Wow Josh, in my mind I could see you sitting there, writing while going through the emotions and I felt them as I was reading. Powerful.
The list of what doctors could do better is getting longer. Here’s a couple of my (un)favourites.
Treat the symptoms instead of finding the cause.
Divide up hospitals after body-parts because it’s not like they belong together in any way 🙄
Look down on any other types of health practitioners because they haven’t been brainwashed at med school to fill the pockets of pharmaceutical companies.
Thank you for this, I agree completely with your points. The way the system treats symptoms like checkboxes instead of looking at the whole person is exactly what makes people feel unseen, which does not mean that there are no great health practicioners, of course. The biggest flaw is on the system itself, sometimes it feels like we are swimming against the current, as if having ADHD would not already be a countercurrent swim!! Your points are sharp and sadly too real.
Thank you, Dr. I was extra cautious not to generalize all doctors with that behavior, hope you didn’t feel bad about my criticism toward your profession!
And, in my world even aggressive push-back against how docs have let themselves become agents of commerce is encouraged. I have done my fair share of pushing back and critiquing. If you take just a short look at the contents of my 2013 book, you will see a number of those critiques.
My gen (79ers and such) of docs held dear to a *balance* between quality and heartfelt assistance and keeping a roof over our heads. Private practice with a heartfelt idealistic commitment has been killed. I blame it entirely on my cohorts who caved in to the toxic corporate powers.
I am probably much angrier and aggressive about my cohorts' moral compromises than anyone I know. Commerce won. Across the board.
I am 74 years old and suspect I very likely have had the disorder most of my life. I have always referred to myself as an “85 percenter” in that I very often don’t complete things I enthusiastically began. My only question relative to your very sympathetic and thoughtful posts is why don’t you and commenters offer suggestions and advice of HOW to deal with this rather than just why it is so hard to get a diagnosis. What does one DO WITH THE DIAGNOSIS when it is received? What ACTION can an individual incorporate into their life to live a BETTER LIFE? Would they be HARMED if they incorporated said suggestions into their life that MAYBE isn’t “technically “ ADHD? It is easy to complain that “noone understands” and “a diagnosis is hard to achieve”. Go the next step and offer suggestions that give hope to either overcome or at least to combat the symptoms and make them better. Hope this makes sense.
Thank you for such thoughtful questions. You’re completely right. Getting a diagnosis is just one step, and what really matters is knowing what to do with it. I try to focus a lot on the emotional side because that’s where I still struggle the most, but you’re precisely right to say that we must focus in actions, methods, systems, in other words, to bring something really practical. Things like using timers, breaking tasks into tiny pieces, setting reminders everywhere, are some of the things that seems to help, and that we definitely need to dive into more often here. Some people find medication helpful too, but not everyone goes that route. And yes, even if someone isn’t "officially" diagnosed, trying these things can be important because you can have some isolated traits and definitely thinking on your routine with an ADHD approach has a good chance to make your life easier. I really appreciate you bringing this up, it really makes a lot of sense. It’s a good reminder to share more of the how, not just the what. I've been thinking muich about that in the last weeks and months, and your words just reminded me that this is the direction we must follow here in this project (and not leaving that to "later" or "someday", in the best ADHD-style we want and need so much to handle)
So glad I made sense. Never quite sure I do. What a wonderful, thoughtful and kind message back to me. I wish you all the best on your journey. Kindness and understanding are so necessary in folks lives…especially these days. Take good care of yourself and thank you for your thoughtful posts! You do a good service.
The first psychiatrist I went to I told them I was depressed because I couldn’t do basic things to take care of myself that others don’t seem to ever have a problem doing. Then I explained to them all the reasons I suspected ADHD. She told me I was depressed, and that’s why I couldn’t do those things. 🤦♂️ Sent me home with SSRIs that just made it worse.
If you don't like a doctor, therapist etc. - walk out as quickly as possible. You post resonates with me given I am 53 and diagnosed as Autistic 6 weeks ago. Doctors are so busy these days I wonder how much time they have to stay up to date. We MUST be our own advocates. There is a new option in the USA for getting a diagnosis. LBeeHealth.com offers an Autism assessment for $500 with a 2 week wait. They also offer ADHD assessments. I believe they are starting to offer their services internationally too.
Reminds me of the time I was trying to explain dyspraxia to a clinician after returning to my home to the US from having lived for in the UK for nine months, where I found out about dyspraxia and felt I could identify with it. The stupid quack actually told me that I looked too fit and healthy to have such a condition, even though he hadn't even heard about it until I told him..And he told me that my slowness in completing basic tasks was probably due to OCD, even though he never even screened me for it.
Great post Josh, it really hits a lot of points about modern diagnosis.
