting good grades, so I applied myself and could pay attention (somewhat). If something interests you and you have ADHD, you will be able to pay attention to it or hyperfocus. I found a lot of workarounds to do well in school, not realizing that I was actually struggling to pay attention. My biggest memory of school was starting into space and daydreaming every day while the teacher talked. I just read the assignments and studied my butt off.
Do you know what was an option on the form me and my psychologist filled out when I got my diagnosis? "High intelligence hid the problems during school". Being "too smart to have ADHD" is so COMMON they have added it to the official forms!
Thank you for this video. Currently in my car, crying tears of solidarity and pride in your journey, as I’ve just faced the toughest two weeks in the same position searching for medication during the nationwide stimulant shortage. Two years later, this message still resonates. Thank you.
I hope you have been able to find your meds. I am 64, diagnosed at 34; I could tell you so many stories about not being able to get meds, being afraid of running out, running out and trying to cover at work - it sucks!
I'm a licensed Therapist and unfortunately due to lack of training I only just now started looking at getting myself assessed for ADHD after being frustrated with the hyper-focus on the things that were making it hard to focus on the things I wanted to focus on. There is not enough training for treating ADHD, I'm glad to be a clinician who is going though this experience because I know first hand what it is like to have ADHD and to be undiagnosed with it. The fact that I learned more from CZcams and TikTok about adhd then I did in grad school is alarming to say the least.
I'm also a mental health professional that likely has ADHD. It is definitely difficult to find anyone with expertise in this, it is viewed as a children's disorder, and not something serious enough to warrant intervention in adults. I'm certain that I was able to lean on natural high intelligence in order to mask it for most of my life. I have just gotten away with never doing my work until the last minute for everything, and somehow succeeding. I'm now interested in becoming an expert in it and specializing in it. I think it has become more prevalent in the internet age (at least many of the symptoms), and that we will see numbers for adults seeking intervention go up.
I didn't learn ANY of the information I have collected from grad school. I mastered in Administration for family and Community practice.
@@devinology7 I want to become a coach for ADD/ ADHD.
Thank you to each of you. Reading these things from professionals is going a Long way for me as I work to unpack this experience. It means a lot that you commented here - it's easy to feel pressured to gaslight myself when comparing the education I'm receiving online, to the messages I get from the therapists, doctors, parents and teachers in my life who don't believe it's a big deal, or as prevalent as it is.
The podcast "Are You Sure Doc?" Has an episode on ADHD interviewing specialist Dr. William Dodson - changed my life in the first 15 minutes.
I've been in and out of therapy for 14 years, and only recently come to understand that ADHD can explain a huge amount of my struggle.
@@devinology7 same. My good grades even masked it from myself. Plus my parents would point out my behavior and get on my case about changing it so I was forced to suppress it as much as I could but Lord was it a challenge.
At one of my first attempts to get diagnosed, I heard that " I don't have ADHD because I never failed a school year. I'm just lazy, unorganized and capable of only doing things I want, without taking anything else into consideration". Our appointment lasted less than 20 minutes. It's been a year, but this still enrages me till this day. I finally got my diagnosis a week ago, fortunately... I wanted to share this, in case anyone went to a similar experience. You're not alone 💜
Thank you for helping me remember that my phone/Netflix addiction is also related to a stereotype, someone said something to me earlier and I couldn’t place what was wrong with it til now
Did you see a psychiatrist or psychologist for diagnosis? I'm trying to get diagnosed and not having any luck finding which one can help
@@sperth3849 I tried neurologists, neuropsychologists and this "professional" I mentioned was a psychiatrist. None of them knew anything about DSM-5 tests and couldn't inform me the procedures to get diagnosed, they'd dismiss me after 20 minutes... then finally, I met a psychologist that worked into the ADHD field for 17 years, and she gave me a proper and detailed feedback! My point is, you should try to find someone who's really specialized in ADHD, who's able to inform you the right procedures... I don't know if there's a more qualified professional, though. I wish I could help you more, but I too felt lost and didn't know how to find quality treatment. What helped me a lot was to research more about ADHD and seek professionals online, to know if they were gonna be able to truly help! Sorry for the long post, I wish you can find the right person to assist you!
I want to try to get a diagnosis, because I think I have ADHD and it's bad, but things like this scare me.
@@hannahherrmann4921 same for me, and my husband. I am also scared of doctors, so the idea of rejection for my issues or having to break these barriers down to access treatment is paralyzing. I'm sorry this system is so broken. I'm sorry society is pushing neuro-diverse people out. It's heartbreaking.
I feel ya. We're kind of taught to look up to doctors, psychiatrists and therapists, but honestly, the lack of compassion and sheer ignorance and incompetence on display in these fields can be downright staggering. It really can make you feel incredibly frustrated, lonely, overwhelmed, helpless, and hopeless, because you feel like you have to figure EVERYTHING out for yourself. At least nowadays we have the internet and terrific resources like your channel so we can help each other out and build on the knowledge and experience of others.
Not anymore, not after Covid!
I feel like I know more about some things than the professionals
So many people see ADHD as a moral failing. So many people think I need to try harder. That’s not even to say how hard it is to get medication, or how hard it is to get psychs to take it seriously. It’s so difficult to find someone who even knows how to treat ADHD. YOU have taught me more about ADHD than ANY of the SIX therapists I have seen.
This channel is my only qualitative source for support. I've tried so many things, so many professionnals. They never gave me info on myself. They never seem to know what to do with me. "Make a to do list" is the peak of their input.
Somehow this video made me want to try again, because at least I live in a socialised healthcare system where the administrative burden is much lower.
@@vincentphilippart4669 I’m sorry friend. I hope you know many people care and are cheering you on. I hope you find the in-person help you need :)
Couldn't agree more! How to ADHD videos are a lifesaver!
Dyslexia is similar in other ways and trying to have help without feeling singled out in a general group is really hard. Hugs.
@@elizabethjanetugby4695 hugs to you friend
me to my psychiatrist - i always can't sit still, and always have trouble focusing on things- I move onto another thing as soon as i start the other. Then i always forget things even if they are really important... As well as me having problems with time management....
my psychiatrist - well don't then... just learn how to manage your time
*this woman just cured adhd ohmygod*
Ugh. There are so many people in the mental health profession who really shouldn’t be. I had a therapist tell me “just don’t think negative thoughts” about my depression. How uninformed, not to mention utterly unhelpful and insulting!!! I really wonder if some of them got their degrees at diploma mills!
@@abigailsmith6977 I think these kinds of people chose their profession due to their parents, if they loved what they did they would absolutely try to help out without being insulting-.
🤦🏻♀️ just learn to manage your time... god i would have raged at this woman if this was me
Yes, please just over medicate yourself until you're a literal fking zombie. 🤭
@@Irisicaaa *literally what they mean by- "we will give you a few pills" and then they give you an infinite amount of pills*
This hit hard. I was diagnosed at 11. I'm 20 now, and I've only RECENTLY started to discover just how much ADHD has affected me. For the longest time I just thought it meant I had trouble focusing. Nobody told me that it can also affect so SO much more like cleaning/clutter managment, emotional control, avoiding things, and much more.
And when I say recently started discovering, I mean as in a few weeks ago. I've had to learn on my own through this channel and my own research.
I know exactly what you mean, I was diagnosed at 6 and my parents were a great help teaching me what they knew about the medical side of it. I've been medicated since i was 6, I'm now 26 and only now am I noticing the emotional damage and behavioral problems that make life so much harder than it needs to be. I always just thought that i had a lazy personality, or wasn't motivated enough. But even doing a degree that I love and is a great fit for me isn't enough right now, this has been the hardest year of my life.
