The lighter side of ADHD
$5k?! A doctor's visit is $250 for me (insurance doesn't cover anything until I never reach the deductible). Also there were only like 2 tests totalling 20-ish questions. The hardest part was making an appointment, which I never would have done if I wasn't also making appointments for other pressing health issues.
Nah, I can't even do that because every place in my area will straight up say that they will never diagnose an adult with adhd.
Then use one of the many telemedicine doctors that actually align with modern science. How weird of them.
Self-diagnosis is not valid. By definition. Not even a psychiatrist can diagnose themselves. What you're talking about is either 1) advocating for your own diagnosis or 2) self-treatment.
Both of these things are valid.
Advocate for yourself for a diagnosis from a health professional if it will unlock new treatment options. But also just look into how others with similar problems have successfully managed their problems. Consider how you could implement similar things. That's what's at the heart of therapy for ADHD anyway.
But diagnosis itself is only useful as a tool for describing symptoms and informing treatment. If a collection of symptoms speaks to your experience, then the only point in putting a diagnostic label on it is to say "Maybe these things that helped others with similar symptoms will also help you." But in order to do that effectively, there also needs to be a differential diagnosis to ascertain what it is not. This is why healthcare providers need to be involved in the process. Two different things can look very similar but have very different etiologies and different treatments.
Social media needs to quit putting so much emphasis on diagnosis and more emphasis on treatment. This post should be removed for medical misinfo, but I hope people at least read the comments to see why this person seems to be such a snakeoil influencer.
Based reaction
I agree with most of what you're saying, but the way you're presenting it is almost confrontational.
True, self-diagnostic in a strict sense isn't a thing, but as you point out after, a collection of symptoms can speak to one's experience. Finding this insight, in my case, was an eye opening moment because so many things in my past and in my day to day suddenly started to make sense.
Coming to terms with this realization is especially useful for people who have strong negative views on mental health issues, and driving people to "self-diagnostic", as in recognizing that they may be neuro divergent, is a worthy effort.
It doesn't replace actual professional help and diagnosis, but it's a first step that needs to be encouraged.
For a purely semantic sake, you're probably right. But for a colloquial sake, the term "valid" here, doesn't mean "legally valid" or "medically valid", but instead means "emotionally valid." For some people, confirmation is therapeutic enough to help. Also "diagnosis" doesn't exclusively mean "medical diagnosis". There are many definitions to the word, and in a medical sense, it usually means what you're describing. But "I think I have ADHD" is a diagnosis. Not a medically valid one, but something that might help me get through the day sometimes. And if that's all I need, then it's emotionally valid.
Being told "your self diagnosis is not valid" to some people is the same as being told "There's nothing wrong with you." (Because most people aren't working on a strict legal medical definition of "diagnosis") Emotionally validating your assessment that something is wrong can very well be what drives people to advocate for a medically valid diagnosis.
Also, saying "You don't have ADHD unless it's diagnosed ADHD" is wrong regardless of stance on self diagnosis. If my arm is broken, it is in fact broken, even if it hasn't been diagnosed. Undiagnosed issues are still issues. Too many anti-self diagnosis claims come across as saying that if you don't have a diagnosis it doesn't exist. At most you can claim "You don't know for sure you have ADHD unless it's medically diagnosed"
As with all things, a self evaluation is a useful "what do I do next" step.
Man. I hate to shill, but…
I faced many of those same issues, and after a year and a half of failing to set up testing, my doctor told me to go to adhdonline.com - they offer online testing for $180, and give you results back in like a week. She’d already given me an ADHD testing referral, and she suggested that my insurer would probably reimburse me for the cost, but I have ADHD, so I never bothered with it.
It took me about 4 hours to do the test (but I did it while I was sitting through a day-long virtual meeting where I had to be present, but not ‘present’. So like, it probably won’t take focused people that long.)
And - yeah. Morally, it sucks. It’s feeding into the commodification of someone’s job and is morally kind of like using Uber or AirBNB. It’s convenient and maybe cheaper. Maybe it upsets a system that could use a little upsetting, but will likely upset it too much and have unforeseen impacts.
But it worked for me.
The problem with online services like that is many of them dont properly test people. So when they inevitably get shut down suddenly you don't have a reliable source of medication and you have to go through the whole process again just to prove it. Like with what happened to Done recently.
That’s completely fair. I was unfamiliar with Done until I searched for them just a few moments ago.
The service I used offers diagnosis for a one-time fee, and does not dabble with prescriptions at all. The diagnosis came from a practicing psychiatrist that is licensed in my state. Those factors, plus the doctor’s recommendation are what made me comfortable enough to go with it, but I normally don’t love going with online options for stuff like this. I just was tired of the runaround.
