To Diagnose, Or Not To Diagnose.
TL/DR: Self diagnosis is VALID, but formal diagnosis can be helpful.
Let's talk diagnoses and self-diagnoses. Why? Because it's my feed and I'll do what I want. But also let's just, in general, talk more about this please.
This past January something big happened. After living my whole life feeling broken and weird, and struggling to be normal at the expense of my mental health, I finally got my formal diagnosis. ADHD: Combined Hyperactive and Inattentive Type.
I already "knew" that I had ADHD after researching it when my daughter got diagnosed, so why is my own diagnosis a big deal?
Three reasons:
1-Validation. There is a REASON my brain works the way it does. There is a REASON why I react to situations the way that I do. There is a REASON I struggle with so many things I *should* be able to do because *normal* people do them. I'm not broken. I'm just trying to get by in a society that was built by and for neurotypical folks.
2-Help. Now that I know what's different about me, how, and why, I can seek solutions that were designed to help folks like me. Now, I can stop myself from spiraling into anxiety by utilizing strategies for ADHD brains. Also MEDICATION. Meds are a very personal choice but for me the difference is astounding. I can FUNCTION. I'm still me, still quirky, still noticing everything, but my meds quiet the noise so that I can think clearly and accomplish things throughout my day. Think about the difference between having very blurry vision and then putting on your glasses. I can FOCUS.
3-Sharing. Please can we just be open and honest about our struggles? Can we recognize that society favours neurotypical brains, but leaves out so much brilliance by doing so? I'm sharing this with you now because a few friends shared their journeys of self-discovery with me and emboldened me to advocate for myself and my needs.
BUT ALSO…
Formal diagnosis can be stressful, expensive, and difficult to access depending on where you live and the support system (or lack thereof) around you. So please know that self-diagnosis is JUST AS VALID. You know your brain better than anyone. If you do your research and think “Hey, this sounds a lot like me.” Then it very likely is. Also, ADHD (and other neurodivergence) is not a monolith. People with ADHD operate at different capacities with personal strengths and needs, so you really can’t compare how you struggle with how someone else struggles. Your struggles are VALID simply because they impact your quality of life.
You don’t need a formal diagnosis to seek out strategies, to learn, to try out new adaptations. You can quite literally, just do them.
If you’re seeking help via medication, then you will need a formal diagnosis and a practitioner skilled in choosing and titrating the various ADHD medications who will follow up with you until you find a good match. There are services out there now like FRIDA that operates in some Canadian provinces that can help you navigate the diagnosis and treatment landscape.
There are many books I recommend to folks who want to learn more about their brain works and I find one of my top resources for learning what is ADHD, what does it look like, and how to a treat it is ADHD 2.0 by Hallowell and Ratey, MDs. This book is short, succinct, validating, encouraging, and dives a lot into the hows and whys of the ADHD brain. It’s also available in audiobook format and it easy to follow.
Learning about ourselves, as with anything, is a life-long process. You don’t need to figure it all out right away. Although, if you’re here because you think you have ADHD, it’s possible that you’re now hyperfixated on the idea of seeking diagnosis, in which case, I wish you all the best in your hunt for knowledge.