Duncan van der Lingen I was never even told what ADHD was and just a few years ago I learned what it even meant, i didn’t know why my brain was this way and I didn’t know what was wrong with me. My mom didn’t even explain it to me other than “there’s something wrong with your brain and you need medicine to fix it”, I never even learned to manage my ADHD because I’ve been on medication for years which I don’t like because I already have problems with eating.
Im 23 and I only recently made the same realization. It affects absolutely every aspect of my life.
i never got diagnosed and im literally older than 11
fluffle demon i was diagnosed at the age of 7 1986. It was horrible on my reflection back on it. The adhd medication an the ones i was on never worked for me. The side effects were always way too overwhelming regardless of the focus an I waited until they wore off an was happy when they were. But this is only me i speak for an since i was 16 i have been off medication an life was what it was until 5 years ago I sought alot of self reflection an understanding an someone to talk to an through that an cannabis i am in a much better place in my life an have the focus I always needed without pharma side effects. But again it was my journey🙂. I do realize therapy does help a-lot.
I get this. One of the barriers here in Texas is that you need to schedule an appointment every month due to it being a scheduled drug. If I fail to get my pills it takes months to get back on track. Our system is terrible. My God I've learned more about myself from CZcams then I ever did from a doctor.
You have no idea how your channel has helped me❤️
@@blackcat6374 Digo lo mismo, gracias a Danna encontré este canal y me ha literalmente cambiado la vida muchas gracias
Gracias por compartir este canal con nosotros :)
Says the addict of substance...
It’s brave of you to even admit that. It’s wonderful. 😌😘
Robert Brinkley maybe try to open your mind a bit? I totally understand how scary/ painful drug addiction can be for a person and everyone around them. It’s horrible.... it’s like a disease.
I sympathize with every person who is emotionally reacting to stories like this. They think it’s just a buncha drug pushers.
I will never deny the reality of people who do FAKE ADHD.... and only to abuse the medication. That’s a very real problem .
That being said..... it needs to be understood that there are people who are very VERY valid for such therapy/ prescriptions. It isn’t some fake fallacy. This is about people’s live’s..... they are trying to understand themselves and succeeded THE SAME that you are everyday.
The doctor dismissed your chances of having ADHD because you're intelligent? Sounds like they've never heard of neurodiversity - it's a hallmark of neurodiverse conditions like ADHD to have big weaknesses, yes, but also big strengths.
I like this Venn diagram from Genius Within - it emphasizes that these conditions can come with many strengths www.geniuswithin.co.uk/infographics-and-literature/neuro-diversity-venn-diagram/
Also, keep up the great work, you're an absolute blessing for newcomers with ADHD. You should feel massively proud of what you've managed to achieve.
Thank you so much for the link!
I have been told I can’t have ADHD because I’m too old and people grow out of it 🤷🏻♀️
Hear! Hear!! 👏
Tali vas Normandy I’ve just been told I have it but am growing out of it and that it’s only mild because I can Hyperfocus on things 🤬🤬🤬🤬 such a joke
My partner got his autism diagnosis torn up by a doc who was cranky about my partner's high IQ. He felt that it negated my partner's autism.... When my partner got it reinvestigated the new one was baffled because the investigation the first doc had done a more in depth investigation than what is the norm now and it was a no-brainer that he should have an autism diagnosis. My partner was also diagnosed with ADHD. I can't imagine how soul killing it must be to have someone in such a position of power tell you that you don't deserve to be acknowledged just because you test well in exams. That you should be able to be normal and that you should feel bad if you are struggling.
I was part of the “executive team” to co-design Headspace, I advocated for mental health for childrens mental health strategies, I did so many extracurriculars in my school and was even a school leader, I took responsibility for my life to get treatment for ADHD, only to have numberous providers tell me that I don’t have ADHD or that I’ve made it up. I was diagnosed. The medication was working. But no-one believes me either. Jessica ❤️❤️💞Thank you for your videos, you remind me of the fact that I am not alone and that there’s hope. Thank you :)
Hey. I'm a Princeton grad with two master's degrees. People didn't believe I could be ADHD either. BUT I just got very thoroughly evaluated a few months ago by a guy named Dr. Leon Schofield (addexpert.net). He uses the Woodcock Johnson tests, which are really good for getting to the heart of the thing. They're expensive, but I now have solid, data driven paperwork that says 1) Yes, I am definitely combination type ADHD, though I've been masking a long time. 2) I lose around 25% or more of my cognitive capabilities when my ADHD kicks in. 3) I'm really smart (like you) which means that losing 25% of my cognitive capabilities puts me in the average intelligence range, which is why 4) no one ever noticed or believed me. I know it seems like I'm whinging because my disability makes me average. I know that I'm really blessed in the brains department. I also know that I've been struggling just to get by my whole life, and that being smart doesn't make up for the executive skills failures that come with ADHD. And I know that masking is exhausting. I know you've already been diagnosed, but if you haven't already done so, I'd suggest you look into the kind of extensive testing Schofield does, as I think the data will be helpful for convincing the doubters and clarifying to you as your apply your own problem solving skills to your situation. I realize I'm just a voice in the internet, but your words really hit a chord on me. You are definitely not alone.
@@kellydeltoro-white8097 I feel you. YOu're what's called twice exceptional. I was an excellent tester growing up and scored a perfect score on the SAT Writing POrtion. I read somewhere that 1,000 out of every 1,000,000 test takers earn this score. I got tested in college after wondering why I procrastinated on everything and never planned ahead. GOt by because of my high intellgience. Now on medication- my life has changed for the better, and I have breaks for this luxury, Ferrari brain, (Dr. ned hallowell reference).
You’re great. You’ve helped me lots. Good luck.
Why do providers automatically judge that we are making up lies to receive medications that...hello actually help!?
Wow. wow. and, wow.
I can't thank you enough for creating this youtube channel. I am nineteen and I am 100 percent sure that I have ADHD. Before your CZcams channel everyone my parents thought that I am just lazy and can't complete my tasks and I just don't care after a while when ADHD started affecting me a lot in everything mostly my studies I also thought that maybe I am just useless , lazy and a disappointment so thank-you for creating this CZcams channel. It was so hard for me to tell my mom about this that I have ADHD but she doesn't believe me and thinks that it's just a excuse and my father won't believe me either though he is a child specialist doctors himself. So I won't be able to get meds or anything but your videos help me a lot to cope with my daily life struggles thank you for the support I really wanted it. I started crying in the last part of the video thank you for not making me feel alone. I will go to a doctor when I become financially able because my parents will never agree but I wont give up anymore thank you ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
At 19 with health insurance you can go to the doctor. At your age they can’t tell your parents why you are at the doctor.
Same here brother😢. Now here in hostel life I am struggling with it. And I have the inattentive type predominantly. But I guess I will never get the help I need in my country. Mental health is a joke here
Ex-pharm tech here. SOOOOOO Many issues for us just on the pharmacy side of things. Prior authorizations are the most BS thing to ever happen... especially for ADHD. Most ins companies require one for ANYONE over 18 years of age for ADHD medication. It's absolutely ridiculous.
Going through this struggle right now 😭 it’s not right that the doctors opinion matters less than the pharm tech, of course no offense
Being diagnosed with ADHD was a relief but also a tremendous hit, because of how uninformed society and even some doctors are about ADHD. On one hand my life has improved, on another, in my country adult ADHD meds aren't covered by insurance, and I'm terrified of the exact thing that happened to you - if I move to another place, if I need to find another doctor, if I want to travel somewhere and they take my meds away at the airport. Any change in my life will need that extra step of making sure I get my ADHD treatment.
