A Response To Some Questions
Everyone needs a careful thorough evaluation by a competent knowledgeable professional (good luck there) before being diagnosed with ADD ADHD. (There are other things that can look like ADD ADHD and there are other conditions that often accompany it.)
Managing ADD ADHD
Once diagnosed, you need:
1. Education about ADD ADHD.
2. Strategies to cope with specific problems. Plus, basic overall approaches (sleep, structure, exercise, meditation, outdoors). A coach would be good.
3. Discussion of options about medications. Most people would be best served by trying them. (Sometimes they are wonderfully helpful, sometimes not.)
4, Therapy/counseling ( This might start a little later; this diagnosis and program is a big pill to swallow all at once).
Why Therapy?
ADD ADHD generates shame, demoralization, feelings of futility and helplessness, low self-esteem, etc. etc. etc., and often depression. These need to be addressed. That will help you do better with strategies and the strategies will help you do better with these problems. The medications will help you focus enough to use the strategies.
While simply addressing the psychological emotional issues can be a significant help, it won’t be enough by itself to address the ADD ADHD.
Other Approaches
I think this is the best approach. I’m not really familiar with other approaches. At some point, it could be useful to discuss other options, such as neuro feedback, diet alterations, or other alternatives, but I don’t have much knowledge about them or strong data supporting their use.
These are my opinions, based on my own experiences and the amount of studying and research I’ve been able to do.
doug
@dougmkpdp @addstrategies #ADD #ADHD
You want to be sure of your ADD ADHD diagnosis.
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I had finally decided to schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist for a diagnosis and help (menopause is making my ADHD SO bad!). I called to schedule the appointment (got a referral from a friend) and he wasn’t scheduling appointments. They suggested I call back in two weeks. I was confused because it sounded like he wasn’t taking new patients although his website said he was. The receptionist said things were just so crazy that he was scheduling anything but in two weeks they might be back to scheduling appointments. I didn’t think that sounded very professional so I decided not to pursue this doctor even though he came highly recommended. Don’t you think that sounds weird?
I got another name and was going to call but my son had gone to that office and they were really awful. However, I wouldn’t be going to the same doctor he did and the name I had was again highly recommended.
Then a friend said the psychiatrist would probably want me to go to the gynecologist first to deal with the menopause issues before they dealt with the ADHD issues.
So I did nothing. What are your thoughts? I’m really struggling right now.
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homey- sorry for such struggles.
it is hard to find a doctor today, let alone a good one, let alone a good one who has decent office staff. or one that really understands ADD ADHD.
my other thoughts:
try to see the gyn and the good add adhd dr both as soon as you can. whenever you can get an appt, ie see first whichever one you can see first.
good luck
doug
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vicki- thank you for alerting me. its a great link, read it yesterday but i cant find it now. will keep trying
thanks
doug
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Was this a test, Doug? That’s quite a teaser, “Just about everything on coping with ADD ADHD” I clicked with great anticipation, but the link did not work from the email nor from your webpage. It promises so much, I hope it’s real. 🙂
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