Independent Leyton Orient Forum

Haven’t got a diagnosis yet, but I from what I’ve read I am off the scale on the criteria in most respects. Anyone else here either got it, or suspected you have after the signs of it have become more well known?

One of the guys I play golf with is a Psychiatrist - and he was discussing ADHD - apparently the wait time for a diagnosis up here is getting on for 5 years now. Massive jump in the numbers of folk wanting a diagnosis (much like another "thing" at the moment that's dear to your heart) means that they're having to prioritise more life threatening issues rather than all the folk who have self diagnosed. He seems a little scathing about it all - we're all on that scale to some extent.

Impression I got was he didn't have a lot of time for it.

Yeah, I think there’s a LOT of “I have ADHD - in my job I sometimes don’t get started on a project until two weeks before deadlines, AND I have a messy desk”, but the actual cluster of symptoms when it’s most severe is something i relate to a lot. But I agree that there are absolutely lots of trenders on this, too. Big overlap, in reality

I know you can jump the queues at theme parks with a diagnosis- as if the rest of us love queueing.

I know a few teachers, it seems theres been an explosion in the number of children with this sort of thing over the past decade or two.

Yeah - In schools I witnessed the explosion first hand. A mixture of genuine growing awareness of needs, but with a hefty bit of influence from rich parents who pretty much got a diagnosis - and extra support as a result - on demand

There seems to be quite a bit of "Social Media Celebration" when someone gets theirs - "Whooo - Hoooo I got my diagnosis - I feel so much better!"

CEB wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 4:12 pm Yeah, I think there’s a LOT of “I have ADHD - in my job I sometimes don’t get started on a project until two weeks before deadlines, AND I have a messy desk”, but the actual cluster of symptoms when it’s most severe is something i relate to a lot. But I agree that there are absolutely lots of trenders on this, too. Big overlap, in reality

I'm wary of getting diagnosed for this reason but having done a fair amount of reading up on it, I'm in the process of referring myself for an assessment.

Yes
Unfortunately

Proposition Joe wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 4:20 pm

CEB wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 4:12 pm Yeah, I think there’s a LOT of “I have ADHD - in my job I sometimes don’t get started on a project until two weeks before deadlines, AND I have a messy desk”, but the actual cluster of symptoms when it’s most severe is something i relate to a lot. But I agree that there are absolutely lots of trenders on this, too. Big overlap, in reality

I'm wary of getting diagnosed for this reason but having done a fair amount of reading up on it, I'm in the process of referring myself for an assessment.

Yeah, i’m currently weighing up a few things, including whether I want to go down the medication route or not

StillSpike wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 4:18 pm There seems to be quite a bit of "Social Media Celebration" when someone gets theirs - "Whooo - Hoooo I got my diagnosis - I feel so much better!"

I mean, I don’t think that’s a bad thing per se - with long waiting lists and adults with a sense of relief that they have a context for some issues, I can understand why there might be a bit of that, though at the same time it does mea it’s attractive to people who just really love some attention

CEB wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 5:02 pm

StillSpike wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 4:18 pm There seems to be quite a bit of "Social Media Celebration" when someone gets theirs - "Whooo - Hoooo I got my diagnosis - I feel so much better!"

I mean, I don’t think that’s a bad thing per se - with long waiting lists and adults with a sense of relief that they have a context for some issues, I can understand why there might be a bit of that, though at the same time it does mea it’s attractive to people who just really love some attention

Which category do you fall into ?

The one I was just slightly scathing of, obviously

So you have concerns that people are playing the hypocondria thing ?

I don’t have “concerns” - I just agree broadly with StillSpike’s psychiatrist’s take on it, while recognising that the people who describe significant impact of ADHD-like systems seem to get great results from medication or planned adjustments to routines etc. Anything that’s diagnosed mostly through self reported behaviour is inherently open to people identifying into having it

I know a fair bit about this although I've done no real research.

I don't have it but know someone who does and it can be very debilitating. When they got their diagnosis it was a short lived relief for them to understand why they were different and not "normal" . Any long term alleviation of the symptoms has come through medication.

CEB wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 5:25 pm I don’t have “concerns” - I just agree broadly with StillSpike’s psychiatrist’s take on it, while recognising that the people who describe significant impact of ADHD-like systems seem to get great results from medication or planned adjustments to routines etc. Anything that’s diagnosed mostly through self reported behaviour is inherently open to people identifying into having it

So you started a thread to agree with
S'Spikes Psychiatrist ?

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 5:36 pm I know a fair bit about this although I've done no real research.

I don't have it but know someone who does and it can be very debilitating. When they got their diagnosis it was a short lived relief for them to understand why they were different and not "normal" . Any long term alleviation of the symptoms has come through medication.

