What Happens When Inattentive ADHD Is Undiagnosed
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- Опубликовано: 26 июн 2023
- Cynthia Hammer, formerly of ADD resources, and the driving force behind making sure the voices of Ari Tuckman and Dr Ned Hallowell were first heard in the ADHD industry, sat down recently for a conversation with Melissa Reskof of RenaFi. Her topic: The Innattentive ADHD Life. What happens when inattentive ADHD is undiagnosed? Why is inattentive ADHD so misdiagnosed, and what is wrong with the medical system that perpetuates the myth of the ADHD Adult being only hyperactive and chatty? The ramifications have deeply troublesome and far reaching effects.
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I suffered severe anxiety 18 years ago as a teenage. Got diagnosed with ADHD. Spent my whole life fighting ADHD. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.
Congrats on your recovery. Most persons never realizes psilocybin can be used as a miracle medication to save lives. Years back i wrote an entire essay about psychedelics. they saved you from death bud, lets be honest here.
Can you help me with the reliable source 🙏. I'm 56 and have suffered for years with addiction, anxiety and severe ptsd, I got my panic attacks under control myself years ago and they have come back with a vengeance, I'm constantly trying to take full breaths but can't get the full satisfying breath out, it's absolutely crippling me, i live in Australia. I don't know much about these mushrooms. Really need a reliable source!! Can't wait to get them.
YES very sure of Dr.benfungi. I have the
same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
Ive done shrooms last month in my house. It taught me how severely traumatized I was from alcohol. I healed from many mental traumas from my past and was able to forgive, let go. Shrooms to me is a remedy not a vice. I even felt more refreshed the
morning after. So no hangovers. No
depression mood for days. No anxiety.I now
have a more calm mind
How do i find him? Is he on insta
As a result of my not being diagnosed, what I realize now are all adhd symptoms, all have gotten progressively worse into my 40’s. My life is a complete mess and it’s all due to my unawareness that I was coping poorly and masking from a young age, Inattentive ADHD.
That's hard and unfortunately, all too common. Many of us were blindsided by something we were completely oblivious to. As Carolyn Myss would advise, the one question to be asking ourselves is, 'Where to from here."
You described exactly how I feel. I’m also 40😢
@@MariaLopez-lq3hzme too just figuring out I likely have inattentive ADHD, and unfortunately not many resources for help in my country.
Me too. 😢 41 .....
Same here. I've felt like an abject failure my whole life, I live with so much shame.
I have inattentive adhd yet one of my worst symptoms is impulsivity. (Spending, leaving jobs, making rash decisions, interrupting people) I meet all 9 symptoms of Inattentive criteria.
Oh wow!
You put my life into words.😢😮
I was diagnosed last year 2022 with ADHD subtype ADD at the ripe old age of 66.
Sending you love and hugs 🫂
@@TheFabricTeapot1 agree, i was diagnosed last year at 63, it put many things into perspective. The impulsivity is a constant challenge to navigate. The lack of focus then the hyper focus. It’s been exhausting! It’s wonderful that there is growing awareness of this condition. Still needs so much more recognition and support though across all age groups. Considering the challenges, we’ve done well to get to this ripe age, don’t know about you but it ain’t been easy - more like an ascent of Mount Everest 🏔️ without the climbing gear🧐
Same on meeting all the inattentive criteria. My doctor did a basic questionnaire with me before sending me to see the psychologist. After he was done and had me explain what I had been experiencing he said to me "Serious question, how have you managed to function on a daily basis?"
I’m 59. I’ve been aware of difficulties but not what they were. I just felt like a messy failure even when people thought I was ok.
I often feel overwhelmed, I think a lot, I talk a lot I give up on things I get confused with too many choices , I feel unbounded if I have time to myself and don’t know what to do first. I never feel excited about anything i don’t look forward to anything. It’s very sad.
You just described me to a T
Showing love homie 😤🙏🏾💯 Our life goes by slow and fast at the same time. Very difficult without treatment and a thriving environment.
Me too!
Yes to all of it! I especially relate to the feeling of unboundedness when I'm alone. It's like I need to release the pressure of masking and set my thoughts free.
You’ve pretty much described my life. I’m 60 and haven’t been diagnosed yet. I’m a mess.
51, diagnosed and took my first Vyvanse 4 days ago. It has been quite an emotional eye opener of how different my life would have been if this was available 30 years ago.
51, diagnosed three weeks ago, 2nd week on concerta
Dunno about you but it's been a muddertrucker...
The only blessing has been that my wife upgraded my status from lazy to mentally retarded 😂😂😂
Yes, there's a grief process that most late diagnosed adults will go through ... for the life that could of, would of and should have been, "if only." It's a process and does resolve.