They can take your meds away in airports??
"Don't give up if they dismiss you because you're smart and you've succeeded so far, because you know what it's done to you on the inside to get there." Most emotional part of the video for me. I think many people would be surprised to hear I have ADHD because I have a degree in English and Philosophy. And a college degree. But earning them was really, really hard. My ADHD didn't mean I COULDN'T do it, it just meant that it took so much more effort... but I did it, and I'm now an editor. I still struggle every day. But my ADHD doesn't stop me from doing what I want to do and what I'm good at. It just makes it so much more challenging. My ADHD doesn't make it any less worthwhile to pursue my goals. Don't give up. Never, ever give up. ADHD brains know how much other ADHD brains fight for our place in the world. Don't give up.
My daughter is similar to you. She’s been very successful to this point. What people don’t see is her working 5 hours to accomplish what a neurotypical accomplishes in 2 hours. They don’t see her meltdowns resulting from mental exhaustion. Etc.
ADD,ADHD,HSP,INFJ.....
Roller-coaster life
My kid is suppose to be enrolled in Vic rehab program... we still haven’t picked up the paperwork to fill out over a week later.... duhhhh, we have adhd!!!!! Sooo hard!
This struck a chord with me. I have ADHD, but I was diagnosed back in 3rd grade started a medicine, taken off that medicine after a short time, and never treated for it again. When I was 18 I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and dealing with the combination of both of these and the medical system that did not believe me or at least thought that I was not as bad was very harmful. I have had agony because I procrastinated calling my pharmacy/doctor/insurance to tell them to call each other and get me the medicine that I needed to just be able to get out of bed so I end up in my bed in pain and agony with huge brain fog on top of ADHD brain that I did not understand calling 2 or all 3 of them to say call the other up to twice a day. This last time that it happened, I spent a month in bed with my boss mad that I was not at work. When I finally got my medicine and went back to work I was given a warning that I could not have any mistakes or I would lose my job. I was just a few minutes late (that was not my fault) and fired. We need to fix the healthcare system and employer attitudes.
On the topic of being told "You don't have ADHD"...
When I first started looking into treatment as a teenager, I was waiting in a doctor's office reading a favorite book. I was an avid reader. The NP who saw me asked why I was there and I told her that I wanted to seek help for possible ADHD, the first thing she said was "You don't have ADHD. If you did, you'd be bouncing off the walls instead of sitting down reading a book." She tested me for thyroid issues, despite "inattention" being my only symptom of such an issue, and I never heard another thing about it.
It took ten years for me to get a diagnosis. Mostly because I didn't have insurance for ten years. Even then, I had to pay hundreds of dollars just to be evaluated. Another two years before I was medicated because no one told me my next steps.
Y'all.
Oh man, I'm glad I got diagnosed early then for my mostly inattentive type. My cousin is hyper active dominant and his ADHD is obvious. My ADHD was only discovered because I would be so focused on the TV that I would not register my mom calling my name, who was sometimes a few feet away. She thought I had a hearing problem and got me checked out, but my hearing was fine which of course lead to my diagnosis.
i'm also a bookworm. they don't seem to understand it's a focus PROBLEM, not a total inability to do so :( it doesn't go where we NEED it to people. i think one sign for me was the fact i could not put the book down until it was finished.
and since the executive dysfunction is such a huge part of it, just focusing on hyperactivity is nuts imo. i don't get why they do that. even for the people with that symptom, it probably doesn't affect them as much as the overall inability to stop one task and initiate another. i need a lot of self bribery and trickery and mental acrobatics just to get basic things done each day. no one sees that until i'm late, but i feel it constantly
i only "sat still" because my mom was horrible lol. if sneakily repositioning my legs 302874298 times counts as sitting still, sure. oh gosh when i had a creaky chair. i'd rather die from whatever i was sick with than sit by my mom for an hour in a silent waiting room :P
@@Ocelot80524 Dude. The fact that I finished Order of the Phoenix in a single day should have been some kind of clue!!!
I’ve been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, despite me going into for a ADHD test. My doctor did say it’s likely that I have both. But my mom won’t believe me because the it can only be 1 thing. No mom, I’ve also done research about this, I have symptoms of adhd that aren’t listed as hypothyroidism. As well the combine symptoms that worsen the two conditions combined. But I guess my mom knows my inside of my brain better than I do.’\°_°/’
@@curevolcano4501 when you get treatment for the thyroid, and its better. But you still have other problems. Point that out to mom. And also lookup adhd morbidity. Very common.
Just today I got accused of manipulating my psychiatrist. I was recently diagnosed and started meds, but had some complications when I realised that the only brand of the med available here in Australia has both gluten and dairy in it, both of which I can't have because of an autoimmune condition. So I had to return the meds, and then jump through hoops to get a new script for a compounding pharmacy to get them to make the medication without these very common allergens, which costs 8 times as much as the regular brand. And somehow me advocating for my own health so I don't take a med containing ingredients that flare my other condition amounts to me manipulating the psychiatrist...
Idk, I'm honestly so disheartened, this journey has been challenge after challenge, and now I'm going to have to find a new psychiatrist, because there's no way I'm going back to this one who I don't trust, and who clearly doesn't have my best interests at heart. Tired and upset.
+
That's so disheartening, and I'm sorry. But you are amazing for doing the hard work of trying to find another psychiatrist, and also good job recognizing that psychiatrist was being a jerk. If it helps to have strangers on the internet validate you and root for you, I am here for it.
I am sorry you had this experience my friend. I am training to be a psychiatrist and I hope to never let my ego get in the way of my patients’ care like this.
I'm so sorry. Honestly it's heartbreaking to hear that. I thought that this was a particularly American problem. But knowing that someone on the other side of the world is having the same issues we are is really disheartening.
But now you've got me wondering about medications ingredients because I also have autoimmune problems.
Why does medicine contain dairy?
Whenever I go to pick up my meds I jokingly say "I'm going to get drugs", because they treat me like they don't trust me. They treat me like I'm buying drugs, not medication.
Know the feeling
I can’t tell you how many doctors have treated me like a drug addict. I personally have had a lot of good experiences with pharmacists but I know a lot of people haven’t. This is an issue for chronic pain patients too. A lot of people are committing suicide because of it.
I had a pharmacist question me too. It really pisses me off. They aren’t doctors.
Same here. It's ridiculous.
*hugs* it's not right!
Don't forget that missing appointments is a reason health care professionals will drop you and refuse to treat you. So you are punished for having ADHD instead of helped.
My husband and daughter have ADHD. In March, he went to his doctor to get his Rx renewed. His doctor told him that he did not believe that adults can have ADHD and told him he would not prescribe him his medication (this was the start of the pandemic when getting a new provider was no small feat). It took until May to get him in to see a psychologist at the northwest ADHD clinic. A full evaluation was done but he still cannot see the nurse practitioner who will prescribe medication until the end of this month. That’s nearly 6 months of no treatment. This has had real and lasting impacts on our whole family. On Friday, he was fired from his job because of symptoms and behaviors directly related to his untreated adhd. It is Not okay.
WHY DO I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ADHD CAN GO TO THE GP AND GET ADDERALL AND SOMEONE WHO WAS ACTUALLY DIAGNOSED CANT
IM MAD
We haven't learned the correct answers to each question
Dennis Yes. So where is a good site or book that will tell me which answers are trending now?
