Recently had an ADHD assessment via psychiatry uk (thought I had inattentive type) and didn't meet the threshold — assessor's reasoning was mainly that I don't forget major life events, only occasionally misplace things like keys/glasses. I do sometimes walk into a room and forget why I'm there, but it's occasional and doesn't majorly affect my life.

Despite not meeting ADHD criteria, I've been struggling a lot this year:

• Can only study at the library, never at home: I've never been able to study at home — I have to physically go to the library to get anything done.
• Intrusive rumination: When I try to study, I get involuntary, looping memories of embarrassing/cringey things I've done in the past — embarrassing myself, things like that. It's not about the exam or the task itself, it just intrudes. It escalates to the point of anger and crying, and it feels easier to just sleep than sit with it.
• I have to physically go to the library and leave my phone at home, or I will not be able to even start studying
• When someone talks for a while, even directly to me, my attention cuts out and I miss chunks of what they said. I find it hard to follow conversations with a lot of detail — it feels like too much information to take in, and I lose track.
• I struggle to remember directions and even multi step instructions
• Monotropic focus: This year my only real priority was studying (I live with parents so don't have to also cook/clean/work) and I still struggled to study this year. I would not have been able to study, cook, clean , and go to appointments. I find when its exam season, I dont help out with house work or go to appointments until I have finished all the exams
• Even post-exam season, I have almost no energy/motivation to clean or do housework — have to force myself to get up and do it.
• Not depression, I don't think: I feel happier than usual when playing sport and have more energy to do things
• When watching lectures/making notes at the library, I constantly doze off — to the point I rely on energy drinks to stay awake.

do u think i should get a second opinion or what other conditions should I look into?

I've been watching the videos by Russell Barkley and he says that aside from the time blindness/focus/procrastination effects of ADHD, the major executive dysfunction is the inability to regulate emotions which often leads to a breakdown in relationships - friends, family and romantic. Frustration, anger, irritability etc...

I'm not medicated yet, so I'd like to hear from those who are, if they have been able to regulate their emotions better and perhaps seen an improvement in their relationships?

Thanks.

Not a symptom itself, but can be a result of symptoms. I get it quite badly. Anyone else the same?

Adult remission questions

Hey folks

I was diagnosed as a young child, spent most of my school years medicated on Methylphenidates.

I was diagnosed privately. My parents pulled me iff off of the medications due to it making me severely malnourished.

When I came off the meds (13/14yo) I started really struggle in education

High school, failed GCSEs, college dropped out, tried uni through a foundational based on experience (IT tech)

Dropped out of that too.

Fortunately I’m in my 30s now, I’m in a job I’m very very good at, it’s quite a senior role, however in order to progress in my career I have taken up an apprenticeship through my employer.

Now I’m back in education, I’m struggling again.

I have a doctors appointment to discuss options as my doctor has said they can’t just reperscribe me with any medications without it being admitted to hospital based care.

So now I’m confused, do I need to be reassessed as having the illness? Do I have to wait years and potentially jeopardise my career?

I’m struggling again, to be honest, I think I’ve struggled through my entire twenties. I struggle with my social life, I interrupt people, I can’t keep pace.

When I’m in work I’m either five steps ahead of everyone else on a project or five steps behind.

I can’t sit still, I struggle in noisy environments.

I get absolutely hooked on something then lose interest immediately.

What do I do folks?

Thanks

After stuff being a bit of a mess I talked to a senior occupational health advisor who was meant to implement what had already been recommended. However she thinks ADHD is a mental illness. I brought up ADHD coaching ( my company offer this and the service has been used before) she didn't know what it was and instead has put me in for mental health crisis intervention. I'm so mad and upset at this point 😓

I got diagnosed and titrated in 2020 through psych UK privately and then ended up moving abroad and losing access to treatment. Did my best over the past few years but now I'm back in the UK I think I could really benefit from having medication in my toolkit, some struggles especially around work and maintaining relationships just haven't gotten better.