63. Oh boy. Was always labeled either trouble or lazy.
@@haint7709 "Out of control" was a phrase I heard more then once.
@@rickwebster3387 I used to get in trouble... then get distracted, which meant you either made too much or too little trouble, which then caused you to get into more trouble.
“ I have learned to let people finish their sentences 😁”
One of my biggest issues and my hat is off to you !
I still finish sentences. So hard to break the habit.
They take so long…to finish
@@rickwebster3387especially if you think you know the word they want.
Oh god... People take so long to say what they mean its quicker if I do it for them 😅
@@BanjoPixelSnack Yep, especially if they have ADHD!
My psychologist said I most likely wouldn't have developed anxiety or depression if I was diagnosed as a kid. He said they seem to have come about because I couldn't figure out why I always had so much trouble with things that were so simple for everyone else.
Exactly. Early diagnosis heads off soooooo many problems and co-occurring conditions.
@@rickwebster3387 i agree. I just found out i have it. I always thought you need to be hyper active to have it.
@@slickrick5596 It's the hyperactive (usually boys) kids who are spotted early. Women are very often missed specifically because they lack the hyperactive component. They often do quite well in school but they do it by working twice as hard as their neurotypical peers. These women are most often diagnosed later in life and have, by that time, developed anxiety and depression issues as a result their struggles. Women are STILL under diagnosed.
Diagnosed at age 46. Over 20 years of depression and all resolved when I started on ADD meds. Feels like a miracle, like walking out of a prison. Just thankful……
@@PTmarcus wow thats amazing. I think i have the same issue. Im 36 now. Im still searching for answers. Mau i know ehat meds are you taking and what changes happened?
This hits home. Diagnosed at 33 with inattentive type ADHD. Self image, anxiety, lateness, daydreaming and intrusive thoughts, all internalized as "I guess I am just a lazy scatterbrained socially awkward know-it-all." Even now, medicated and armed with knowledge and tools to help, it is hard not to feel like my stuggles are just my fault.
For sure. It takes sooooo long to purge the judgmental labels that we've internalized. But the longer we work at remediating ADHD the quieter those internal voices get. Rick of RenaFi.com
If I may ask, what drug/dosage?
@@kennymeehan Vyvanse, 40mg currently.
My ADHD - along with other issues I know to have - remains undiagnosed. Life has simply become too expensive.
I wish there was some kind of support group for women with late diagnosed ADHD. It was around the time the symptoms started getting me in trouble in elementary school that I developed this unrelenting feeling of loneliness, and I don't know if it will ever go away. I would be bullied by my classmates for being weird and go home for my mom to yell at me for how I couldn't do anything right and I was the reason why she drank. I'm 35 and been in and out of therapy for years.
I believe ADDA has such a group. ADD.org. RenaFi is probably 80% women. Consider joining us. When we recently reviewed "The Radical Guide for Women with ADHD" (by Michelle Frank and Sari Solden) in our book club it was very well received. Touched some of the common threads women experience.Rick of RenaFi.com
My daughter suggested, about 6 months ago, that I have ADHD. I was resistant at first because I was going off the stereotypes I'd always known. But once I watched some videos on ADHD I felt like I was watching videos about me. So many things suddenly made sense. I'm 47 and in the process of trying to get diagnosed.
I was diagnosed at 46. Taking and working on the steps to deal with my ADHD have been life changing! Rick of RenaFi.com
Adding a comment to say that rereading many of the comments today is like being in a support group. Thanks to all who shared.
I’m self diagnosed but I’m 70 ! Just checking and learning about the different kinds of adhd because of my grandchildren. I’m definitely inattentive . Totally unlike my brother and sister. I felt very stupid. Horrible at school , but my life has not high stress. I have three girls and a stay at home mom. My parents couldn’t understand why I couldn’t understand things quickly. Memory was bad as a child. Cant remember what I just read so I just watched tv. Can’t sleep even today. My mind won’t turn off. Can’t remember names after someone just tells me. It has answered so many questions … at least I know why I am the way I am.
Yes, being a late diagnosed adult myself, I can identify with the feelings. There is a grief process most of us have to go through regarding the life that "coulda, shoulda and woulda been" if only we'd known. Waiting on the other end of that process is a much brighter life. Rick of RenaFi.com
feel for u..I have self diagnosed myself at age 75...I have been spiraling downward since I was forced to retire due to an arm injury. life is difficult at best
I’m really grateful for this video that you address the dying early due to self harm . I’m 55 was diagnosed in my 30s and things were better with medication and other coping skills but then my doctor retired and the next one I went to insisted that I didn’t have it without doing an evaluation and took me off all meds . It was awful. I take Effexor now which is very helpful but trying to get adhd meds like Vyvanse is difficult because doctors just think we are drug seeking when in fact 70 mgs of vyvanse helped with taking showers and brushing teeth you know ? Not to get high or whatever.
