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I am pretty sure I have ADHD but I'm too afraid to go to a psychiatrist because of the fear of me just being lazy and unmotivated.

yes_ploise_loisa
Community Member

I have always felt like everyone else is ahead of me, whether it be in school or at work. I have always been a huge procrastinator and have been called "lazy" and have been told I don't do a proper job with things ( I either don't finish or I take shortcuts) and this has effected my self confidence, especially because now it has affected my work and I feel like a failure. I have so much I want to explain but i cant put it in writing because my mind wanders but I will try my hardest to explain every detail I can.

I can remember this "brain fog" being around when i was a child in school, I never paid attention unless it was interesting to me and even when I tried concentrating on things that didn't interest me I somehow couldn't concentrate (or couldn't be bothered) I always handed in assignments late and barely ever did my homework but i excelled in the things I was interested in, for example I paid attention in PE and was really good at it, but math... was so hard that all i would do is draw on the side of my pages and be silly with my friends which would get me into trouble. So there is some evidence that i might of had adhd when I was a child this sort of thing happened in high school too.

Now I am a 21 year old woman and it seems I have not grown out of these lazy habits and things have just gotten worse for me unfortunately. My work performance is bad, I struggle with everyday activities like laundry and eating ( at times i forget to eat) and even when I am hungry for some reason i don't want to eat, I rely on caffeine to get me through the day. I am also very irritated and stressed out because of my procrastination, I am constantly changing my career goals and that I am not getting things done like I want to. I find it very hard to focus on things which makes things even more stressful and my family just calls me lazy.

I am afraid of going to a psychiatrist just to be told the same.

If anyone has any experience with adhd please give me some advice I am really struggling, is this a good enough explanation to the dr on why i think i have undiagnosed adhd?

by the way sorry for all the grammar mistakes, i was rushing ^^

6 Replies 6

Peppermintbach
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor

Hi yes_ploise_loisa,

I hope it’s okay if I say hello and offer a caring welcome here. I think you did a wonderful job expressing yourself, and I had no trouble following your writing at all. I hope that reassures you a little as I understand you were a bit concerned about that 🙂

You sound very overwhelmed, lost and confused. I feel for you, but admittedly I don’t have adhd or have had similar struggles to you. So I know that I may not be the best person to reply but I still wanted to lend my support. I hope that’s okay...

The “brain fog” sounds like it seeps into all areas of your life. I imagine school must have been very rough. I don’t think you were being “lazy” as you put it though. But it was just that the teaching style/curriculum probably wasn’t really designed with your particular learning style in mind, that’s all. I’m so glad you enjoyed PE though. That must have been fun!

Work must be so stressful, and I know you would be trying your best. As I said, I truly don’t think you’re lazy, but maybe there’s just something else going on e.g. nothing has piqued your interest, your learning style hasn’t been catered for, wrong environment for you, etc.

I understand and hear you about your hesitation to see a psychiatrist. So I wonder, as a starting point, maybe your GP is your best bet. S/he could maybe investigate if there are any underlying issues that are causing the “brain fog”, make appropriate referrals (if necessary), etc. How does that sound to you?

Good on you for bravely reaching out. When and if you’re feeling up to it, no pressure though, it would be lovely to hear from you again.

Kind and caring thoughts,

Pepper

Thank you so much for your reply it made me feel at ease 🙂 I am planning on going to my GP very soon

We_Can_Get_Through_It
Community Member
I have ADHD, ever since I got into school I felt I was different and it sucks but knowing your not alone really helps. I find myself really embarrassed about my condition as if it was something to be ashamed about, but frankly I can't control it. Sometimes it helps me in finding differences others can't see. I personally hate doctors but seeing one will help with what your going through.

Thank you for the reply!

I really want to go to the drs but I still have the fear of not being diagnosed because I won’t know how to explain to the dr about the symptoms. I am very forgetful and don’t know how to explain things properly when asked questions, I can’t focus but I will try my best.

Hi yes_please_loisa (and a wave to We Can Get Through It),

I think you’re very brave to decide to see a GP very soon. Good for you 🙂

I understand about your worries when it comes to seeing your doctor. Is it okay if I give you some little suggestions? You can see if you like them or not, and only use suggestions that you feel would work (if any).

  • Writing notes beforehand (& taking it to your appointment) can help e.g. a bullet-point list of your struggles (the “key” points).
  • It might help to also write down specific examples e.g. if one of your “key” points is attention/focus struggles, you also could write down an example from work/school next to that key point.
  • Consider printing this thread to show your GP. Or copy and paste parts of you posts here onto a document to print.

I hope this gives you some ideas. Let us know how things progress if you like. No pressure though...only share what you feel comfortable sharing here...

Kind and caring thoughts,

Pepper

GucciSquirrel
Community Member

Based on your first post (and your follow-up), going to the GP and seeking a referral to a psychiatrist that specialises in ADHD is a very good idea in my opinion.

I was first diagnosed with ADHD in my mid 20s. After about a year, I cast that diagnosis aside and tried to live a "normal" life. About 12 years later, I was re-diagnosed after my symptoms had become much worse.

The stuff about brain fog, being forgetful and not knowing where to begin with tasks sounds like an executive function issue. This is a classic ADHD symptom, and something I know only too well.

A psychiatrist may put you onto some ADHD meds. Depending on where you live, your psych may need to phone for authorisation, as the meds tend to be controlled substances. The meds may help lift the brain fog, which will then give you an opportunity to build some more resources to help you function with daily life. Things like using lists and reminders to keep on task.

Whilst the diagnosis and treatment isn't a panacea, it can be a relief to know that there's is a neurological cause for the way you've been feeling, and that it can be managed.

The other thing to bear in mind is that whilst the tools to manage ADHD can help, there will still be work required to keep going. Sometimes the work gets too hard, and there's no shame in that. Keep seeing your GP, as there may be co-morbid psychiatric and/or neurological issues yet to be diagnosed (I have both).

All the best.