I actually went to the doctor when I was around 19 and although I had no idea I had ADHD at the time, if someone presented my symptoms and behaviours from then to me now, I'd suggest getting assessed.
The doctor told me I simply needed to get more exercise. 🤷♂️ I was already super active so that didn't help. I often wonder what a diagnosis 25 years earlier would have changed.
There is much more ADHD diagnosis' being made today, precisely as you noted, people are realising it themselves instead of waiting for a professional to tell them and then seeking one.
When I enrolled my daughter in a small xtian primary-school I thought that I was doing the right thing as a parent. I thought, based on my own public school experience, that this was the superior choice despite not being xtian ourselves. I was wrong.
What I found instead was rigidity. An inability, or was it a choice, to accept 'different'.
My daughter was clearly ADHD. When I attempted to get her 'tested' I was supplied with a survey sheet of questions to respond to. Her kindergarten teacher was provided with the same questionnaire. They never once asked to meet or see my daughter. Based on the questionnaire she was deemed to not be 'afflicted'. She continued to struggle in school, clearly an outside of the box thinker (all the fall pumpkins were colored orange except her rainbow pumpkin)..., and that institutional school was not working for her. We tried all manner of 'modifications' while she was 'in school'. None seemed to work for her. When I brought her 'home' I put her in front of a pile of books that she loved and we 'immersed'. Which is what she needed. A rabbit hole.
I was fortunate to pull her from school and educate her at home until college, where she struggled earning B's and C's. Once she was prescribed Ritalin her ability to study and function in her classes improved markedly. She started earning A's and B's. Then she graduated, went on to graduate school, and is now a professional social worker. I also struggled in school, despite that, earned higher degrees.
I have had a late understanding that both she and I (surprise surprise) are AuADHD, which has made for some challenges in communication and generally in life, as you might imagine. It all comes together now as social media has given a platform to those that are well informed in the subject and able to provide an informational service to those of us seeking to understand ourselves. It makes one feel less isolated to know that there are other's out there experiencing similar incompatibilities with society.
I appreciate your newsletter. Thank you for your efforts.
Wow Josh, in my mind I could see you sitting there, writing while going through the emotions and I felt them as I was reading. Powerful.
The list of what doctors could do better is getting longer. Here’s a couple of my (un)favourites.
Treat the symptoms instead of finding the cause.
Divide up hospitals after body-parts because it’s not like they belong together in any way 🙄
Look down on any other types of health practitioners because they haven’t been brainwashed at med school to fill the pockets of pharmaceutical companies.
Thank you for this, I agree completely with your points. The way the system treats symptoms like checkboxes instead of looking at the whole person is exactly what makes people feel unseen, which does not mean that there are no great health practicioners, of course. The biggest flaw is on the system itself, sometimes it feels like we are swimming against the current, as if having ADHD would not already be a countercurrent swim!! Your points are sharp and sadly too real.
Well said. Right on! Write on!
Thank you, Dr. I was extra cautious not to generalize all doctors with that behavior, hope you didn’t feel bad about my criticism toward your profession!
Josh: Absolutely, I am not complaining!
And, in my world even aggressive push-back against how docs have let themselves become agents of commerce is encouraged. I have done my fair share of pushing back and critiquing. If you take just a short look at the contents of my 2013 book, you will see a number of those critiques.
My gen (79ers and such) of docs held dear to a *balance* between quality and heartfelt assistance and keeping a roof over our heads. Private practice with a heartfelt idealistic commitment has been killed. I blame it entirely on my cohorts who caved in to the toxic corporate powers.
I am probably much angrier and aggressive about my cohorts' moral compromises than anyone I know. Commerce won. Across the board.
So, "keep the fire to their feet" is my motto.
Asthma is everywhere too that doesn’t mean it isn’t real
Yes. Asthma is everywhere, and no one calls it trendy. But with ADHD, people suddenly forget how science works.
I am 74 years old and suspect I very likely have had the disorder most of my life. I have always referred to myself as an “85 percenter” in that I very often don’t complete things I enthusiastically began. My only question relative to your very sympathetic and thoughtful posts is why don’t you and commenters offer suggestions and advice of HOW to deal with this rather than just why it is so hard to get a diagnosis. What does one DO WITH THE DIAGNOSIS when it is received? What ACTION can an individual incorporate into their life to live a BETTER LIFE? Would they be HARMED if they incorporated said suggestions into their life that MAYBE isn’t “technically “ ADHD? It is easy to complain that “noone understands” and “a diagnosis is hard to achieve”. Go the next step and offer suggestions that give hope to either overcome or at least to combat the symptoms and make them better. Hope this makes sense.