That sounds hard. It's sad how much difference there is between one doctor and the next. They are definitely not all equally competent.
I just turned 70 . I've never been able to get any help. I feel like I've wasted my life desperately/sporadically trying to accomplish all the wrong things. My house and personal life are an exhausting mess. I wonder what it would be like to have meds.
@@katella Same age here. Yes, getting medical help can be challenging. Meds can help. Mindfulness practices can help too. They're free!
I'm clinically diagnosed as inattentive but I definately have some traits of hyperactivity even though that was not established in my clinical diagnosis. I'm happy to contribute if its needed. I'm in my 40's, got tested 3 times - at 7, in my 20's, and finally at 43. It took this long for my Diagnosis. If I could have been diagnosed in my 20's, my life would be completely different muchless as a child. I love that these conversations are happening.
You're still young, even though it doesn't seem like it. Do what you want, there's still time.❤
The DSM-5 came out in 2013 (she was trying recall the year) and ironically it did away with ADD, replacing it with ADHD, so people have an even harder time getting diagnosed. It also did away the Aspergers diagnosis and grouped it under Autism spectrum disorder, again making it much more challenging or unlikely to get diagnosed.
I agree, the changes are disconcerting and sometimes cause disruption. But changing from ADD to ADHD shouldn't impact anyone trying to get properly diagnosed. The key to a proper diagnosis IMO is selecting the right doctor. There are now several reputable online options that can work well for those without health insurance.
@@rickwebster3387 the reason it makes it harder to get a diagnosis is because of the general population’s understanding of the disorder, which was already very limited. The ones most impacted by failure to get diagnosed are females who show no hyperactivity. This was true when it was still called ADD. Because of the name, people will be less likely to suspect their quiet reserved daughter is afflicted with ADHD because hyperactivity is part of the label. The DSM-5 did an absolute disservice to people with inattentive ADHD.
Even I feel weird saying I have ADHD since I don’t have hyperactivity and people not familiar with it might assume that I do. My own mother doesn’t even get why I say ADHD now. I’m forced to because I went to school for psychology, so I feel I’m not allowed to use outdated terms. But it’s stupid. It’s really stupid.
I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 22 even though I had dropped out of high school (before getting a GED, going to college and then transferring to a research school). When people think of ADHD as typically involving hyperactivity, people like me are less likely to think they have ADHD, or be identified by teachers or parents as possibly having ADHD. It actually makes me really mad and I’m disgusted with those responsible for the DSM-5.
That all makes sense. I haven't seen any statistics or research to indicate that people (inattentive or otherwise) are having any more difficulties getting diagnosed but I see the point. The stats I have seen indicate that women with inattentive ADHD are being diagnosed in greater numbers than ever. But that probably has more to do with general awareness and tele-health accessibility to lower cost options. @@tnijoo5109
@rickwebster3387 ah yes, lets make people with adhd and autism have the burden of finding the correct doctors instead of having it be a more medically clear system that's easily transparent to navigate...
Yes, that's major barrier to diagnosis, especially in the US. @@hiruki8
I was diagnosed this last year at 56 with severe mixed ADHD . I now take Vyvanse and it's an eye opener. I cried the first day with both happiness for the quiet mind and sadness for the life I lost.
I can look back and see the signs from early in life .I am not an outward hyperactive person.
Yes, we grieve for the life that "coulda been, shoulda been and woulda been" if only we'd known. It's a process we move through. As we process it, we also realize that many positive experiences happened because of our ADHD, as well. Now with medication and awareness we have a new opportunities. Good luck. As Carolyn Myss would say, the single most important question to ask ourselves is, "Where to from here?" Rick of RenaFi.com
@@RenaFi yes. I am currently learning new skills for a new career and see a bright future
I’m 61 and hoping for a dx soon. Mostly a talkative underachiever but have so many cringe-making memories of being horribly inattentive at inopportune moments throughout my entire life. Think I’m only just developing the ‘If only’ syndrome of understanding how different things might have been. But hopeful that there’s some life left to be lived nevertheless. Every video I watch helps the process of understanding and coming to terms.
