i am sure im audhd but im alone in this

Hi,

I went private, although it was lot of money by my meagre standards but I am in my 70s and time was not on my side.
However, I was very careful and thorough in choice of provider. I had already been accepted by the NHS for assessment so went down the right to choose route. What was going to be the NHS 4 years plus was done and dusted in a handful of months. It has changed how I view myself and my past and worth every penny.  

I think you’re correct and it won’t help you as you say 

There’s your diagnosis now go away you’re discharged

I’m sorry, it’s not easy. Hopefully, validation would help you. It helps many people, but not all, so if you are considering paying for a private assessment, it would be a big decision to make.

I made a list of all the potential pros and cons of a positive diagnosis and the pros and cons of ending up with no diagnosis. At the end of the day, I decided that I might always regret never knowing if I didn’t get a diagnosis. 

At the moment, I’m not considering a private ADHD assessment. I can live without a diagnosis, and there is no assurance that medication will be offered, or that it would help me.

Maybe if you get referred for an autism assessment, you would be better placed to make a decision over paying for a private ASD assessment, or waiting for an NHS assessment.

If you feel the validation of an ADHD assessment is also a pressing need, maybe better to try to get referred on the NHS, even if services are suspended. At least there’s a chance that services will recommence, and it won’t cost you while you consider things.

see this is what is scaring me also, all im payin for private is validation, i just wonder is it worth the money just to prove to people i am this, i dont think i could afford medication if i wanted it, it just all seems like its not going to help me the way id hope. 

It’s not good. I had been hoping that the government would consider the impact on employment that lack of diagnosis is causing, not to mention the impact on individuals’ lives and mental health, but nothing is happening on that front yet. It’s a false economy to cut ADHD services. 

That’s astronomical for the medication it really is.

I'm audhd I have to live with it somehow 

Glad you have an appointment. Good on you!

I felt much the same as you two years ago, and it’s why I initially sought an autism assessment. The GP referred me but the waiting list was too long, so I found a reputable private clinic in which the autism assessments were completed in accordance with NICE guidelines.

After diagnosis, the private clinic arranged a few follow up counselling and information sessions, and they referred me on to NHS Adult Autism Services for an assessment of my needs. I had to wait nearly a year for the first appointment but I didn’t mind as I had a lot of information and resources by that stage anyway. Diagnosis was a huge relief. I can’t really convey here what it meant, but it helped get rid of a lot of life time guilt over my behaviours and provided validation. 

Yes, I’m not sure how much a psychiatrist charges to write a prescription each time, but the medication itself is expensive. There are a few different types of medication and people are on different dosages. I’ve heard of people paying £140 - £270 per month for medication, but it could cost a bit less or more. 

see i believe im safer going private too, i just wish they made this process easier for people

im guessing private perscriptions are expensive?

i know, i dont want medication, i want to be certain of what is wrong with me. and proof of it. i called the gp and have an appointment on tues

I mean, GPs won’t accept a private prescription and issue an NHS prescription. 

It’s dreadful, and all the social media nonsense about ADHD and benefits isn’t helping.

I would consider a private diagnosis for ADHD, but if medication is prescribed, GPs won’t accept private prescriptions on an ongoing basis unless the person is examined by a psychiatrist for each new prescription, yet private ADHD clinics issue ongoing private prescriptions without seeing the patient. 

ArchaeC said:

recently I was informed that adult ADHD assessments are not likely to happen in my lifetime

It's the same now in Scotland, unless someone has other problems such as a learning disability.

I have no family at all, just myself. The doubters among my friends held me back for a few years, but I'm glad I ignored them.

You sound really low and stuck, but you aren’t on your own as many people here are autistic, have ADHD and are living on their own. I was diagnosed with ASD nearly two years ago, and being here has really helped me feel accepted and helped me to understand more about myself and other people like me. I really hope that you will feel accepted for who you are here too. 

If the online autism and ADHD tests indicate that you should consider seeking referral, and if you want an assessment to help you make more sense of how you function and why you behave in certain ways, seeing your GP to ask for a referral would be best, even if you end up going privately. 

NHS Adult Autism diagnosis clinics in Northern Ireland are active, but there are no commissioned ADHD services. This means that it is up to each health trust to arrange services. Unfortunately, Adult ADHD services have been suspended in the South Eastern and Belfast areas, and possibly in other areas. I have been on a waiting list for an ADHD assessment for nearly two years and recently I was informed that adult ADHD assessments are not likely to happen in my lifetime, even though they are retaining my name on the waiting list. The reason is lack of funds. 

Even if you don’t feel able to see your GP right now, it might help to write a list of the things that cause you difficulty, such as the things highlighted in the online tests. Then you could just hand your GP the information rather than telling them verbally. I do think that your GP should refer you for an autism assessment if the online tests show you meet the criteria. 

i have no support from my family. my big brother has 2 autistic children, im godfather to one, he cant even see that i am, all the doubters have me in fear

both things and i am alone so i dont know how life will be for me after

I went private because I could afford to and I couldn't cope with waiting years.Also, being female and with no family or records left to testify about my early childhood, I wanted to be able to choose someone who is qualified to diagnose older women in my position. The whole process took about a month. I particularly liked that my psychologist split the assessment in two, so had I fqailed the childhood part, I wouldn't have had to pay the greater cost of the adult assessment. Mind you, that was only for autism. I'm not sure I can be bothered to pay for a formal assessment for my ADHD. It will have to wait a while for me to decide, as I have other things occupying my attention at the minute.

I've been in situations where I'm terrified to go forward but can't go back. What terrifies you? Is it the process you'll have to go through or the fear that diagnosis might prove you right?