During your appointment, you may find yourself asking the following questions.
How Does The Clinician Really Know I Have ADD?
As was mentioned earlier, there is no definitive test for ADD or any other mental health disorder. This is why it is important to give the clinician as much information and documentation as possible. Yes, sometimes misdiagnoses are made, but going to a clinician is a positive first step in getting your questions answered accurately and thoroughly.
How Much Time Is Needed To Make An ADD Diagnosis?
It depends. If you have been seeing this clinician for a while, and she knows your family (and your family history), then you may not need to see her for as long as you would if you were a new patient. However, if you are at the clinician's office and you just feel like he hasn't taken enough time with you, it is important that you mention that to him. In essence, it's not so much the amount of time spent doing the evaluation as whether you feel like you received a complete evaluation.
How Often Do I Need To Come Back To The Clinician?
If you have been prescribed medication, your clinician will most likely want you to return for a "medication management" appointment. Usually these are scheduled for once a month at first; when you are on an effective dose of medication, the visits are reduced to once every three months. However, this can differ depending on how well the medication is working or if you have any side effects. Is Adhd A Disease
What If I Don't Agree With The Clinician?
As described, there are ways to know if you have a good doctor-patient fit. But what if you don't agree with something the clinician said or did? The best way to handle it is to mention your concern to her while you are still at your appointment. If after taking this first step - talking to the clinician - your concerns are not answered to your satisfaction, you have other options:
- You can always get a second opinion from another clinician.
- If you feel the clinician has violated ethics or laws, you can contact the clinician's professional organization or the state licensing board.
AFTER YOUR DIAGNOSIS
Once your clinician confirms that you meet the diagnostic criteria for ADD, you may experience a flood of different feelings, like shock, relief, hope, or even disappointment or grief. It is important to remember that everyone experiences the news of their diagnosis in a different way. How you experience these feelings depends on the severity of your ADD, how much your life has been affected by having it, and the amount of support that you receive from your family and friends. You may experience all, some, or none of the following stages, and you may experience them in a different order than is given here.
The Light Bulb or "Aha!" Stage
When you realize that you have ADD, finally (and suddenly) everything makes sense. You may start medication or counseling. You may also start noticing your ADD behaviors more - they may even seem to be getting worse. What used to be a mild difficulty with managing clutter now becomes glaringly obvious to you. You wonder if maybe being diagnosed with ADD or starting medication has made your ADD worse. What's really going on is only that paying more attention to your symptoms can make them seem worse.
The "What Do I Do Now?" Stage
During this stage, you may start debating whether you want to get treatment for your ADD. You may start questioning the usefulness or safety of medication. You may also wonder if you should share with your family and friends that you have been diagnosed with ADD. You may wonder if it would be wise to share your diagnosis with your employer, and if you do, how it may affect your job. You may feel overwhelmed by all the decisions you think need to be made before you can move forward. Is Adhd A Disease
The "Life Could Have Been Easier" Stage
During this stage, you may beat yourself up over things that you did in the past. You may also feel a sense of loss over "how much easier things would have been" if you had received treatment earlier. You might even feel anger toward your parents, teachers, and other caregivers for not getting you help earlier for your ADD symptoms. Keep in mind that they did the best they could with the knowledge, resources, and information they had at the time. The important thing is that today is a new day, and now you have found the missing puzzle piece to your life. It is important to forgive yourself and your parents, caregivers, and teachers.
The "Stocking Up on Info" Stage
You are now hungry for more information on ADD. You want to find out where all these other ADD people are and where to get tips on how to deal with ADD. You may join a support organization, such as CHADD or ADDA. You may participate in an Internet forum like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Forums. You may also start reading books and Internet articles on ADD.
The "Making Changes" Stage
You may more actively rally your friends and family around you for support. You may also discontinue relationships with people who you feel "just don't get" your diagnosis of ADD. You may be less tolerant of those who feel that ADD is not a valid diagnosis. You may feel anger or frustration toward friends or family members who tell you that you shouldn't be taking medication. You may also find that your relationships have changed because your ADD symptoms are getting better.
The "New Me" or Acceptance Stage
You may openly tell people that you have ADD. You've made peace with your past experiences. You see ADD as a part of you, but you are aware that it doesn't define your entire identity. You are not just a person with ADD - you are also a mother, father, daughter, spouse, partner, coworker, employee - take your pick! If you take medication, you are taking it regularly and as prescribed. You may now be working to educate others about ADD and may become an advocate for yourself in school, at home, or in the workplace.
To learn more, you can check out Is Adhd A Disease.