I got diagnosed right before my 61st birthday! Life changing! Things aren't perfect, and I'm still working things out a little over a year later
Mine was diagnosed, but at the time it felt like "you're in trouble for not paying enough attention, so we're going to punish and humiliate you by making you take pills in front of everyone." I didn't start actually treating my ADHD intentionally until I reached adulthood and learned coping mechanisms and talked to the doctors about my own symptoms instead of letting my mom do it. I was very undereducated about it as were my parents. Even though I had the diagnosis, it wasn't taken seriously and I didn't receive a lot of help in school despite consistently getting d's and f's. They thought I was "too smart" to really need it and that I just needed to "apply myself" and "focus." All things I can do quite easily now that I'm on medication that actually works for me, but that were unimaginably gargantuan tasks to me at the time. I feel like a lot of us are in this grey area where people *knew* but didn't care/discounted it/were unequipped.
Sounds like my childhood and adolescence. Common things heard in my parent/teacher conferences: He's very smart if only he'd apply himself. He's easily distracted. If he'd just try harder.
My daughter was diagnosed at the suggestion of a teacher who has an adhd child. Her mother and I are divorced and her mother refused to believe the diagnosis. My daughter did wonderfully when on meds and struggled without but mom had majority placement and refused to medicate her telling her she just needed to try harder. Fortunately my daughter mostly grew out of it by the time I was able to get the court to force the issue but she could've been saved so much Friel.
I remember teachers making a spectacle out of kids taking their ritalin. Looking back its pretty shitty isnt it.
I also have bipolar disorder and that can be more prominent than my undiagnosed adhd. (23 yr old female) But what I keep telling my dad and other people is that the anxiety of inattentive adhd can create mania in me. And my dad simply doesn't understand what I'm talking about. I explain it like this...
Example:
Inability to regulate attention while driving. Leading to running stop signs and stomping on brakes because i didn't notice the person in front of me is slowing down.
Now I choose to obsess to an OCD dehree of explaining and writing my adhd symptoms in effort to get people to understand that my inabilty to pay attention in a task that requires my full attention to be safe can lead to mania because now I can't even think about going to sleep until I make myself understood by people I need help from.
But I fell brushed off by my psychiatrist and dad because what I'm saying makes no sense to them and people chalk it up to my mania.
I'm so very frustrated with people and their inabilty to understand that my experiences are real and my adhd is disruptive in my daily life.
I really think if my psychiatrist treated me for adhd my bipolar would get a lot better!
Ugh! I'm so frustrated with medical professionals and people around me that simply don't understand!
100%. Very often, it the underlying ADHD is treated the co-occurring conditions subside.
Would it be possible to get a second opinion on all of this from a diagnostician who (sincerely) specializes in ADHD? Bipolar disorder and ADHD have a number of comorbid symptoms. Not all diagnosticians are skilled at navigating the nuances and teasing out the differences. ❤
I am 42. Inattentive ADHD. Definitely feel like I have been held from full potential. You can interview me😊
I think you can find Cynthia here: www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-hammer-msw-118450173/ Rick of RenaFi.com
Same. I also am 42 and just feel as though a light has been turned on. I suspected that I had ADHD but this week I started researching the different types after seeing an ad on instagram. Reading the symptoms associated with inattentive ADHD was a real eye opener. The relief I felt when I recognized some of the symptoms was immense. It explained so much. Making plans but not following through to complete them, avoiding what I considered to be difficult tasks, leaving work unfinished, being easily distracted, labeling myself as lazy but feeling as if I physically could not complete work are just some of the symptoms that I have struggled with for years. I just didn’t put 2 and 2 together. The past few years my life has been very messy particularly with work. I lost two jobs in 5 months. The symptoms have overwhelmed me. I would love to participate in a study or interview for this.
Has anyone else gotten a "well I would have rated you severe but some of your answers were inconsistent?" I KNOW why they were inconsistent - because some of the questions weren't clear, and when I asked for clarification, I wasn't given any.
That's not uncommon at all. If anything, I'd think inconsistency would be a clue about ADHD. But, in reality, it doesn't matter much. A diagnosis is a diagnosis. Once your psychiatrist / therapist gets to know you the diagnosis fades into the background. A good provider will treat you, the patient, not the diagnosis. Rick of RenaFi.com
i hate the questions when its like sometimes rarely always... i cant just circle one i need to discsuss the question to understand specifically what they're asking because in different situations its different! lol
I speak from experience. I'm almost 40. Basically, a wasted life. Lost potential. Going untreated as damaged me. Because growing, is like a plant. The older the plant gets, the more woody the stem becomes. Not pliable or flexible. Can't bend or change. It got stuck being a certain way. Now getting help is meaningless. Yeah, I finally got medication, and it's great to feel clear... but I don't want to do anything or change anything, because my brain has been set, due to the stagnation. I have no idea how to improve anything. I'm left alone. Do I want to get an education now ? ... No. I don't. I Don't care about that. I should, but I don't. I always wanted to learn to drive, but now I don't. I don't care about a lot of things now. Because I learned not to care. Hence, why I call it " being damaged" My desires were damaged by being untreated.