The important thing is to over-exaggerate when describing symptoms to your doctor. Especially if you're a woman or a person of color, because doctors won't believe you (this has been studied and proven). I'll never forget my mom's advice to me, "always tell the doctor that [insert problem here] is RUINING YOUR LIFE".
Yes that what it’s seems like
a lot of ppl with ADHD sell their adderall... that why its so hard
You know when you have to sit down and cry a little because you're just so tired of how debilitating your ADHD (or your treatment) can be?
Yup. I feel that way right now. Just so totally exhausted, defeated and so stressed. I need to cry but nothing's coming out. :'(
Uh....YES!!!😭
That's me every day. I cry alot because I'm so frustrated. My ADHD is exhausting as with treatment.
Crying with you 🤷♀️💋
I am very thankful for these videos that you make. As a kid I always struggled just about everywhere but I couldn’t possibly have ADHD because I was too “smart”. It wasn’t til last spring that my mom got diagnosed after a childhood of my parents telling me that I couldn’t possibly have ADHD that I decided to get evaluated. Doctor after doctor and multiple therapists telling me that I’m “just depressed and anxious” or that “it’s just childhood trauma”, telling me to stay on SSRIs. Like, seriously, take me at my word. I cannot focus no matter how hard I try. Starting stimulant medication completely changed my life, but still, I am stressed for the time that I’m going to eventually move, change doctors, and have to go through that process again. ADHD is a disability and I’m sick of not just doctors, but friends and partners treating it like a quirky disposition that I’m choosing to put on. I am a competent adult and I intend to be treated with dignity and respect.
"I am a competent adult and I intend to be treated with dignity and respect." Love this! I have to start telling myself this too.
"ADHD is a disability and I’m sick of not just doctors, but friends and partners treating it like a quirky disposition that I’m choosing to put on."
It doesn't matter how delicately or carefully I explain it, my partner still seems to think that I chose this, and that I'm trying to drive a wedge between us. At the moment I'm doing everything I can to keep us drifting further apart by educating us both, but I don't think she's really believing any of it yet.
THIS. I was diagnosed about a year ago at 16, So many people have told me that my attempts to explain my behaviour and issues on ADHD (rightfully so!) is me using it as an excuse. It’s Especially when they are also uneducated about ADHD… on top of the fact that NO you do NOT know more about how MY medical condition effects ME than I do?! I know it’s been a while but I hope that the people around you treat you properly now too. It really is frustrating and I really feel for you. Thank you for this comment
I have had to walk into my doctor's office in tears trying to get my prescription approved two days earlier because the renewal fell on a weekend and my pharmacy was not open on the weekend. I hated that feeling. I hated feeling like I was seeking drugs when I just didn't want the disruption it would bring. I didn't want the chaos it would bring.
Hugs. You’re not alone.
being gifted and not hyperactive delayed me getting my adhd diagnosed until i was in my mid to late 30's. this was found out after i went to get help with forgetfulness with a family history of dementia. my parents still do not believe me even though my diagnosis was confirmed by a neuropsychologist, psychiatrist, neurologist, and primary care internal medicine doctor. i am only now learning how to manage it and meds are a night // day difference.
Me too. I was 30 before a therapist suggested I take an evaluation.
Same. The trigger for me figuring out was binge eating disorder
Literally at 30 for myself as well. Was diagnosed as a child but took meds for a good 2 months and the madre took me off. Genuinely forgot about it until I got to 30. Still not on meds. Def need them but 🤷♂️
Exact same. I was 37 when I was diagnosed. I am also gifted. I’ve been thru it with Drs. One was actually verbally and mentally abusive.
Oh wow...I'm 14 and I thought I had dementia for the longest time (yeah dementia lol) because my memory was so horrible. Now thanks to this channel and this comment I think I'm gonna seek out help
I watched a mini-movie where there was a kid with ADHD having a breakdown and his friends got mad at him. He explained he has ADHD and apologizing saying he couldn't control it and his so-called "friends" said "Well I wish I had ADHD because then I could get away with everything just by saying it happened because of ADHD" It made me cry so much because, while teachers will try to help you sometimes if you are professionally diagnosed, but people who are not or just when to kid is extra emotional or confused the teachers will put it off as lazy or being a drama queen or king (or whatever you might call a nonbinary person, maybe a royal subject drama royal subject sounds weird but it works ). It is very hard having ADHD :(
This is why medication management is extra important. People who understand the disorder might cut you a break if you're having a bad day, but everyone else won't. This is why I've called in sick to work the couple of times I've ran out of meds. I don't want to risk having a freakout in front of my coworkers.
@@StylishHobo I get super stressed when I'm running low on my meds. I'm afraid of when might happen if for some reason (like waking up late or just travel problems) I'm not able to get my meds. The thought of having to work without meds and keep a level head scare me. Thankfully it hasn't happened yet.
the other day i was watching a show with my partner (who tries his best to understand me but often forgets) and altho i was paying attention to it, i was also browsing social media on my phone. i asked him what the name of the new character was and he got fussy about telling me and said I wasn't watching and that we should just stop bc im doing something else and i had to remind him that i have adhd. i often talk about my adhd in casual conversation because i feel like if i dont, people will forget i have this disability.
Have you ever seen the short film Float? When the dad breaks in frustration I cried, I just felt exactly like the little boy reacted so many times.
I only learned through your channel that my struggle actually wasnt, what "everyone has to go through in life" as my family and teachers told me. And I only recently understood that no one percieved my struggle as "worth beeing helped" because no one understood it. It was only when my ptsd symptoms got the best of me that I was (finally) diagnosed with adhd, even tho I had much bigger problems then that at the time...
Amen
I think we’re still seeing the effects of the stigma that it’s not a “real” illness. Also, I’ve been trying for almost a year to find a therapist for my ADHD and it has been very very difficult even with full mental health coverage through work. The two I have talked with need to watch your videos because they do not understand ADHD. So frustrating and exhausting!
I don’t see it as an illness myself. I rather see it as a difference. I don’t see it as a disorder either. But it doesn’t mean we don’t need help. The thing is, life and society is built around neurotypical brains. So we don’t fit in. Therefore we need help from neurotypical brains to fit in. So even if I don’t see it as a bad disease or disorder or whatever. We still need help. It’s a difference. One that can make us struggle at times.
ADHD is treated like we have to self manage. That’s why so many of us self medicate or self cope. When you have depression it’s then labeled maniac when your out of a cycle or cast aside because you just don’t think the same. It’s beyond a frustrating life to live.
get away from people who make you feel that way. don't let society ulter your brain chemistry to fit you in its normal box.
Then those of us who do or have self medicated and ran into addiction issues have an extremely hard time to be prescribed stimulant medications. Non-stimulant medications can help but even over forty years later and realizing that I have ADHD I now understand how those drugs helped me until I went overboard with them due to other unrelated issues. So, I now manage with a bit of help from Non-stimulant medication.
Or they try to convince you that you only have depression not adhd 😪
Self management in adhd is an oxymoron. It is literally the problem. It’s so horrible and you’re absolutely right. I hope my country is a bit better with this, but the amount of doctors who just do not believe ADHD is real is terrible. As someone who is both a woman and someone who is gifted, I got diagnosed so late. With layers and layers of unneeded anxiety, trauma and depression. Never felt understood and always felt hopeless. I thought I was broken beyond repair. Meds have changed my life in 2 months. 2 pills a day and the effect is has had is beyond what I had hoped for. Restricting care and medication for those with ADHD is abuse.