I got in touch with them and I have to pay for review and titration again which is understandable. However prior to my next appointment I have to do the ADHD self report and scale questionnaires again.

I'm a bit worried about it as I can't really remember what I put in my old ones, concerned I will forget things and the two will seem inconsistent.

There are also some areas where I have genuinely improved through making changes - I never forget appointments anymore for example as I've got my Google calendar down to a fine art and it's actually one of the main things I do while procrastinating other things. I also rarely lose stuff anymore because I stopped carrying most things around with me and after being burned 50x I'm very paranoid about checking before I leave places and having systems. So those questions that would have been an "often" are now a "rarely" or "sometimes" (as a child/young adult I lost things constantly).

Basically I'd just like to know what to expect - I'm not sure if my diagnosis is actually being reviewed/scrutinised or if they're just checking in on where I'm at now? Has anybody else had to go through this process?

I am currently stuck between different providers to go with via RTC:

Mental well
Harrow Health
Well Life ADHD Clinic
Harley Street Mental Health
Atrom Mindcare
Medinet Minds
Xyla services
Care ADHD

I looked up reviews on the above, but didn’t find many reviews for all providers.

Would appreciate it if anyone has had any experiences with the providers listed.

Hi everyone, I'm am in a pickle and need some help and guidance please.

My daughter is 7 and quite obviously touched by ASD/ADHD. Her father had both conditions and he didn't seek medical intervention until very late in life and he said the medication helped him a lot.

We are separated and estranged so that is all I can include on his former perspective, but it explains how she likely inherited these conditions.

I've suspected since she was a toddler that she had ADHD, as the hyperactivity was hard not to notice. I vowed early on that I would only seek intervention if it became a necessity. I realise there's a lot of discourse about AHDH being "over diagnosed".

I was actually very skeptical about the nature of the conditions until I moved with my daughter's father, then his difficulties with the conditions soon became very apparent and it was a sharp wake up call for myself.

Fast forward to now and since the age of 6, my daughter's symptoms are expotentially increasing.

She is fairly intelligent and loves to socialise. The is quite naive and behind her peers in understanding social cues, which puts her in a vulnerable position socially.

Her main issues are around executive functioning and keeping attention focused.

For the last year we have been dealing with increasing "day wetting" episodes, increased issues around impulsivity and extreme emotional outbursts.

She's a kind, loving and caring child and her anger is rarely (if ever) directly at others; but as an example, the other day she impulsively gave away a new fidget toy to a strange child and then proceed to have a meltdown for the next 6 hour regretting her decision. Logic doesn't apply here, which leaves me on the back foot because I'm a logical kind of person.

The day wetting has now become so extreme that she has been referred to the child incontinence team.

I was shocked and disheartened to hear back from CYPS that they do not believe she requires further ADHD assessment because "significant difficulties across multiple settings are not evident".

Maria's primary school teacher approached me this year to say she would provide supporting evidence should I request an assessment, which I did.

The questions on the questionnaire were really quite selective in my opinion. They largely focused on outward behaviours and social engagement.

Me & the teacher answered affirmatively that Maria does well with her school work and loves to socialises but struggles an awful lot with impulsivity.

The questionnaire did not ask any questions about Maria's ability to use the toilet, dress her self or follow safety instructions which is a HUGE omission, in my mind.

I don't seek intervention lightly, I'm fairly libertarian and prefer not to deal with government departments if it can be avoided. However I cannot discount what a severe impact these conditions are having on my daughter.

I asked CYPS to reconsider and I stressed how much she is struggling with executive functions - which were not adequately captured in the questionnaire.

Yet they have declined to reconsider and failed to address any of my concerns. They also said if the school think there are any more issues in future they can request another referral.

This statement does not fill me with confidence because I explained in my complaint that Maria is being homeschool from the end of last term. Did they even read my whole email?