There's a lot of life left at 40! Sticking with your plant metaphor, the best time to plant a tree might have been twenty years ago, but the next best time is to plant it is now. What you're feeling has been felt, in varying degrees of severity, by most late diagnosed adults. It's natural feel down and grieve for the life that "coulda, shoulda and woulda been" if only we'd known. Grief is a process that comes with depression. Often times, a few visits with a trained professional therapist can set us back on the road to a better life. Rick of RenaFi.com
You basically just described me, and I'm older than you. I want to try the meds, but i'm scared and set in my ways😢
Ok, I feel some of that but really don't believe I'm set in stone now. If you harbour some resentment about it I bet there's some longing to change.
Anyhow, another ADHD channel mentioned that apparently an ADHDer's brain only fully develops at 35 to 40.. so I think this can give us a level of maturity/wisdom.. I'm 42 this year but at least appreciate the way I can see the bigger picture, and I don't tolerate bullshitting.
Eat right, walk outside and be proud of who you are.
40s is young. Take it from the people over 65 and still not diagnosed or helped. ❤ I hope you feel better soon.
I’m 39 and am also undiagnosed, my life is so messed up, I’m trying to figure out where I went wrong.
I'm 35, my life is starting to feel similar. I wish I could figure out whats up the world and myself.
It does seem like it is becoming more of a common thing for people that were born before the 1990's ( or in general between 1970 to 1990), to have a different way that the brain works.
Could be people from before the 90's need more nutrients such as magnesium and b1, I don't know.
Learned I am ADHD at 61. It has been awful.
I was 46. I consider my diagnosis to be a gift of self awareness.
❤
I didn't know I have ADHD Inattentive because my school misdiagnosed me with Learning Disability, which is why I have keep daydreaming, forget things, and sometimes misheard people.
Misdiagnosis is distressingly frequent.
I was seeing a new doctor and I mentioned I thought I had adhd. He said oh you can’t have. No questions were asked of me. Even though my adult children had been diagnosed. I went to see my own doctor. He dismissed the idea but in mentioned the NICE(UK) saying everyone should get a diagnosis. He reluctantly said he would send me a questionnaire. I got it and a phone number which I rang thinking it was to do with ADHD but it was to an organisation that helps lonely people!! I was annoyed and when I sent the form back I said I wasn’t fantasising over adhd but it was real. I am 70.
Yes, there are lot of doctors who have preconceived notions that no amount of evidence can break through. ADHD is an "across the lifespan" issue with executive function deficits. It does not go away and we don't "outgrow" it. We can learn to manage the symptoms with medication, life style changes, social and career adjustments.
I think your gp is mindful of their budget and the length of hospital waiting lists.
Mine asked if I'd got to 57 without a diagnosis couldn't I just live without one, and keep pursuing the strategies I'd developed? I cried and explained my life was a mess, I'd developed zero strategies, and I wanted validation so I could look the people who were disappointed in my lack of achievement straight in the eye. At this point she offered to refer me, but I opted to go private because I needed a diagnosis NOW. Waiting lists in my area are 18 months.
Good luck with pursuing a diagnosis.
@@crazygreenlady7907 That's soooooo real. And hurtful, to have a doctor say "couldn't you just live with it." Shows a total lack of empathy and understanding. I'm glad you went private and cut through the non-sense. Way to go!!!
@@rickwebster3387 thats so true. I cant believe there are doctors like that.
@@slickrick5596 My girlfriend likes to remind me that "50% of the doctors graduated in the lower half of their class." Choose carefully. 🙂
Hi, diagnosed combined ADD and borderline personality disorder (quite),....diagnosed @ 45 after I forced it, after an emotional breakdown and 10 years of trying to get help, there was obvious signs that were ignored,....I am sooooo angry and feel totally let down, also had life long depression and multiple addictions 💚
Sorry you are going through this, I have same diagnosis.. I found Dr fox's page very informative about bpd it helps. Hope u feel better❤
I feel you. Its been like this all my life and i was crying for help. Ive been tru 2 psychologist, none had a hunch i have ocd and adhd. Fcking stupid doctors.
The story of my life to a T. School troubles, teachers wanting me assessed, my parents refusing to have me assessed. I remember my behaviour in the classroom and looking back if I had been assessed then, I’m sure I would have been diagnosed. I was the class clown, up from my seat making a spectacle of myself at all opportunities because class was so boring. I got teased by my classmates and that started to change me, i started masking my impulses more strongly. So I stayed in my seat but I daydreamed and couldn’t wait to get out of class. I already knew the class work, to do this day I despise review. It felt insulting to go over the same things so often.
