ADHD? Diagnosis in late 50s?

elliesmemory1

I hope this is the right board for this subject .
Basically, I am wondering if its worth trying to get a assessment for ADHD.   I am 59 and as part of looking back at my life as a big birthday approaches as well as seeing and reading more about ADHD in adults I realise that I may well have it or at least some other form of neurodiversity.
As a young child I had a few issues and this lead to me having huge problems at school.  I sent my poor parents mad in hindsight.   I was very shy, didnt speak a lot and had issues at school which as I got older and and at secondary school turned in to me being a "school refuser"  I was fairly clever with school work but could not cope with the social side of school.
I saw Drs and phycologists etc but at that time late 70s early 80s I do not think I was ever actually ever diagnosed with anything.
Anyway to cut a very long story for most of my life I have struggled.
with work, with relationships, with money which lead to bankruptcy etc etc.
I now cope in a fashion but have realised, looking back that there is something not quite right.   Anyone else recognise this and have any experience of getting a adult diagnosis?

tacpot12

I certainly recongise certain traits in myself as being not neurotypical. Some of these have been a hinderance in my life, and some have been a positive benefit. A diagnosis might help you psychologically. Sometimes it's comforting to be able to put a name to what has affected you.

I have no experience of getting a diagnosis, but would suggest that you might be able to get value from looking at the advice to people with ADHD if this seems to be the closest condition that aligns with your experience. 

Emmia

elliesmemory1 said:

I hope this is the right board for this subject .
Basically, I am wondering if its worth trying to get a assessment for ADHD.   I am 59 and as part of looking back at my life as a big birthday approaches as well as seeing and reading more about ADHD in adults I realise that I may well have it or at least some other form of neurodiversity.
As a young child I had a few issues and this lead to me having huge problems at school.  I sent my poor parents mad in hindsight.   I was very shy, didnt speak a lot and had issues at school which as I got older and and at secondary school turned in to me being a "school refuser"  I was fairly clever with school work but could not cope with the social side of school.
I saw Drs and phycologists etc but at that time late 70s early 80s I do not think I was ever actually ever diagnosed with anything.
Anyway to cut a very long story for most of my life I have struggled.
with work, with relationships, with money which lead to bankruptcy etc etc.
I now cope in a fashion but have realised, looking back that there is something not quite right.   Anyone else recognise this and have any experience of getting a adult diagnosis?

What do you think a formal diagnosis will give you? Access to medication? Support groups, or just a label?

elliesmemory1

Emmia said:

elliesmemory1 said:

I hope this is the right board for this subject .
Basically, I am wondering if its worth trying to get a assessment for ADHD.   I am 59 and as part of looking back at my life as a big birthday approaches as well as seeing and reading more about ADHD in adults I realise that I may well have it or at least some other form of neurodiversity.
As a young child I had a few issues and this lead to me having huge problems at school.  I sent my poor parents mad in hindsight.   I was very shy, didnt speak a lot and had issues at school which as I got older and and at secondary school turned in to me being a "school refuser"  I was fairly clever with school work but could not cope with the social side of school.
I saw Drs and phycologists etc but at that time late 70s early 80s I do not think I was ever actually ever diagnosed with anything.
Anyway to cut a very long story for most of my life I have struggled.
with work, with relationships, with money which lead to bankruptcy etc etc.
I now cope in a fashion but have realised, looking back that there is something not quite right.   Anyone else recognise this and have any experience of getting a adult diagnosis?

What do you think a formal diagnosis will give you? Access to medication? Support groups, or just a label?

Maybe access to medication, it would also answer some questions as to how I have been all my life.

unforeseen

I got a diagnosis of ASD at 65.
I didn't do it for medication, label or support but as an answer and understanding of  some of my oddball traits.
The possibility of ASD was actually raised by the counsellor who was assessing me for PTSD. 

elliesmemory1

unforeseen said:

I got a diagnosis of ASD at 65.
I didn't do it for medication, label or support but as an answer and understanding of  some of my oddball traits.
The possibility of ASD was actually raised by the counsellor who was assessing me for PTSD. 