Adhd people can thrive if they have a pursuit and people around them to support the weaknesses associated with adhd. Learning to cope alone can be done and the person would be a force, but would they not turn bitter by then? Or dead
When I was diagnosed it was like 'here's a pamphlet, here's some pills, go pass your classes.' I have learned everything I know now about ADHD from you. ❤
Wow I didn't even get a pamphlet!
That's basically what happened to me both times I got diagnosed, both as a kid and later as an adult. Just "Here's some medication, let's touch base in a month and see if it's working for you."
And it seems like the only other outcomes are "Oh you don't have ADHD" or "ADHD isn't even a real thing."
I'll be honest, because the meds at least help I'm grateful that I got the more helpful of the outcomes, but at the same time I agree that we have to do better.
@@stevencowan37 I'm learning about ADHD rn because I highly suspect that I have it. But in my country many people and even psychiatrists don't take ADHD seriously. Also, most of ADHD medication is banned except for one, but I can't remember its name rn.
I feel a bit relieved after finding out what ADHD is, because it can explain why my life is so sad and useless,but I also want to cry because I don't know if I will ever get help.
I am just starting my official diagnosis process but I’ve been sure I’ve had ADHD for years. I reached a point in my therapy where I was ready to address it head on this winter. I watched your TED talk and felt like you were telling my biography. Then I’ve been listening to your videos through my CZcams premium subscription. Your information has brought me so much peace. Thank you for your work!
Best of luck! I hope the process goes smoothly for you 😊 And thank you so much for your kind words, we're glad our videos could provide you with some peace. And thank you for watching and supporting what we do! 🧡
I've learned more from this channel about my ADHD than my parents and doctor......I learn more about my mental illnesses on the internet than the professionals (and my parents)
One thing that helped me also as a kid was meditation, it sounds crazy but i found that if was my only soloution, nobody knew what i was going through and 20min in the morning and evening helped me control the hyper energy to a point that i could be productive
Bruh...
Welcome to the internet buddy
My high school refused to test me because I was "doing well" in school despite how hard it was to get through the year. My mom ended up taking the school's side, thinking I was just copying my friend when honestly, I hadn't considered ADHD until he listed his symptoms and something clicked. It took a breakdown Freshman year of college to get a test, and then these videos ended up being my lifeline so I could have some strategies.
In February, right before the pandemic hit and I was sent home for online schooling, my insurance company decided it would no longer cover the medication I had been taking for two years. I got no warning. I simply showed up to the pharmacy to find a much larger price tag. I ran out of meds the week we went online because I couldn't afford to pay out of pocket. As I struggled with my insurance company, I was taking college courses with no support system and a brain that refused to cooperate. I was off meds for a month as we switched me to something I had to order from an online pharmacy and cost 5x as much. It took until June for me to get new meds that I could also afford. And still remembering to call on time every month is a Struggle.
Thank you and everyone who commented about similar experiences to remind me that I'm not alone.
This is very similar to my story. I was staying up till 2 in the morning in high school every night just to be a "good student". I got picked on because some crazy people thought my good grades came easy to me. My mom always told me my whole life I wasn't trying hard enough. HAH! I was working way harder than I should have. You shouldn't have to regularly stay up till 2 in the morning in high school, that is what college is for. And hah I barely slept in college.
the insurance thing and the costs of meds in the US is absurd. I take ritalin, and I think 60 pills would be like 15 dollars. I only take them when I'm working, and only if I feel I really need it, so it's like 2 months worth of pills for me.
The US healthcare system sounds horrifying and I feel sorry for everyone who is stuck with this mess
I’ve gone through nearly everything mentioned in this video. Treated like a criminal, denied by insurance. And nearly every coping strategy I’ve learned has been through blogs and CZcams channels like this one
*retroactive hugs* so sad you’re experiencing this. Good you get the support you need. And deserve!!!
I relate to this so much. Not just that, but when you're in this incredibly angering, frustrating situation -- and you DON'T act calm, collected and neurotypical -- they can turn on you and revoke assistance at their whim.
My mother, now in her 80s, could have been the poster child for severe ADHD. Being a Mom was overwhelming to her and she had two bad marriages; one husband ended up taking his own life. You can imagine the upbringing me and my brother had on top of both having ADHD. (Both of my brother's sons also have ADHD). I am the only one in this family who sought help for ADHD and the depression that often walks hand and hand with it.
I'm in my 60s now and I've got some accomplishments to be proud of -- I put myself through an ivy league university (also ended up with a lot of debt) and I was the first member of my family to earn a bachelor's degree (only took 25 years of plugging away at it!).
I was a reporter for more than 30 years and, I am told, a very good one (probably because of my lively, inquisitive, quirky ADHD brain).
I published my photography in a couple of national magazines (and got paid!).
I went through the very rigorous Master Gardener program (but didn't complete it, mostly because my employers back-pedaled on letting me have Fridays off to attend the class) -- and then I found the funding and volunteers to create a large, beautiful community garden on an empty lot in my neighborhood, now in operation for 11 years.
I also taught writing to adults, was recently a substitute teacher and did some other cool stuff.
But I also got myself involved with an abusive guy - mentally and verbally controlling and abusive -- precisely because ADHD does a number on your self-esteem and makes you question yourself constantly, and there are people in this world who target insecure people.
The longer I was with this guy (a total of 11 years before I finally got him out of my life), the more aware I became of what was "wrong" with me, thanks to looking at myself through his eyes. He enjoyed making me doubt myself. For example, because he knew I struggled with remembering things, he would deliberately say he told me something when he didn't (I started writing everything down because I thought I was going nuts).
I think this is probably one of the worst pitfalls of ADHD, which is not trusting your own instincts and assuming everyone else knows what's best for you, and is "normal." So this can also make it difficult to challenge doctors and other "experts." And to not let people make you feel small because you're often late, or you forget names, or you repeat the same stories, or your apartment is a wreck, and you have this label of ADHD.
I think this young woman is very brave and very generous and even in my 60s, I can gain more insight from her videos.
Keep up the good work! Hang tough! You have a lot of support here.
"I think this is probably one of the worst pitfalls of ADHD, which is not trusting your own instincts and assuming everyone else knows what's best for you, and is "normal."
OH MY GOSH that's exactly it. My first marriage was like that. It's gaslighting and we're really vulnerable to it for the exact reasons you stated. Thankfully I was finally diagnosed two years ago (aged 35) after a few years of being married to my lovely second husband who has always encouraged me to advocate for myself (unless it's too overwhelming to make my own decision which does happen at times).
I'm sorry you struggled so hard but look at what you managed to achieve!
Wow you have accomplished a lot. I am going to be 50 in a month and have not accomplished anything. I am a mother of two wonderful boys 16. and 11 but it is a daily struggle. I have started a lot of classes and never finish any of them. I hate myself for not having any education other than high school. I took the real estate course to get licensed and never took the test and gave up on that, I took a course to be a phlebotomist finished the course but never pursued getting a job now I am no longer certified....these are the things that I hate the most....Thank you so much for sharing your story very encouraging .
@@dinashomespunfun675 Raising children certainly is an accomplishment! I don't have children mainly because I was afraid I would be a terrible mother. I am easily frustrated and struggle daily with time management, sleep, money management, paperwork, and housekeeping. I was scared that I would be overwhelmed by childcare and possibly be abusive. Just as important, I never found a partner I thought would make a good, stable dad. As for courses, yes it can be hard to stick with them and finish. I think it helps to find ways to make a game or contest out of it, and to give yourself rewards at key points , even little ones like a trip to the park for an hour on your own, or a cheesecake Blizzard at Dairy Queen. Keeping a journal is a good way to track progress, and reminding yourself of your successes can give you a boost. You can also write about whatever threw you off track and try to think of what to do to avoid that glitch in future. Just try not to judge yourself because that steals your zippity do dah. Listening to positive ADHD videos is also encouraging. We can do just about anything, we just need to do stuff our own way. And keep adapting. I hope you will find something satisfying to work towards. Even though you didn't finish your previous courses, you still learned a lot!