Yep, the masking starts early and is so hard to break free from later in life. Rick of RenaFi.com
I haven't been diagnosed, but I have a lot of the symptoms. I did well in school, but I studied hard, often having to read the assignment several times before I could understand it. I will probably have to watch this a few times as well, as I am easily distracted.
Understood. I find continual focus to be challenging. Medication helps me a LOT with that. Rick of RenaFi.com
I so relate- I love reading, and simply can’t read a whole book- only read highlights and just open them randomly and pray hard for God to help me focus on the little I DO read( takes a long time of reading over and over before it sticks in my head). Please hang in there- I’m almost 61 and went through widowhood ( bc of covid), and have longhauler covid symptoms after 3 years), and after re- marrying a man who I discovered is autistic and hyperactive ADHD, I began to be more aware that I had ADHD of the other kind, after many RUclips videos and podcasts that led me to where I fall on the spectrum- it’s been liberating to gain understanding and knowledge of how my brain (and my husband’s ) actually works. Now I need to move forward and am on low dose of generic Adderall as needed- as well as researching ways to improve my cognitive function in my brain 👍
@@user-tf8fi9bh5l Yes, reading is a challenge for me as well. Audio books have been wonderful. Not only for my ability to get through a book but also because instead of sitting for hours on end to read, I'm able to take long walks in the hills while I listen. I learn, get exercise and get time in nature all at the same time. At this point, even if I could sit for hours, why would I? Sitting for long stretches is unhealthy.
When I've read the title my immediate answer was: a mess ...
I hear you on that! Then after diagnosis it can take years of hard work to remediate the symptoms and clean up the mess!
For sure
I just reached 40, and I'm quite sure I have ADHD, and maybe ASD, but since getting diagnosed is ridiculously expensive (and worse since I live in Mexico, which makes it practically unaffordable), I'm still undiagnosed.
My life is a mess
I'm surprised it's more costly in Mexico. 27 years ago, I was able to get everything I needed from my in-law's family doctor. The evaluation was not as thorough as I received when I moved back to the states, but it was adequate. Meds were SUPER cheap. They were the exact same meds I'd get here, but at about 15% of the US cost. Healthcare in the US is crazy expensive if you don't have an insurance plan.
@@rickwebster3387 Mental health is ridiculously expensive in Mexico, is not well covered by the system
@@gabrielamarcus Interesting, I did not know that. I didn't access any services other than the doctor and pharmacies.
I was diagnosed when I was 7, and my dad never let the psychiatrist prescribe me the medication I needed.
I am 20 now, and I am struggling with crystal meth addiction. My life could have been so much more if people were just more educated on mental health in general.
I'm very sorry to hear that. Willful ignorance is responsible for so much grief. Substance addictions are, unfortunately, all too common in the ADHD world. However, as an adult your life is yours now. You can seek the help you need and work hard reverse the damage. You have your whole life ahead of you. What will you make of it? Rick of RenaFi
I am 65 years old and I just got diagnosed ADHD. I have had anxiety for years.
How did you discover you had these issues, therapist or Dr , I have lots of issues, but no idea how to deal with it.
@andrewrees8749 it probably depends which country you're in. In the UK you need to see a Psychiatrist registered with the Royal College if you want to get access to medication.
@@crazygreenlady7907 I'm in Wales,
@andrewrees8749 Great, start with your GP. They can refer you to a consultant but it's a long wait. If you can afford to go private your GP will advise diagnosis by a Royal College Psychiatrist, because they have the authority to prescribe medication if you think you might want to pursue that.
Dang, I wanted to hear the 8 symptoms.
The point made about death due to car accidents is absolutely on target! I am so thankful to hear awareness of this!
Absolutely! ADHD ... both hyperactive and inattentive, are both complicit in higher accident rates and a signficanty shortened life expectancy for ADHDers.
I was diagnosed in my 30s. Before that I avoided driving in the city and freeways were a no go. On meds I got to the point where I felt comfortable on the freeway and had started to travel a little in the small cities. Then due to the inaccessible mental health system I could not afford a prescribing psychiatrist and went off the medication. Now driving is terrifying and my life is curtailed. I want to get that life back.
@@suegreen7798 There are now some more affordable Tele-Health organizations where you might be able to get diagnosis and/or prescribed for a less money.
I don't know if I have inattentive ADHD. I was diagnosed with autism last February but I notice that my attention is all over the place, I'm impulsive, lose or misplace things all the time, cut people off in conversation, a little bit reckless at time's and I have short term memory issue's and I was diagnosed with dyscalculia when I was in my teens
Sounds like it would be worth looking into. Many of those symptoms are manifestation of ADHD.
What I want to know is how you wrote a book and started multiple foundations with inattentive ADD. I can't even get help for myself let alone start projects involving paperwork.