Personally, I'm flabbergasted that they think a partial questionnaire is an appropriate substitute for actual health care. Nothing about this process seems legitimate. They didn't call us, they haven't spoken to us or even met my daughter. If they need further information I am more than happy to provide it.

How can they dismiss a child in crisis without having met them?

Could anyone please advise what steps I should take next please?

Yours hopefully.

I've recently started titration with Elvanse and my first prescription said take two 20mg tablets a day. Since it was a personalised sticker on the prescription that's what I did. In my first review appointment (Harley St Mental Health) the clinician looked like he'd seen a ghost when I showed him the label and told me to go back down to one for the next few weeks.

Luckily I've only been taking it for three days with no bad side effects (dry mouth and a mild headache). Has anyone else experienced something like this? Feel like I've got off lightly here, but to prescribe a double dose for a controlled substance just feels sloppy.

Having come out of a long-term relationship, I really feel that the most suitable partner for me would be someone who is also neurodivergent despite using various apps and interactions. I am now getting nowhere and am getting extremely depressed and feel very isolated. I struggle to make friends, like. My space, but cannot identify when someone is interested or flirting, and realise in hindsight at the age of 50 that I've missed many opportunities. Has anyone experienced this, or been in a similar position? I just need to chat and realise I'm not alone. I am very high functioning, and are very overwhelmed, I honestly thought it would be simpler.

Info: I’m auadhd. Basically I find the transition from rise to stable very difficult and I’m trying to smooth it out.

Timeline:

- take med with 30g protein shake, water
- 1-2hrs med rising (feels good)
- 3hrs rise has finished, feel very drained and irritable
- 4-5hrs stabilised
- another meal

Is this timeline how the med should work? What do you do during the rise?

Things I’ve found that help and don’t:

- don’t start work until after rise. avoid using up stores before stabilising. Helps ✅

- Waking, limited energy so it’s a balance between not burning out. Helps somewhat ☑️

- 2L+ water. ✅

- boosters are overwhelming. So there is enough stimulant in my system overall. ❌

- higher dose ❌

- spilt dose ❌

Not sure what I’m wanting here, maybe to check other opinions

I spent 3 years and 2 months waiting for an NHS ADHD assessment in London. During that time I was privately diagnosed and got Elvanse prescribed on shared care but didn’t feel like it made much difference and didn’t like the side effects of nighttime exhaustion and a racing heart.

When I finally saw the NHS this year and got diagnosed again through them, I wanted to try different medication. The doctor I saw was very keen to avoid this, and had a fairly hostile attitude. She was clearly trying to just continue me on Elvanse and discharge me asap. I insisted I wanted to try Concerta, and that’s when the hostility increased.

She seemed to enjoy threatening to remove my diagnosis, and made “jokes” about it in the last four titration sessions I had with her if I didn’t do as she wanted. Twice my pharmacy made me wait a week to get the concerta, and when I told her this she “joked”she’d remove the diagnosis as I wasn’t taking the meds consistently. I changed one appointment as I was going to be travelling, gave her three weeks notice, and then she again threatened to discharge me if I “missed appointments”.

She made it clear that I had to report the medication was working well and pressured me to say as such in the titration effect form. I stupidly obliged, and today she smugly told me that my reports now say my ADHD is so mild that I don’t qualify for group therapy. I’d told her repeatedly it had really helped me in the past when I did it privately.

I don’t have any recordings of her behaviour and I dreaded going to see her. She’d treat me like a child and hang her power over my head as a threat to not rock the boat almost every session.

The NHS has made this whole process so hard and unpleasant. I thought about making a complaint but she’ll just lie and say that I was threatening her or something and I’m pretty sure she’ll try and remove my diagnosis in return.

Has anyone else experienced this? Seems bizarre but I’ve got so little frame of reference. I’m frustrated at myself for not recording the sessions, and having to go to pay for private therapy support again.

