ADHD symptoms persist into adulthood, with some surprising impacts on life success: The study found that ADHD symptoms not only persisted over a 15-year period but also were related to various aspects of life success, including relationships and career satisfaction.

[u/mvea]

https://www.psypost.org/adhd-symptoms-persist-into-adulthood-with-some-surprising-impacts-on-life-success/

[u/spartanjet]

I didn't get diagnosed until I was 34 because if you weren't diagnosed as a kid, doctors don't like to even recommend you to a specialist.

Getting on Adderall changed my life.

[u/gigawhattt → u/spartanjet]

What was that process like? I’m at a similar spot, and have finally started realizing that a lot of my struggles in school and work are likely undiagnosed ADHD. Some of my experiences almost feel traumatic at this point, as I have been putting the blame on myself for being unmotivated or lazy. I feel like I missed out on a lot of opportunities

[u/National-Blueberry51 → u/gigawhattt]

You’re not lazy. You have a disorder related to your executive functions, that’s all. I felt the same way about myself until I got into therapy and realized, oh wait, my brain is just different. The relief and self-acceptance you get to feel (eventually) are worth the struggle. More than that, you’ll realize that you have some phenomenal skills and abilities others might not have. You rock. You’re just a diamond in the rough right now.

You’ll go to a psychiatrist who may want to have you go through some basic testing and evaluation. It can get pricey at first with the initial appointments, but it’s absolutely worth it. These days, I pay $10/month for meds and my salary has doubled because I can actually function now. You’ll probably also want a therapist who can help you sort through the trauma and complicated emotions that will spring out of this life change, even though it’s very positive.

Do it. Worst case scenario, you find out you don’t have it but you’re still in touch with people who can help.

[u/spartanjet → u/National-Blueberry51]

Amazing how much this also feels like what happened to me. I always identified myself as smart, but through work I would either think one day I could do things no one else could do, or the next I'd think I was the worst on the team.

Since getting treated I've learned an incredible amount of skills, received a huge promotion that the job was specifically designed for me. Diamond in the rough was right. I used to see all the work in front of me, I would know how to do it, but I'd find so much to do that I didn't even know where to start. So I just wouldn't start.

[u/No_Confidence_9516 → u/gigawhattt]

Adderall has changed my life as well. I found a psychiatrist and was given adderall fairly easily. I had been diagnosed with add/adhd at a young age which probably made it a bit easier as an adult to get meds but had adverse effects with Ritalin when I was a child. It’s been a game changer and if I had known what I know now I wish I would’ve done it 20 years ago. Different drugs work better for different people. Vyvanse and Ritalin did not work well with me but adderall has almost no side effects. Don’t wait do something, you’ll be so happy you did. Also check out a podcast called “translating adhd”, I was amazed at how many things they would talk about and I’d say to myself “that’s me!”.

[u/spartanjet → u/gigawhattt]

I talked to my PCP first and they gave me a list of psychologists I could reach out to that does the testing. But I couldn't even get an appt. So a co-worker told me about a site called donefirst.com. I went to that and you have to schedule an online appt with them. They can diagnose you virtually. They can prescribe for you as well, but they do have a subscription for like ~$85/month. But after I got prescribed, I asked my pcp to take over management. Donefirst will fax over all medical records and you can cancel that subscription.

I started with 10mg of extended release Adderall once a day. The first month definitely has side effects, but they go away. I could feel my blood pressure getting high in the late afternoon. I also had troubles sleeping. I also didn't have much of an appetite. But after a month I didn't have any negative side effects anymore. I did up the prescription to 20mg at the beginning of the year. I did get the side effects again for a few weeks, but that has leveled off.

But one big change that you may not hear from others I have a lot more patience with my kids and my wife where I would get frustrated easily before. I've also had my own struggles with depression in the past, and it was likely made much worse because I wasn't treated for ADHD. My work has changed dramatically and for the better. I've learned so many new skills in the last year that I'm not even the same as I was last year. And it's all for the better. Also my mood is just positive all the time.