Yes, that's amazing, isn't it? In my experience, things like that happen when it's a work of passion in close alignment with the person's core values.
I suppose you're right. I co-wrote and recorded an album once, but haven't been able to repeat the process since my band dissolved. Maybe I just need external energy to feed off or others to hold me accountble? @@rickwebster3387
Is there a link for the full interview?
I am 66, I have been researching Inattentive ADHD because of my young nephew who has it. Fortunately or otherwise I recognize some of these traits as mine. Thankfully I have an appointment with the psychiatrist tomorrow to discuss new medication, so I will ask her advice. I think my symptoms have been masked by the antidepressants I have been taking for most of my life.
Definitely, antidepressants can not only mask, but also help with inattentive ADHD symptoms. But having the correct meds should be an improvement. Rick of RenaFi.com
Talkative inattentive type, here. Diagnosed at 48.
It's very true that an early diagnosis would have been beneficial, but it's also somewhat irksome that, having been diagnosed, almost all of the ADHD-related content that relates to me assumes that, because I'm inattentive type, I'm female.
It's as though because women tend to be diagnosed as inattentive type, that men being diagnosed as inattentive are ignored, just as mixed-type women are.
Very good point! A LOT of men are inattentive type and are perhaps missed at an even greater rate than women. For sure, most of what I hear about inattentive issues are primarily directed towards women.
Diagnosed with ADHD last year at 58. I’m sure I’d still be on the move physically if my body would’ve allowed. Lifetime of struggling but was getting to a point where life was just becoming unbearable not knowing but suspecting something was wrong.
Glad for discussions like this.
Yep, a LOT of us are "late diagnosed" adults. Especially inattentive women, as they generally weren't disruptive and got good grades.
One problem I encounter is that people rarely if ever tell you HOW to get diagnosed. It's really unclear who you need to go to in order to get a diagnosis that will be seen as official.
You need to do a checklist and go to see a psychologist or psychiatrist
I was diagnosed with inattentive, but I've come to realize I'm very likely combined type. I constantly shake my my legs, wring my hands, and have trouble sitting still etc. Prior to my diagnosis my husband actually thought I had restless leg syndrome. I also often feel like I'm driven by a motor. So, I believe I meet the hyperactive traits but of course, I try to hide it as an adult.
As far as inattentive, the most applicable thing I've ever heard was that we struggle separating relevant information from the unimportant information making it difficult to create or recall memories.
I could go on and on... but if you're serious about looking for combined type females to interview I'd be honored to participate.
Yes, diagnosis is an inexact science at best. People exhibit hyperactivity in different ways. On the inattentive side, it often manifests in difficulties filtering and prioritizing all of the various aspects of our world.
How can we contact Cynthia Hammer about late diagnosis of combined type adhd. I have been diagnosed by a specialist and confirmed by a therapist. But I’ve still been unable to get any helpful treatment over a year later. There is a lack of healthcare workers in my rural area and the three doctors I’ve been to all refuse to prescribe anything but 3rd line defense drugs. I just want my life to not be so unnecessarily challenging. Diagnosed at 30. Currently 31. Almost 32. Also diagnosed with mixed mood adjustment disorder. Seems like they are too worried about treating depression and anxiety along with my adhd. The anxiety and depression stems from adhd challenges. So solve the ADHD issue and my mood disorders should get better once I don’t feel like a failure. 😤😩😫😭
Have u tried apps like todayistheday and many others? Theyre all over ig if yoy search. Havent tried it though but i will very soon. I know that sounds add already but i will very soon really.
Really good logic finding the root of disorders as ADHD. I agree with you. I have been drawing literal connections of this disorders on my ipad and i have the same root cause which is ADHD. I also have anxiety depression and OCD and low self esteem.
Thank you.
I have suspected inhave ADD/ADHD for a long while. Even though I didn't know what innatentive type was. I finally heard about it and took an online test and sure enough, that's where I hit. I still have to get a formal diagnosis and I want it as well :)
But the talkativeness is definetly me. I hyperfocus and talk incessantly about things that interest me and struggle to ask others about themselves.
Yes!, inattentive ADHD is often overlooked and missed, even by the person who has it. Society gives us so many misguided explanations (Lazy, flighty, spacey, etc etc) that we don't even realize there's a much better explanation the fits the facts. Rick of RenaFi.com
What happens is you go to college totally unprepared as a coddled high schooler.
I’m 74 yo., seen a dozen therapists, hospitalized twice with MDD.
I’m grateful for the my current therapist. She helped in discovering my ADHD. Difficulties.
I'm not diagnosed. But i really relate to most symptoms of inattentive adhd. And i realize it has been like that since childhood. It explains my problems with my job. I wish i had known this just 3 months earlier before i sabotaged myself at work. I hope i don't lose my job. If only i had known it sooner. Adhd or not, the tips really work with me.