Thats pretty much what I feel.  I would like some answers to why I have been the way I have.... Whats the best way to go about it?   I guess the GP?

Savvy_Sue

elliesmemory1 said:

unforeseen said:

I got a diagnosis of ASD at 65.
I didn't do it for medication, label or support but as an answer and understanding of  some of my oddball traits.
The possibility of ASD was actually raised by the counsellor who was assessing me for PTSD. 

Thats pretty much what I feel.  I would like some answers to why I have been the way I have.... Whats the best way to go about it?   I guess the GP?

Yes, I think you'd start with the GP, although you may find that you're directed towards private assessment (about which I know nothing) or will at best face VERY long waiting lists. Another possibility - and I have no idea if this would be a possibility or not - is that if you work for a large or particularly supportive employer, might they support you in your journey? 

Meanwhile, are there self-assessments you can do through any of the ADHD or similar support groups?

I think one thing I'd like to say to you is that you'll still be you: diagnosis won't change that. Support might change how you feel about it, and you might get some strategies, but you'll still be you, ND or NT. I would also think about how you might feel if you don't get that diagnosis - or indeed any diagnosis. 

Where I'm coming from: school doctor suggested that DS1 might have Asperger's (and I know that term is less used these days) when he was 12. It made perfect sense of a lot of things. I mentioned it to an adult friend who knew all of us well, he asked what it was, I described it and he said "I'm one of those!" And indeed he is ... As is DH (and as was his late father, not that I'd have suggested that to him!)

His comment - which I found VERY helpful - is that as a teenager, he tried, for a while, to fit in with his peers, and was absolutely miserable. And then he thought "blow this, I give up", stopped trying to fit in, and was immediately a lot happier. I tried to stay alert to DS1 trying to fit in: as it happened I don't think he ever did: he had a bunch of 'interesting' friends! 

For DS1, he did have extra support at University, and he was able to tell his employers that there were things he'd struggle with. As he's now self-employed, those things are now his own problem, but at least he knows where his weaknesses are, and is able to pay people to do the stuff he doesn't want to! 

Actually just remembered a sibling said last year they'd been referred to adult autism assessment centre - I sent in a bundle of 'memories' of what they were like as a child. Not sure what the 'result' was, or whether they're still waiting, but I've asked how the journey started, and if I find out I'll let you know. 

Savvy_Sue

Savvy_Sue said:

Actually just remembered a sibling said last year they'd been referred to adult autism assessment centre - I sent in a bundle of 'memories' of what they were like as a child. Not sure what the 'result' was, or whether they're still waiting, but I've asked how the journey started, and if I find out I'll let you know. 

OK: process started with the GP. Has now been referred to the adult assessment team, which has a 2 year waiting list ... 

unforeseen

Savvy_Sue said:

Savvy_Sue said:

Actually just remembered a sibling said last year they'd been referred to adult autism assessment centre - I sent in a bundle of 'memories' of what they were like as a child. Not sure what the 'result' was, or whether they're still waiting, but I've asked how the journey started, and if I find out I'll let you know. 

OK: process started with the GP. Has now been referred to the adult assessment team, which has a 2 year waiting list ... 

It took me 2 years from being referred as well. 
I had a gruelling 3 hours of assessment first by an MH nurse & then a psychologist. While I was being assessed by one, my support person (my daughter) was being interviewed by the other and they then swapped over.
At the end they said they would jointly assess all their notes and let me know. 
The emailed 20 minutes later with an initial assessment of ASD. This was followed up a week later with full copy of their diagnosis and report which ran to 20 pages. 

elliesmemory1

Thanks, its interesting.    I would just like some answers really as too how my life has been.    I have looked up my health notes on NHS App.   They only start in 1993 so I do not know how I can get access to my notes as a child?   I certainly saw child phycologists and would be very interested to see what was written about me.  I wonder if its possible to get that info?