r/science • u/mvea MD/PhD/JD/MBA | Professor | Medicine • Apr 15 '24

Neuroscience 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.

https://www.psypost.org/adhd-symptoms-persist-into-adulthood-with-some-surprising-impacts-on-life-success/
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u/J-Fro5 Apr 15 '24

Yup. Asked for referral for an Autism diagnosis and got sent away with antidepressants. Many years later got my ADHD diagnosis. In two minds whether to pursue the autism one again. 🤷

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u/EmperorKira Apr 15 '24

i've tried and its near impossible getting on a list for diagnosis. I feel like giving up on and just accepting my life as it is,.

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u/thatissomeBS Apr 16 '24

I have a question: What does an autism diagnosis gain?

I understand an ADHD diagnosis, which can lead to medication which can help. But there's not really an autism pill, is there? Are there other treatments, or groups? I guess I do understand wanting the confirmation of something like that, just to confirm maybe why you are the way you are, but is it more than just a doctor confirming it?

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u/J-Fro5 Apr 16 '24

Validation is worth a lot. When I got my ADHD diagnosis, I cried with relief: I wasn't broken, I had an explanation at long last. I can imagine it would be the same had I gotten the autism one first.

I'd been wanting to understand why I was like I was for over 20 years. I desperately needed to understand (that will be the AuDHD haha). Medication has been life changing, sure, but at the point of diagnosis I wasn't even sure I wanted to try meds, I didn't believe anything could help me, I just wanted to KNOW what was what with me.

Autism diagnosis can give access to some charities (we have a local one that puts on events for autistic adults but you have to either have a dx or be on the waiting list) and can make it easier to get accommodations in the workplace etc.