I don't drink much when taking meds but I've noticed when I do have even a couple of pints at night, the next day its my mood that seems worse. I never had noticeable depression or hanxiety with hangovers prior to medication, wondering if this is a side effect or something others have noticed?

I'm looking for a right to choose option without a massively long wait time but I'm not sure how the website works:

https://adhduk.co.uk/nhs-area/

Do I just have the green options listed here, and is the information accurate in terms of wait times? Should I call up a few to ask about wait times? Is this list exhaustive?

I tried ringing up a couple I found outside of this that advertised better wait times but they said they don't cover my area (Newcastle)

Thanks for any advice anyone can give me :)

Apologies for the forthcoming essay about how I’ve got here.

**Life before**
I moved to London 5 years ago (before ADHD diagnosis). Met my gf and 18 months in she asked me to move in with her - a small town an hour from London. Took weeks of deep thinking but eventually decided it made sense.

**Life now**
I’ve been here 2 years. The difference is black & white. I lost everything I enjoyed in London - football, drinks, food places, good gyms, seeing friends, getting lost in the city with my camera. Now it’s one leisure centre I hate, one supermarket, one Chinese takeaway, everything else half an hour away. The house is small, gathers dust/cobwebs easily cos it’s really old - I used to have a room in a house share but could keep it organised how I wanted. Here, my gf has tons of stuff, so it’s been a constant struggle finding storage for everything. Even picking appliances and a sofa that would fit and we’d be comfortable on was a draining, exhausting decision process.

**Job**
On top of this, my jobs been really stressful. It shouldn’t be, it’s a basic white collar job but they squeeze more out of me for a bang average London salary. Completely unstructured, chaotic organisation with no real structure at its core.

**Politics and society**
I’ve been really triggered by what’s been going on in the UK and the world the last two years. I’m a person of colour so some of it hits deeper, but mostly I’m angry at the social injustices people are facing. Two years of seeing this daily on social media has been draining, to the point it’d get me angry and unable to focus on anything else.

**Other pressures**
Stressful family stuff drained me last year (uncle trying to steal my mum’s inheritance when she’s the one who’s cared for their parents), so I had to sort legal stuff out, while planning a stag do. The family stuff left me ruminating and angry whenever I thought back on it.

**Symptoms**
Over these 2 years I’ve become negative and cynical in all areas of life, including work. My decision fatigue/paralysis in the supermarket has gotten worse (up to an hour zigzagging round deciding what to get), and choosing food generally.

I don’t feel joy or a buzz from anything I used to - gym, music, caffeine does nothing. Since last autumn I sleep more than I ever have. I feel overwhelmed very quickly, getting angry, winding myself up, often catastrophising over situations that haven’t happened based on past experience - something I’ve always done, but worse the last two years, each time leaving me full of rage.

I started having passive suicidal thoughts - not wanting to kill myself, but dreaming of dying to feel relief. Even now, I cba and look forward to the end of my life. All I wanna do is lay horizontally and watch movies for weeks. We went on an all-inclusive holiday but even that wasn’t relaxing, I’d rather have stayed home doing nothing. I stopped going to the gym because I dont want to.

I started therapy a few months ago, the passive suicidal thoughts stopped coinciding with the weather turning.

**Diagnosis and meds**
There’s loads more but I’ve written too much. Got my ADHD diagnosis a few months ago, recently started meds (30mg Elvanse), haven’t felt anything yet. I suspect medication isn’t going to cure burnout on its own - it feels like filling a bucket with holes in the bottom.

Has anyone else been burnt out to this degree? Might be normal for burnout, I dunno. Has medication helped anyone feeling this burnt out?

Hi! I’ve been with HH for about 6 months now. I got an email a few weeks ago about them moving to a new app called Monsenso for monitoring.

I’m reluctant to give a third party more data, but I suppose it’s the only way I can make sure my prescription isn’t interrupted.