@@HTNPSullivan Thank you so much!!!
Dina's Homespun Fun ... forgive yourself
Today is a new day! You know a lot!
You are a curious human being-so rare and special. I just turned 64 and started a NEW program yesterday to be a translator. And you think you haven’t finished anything
Girl, tell me about it. Sometimes I wonder “what if I had dementia or more severe mental illness - if I am struggling to take care of myself, how do people who are worse off get help??!!”
I have a friend with schizophrenia. He can't get a job because if he earns too much money they'll take away his disability payments, and he can't afford treatment without it.
I have another friend with bipolar. He won't get a diagnosis because if he does, he'll lose his job and with it his insurance.
I have anxiety, OCD, and ADHD. I have had good insurance for 15 years. I'm able to function most of the time. But that's only because my wife does the paperwork. Without her, I would be completely unable to navigate the health care system, and I'd probably lose all support for managing my conditions.
Exactly! At one psychiatrist's office, they charged high fees for missing appointments. I know it's up to me to try and make the appointments but...they did realize that they treat mental illness, right??? My GP didn't even do that, and she treats colds!
@@Octa9on I have schizophrenia like your friend also. It is terrible how the mental health field treats it's patients especially those with severe debilitating mental illness like schizophrenia. I was very lucky though that there was a psychosis intervention program in my town for free. I am very well because of it. Sadly those programs are extremely rare😞
Thats a really scary thought. I already can't navigate it well its why I'm 29 and untreated for anything and barely functioning. No wonder mental illness and homelessness have such a correlation
In blunt honesty, I barely cope. I have suspected ADHD (again, yay for the difficulties of getting any diagnosis!/s), multiple mental health problems and an endocrine disorder. I'm approaching 30 and I feel as though I've watched my life leak away from me, and I currently receive almost no health care at all (and for reference, I'm in the UK. Yes, you can be left largely without healthcare in the UK). I'm persistent, but it's hard.
I'm autistic, so while it's not the same thing as ADHD (which I was incorrectly diagnosed with in the past), we do have a lot of symptoms in common and your content is a huge help. I'm currently struggling to get my autistic 12 year old daughter diagnosed and it's a nightmare. Thank you for reminding me not to give up.
I have both, it sucks. But it is weird you're having trouble getting your daughter diagnosed: autism has a strong genetic link, so if you have your diagnosis - it is bloody likely your children will have it as well.
@@muurrarium9460 one would think these professionals would understand that, but they really don't. That was actually one of the biggest reasons I went after an official diagnosis for myself last year - to make it easier to get her the diagnosis and support she needs so she wouldn't have to face the lifetime of struggles I did. But the people we were referred to are unfortunately not autism specialists and have absolutely no idea (and I mean NO IDEA) that autistic girls tend to present very differently from the autistic boys the diagnostic criteria are based on. Needless to say, I will be seeking as many additional opinions as it takes. It's so incredibly frustrating.
@@kikibplays Oh, I feel you! The "help" we autistic females get is ridiculously ineffecient and filled with prejudices about "the autistic person is...." . Hang in there, you are fighting for your childs welfare, and that turns every morther into a lioness. You rule!
Get the book Aspergirls If you haven’t already heard about it. It’s a brilliant book and your daughter may enjoy reading it too as she gets older.
If you’re in the Pacific North West pipsforautism.com is by an amazing female board certified behavioral analyst who focuses on diagnosing. ✌️
Sweetie, I feel for you so much!! I have had a psychologist tell me “it’s learned helplessness.... you need to try harder... it’s anxiety”, when I’ve had multiple professionals say it’s ADHD. After paying out of pocket for that evaluation. Yes, even my university refused to help adapt for me with a referral letter. I withdrew. I am grateful for how I’ve been able to navigate & be resourceful to land my dream job and build off my career to land in instead of struggling through my degree. My wish for the world, is accessibility ❣️🙏🏿
After being misdiagnosed with BPD, avoidant personality, even OSDD, because of this channel I finally realized I have ADHD. I got my diagnosis today. I’ve felt so alone, even talking to people in my therapy group with BPD cause i just couldn’t fully relate to them. Without this channel, I don’t think I would have found out for a long time. I am 25 now and have dropped out of community college 5 times.
I want to thank you so much for in a way helping me fix my life, but a professional should have known. A professor should have maybe known. There is so much misinformation about ADHD, even amongst people that are supposed to know.
See if you can apply for students with disabilities. ADHD is considered a learning disability. A note from your doctor should set you up. Different states may have different laws.
Wow, this is exactly what's happened to me! The BPD misdiagnosis, dropping out of college so many times, feeling like I couldn't fully relate to those who apparently had the same condition as me. I'm also 25 and have no idea where to go from now or what to do with my life, the pandemic only made things worse for my mental health. Hopefully we'll get through this in one piece and stronger than before.
Welcome to the tribe, little Brain! There is so much to learn, so much to recognize. The struggles never completely go away, but they do get easier to manage when you have more tools in your toolbox (and especially when you learn to show compassion to yourself. That's something I'm still working on too...)
I've been diagnosed with both BPD and, more recently, ADHD- the healthcare and psychiatry experiences are *very* similar. I think a lot of women being misdiagnosed with BPD for displaying impulsiveness and heightened sensitivity comes from the fact that men are 3x as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD correctly, since when we display the same symptoms, it's seen as 'female hysteria', haha.
That being said, you will probably find more luck in ADHD treatment! With it being considered a disability, I've found more people willing to work with me and somewhat less stigma, though it's not vacant. Best of luck!
I am 13 and I have adhd problems this is hard to deal with
I don't really get the whole "I'm not prescribing this medication because there are people who abuse it."
There are also people who abuse morphines but no one would think about to refuse that for people with severe pain.
There are also people who abuse thyroid hormones still those with a dysfunctional thyroid will need those.
I totally get your point but as a healthcare professional in a hospital..they do. They used to have alot freedom, but with the opiod crisis, it's about protecting your license. Obviously excluding physical trauma and obvious pain at 10.
There are automated lists that monitor and alarm "sketchy" behavior by the doctors or by patients.
@@cupkate4615 okay I have to differentiate my comment about pain medication. The US health care system seems to be quite lax when it comes to opioid pain medication. In Europe where I'm living those are only prescribed for people with severe illnesses like cancer, multiple sclerosis, severe accidents - but also mostly only when hospitalised and not at home. the exclusion is hospice care of course.
as a mental health professional with ADHD I still stand by my opinion nonetheless. ;)
People abuse thyroid hormones? :0 Wow, that's a new one. I'm hypothyroid and definitely have had some issues getting the right dose of meds, but the doctor seemed just worried about overdoing it.
I always get judged by my past..i am 5 years this October sober! I'm quite proud of that but if the health care workers know, I will not receive certain medications! That's just wrong!