The diagnosis - which did not include treatment recommendations - was transmitted to my GP from the psych. And my GP worked with me on treatment options.
I assume if the website got shut down, it would be inconsequential to my diagnosis unless the psychiatrist was found to have fraudulently issued diagnosis’. (Which is always a possibility.)
But that is a very good cautionary tale. Done didn’t just say they would diagnose ADHD in 30 minutes or less, but they utilized a subscription model and issued Adderall on an auto-renewing basis.
That whole thing seems pretty sketchy to me. It appears they were trying to tie your health care to their subscription model. They can go kick rocks.
Self-diagnosis doesn't help me get meds.
Self-diagnosis doesn't help with relationships IMHO either and I mean that both from a personal and professional perspective.
Why you might ask?
YMMV but for me, I am an open book. Having the diagnosis meant I could talk to bosses when trying a new med, or explain to them when struggling. Knowing the diagnosis means you immediately diffuse an aspect of a challenge. For me, that has been immensely valuable.
Edit - wanted to add a common counterpoint is don't let work know because you can't predict people who will use your honesty against you. I will argue assholes are assholes and you can't live your life at the possibility someone will be a dick. Most people are good people. Trust on that.
Nobody is suggesting otherwise or defending the medical system here.
It's not necessarily going just to get confirmed, but you have to go to get medication which will improve your quality of life.
Oh good, another doctor who thinks her own book, website, blog and youtube channel are an adequate substitute for professional, personalized care and diagnosis.
"It's really hard to get a diagnosis, so why even bother trying? Just like the video and hit the bell for notifications!"
She comes up a lot on my Threads feed even though I don't follow her and some of her takes are.. uh, iffy. I understand that some doctors actually want to help people, but there are far too many out there that seem like they're more interested in becoming some sort of famous guru. I wish more people took their advice with a grain of salt.
Not enough upvotes
Are people having that many hurdles for official diagnosis? Genuinely asking. Mine was with my primary care doc, $100 out of pocket for the visit, and whatever the meds cost. There was one questionnaire and total took about 30min from start of visit to prescription. That said, first meds aren't helping at all so I'll need to go back and see what other options there are, if any.
Folks, really seriously genuinely, talk to your regular ass doctor about a diagnosis if you’re looking to get assessed. Mine just gave me the assessment for no charge because I was already there for something else.
He even said if I wasn’t happy with the results he would write me a referral to whoever and just send it to my insurance like a specialist referral, so they’d at least HELP even if it’s out of network.
After waiting several weeks for my appointment my "regular ass doctor" told me I couldn't have adhd because I could look him in the eyes and hold a conversation. So, thanks, I'm cured?
I mean, it’s no panacea, but still worth checking before jumping straight to a potentially pricey specialist. Unfortunately some doctors are still dipshits.
I’m sorry you got invalidated by a medical professional, it’s dishearteningly an all too common experience for neurodivergent folk. I hope it didn’t turn you off the idea of treatment too bad. There are good doctors out there, who care and will listen and won’t just talk down to you.
After about two or three years since that first I've now made my third attempt to get help (Second one said 'you can't have adhd because you've finished university and have a job).
I've gotten one step further, but if I am accepted to do a real evaluation it will be more than a years wait time. Public mental healthcare in Sweden is a joke. The wait time alone makes me want to just do it in private care but I can't justify the expense in my current life situation
Possibly state-by-state, practice specific, or insurance company policies.
My doctor told me that in my state a psychiatrist has to test and diagnose. The testing was covered by my insurance (if you have a referral), but the wait list is a problem.
Wow. I had no idea that was a thing. I'm glad I asked then. Opens my mind to how hard it can be for other folks. That's really awful.
It took me over a year to get a diagnosis from my initial inquiry with my doctor. She gave me a referral (otherwise it would not be covered by insurance), and a list of practices that did ADHD testing (not every psychiatrist does it), and I stumbled on picking a place for a few months. When I picked a place, their wait list was 3 months and I never pursued testing.
The testing process in my area takes a few hours - my wife’s took 3 on a video chat, and it took about 3 months for them to send their report to her doctor.
Cut to a year later, my old doctor had retired, and I had a new one. She gave me a new referral for testing, but cautioned me that the wait list for most places was now 6 months. Checking around with other folks in my area confirmed this. But while at that appointment, she recommended an online company, who - after a few weeks of weighing options, I did pursue, and tested/evaluated me (no video chat, just an online survey - about half was written responses - that took about 4 hours to complete), and got results back in a week. It was $180, and may have been eligible for a reimbursement from insurance, but I have ADHD, so I never bothered.
