Reddit reviews A New Understanding of ADHD in Children and Adults

I'm 31. I've always knew I was lazy, a terrible procrastinator, not able to focus on tasks for a long amount of time, etc. I just thought I was a "smart slacker". At 27 I definitely knew something was wrong but I had no idea what it was. I didn't know what ADHD was (I thought it was the super active 12 year old from my school days). About a year ago, I saw something on reddit that made me learn a bit about ADHD-Pi and I realised I had many of the symptoms.

I procrastinated maybe 3 months, then spent 3 months doing research. I read More Attention, Less Deficit which is a very easy and satisfying read, even for us ADHD'rs. I also read Dr. Brown's A New Understanding of ADHD in Children and Adults. This is a very technical book but it allowed me to convince myself that there is scientific consensus about a) ADHD is a real disorder that can severely effect your life and b) that medication (ie, stimulants) really is a safe and effective treatment. I'd recommend the first book for anyone and the second book if you'd like to learn about the latest in ADHD science.

The next 3 months I spent finding and working with a psychologist. She was great. She gave me a diagnosis. It was a huge relief. I was finally able to know why I had certain behaviors I didn't like and she gave me motivation to work on them. Just discussing my problems, ie "talk therapy", actually really helped. She helped me find a great psychiatrist. It took me another 3 months to get in and I'm working with him now. He has me on a low dosage (5mg dextroaphetamine) and we're working on increasing it. I've already seen huge results. I procrastinate less, I'm able to focus, I'm less distracted, my mood has improved, my anxiety has gone done, I've become more social.

This was a long process. The system is set up to work against people with ADHD. You'll need to do research, book appointments, keep appointments, research insurance options, find doctors. This is not easy for an ADHD'r to navigate! However, even though its taken a year, I am so incredibly glad I've taken this journey. I've made huge gains already and I'm very optimistic for the future.

I think you could probably make huge improvements in your life if you worked on this. I'd recommend using a psychiatrist (over your GP) to make sure you really get a correct diagnosis, address any comorbidities and get a treatment plan that works for you. Although I'm happy to be improving at 31, I wish I had treatment at 27 (or you know, 12!).

Break it down into small steps:

• 1. January: Research ADHD. Order and read More Attention, Less Deficit.
     
• 2. February: (I assume you're American) Research your insurance options. Is a psychiatrist covered? are drugs covered? If drug cost is a barrier, tell your psychiatrist. [I'm currently on generic dextroamphetamine, which is $15 for a two week supply and my insurance overs 90% of that. Yes, that's right, $3/month for drugs]
     
• 3. February: Research Psychiatrists in your area. You mentioned you live in an expensive city, its very likely someone there specialises in adult ADHD. This would be your first choice for a doctor.
     
• 4. February/March: book your first appointment with your Psychiatrist. It will likely take multiple visits before you receive a diagnosis. Be prepared for this and focus on the future - you're almost there.
     
• 5. March/April: begin your treatment plan with your psychiatrist. He will likely start you on a low dosage and increase it over time (i.e. 5mg/week). Here's what a medication chart (PDF) looks like in Canada, I'm sure the US does something similar. You'll have to continue to be patient here as well. It can take time to find the right medication and dosage. This is a trial and error procedure that you'll work on with your psychiatrist.
     
• 6. May/June: Once you're on a medication plan that works for you, consider seeking out either ADHD therapy (psychologist) or coaching (ADHD coach). Again, make sure its a professional that specialises in adult ADHD.
     
     Is the above a lot of work? Yes absolutely. It may be costly too. You know what though, your quality of life will increase. You'll become a better employee and maybe get that big raise. You'll become better at relationships which lead to a happier life. And you could make serious gains by this summer. Think how fast summer is going to be here!
     
     My apologies for the wall of text. Hope this gives you some motivation and direction. /r/ADHD is rooting for you!
     
     

A New Understanding of ADHD in Children and Adults: Executive Function Impairments by Thomas E. Brown is one of the first books I read after I got diagnosed (by the author actually). He's considered a pretty big authority in the field. The ADHD Advantage: What You Thought Was a Diagnosis May Be Your Greatest Strength by Dale Archer is also another good one that I'm getting through.

Here are some citations. It was discussed in Dr. Thomas Browns A New Understanding of ADHD and here is a link to the article he cites page 37. In the article there are further citations to studies based on clinical experience in prescribing stimulants to ADHD patients.