Thank you for such thoughtful questions. You’re completely right. Getting a diagnosis is just one step, and what really matters is knowing what to do with it. I try to focus a lot on the emotional side because that’s where I still struggle the most, but you’re precisely right to say that we must focus in actions, methods, systems, in other words, to bring something really practical. Things like using timers, breaking tasks into tiny pieces, setting reminders everywhere, are some of the things that seems to help, and that we definitely need to dive into more often here. Some people find medication helpful too, but not everyone goes that route. And yes, even if someone isn’t "officially" diagnosed, trying these things can be important because you can have some isolated traits and definitely thinking on your routine with an ADHD approach has a good chance to make your life easier. I really appreciate you bringing this up, it really makes a lot of sense. It’s a good reminder to share more of the how, not just the what. I've been thinking muich about that in the last weeks and months, and your words just reminded me that this is the direction we must follow here in this project (and not leaving that to "later" or "someday", in the best ADHD-style we want and need so much to handle)
So glad I made sense. Never quite sure I do. What a wonderful, thoughtful and kind message back to me. I wish you all the best on your journey. Kindness and understanding are so necessary in folks lives…especially these days. Take good care of yourself and thank you for your thoughtful posts! You do a good service.
That needed to be said and you did it beautifully.
Really appreciate your words, thanks! But remember the real beauty is in the eyes and the heart of who is reading!
AMEN!
Thank you, and amen too! 🙏 🙏 🙏
The first psychiatrist I went to I told them I was depressed because I couldn’t do basic things to take care of myself that others don’t seem to ever have a problem doing. Then I explained to them all the reasons I suspected ADHD. She told me I was depressed, and that’s why I couldn’t do those things. 🤦♂️ Sent me home with SSRIs that just made it worse.
If you don't like a doctor, therapist etc. - walk out as quickly as possible. You post resonates with me given I am 53 and diagnosed as Autistic 6 weeks ago. Doctors are so busy these days I wonder how much time they have to stay up to date. We MUST be our own advocates. There is a new option in the USA for getting a diagnosis. LBeeHealth.com offers an Autism assessment for $500 with a 2 week wait. They also offer ADHD assessments. I believe they are starting to offer their services internationally too.
Reminds me of the time I was trying to explain dyspraxia to a clinician after returning to my home to the US from having lived for in the UK for nine months, where I found out about dyspraxia and felt I could identify with it. The stupid quack actually told me that I looked too fit and healthy to have such a condition, even though he hadn't even heard about it until I told him..And he told me that my slowness in completing basic tasks was probably due to OCD, even though he never even screened me for it.
Great post Josh, it really hits a lot of points about modern diagnosis.
I actually went to the doctor when I was around 19 and although I had no idea I had ADHD at the time, if someone presented my symptoms and behaviours from then to me now, I'd suggest getting assessed.
The doctor told me I simply needed to get more exercise. 🤷♂️ I was already super active so that didn't help. I often wonder what a diagnosis 25 years earlier would have changed.
There is much more ADHD diagnosis' being made today, precisely as you noted, people are realising it themselves instead of waiting for a professional to tell them and then seeking one.
When I enrolled my daughter in a small xtian primary-school I thought that I was doing the right thing as a parent. I thought, based on my own public school experience, that this was the superior choice despite not being xtian ourselves. I was wrong.
What I found instead was rigidity. An inability, or was it a choice, to accept 'different'.
My daughter was clearly ADHD. When I attempted to get her 'tested' I was supplied with a survey sheet of questions to respond to. Her kindergarten teacher was provided with the same questionnaire. They never once asked to meet or see my daughter. Based on the questionnaire she was deemed to not be 'afflicted'. She continued to struggle in school, clearly an outside of the box thinker (all the fall pumpkins were colored orange except her rainbow pumpkin)..., and that institutional school was not working for her. We tried all manner of 'modifications' while she was 'in school'. None seemed to work for her. When I brought her 'home' I put her in front of a pile of books that she loved and we 'immersed'. Which is what she needed. A rabbit hole.
I was fortunate to pull her from school and educate her at home until college, where she struggled earning B's and C's. Once she was prescribed Ritalin her ability to study and function in her classes improved markedly. She started earning A's and B's. Then she graduated, went on to graduate school, and is now a professional social worker. I also struggled in school, despite that, earned higher degrees.
I have had a late understanding that both she and I (surprise surprise) are AuADHD, which has made for some challenges in communication and generally in life, as you might imagine. It all comes together now as social media has given a platform to those that are well informed in the subject and able to provide an informational service to those of us seeking to understand ourselves. It makes one feel less isolated to know that there are other's out there experiencing similar incompatibilities with society.
I appreciate your newsletter. Thank you for your efforts.