What should I say or not say to the therapist for the first time? Should I come out and say I think I have ADHD or should I avoid my own self-diagnosis and ask them to evaluate my habits on their own? Anything I should say or not say in a first chat? Anything that may be a red flag or green flag with a new therapist?

  • The Sourcerer@lemmy.worldOP
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    I’m hoping that I won’t need meds at all and there’s an approach where I can just use therapy to help me understand myself and how I can manage my bad habits.

    What’s frustrating is that I took some tests when I was younger but they were administered by someone in my family who actively was hoping I wouldn’t have ADHD and therefore wouldn’t need meds - so that confused me a bit… unless they were right and I’m potentially an anxious mess instead. But anxiety might be it’s own meds 🤪. Still would like to avoid it.

    • Thrillhouse@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      ADHD is one of the conditions that responds best to meds (success in the 70-80% range). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2518387/

      Be open to it if you are diagnosed. My life changed drastically for the better in ways that habits or awareness could not have helped - lack of fatigue, depression gone, able to actually start things (activation energy), etc. ADHD is a difference in how our brains function and it’s hard to out habit a brain that is determined not to work the way it “should”.

      Should also note the meds are different now than when we were kids.

      • tinyVoltron@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Vyvanse changed my life. Without it, my career would have stagnated and my marriage would likely be over. I was diagnosed in my early 40s. I didn’t realize how many of my issues stemmed from the frustration caused by being forgetful, procrastinating, aggressive, etc. The meds, along w/ years of therapy, help me manage my brain. I’m still the same person w/ many of the same issues but I am able to manage them much better. I’m not saying meds are for everyone. But be open-minded. Realize that ADHD is just like any other disease or disorder. You would take meds for diabetes or high blood pressure. It is the same thing.

    • blueskiesoc@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      Do what you want, but you don’t have bad habits. Please don’t beat yourself up. It’s how your brain works.

      • The Sourcerer@lemmy.worldOP
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        I appreciate that perspective. They aren’t bad habits, they are different habits… and they work better in certain scenarios too. Convert those mannerisms to superpowers I say.

    • Rick@thesimplecorner.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      I know the feeling… believe me. I tried to not use meds… I never want to take an prescriptions. Somehow I saw it as being weak or feeling reliant on something made me… less of a person? I don’t know how to describe it. I even started using marijuana as a more “natural” alternative for awhile. Ultimately, through introspection I felt that not seeking the meds route was doing myself a disservice for a since of control that wasn’t necessary. I totally empathize with you and get it. Best of luck to you.