That’s not true actually lots of people with severe pain get denied meds more so than adhd people
when i was diagnosed with ADHD, no one would consider prescribing me medication because they didn't believe i actually had it. i was straight up told by 3 different doctors "i don't think that's the issue, i think you just have anxiety" and similar sentiments, even though i was never once asked about the ADHD symptoms i experience. i just got re-diagnosed a couple weeks ago after struggling for months to find someone who even takes my insurance, and after that i still haven't seen my primary care doctor yet... i'm afraid she's just going to double down. it takes such a mental toll to be continually invalidated like this. i understand why people wouldn't seek diagnosis... and that's sad. healthcare in this country needs to undergo massive change.
Rei Noel I was told it was anxiety as well, by my GP, despite multiple evaluations as a child and young adult, going to a special school and displaying nearly all symptoms. I couldn’t have ADHD because I was not hyperactive. With the other health conditions my energy is drained and obviously often tired.... yet I still fidget through the entire visit. But it’s anxiety, here try this anti anxiety med! (Which I reacted poorly to, couldn’t sleep for nearly 48 hours, became increasingly anxious and jumpy, my normal shakes turned into tremors and I perpetually looked as if I had seen a ghost because my eyes just couldn’t seem to close. Suuuuuper helpful for the anxiety thanks. 🙄)
Weren’t even asked about the adhd symptoms, I really feel that, the system has failed us, and I think a lot of us don’t even realize that it’s a systemic inequality, a human rights violation depending on the country, us people with adhd need to stick together to get through it
I have autism, bipolar, and ADHD. On top of that, I have heart issues. And half the time I can't afford my meds. Right now I'm lucky and can, and I take 'em. But it is so, so, so hard.
Thank you for this video. It's bloody hard. Mental health matters.
I was talking to my therapist about how maybe my problems with productivity are related to ADHD and she said stuff like "So what if you have ADHD? You are still you" and I'm just sitting there thinking to myself "Ironically, you seem to have more trouble following conversations because that is NOT what I was talking about!" and it was frustrating. I have no problems with self-acceptance but she went on and on as if she was gonna cure me with words. She's usually very nice but that was weird and frustrating.
Update on my therapist, she is very nice and things are going well.
Thats sad really. It is because of this stigma most people have especially the older Generations
My therapist said the same thing! I never went back.
God I hate that mentality. It's easy to say so-called "life-affirming" things like "You are not your ADHD" and "This isn't who you are inside", but it IS. ADHD is a part of me and it might always be, and telling me it's not implies that it's something to be ashamed of or dismissed-- and it's not! People with ADHD are statistically more creative, more empathetic, more "thinking-outside-the-box" type of people, we just need a bit more help in certain areas than neurotypical people do.
It's like if I went to a personal trainer and said, "My lower body is super strong, but I have pretty much no upper body strength." If my trainer then told me it was okay, that my lack of upper body strength wasn't who I was and that I could get by without having any, I would fire them. That's not what you're here for-- clearly I want to WORK at it and improve myself so that I can be the best person I can be, and I need some extra help to make that happen!
Just like my mom. The only differences are that she doesn't get better and continue to tear me down-ruining my self esteem and mental health even more
Then she should not be treating people with this condition.
my teachers act like i don't have ADHD. They're always like: "why aren't you paying attention!! YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION!!! It ISNT that HARD!!!"
they don't even take into consideration that i have a way harder time than other kids. it really annoys me and hurts me. they act like it isn't even a thing. its almost like they think that the label of ADHD is a joke to them. and they give me bad report card grades for my work habbits grades. I do get good grades, but my work habbits aren't the best.
can anyone relate?
I'm sorry this happening to you. I'm a mom with a child with ADHD and it hurts my heart you go through this because I imagine my daughter in the same place. I am continuously advocating for my daughter to make sure she gets the support she needs. I hope you have an advocate on your side.
stay aware and do what you do no more no less these unconsidered teachers deserves 0 %respect for there ignorance that is around there land of work
Our teachers and doctors need to be better educated on ADHD. I've always felt bad about how badly I did in school and now I know more about ADHD I believe that's why I struggled so much.
I can relate a lot. My teacher would get annoyed with me whenever I fiddled with my fingers, she even started getting more mad at me more then the people that were actually not paying attention. Hardly anyone in my class knows about my ADHD and ASD problems. It’s terrible and whenever I ask someone to not scratch a paper as it is extremely uncomfortable for me they just..... stare..... with a confused expression and then go back to scratching paper.
As a child growing up in the 80s when ADHD didn't seem to be as common as now: I was always in trouble because I couldn't pay attention, sit still, or be quiet. Since I was always in trouble, I was always the scape goat. Since I was always in trouble, no one ever believed my side. I got blamed for things I didn't even do, and no one believed my side.
STILL to this day, even in my 30s, I feel I can never do anything right and I'll always be a disappointment💔💔💔💔
“Don’t give up if they dismiss you because you’re smart or because you’ve succeeded so far, when you know what it’s done to you on the inside to make it this far”
I’ve never heard it said better by anyone in my life. Thank you so much. I think you’re the only person in the world who really gets it.
carlmckay9862 My parents and teachers told me "Why are you so smart but cannot master such elementary sciences as arithmetics or algebra. Why are you so dumb but smart at the same time? I cannot predict my own behavior, (ergo-hyperfocus) so how did teachers try to predict my behavior if to the present day I cannot predict my own behaviour? It is still a mystery to me. People with ADHD have strong willpower, but it is directed in a wrong direction. If you direct their willpower a right way, they will achieve many great things.
@@ildart8738yo bro we are in the same boat glad i am not alone!!
Edit:Adhd ruined my life
I couldn’t agree more
Yep. This line broke the dam.
Thank you for posting this video. I've learned to live without medication but most days it's extremely hard.
45yo man crying here. The only help and support I can afford *is* youtube channels. Diagnosed ADD early 90s, Dex 5mg for a few years, and unmedicated ever since because even in australia I can't afford to be an adult with adhd treatment. Some days its really difficult to not give up.
"Don’t give up if they dismiss you because you are smart or because you’ve succeeded so far, when you know what it’s done to you on the inside to be able to get this far" :'(
I feel like because I’m in university my adhd is underestimated even by the people treating me for it
I have had the same issues. As I have grown, my doctor acted as though it was something I was supposed to grow off of. Like the medication was only for kids
Just switched docs due to moving, and I had to really fight to get her to give me a 15-day scrip while I'm being referred to "behavioral" to get rediagnosed (12 years on meds), and she wrote ON THE PRESCRIPTION I had to take to the pharmacy: "Please try to taper off" because she thinks meds are temporary... I hate being treated like a drug addict everywhere I go. So, I'm with you. Luckily, once you get going on the medication, and they see that your blood pressure and heart rate are fine, they'll usually leave you alone. But we're almost always met with that damned skeptical look at first.
I was literally told that “saying you have ADHD is drug seeking behavior” by a receptionist I spoke to when I tried to schedule a visit with a psychiatrist. I still don’t have a formal diagnosis. I was diagnosed by a guidance counsellor in high school and then again by an RN in college who didn’t note it in my chart. (I’m now almost 30) I know this is what’s going on with my brain but now I’m afraid to ask for a diagnosis out of fear of looking like I’m “drug seeking”.
Last time I went into the ER, the receptionist told me I was breathing too much and needed to breathe less. Ignore the receptionist--they don't have medical degrees--and try again.
Infuriating
Ask to be tested, ask for a 30 day trial to see if it helps. Read everything you can about ADHD. Keep watching this youtube channel.
Go to a CHADD meeting
They will know doctors who specialize in ADD/ADHD
Try www.betterhelp.com/therapists/
As a person (specifically us women)on Medicaid with substance abuse history (sober 3+years) living in the bronx, they will never care to make getting a diagnosis available to us. Let alone medication. Let alone stimulant medication. Which is what actually works. In other words. You have to be a certain kind of person to even have the chance of treatment. Knowing I'm not and never will be "that person" just depresses the hell out of me.