And like - I guess I appreciate it. It does seem like whoever made those policies made them so that the diagnosis won’t be given lightly, but it creates issues. I sorta feel that I cheated, but my test was actually reviewed by a psychiatrist, and when I told friends of my diagnosis, the most common response was ‘Duh. You didn’t know?’ - so even though the online approach is sorta ‘cheating,’ I know that it’s definitely a warranted diagnosis in my case.
Yeah, that's terrible. I do agree there needs to be some checks and my doc might be an annomaly in regards to dishing out pills for everything. But while the course so far hasn't helped me, I'm grateful I don't have to go through so much just to start. I'm sorry you've had to deal with that.
Ahhahhha... I'm trying for 3 years now to get the diagnostics done. I'm in europe with government regulated healthcare and still pay my medications out of pocket, because its only covered with a formal diagnosis which I can't get anywhere.
I had messaged my doctor's office sometime in Aug last year, they said to call and schedule an apt with my doc. So I went to my physical some months later, December maybe, and they brought it up. I confirmed, we talked, and they said they would refer me to a local place that does screenings, but it would probably be a few months wait. A few months later I go in to my doctor for a shoulder injury, and followed up about having never received contact from that other place. They looked into it and the referral never got made and sent. Not ideal, but I've been at it for 30+ years so what's another couple of months. It has also now been more than a few months and I still don't have a call back.
I enjoy my doctor and the office, but I think it's time to find a new doctor's office.
Or live in a country with universal health care and stop being a second world country.
If you read the comments, it seems to be precisely the people in countries with universal healthcare who are having trouble. Getting diagnosed in the US is relatively easy. For me it was a single visit to a psychiatrist, $300 out of pocket because I have not hit my deductible yet. Have been on stimulants and doing well ever since.
So add moving to another country to the list, lol
Americans don't need to do that, they just have to actually fight to get proper health care to elevate themselves to first world status.
Ahh ok i see now. Please give me more specific instructions--yours are a tad vague
Lol. Best country in the world right? Good luck with that.
Thanks for the informative answer
I self diagnosed fifteen years ago but in the last two years I've been getting real help for it. I regret not doing so when I first came the conclusion I have ADHD. I can't take stimulants and the first time I was given a non stimulant ADHD drug I had a severe reaction. This caused me to avoid getting real treatment and that was a huge mistake.
What kind of help have you been getting since you can't take stimulants?
The doctor I see for adhd set themselves up as a PCP for insurance purposes, so each visit is just a copay. You can find co-pays from free to $20 on the ACA Marketplace (Obamacare). Just find an insurance salesperson to help you, they are paid by the insurance companies so you don't pay for their help!
Testing cost me a little more and it wasn't as laborious as this makes it sound. One test was video-recorded while you clicked the mouse whenever something happened on the screen and the other was some questions about your history.
I understand why people might not want to do it, but personally getting diagnosed and starting treatment has been life changing.
Yeah you don't need a doctor to tell you your arm is broken, but raw dogging a broken arm is hardly ideal.
This post is literally about how hard it is to get a formal diagnosis. Nobody said they don't want to do it.
I'm trying for years now and can't get anyone to test me. Treatment is only covered after I have an official diagnosis. And this is in a country with socialised healthcare.
Not everyone is as fortunate as you and can get a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Yeah I don't need a doctor to tell me my arm is broken, but at least I can get a doctors appointment for that.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply otherwise. But I wanted to share that in my personal experience it has absolutely been worth the effort
This post is literally about how hard it is to get a formal diagnosis. Nobody said they don’t want to do it.
This post is about a doctor who makes money from her personal brand, website, books and speaking tours, telling people that getting a formal diagnosis is so hard that why should you bother. And now that you're emotionally validated, why not visit her blog, store or youtube channel and subscribe?
I genuinely don't know if her material is good or not, I tend to lean towards it being pabulum and watered-down schlock like literally any speaking-tour psychologist without even reading it. But lets not make any mistake about what's being peddled here and why.
I don't really appreciate discouraging people from getting professional care and diagnosis just because you have convinced yourself that your impersonal motivational messages are as good as personalized and in-depth care that a professional can offer.
yeah, the last time I tried to get a diagnosis it was a 6 month wait just to meet the doctor for it. And I had to make a phone call too which I avoid at all costs even if it's detrimental because the anxiety gets to me so bad haha
Considering how much medication can help, uh, yeah, do those things. Its a trivial inconvenience compared to living unmedicated.
Also 5k is a lot, maybe if you're uninsured? Hell, getting an uninsured MRI is cheaper than that. And health insurance is kind of a must for living with a disability.
Don't like sentiments like this. I feel like it prevents people from getting the help they need.
The author is not saying don't get self-diagnosed. They're criticizing the healthcare system.