I posted a couple weeks ago about an upcoming mental health evaluation that I was anxious about. That evaluation was today.

For background, I am a middle aged white guy, previously untreated for any psychiatric condition except a < 2 month stint on SSRI’s about two decades ago after a nasty breakup.

I was seeking an evaluation for what I thought from my online research might be mild to moderate ADHD symptoms, which were starting to affect my job. I also have suffered from irrational anxiety for a couple years now, but it got really bad over the last year or so. I had tried going through my primary care doctor but, despite being a great GP, they were not helpful with this. I bounced off a few other attempts over several months before finally getting referred to a psychiatrist who specializes in ADHD. I saw them this morning.

I utilized the advice I was given and let the psychiatrist know very early in the meeting what my concerns were around rehearsing/masking, and that I was extremely anxious, not about the ‘interview’, but about the outcome. Mostly how I was very worried that I would appear to ‘have it together’ to such an extent that they would send me home to live with my issues without any help.

This was supposed to be a general mental health eval for about 50 minutes, but the doctor kept me there for about 85 minutes and I walked out with a fresh diagnosis of mild ADHD and three prescriptions. I’ve been prescribed daily low dose Focalin and a SNRI, along with an anti-anxiety sleep aid that I can take as needed. I had trouble finding a pharmacy that had Focalin in stock but eventually found one and I’m waiting for the prescription to get transferred by the doctor, so I likely won’t start that until next week.

I don’t know what’s next, I don’t know how these meds will affect me or if they will help at all, but I’m hopeful. I’ve very nervous about the SNRI because I did NOT like how I felt on SSRIs 20 years ago, but I’m willing to try what the doctor recommended. It feels like a new chapter is about to start, for better or worse.

Thanks to all that gave me advice in the other thread. I don’t know why I felt like I had to write all this out, but thanks for reading this, too. For everyone out there struggling, please don’t give up. It took me almost a year from when I knew I had a problem that needed some attention, until today when I finally saw someone who listened, agreed with my concerns, and took action. Keep trying.

  • BilboBargains@lemmy.worldFrysk
    2·
    11 months ago

    Happy to hear your story. Getting that initial diagnosis is difficult. I kept being told that there was nothing wrong with me and the GP refusing to make a referral. I gave up with our health service and paid for a psychiatrist diagnosis. Even that was an extremely anxious time because up to that point everyone had denied that ADHD had anything to do with my lack of executive function. I went into the interview thinking they would deny the evidence. No wonder we typically have poor self esteem. The experience has radicalised my view of society in general. We are really bad at treating mental health and need to reckon with it.