Went to the doctors for the first time and..... - ADD / ADHD Message Board

orangerain6 · 08-23-2008, 08:47 AM

Yesterday I went to my first appointment with a therapist so she could diagnose me with whatever she thought I had. The second I opened my mouth she said that she thinks I have ADHD with depression that is due to ADHD. People said our appointment would take an hour, it took 15 minutes. lol. She said she could tell I was ADHD because I was well spoken yet didn't do well in school just like some of you guys said before. Within 5 minutes of my talking she was writing on her paper and saying "yes I see where this is going" implying she knew I has ADHD (how did everyone know this but me? lol) However, I was kind of upset because I can't even stand being like this a day longer and she tells me I have to see her one more time this month and then go to a psychiatrist in a month from now and he will put me on meds. A month! I can't wait that long....but anyway, what I wanted to know was is the psychiatrist appointment any longer than the therapist?? I just don't get how I could be diagnosed so fast with ADHD from a therapist, and then still have to be evaluated for an hour by a psychiatrist.

addprogrammer · 08-23-2008, 09:48 PM

OrangeRain,

There is no way around "the process" that I know. Therapists/psychologists have better ADHD diagnostic tools than shrinks but unfortunately can't prescribe meds. You took the best method. The therapist/shrink combo will give you the fastest relief in the long run.

I'm trying real hard to be encouraging. Truth is, IT SUCKS waiting for relief.

Sorry,

Bob

waratah · 08-24-2008, 08:05 AM

Hi orangerain6,

Could you give us some of your background and symptoms and expereinces.

I have to admit that I'm just a little perplexed as to how you could be diagnosed in 15 minutes with a therapist!

I have an ADHD son who is now nearly 15 years old and was first diagnosed by a specialist pediatrician when he was around 3 1/2 years old. But it took many visits, and lots and lots of screening and behaviour tests before we knew exactly.

So, I'm not saying that your therapist is wrong, just wanting to know how he/she arrived at this conclusion in the first consultation.
Regards, waratah

orangerain6 · 08-24-2008, 10:29 AM

Well she asked me what my symptoms were. I told her that I daydream all the time, even when people are talking to me I am not listening. I said I am spaced out and that I am always in another zone in my head. I quit school at 16 and quit every job I had because I got very bored/depressed very fast, and I never listened to my boss's instructions due to daydreaming so I never understood how to do my job correctly. She asked me if I was ever diagnosed with a learning problem and I said no because I always got decent grades and was well behaved in school. I said it wasn't until high school that I stopped caring and started failing everything. Then we went into how I have been on 3 antidepressants before and nothing worked. She told be that she thinks I have ADHD and I am depressed as well because of ADHD.

I am guessing it took me a short time because I had classic symptoms of someone with adult ADHD where as your child, is a child. I think they are extra careful with diagnosing a child who can't express themselves the way an adult can. When I saw my therapist, we went through a lot but I had nothing to say. For instance she asked about drugs, rape, being sexually/physically abused/family life but I had nothing to tell her. I never did drugs, I have never been abused, I don't drink etc. So we touched on many topics, we just touched on them very very fast. I was surprised by how fast it took as well. However, I was surprised when I heard it was supposedly going to take me an hour of talking. I didn't have much to tell her but what my symptoms were.... being I never had any big traumatic issue to discuss with her. I couldn't figure out how I would talk about this for an entire hour. Thank God it didn't take that long because i was nervous.

addprogrammer · 08-24-2008, 04:44 PM

waratah,

Your question stumped me good. I knew there was a significant difference between adult and child ADHD diagnostics in the number of visits and the number of tests performed. I hadn't fully reasoned out the "why" until now.

OrangeRain accurately answered your valid question.

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangerain6

I am guessing it took me a short time because I had classic symptoms of someone with adult ADHD where as your child, is a child. I think they are extra careful with diagnosing a child who can't express themselves the way an adult can.

An adult's history is the most accurate ADHD diagnostic tool - if the adult can, will, and does give an an accurate rendering of their history.

OrangeRain posted her history here a few weeks (months?) back, I read it, and it screamed ADD all over my desktop.

Coming from the standpoint of someone who lives it, Adult ADHD has a signature bigger than John Hancock's, IMO.

Can other disorders mimic ADHD? You betcha. Tons of them. Most of the imposters can be quickly eliminated by asking the adult questions such as those posed by OrangeRain's therapist.

I see no reason why it should take a trained therapist longer than 15 minutes working with an intelligent and honest patient to conclude "most likely adult ADD." It is now up to the shrink validate the therapist's diagnosis and manage the medical end of the problem.

OrangeRain,

Getting the right meds is one square past square GO on the getting-adult-ADHD-under-control playing board. You are much younger than I so I would expect less hoops for you to jump through. Prepare yourself, though, for more "process" after your shrink's visit. I'm finding CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) to be most helpful in undoing my ADHD caused bad habits and learning good replacements.

My wife loves me more since losing her full time detective job - "detecting my stuff locations." Yeah, she still works part time. The "process" does take time.

Bob