This must be soo difficult, I am sorry to hear this. I do not understand why the medical world has to be soo difficult and annoying.
Wow, I had never even considered what that must be like. I am so sorry. It's been hard enough for me to get treatment as someone without that kind of history, and even I have dealt with doctors who, though they don't say it, clearly think that I can't possibly have ADHD: since I can sit still and seem intelligent, I must be another drug-seeking college student. I have even had doctors send me for drug screenings the moment I even mention medication. I can't even imagine how impossible it must feel for someone in your situation, and my heart truly goes out to you. You deserve medical care just as much as anyone else.
i truly believe that at the age of 60, my doctors have failed me. I also believe, my granddaughter is worth fighting for. I can't tell you how grateful I am to have found you and this channel.
"i don't know if my mental health is worth an extra $50 a day" wow that just made me cry. (4:55 )
Me too. 😢😢😢
The moment you said "and i feel like ive been fighting my whole life to learn how my brain works and to do my best" really struck me hard because i feel the same way too!! i struggle so much with adhd and im trying my hardest to figure out how it works still! this channel helps alot and we appreciate you so much for putting yourself out there to help others!!
I got frusrated having this ADHD , but with the use of dr imenherbal on CZcams herbal remedy , i have been able to get rid of ADHD
......,.
Me toooooooooo
@@15dust90 I got frusrated having this ADHD , but with the use of dr imenherbal on CZcams herbal remedy , i have been able to get rid of ADHD czcams.com/channels/1PVLGWeT3a6Cto-kOD9IfQ.html
Me as well, super glad to have found your channel Jess, it really helps me and as I can see a ton of other people as well a lot. Stay strong and let's fight this together!
I've felt that same exact way!
I would never have suspected that I have ADHD if it hadn't been for my daughter having it, which we knew she most likely would because my husband had been diagnosed since 5. As I've seen her grow & start having more struggles, the more I've realized that she's having the same exact struggles that I had at her age. For me I was "day dreaming", "not paying attention", or "being lazy", but for her I know it's because she's distracted easily, has difficulty focusing on boring/mundane tasks, and she's having mental paralysis because she has challenges with executive functions.
I've always wondered what's wrong with my brain & have tried to learn ways to cope with/work around it, but I've had to do that on my own. I'm 33 & even though I've recently been given a stimulant(which has been a miracle medication for me), I don't know if they have actually diagnosed me with adhd yet. I was also told that I'm "too smart" 🙄.
Thank you for being vulnerable because I've been facing this issue for months and I'm glad to know that there is a community out there who knows how I feel. It's been a nightmare figuring out the medical system with ADHD. You and your channel are SO SOOO cherished!
Adding to the “don’t give up” list: don’t give up if you encounter a pharmacy/pharmacist who is judgemental or hostile to you because you’re there to pick up stimulants, or even refuses to fill your prescription because they’re “all out” as how they may have done to Jessica. (This has happened to me at one pharmacy near me; as I’m a 20-something living in a college town I suspect that they thought they were righteously turning away a study drug addict, telling me on two separate occasions at two different times of the year that they were “all out” and it would take significant time/force me to travel miles and miles away to their next location that could fill it. It was absolute BS, I simply sent my prescription elsewhere a few miles away and they filled it as normal.) It’s extremely demeaning and disheatening, but you deserve a shot at feeling normal. Please don’t give up. 💛
Refuse to provide you a medication because it is a childs illness and "you don't need it"
Being told we don't fill "those kind" of prescriptions till after 8am after driving an extra 30 minutes at 6am to get your high school kids med from a 24 hour pharmacy because you can't fill them till that day.
I didn’t even know pharmacist do that. Regardless of the type of meds I request it is never the pharmacist’s concern to decide if I really need it or not. As long as I have a prescription written by a doctor WITH 12 YEARS OF EDUCATION then it should be fine for me to get it.
@@PhantomPandaa that's ok in your instance but there are actual addicts that go from doctor to doctor seeking drugs. It is the pharmacists duty to ensure that they don't get multiple prescriptions of highly addictive (to non-ADHD brains) to sell or abuse. If they filled every prescription without hesitation they would be known by the drug seekers and could potentially lose their license.
There is softwares in place to stop that. Doctors and pharmacist both have access to the history of written prescriptions and medicine that is filled for a patient to specifically stop this issue. This is why prescriptions are no longer written on paper and is filled online. Unless I’m missing something @Sally Davidson
Fun fact: Here in Finland we rarely or never use mood lifters or stimulants to cure depression. We use antipsychotics and rarely mood stabilisers. I have an unmedicated ADHD (Since it's very hard to get a perscription here.) And depression. They gave me basically medication that sucks the little dopamine that I had, out of my system. My mom said that I was just drooling on the couch.
Also, before DSM-5, you COULDN'T be diagnosed with ASD and ADHD here.
That really stinks!
Oh noes!! I’m so sorry this happened to you
Semantics comment: you don't use medication to cure depression, you use it to treat it. We don't have any cures for depression yet. Sometimes the medice and therapy helps lift people out of depression to the point where they no longer are depressed nor need any more medicine, but it sadly isn't a cure. It will truly be an incredible day when we finally find cures for depression.
Good god, you make my existence feel so validating. I come from a small town where nobody believes in mental health disorders. Nobody understands the nightmare of trying to find meds before finals and no pharmacy carrying the medication so you have to drive for tens of miles trying to find the stuff for your brain to function. Glad I found your channel
I have dyslexia and my wife has depression and anorexia. we view meds as a crutch. not something standard to stay on for the rest of our lives. don't let society alter your brain chemistry to fit you in its normal box. home school and entrepreneurship can help people break free of the system. stop trying to fix yourself. you're not broken.
@@625098evan some people require crutches for the rest of their lives. There are such disorders that require permanent crutches, even physical disorders. Your journey is not their journey, you do not have the right to tell them how to make their journey no more than any of us have the right to tell you how to make your journey.
@@Bells_Lodge, I know from my wife's trials that no one without severe clinical depression will ever understand what she goes through. not even me. however, she does fight, and she is able to rise above. recovery is a choice. difficult? yes. impossible? no. this isn't a message of authoritarian control. I have neither the ability nor the desire to make anyone do anything. this is a message of hope. you can be more than you are.
P.S. I have the right to freedom of speech. I can say ALMOST anything I want to whomever I please.
@@625098evan congratulations, your wife doesn't have a chemical imbalance requiring medication to properly treat. I grew up with a parent with Manic depression. (Bipolar) that is a chemical imbalance that most often can't be corrected with just therapy. You wouldn't tell a person with glasses for a vision impairment to not wear glasses because it's a crutch. Medication is similar to glasses. Everyone has different levels of need. Just because your level is different does not mean someone else's level of need is invalid. Would your wife feel comfortable telling you if she needed to go back to medication long term? I am not sure she would since you seem to think long term medicine is a personal failure.
@@Bells_Lodge, my wife has been back to residential treatment 4 different times. thank you for pretending that you know me and deciding that I don't know what I'm talking about. have a nice day.
I got diagnosed last week with ADHD, I’m 40 tommorow! Your videos have been like a guide for me on what to expect! I know this is an older video but your still appreciated so much because anyone with ADHD watches this it will make more sense because this is real life and real things happening, I have combination adhd and was prescribed with 30mg of elvanse for the first month, day 3 I feel like it’s gonna be ok! Thank you x