FAQ’S
I’ve contacted my doctor about ADHD but they don’t believe me - any suggestions?
Unfortunately, not being taken seriously by your doctor is something we hear a lot of, which quite frankly is atrocious. You deserve support with what might be ADHD, you deserve to understand what is going on with your brain and your doctor should be someone you can trust.
Remember that awareness and understanding of what ADHD looks like is still not where it needs to be, so whilst this is far from what your experience should look like, it is NOT because you shouldn’t be assessed if many of the experiences and symptoms of ADHD are ones that resonate with you.
We found a really good way to approach the topic is to make sure you have evidence of what ADHD looks like (even if that’s screenshots saved in an album on your phone of everything ADHD related that resonates with you) so you are in a position where you are able to be as confident as possible in being able to ask for what you deserve.
If you are being brushed off with comments like “adult women don’t have ADHD/you don’t have ADHD/are you sure it isn’t just anxiety?” and you are able to communicate that you have done extensive research that suggests otherwise (and that it is something which is affecting your ability to navigate life the way you should be able t0) — you are in a considerably better position AND well within your rights to ask for an assessment.
If you are still not getting anywhere, asking to be assessed by someone who specialises in ADHD is perfectly reasonable, hence requesting the referral.
If all else fails, asking to see another doctor might be a route to explore.
You know your brain better than anybody else, and you deserve to live a fulfilling life and receive support that allows you to do so.
You are absolutely not going through this alone, and we have a very supportive facebook group and members area chat that we don’t doubt will be a comfort to you right now. Keep going honey!
I need to ask my doctor to be referred for ADHD but how do I ask?
We’d suggest (as above) that you collate everything that resonates with you and maybe compile it into one place.
We know this isn’t always the easiest task, which is why we’ve created our Pre Diagnosis Manual and have (in an ADHD brain friendly way) gathered examples of how it might present itself in various areas of your life, space for your thoughts and tools to enable you to communicate with your healthcare provider in a way that takes as much emotional labour out of the equation for you as possible.
With regards to Right to Choose + Psychiatry UK ADHD assessments (England only), we suggest that you make the initial call with your GP, explain the symptoms you are experiencing and HOW it prevents you from doing things throughout your life.
You then might feel more comfortable in explaining that having researched these things, you’ve seen many of the symptoms and experiences you mentioned shared by adults with ADHD, and would like to be referred.
They might explain that the NHS waiting list is long (or they might not!), and at which point you can explain that whilst researching, you have also gathered some information about the referral process for Psychiatry UK, and that they are the provider of ADHD assessments that you’d like to be referred to.
It might help for you to take a look on their website and specifically, the information they have in relation on Right to Choose + NHS patients so that you are able to explain what that looks like.
We have a highlight on our Instagram page explaining more about Psychiatry UK + ADHD if you’d like to take a look there, or once again, feel free to search the ADHD for Badasses Facebook group + post on there if your question hasn’t already been answered.
Can you give me advice on XYZ?
We are ALWAYS keen to give you the support you deserve, but probably unsurprisingly, our DMs are full of a lot of people who are also not being given adequate support in relation to ADHD, so hang on in there and we’ll get to you when we can!
We have a facebook group that you can join as a woman or non binary person (diagnosis or not) which is full of others from across the globe at various stages of their ADHD journey - if you have some thoughts you need to share/request for advice, we don’t doubt for a second that the community will come through for you there (and probably quicker than we can!)
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Lastly, so many of you send us the most heartwarming and tear inducing pieces of feedback in relation to this account, and quite honestly, it physically PAINS us that we can’t send you essays relaying our appreciation for you when we receive them - so if you don’t get a lengthy response, know that would ~always~ be our preferred option, but we’re just behind the scenes working really hard to bring you the best ADHD platform we can possibly give you!