Yeah, this is what I seem to be finding, anecdotally.

There is nothing wrong with having a psychiatrist BUT - he's not my psychiatrist - he's an occasional golfing partner who happens to be a psychiatrist (we took pity on him as he was playing on his own so we asked him to join us, aren't we lovely?) It was only afterwards that I found he was posing as one of the guests (see avatar for the source of that allusion)

StillSpike wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 5:46 pm There is nothing wrong with having a psychiatrist BUT - he's not my psychiatrist - he's an occasional golfing partner who happens to be a psychiatrist (we took pity on him as he was playing on his own so we asked him to join us, aren't we lovely?) It was only afterwards that I found he was posing as one of the guests (see avatar for the source of that allusion)

sorry spike Iwas in my head saying S'spikes psychiatrist friend but didnt write friend . Must be an ADHD brain thing .

A few people have suggested I’m probably a bit Aspie. Mental health bantz, eh? When I asked Dr Google about it, it turns out it’s possibly true.

But what’s the point confirming or denying it via a proper diagnosis now I’m in my Saga years? I’m ok with it/myself, so Que Sera Sera. But best wishes to CEB (and others) seeking help if they feel they need it with any mental health conditions.

I have many of the traits of ADHD. Not been diagnosed nor interested in being diagnosed now I have reached the age of 67 and long retired from work. Growing up and in the workplace was very challenging for me at times because of entrenched ADHD behaviours. You will know the typical traits of ADHD if you have read up on the subject and understood them correctly, as I have now done in depth (well as much as my ADHD will allow me). ADHD is very debilitating and brings much anxiety to one’s life. Now I have reasons for my behaviours in the past it brings me much comfort to realise why I acted as I did and still do and adjust my way through life accordingly. I quite empathise with the people who “come out” about their ADHD in public and understand that it brings them some peace, a positive revelation even. I am not sure I would have personally gone down the medication route though. That’s all.. have a good everyone.

I was never concerned about ADHD or Autism until I spoke to a DR I was seeing about my skin condition maybe 10 years ago , one of his sons also had X-L.I & had been diagnosed with autism & ADHD , I saw the guy his son was diagnosed by & chatted about some stuff a couple of times but decided not to take it any further . When youve spent your life going to Hospitals & Doctors appointments it can start to grate .

ChelmerO wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 5:58 pm I have many of the traits of ADHD. Not been diagnosed nor interested in being diagnosed now I have reached the age of 67 and long retired from work. Growing up and in the workplace was very challenging for me at times because of entrenched ADHD behaviours. You will know the typical traits of ADHD if you have read up on the subject and understood them correctly, as I have now done in depth (well as much as my ADHD will allow me). ADHD is very debilitating and brings much anxiety to one’s life. Now I have reasons for my behaviours in the past it brings me much comfort to realise why I acted as I did and still do and adjust my way through life accordingly. I quite empathise with the people who “come out” about their ADHD in public and understand that it brings them some peace, a positive revelation even. I am not sure I would have personally gone down the medication route though. That’s all.. have a good everyone.

Yeah this kind of sums up where I’m leaning to - having something that contextualises some things can actually help manage it, or at least manage associated anxiety type stuff.

CEB wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 4:18 pm Yeah - In schools I witnessed the explosion first hand. A mixture of genuine growing awareness of needs, but with a hefty bit of influence from rich parents who pretty much got a diagnosis - and extra support as a result - on demand

The school get extra funding too, to cover that extra support. Same with dislechsea!

Further to this thread - and where self awareness is relevant - thinking about behaviours associated with ADHD like a hyper fixation and immense frustration at not being understood (see - any argument I have on here, where (sometimes) good points can get lost in repetition or sheer volume of points (with further points made in parenthesis etc)
I’m aware enough of it to try to keep a lid on it, though not good enough at it to not do it at all (plus, I am naturally a bit spiky/sardonic/bit of a c**t depending on your POV.

It does mean though, that it’s quite easy to spot such behaviours in others (always easy to solve other people’s issues) and honestly, in relation to the ongoing thing with Rev/OFF, and PJ pointing out that it’s all a bit tiresome; honestly Rev - that issue is settled. Anyone with a brain reached the same conclusion about it you did, and most people also think that it was handled badly by others afterwards. Your fixation on it is now the main event, not OFF’s behaviour, so you are better off sticking to just letting it go for now. Nobody has forgotten it. You’re coming from a good place on it, but it’s not good use of energy. (In the same way that when I get into my second/third page of the day countering someone’s post on the gender debate, it’s now ‘uh OH, CEB’s off on his bugbear’ rather than “this is very interesting, I’ll have to read what he said”)