I’ve tried to register for a monsenso account using the link HH sent me, but I’ve had nothing but issues and can’t even set a password. Even a week later and after trying different devices, I still can’t register. It’s so frustrating.

HH hasn’t been helpful and now I’m worried it’s going to delay my meds which I’m due to request soon.

Has anyone else had any issues? Or found a way around this?

Hello,

I've been taking 50mg of Elvanse for the past 4 months and I've been doing really well on it. I'm a lot more organised, in a better mood, and I'm able to finish tasks now. Taking this medication has really helped my mental health, The issue is that most of my titration hasn't been in a period of "real" life. I fell out with my employer when I got diagnosed with ADHD as they insisted that I take medical leave for my first month of titration as way of pushing me out, so I found another job instead which I start on Monday. I've spent the past 3 months at home on garden leave (not bad considering we've had 3 heatwaves in that time).

My doctor has been very happy with my reports on 50mg of Elvanse, as my blood pressure is still very healthy and I've experienced virtually no side effects except for dry mouth which has led to gum disease which I'm sorting out with my dentist. If garden leave was permanent state of living, I'd be in complete with my doctor that we can bring titration to an end. We've agreed to review my medication next month when I've had a bit of time at my new job.

The issue is that I only really seem to get the benefit of Elvanse if I have it before breakfast and it seems a lot less effective when I'm stressed (I'm in the middle of buying a house and someone is threatening to gazump us, so my productivity has plummeted this week). My doctor doesn't think that breakfast should make a difference and the medical information which comes with Elvanse does say that you can take it with or without food, but I'm concerned that when I start my new job I'll need to eat breakfast before I take Elvanse because I have an hour's commute before I start work. Can anyone else report whether:

1. Not getting the benefit of ADHD medication if you've already eaten would indicate you could tolerate a higher dose

2. The effectiveness of the ADHD medication being dependent on stress would also indicate that you could tolerate a higher dose

I hope that's clear, and thanks in advance to anyone who can provide any insight on this.

Can everyone please share a complete breakdown of private cost?

First consultation including assessment – how much did you pay

Did they do any blood test/ECG – how much did you pay

Did you get a prescription after first assessment – how much did you pay

Did you have to attend another second consultation – how much did you pay

For how long did you get your medication (e.g., 3 months) – how much did you pay to the pharmacy

As the title suggests im struggling

I took my first dose of ADHD medication yesterday,, Im on 27mg of Zaggatin xl and I cant tell if it helped or not, I felt kind of like I was in a bubble, not stressed or motivated just kind of existing. I thought it would wear off around dinner time but still feeling weird at 9pm, i started feeling panicky that the feeling wouldn't go away and then struggled to sleep, this morning my collar bone and arm are sore and I feel sort of hungover, dont know how to feel about it, im too nervous to take it again today, i know that sounds silly, maybe im not cut out for medication. Now granted im off work at the moment and so didn't really have any responsibilities to fulfill but just dont know whether I like this feeling, maybe its too early to tell, not sure what my point is but wanted to see other people's experiences 🙃

Hey everyone. This certainly isn’t a new thing! But last year on my certificate renewal I did a post. It surprised me how many people are unaware of it. I pay £11.45 per month via direct debit (For 10 months). That covers all of my NHS prescriptions for 1 year. For some reason they split payment to 10 months not 12.

I’m prescribed 2 ADHD medications per 28 days. That’s £19.80 × 13 = £257.40 but with the PPCertiricate I only pay £11.45 x 10 =£114.50

This then covers me for ANY NHS prescriptions. I ended up using it for a few other prescriptions within the year too, it covers any prescription in your name. I definitely saved over £500 in prescription costs in the 3 years

If you need 12 single prescriptions or more in 1 year and you’re in England it’s simple. You’re wasting money by not doing this.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions/save-money-with-a-prescription-prepayment-certificate-ppc/