Very glad to hear Cynthia's tips have been helpful. Getting a proper diagnosis can be profoundly helpful. ADHD and its co-occurring conditions are amenable to treatment but tend not to resolve on their own. Rick of RenaFi.com
Does inattentive combined with autism create a different set of symptoms that might fool the clinician?
I"m not sure. I know there are a myriad of presentations and variables. You might try contacting Cynthia here: www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-hammer-msw-118450173/. Rick of RenaFi.com
I was tested for adhd as a child but they tested me for hyperactive type, it wasn’t until almost 10 years later that I was told I have inattentive type adhd. I suffered so much because I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I hope doctors and parents start paying more attention to people like me when they’re young.
That has been a major problem with ADHD screening in schools. They weren't screening for inattentive types, especially girls. It's a little better now, but there is still a wide disparity. Rick of RenaFi.com
I turned 51 years old when I got my vyvanse medication back in 2014. I could accept all the struggles and worldly things that didn't pan out. It was undefined anxiety that almost got the better of me, and I am not sure I would have made it without the medication because it removed my anxiety.
Yes, mainstream medication has been shown effective for 80% of us. It's sad to see how many people let their ignorance lead them down so many ineffective alternative paths. I've seen thousands of ADHDers over the past 25+ years..It's like groundhog day. New year, new alternative treatment, same stuck life. Congrats on overcoming the anxiety issues. Rick of RenaFi
@@RenaFi Thanks!
I hear you. I was on anti-anxiety meds since 16 with a few stints in hospital with what was thought to be bi-polar breaks. Soon as I received my diagnosis and medication at 38 anxiety is mostly gone with SSRIs out of the picture. Twas a miracle... apparently a reduced executive function makes daily life HAF!
I wish she'd let her guest state what the symptoms of inattentive ADHD are. I'm near 60 and I've only heard of inattentive ADHD a few months ago and I'm near tears for still not having an answer that... she was so close to answering.
I'm 53 undiagnosed and see myself in so many of the women's stories.
I am in my 40s and have been diagnosed as early as 1st grade
I found being fully diagnosed (including a physical to rule out other factors) has been been a gift of self awareness. Rick
I was diagnosed just over a year ago at 51 as combined type. I was always a dreamer/absent minded child. I don’t have the “notice everything “ issue - I’m more the “I didn’t see that” type
Yep, I was diagnosed at 46. I was both the "notice everything" and the "I didn't see that" type. I noticed so many irrelevant things, and missed what was right in front of me! Rick of RenaFi.com
Excellent ❤❤❤
Hi, I have this 32F diagnosed at 30, thank you for this video we are a niche group and it's hard to be recognised ❤
For sure. For all the talk about ADHD, true understanding of the condition is rare. We are a tribe that does much better when we find our community. Rick
Man, that was too short!
I only got my diagnosis about 6 months ago, i am male, 33, and received my diagnosis of innattentive adhd and minor autism six months ago. I feel like i would have had a much more effective life if i had been diagnosed early.
Yes, most of us feel that way ... at first. There is period of grief for the life that coulda, shoulda, and woulda been, if only we'd known. But, as we come out the other side of that, we realize that not knowing made us stronger, more creative, more resilient, more empathetic, more sensitive, more compassionate. The struggle taught us many harsh but valuable lessons. AND, now ... knowing ... we find ourselves poised to live our authentic best self life. Rick of RenaFi.com.
I have inattentive type mostly. I say mostly because I get hyperactive but it is often from coffee or forgetting to eat. I have poor prognosis overall, and yes my opinion my prognosis is that it is mostly from ADD, schizophrenia and a hell of a lot of weed...a more reasonable outlook would say I have a lot of hope for better life. Anyway, I appreciate your mission and what you are trying to do. I'll try to bring more awareness to inattentive type. I couldn't do what you do, but I can still bring awareness to this big issue.
Yes, Cynthia is doing great work. Inattentive types most often don't get noticed and don't get the help they need until much later in life. By then, all kinds of emotional baggage has been accumulated. Rick of RenaFi.com
I'm 54 now, and my D-day was about a year ago, I'm angry and very disappointed with how life turned out.
A lot of us feel way when first diagnosed. It's grief for the life that coulda, shoulda, would've been, if only we'd known. I suppose we'll always carry some regrets, but they fade as we look forward using the diagnosis as a gift of self awareness and a road map, things get better. Rick of RenaFi.com
That's when the fun begins
No matter what gender we are, as a man, I can relate to all the symptoms of ADHD that Cynthia was mentioning.
For sure. The male and female experiences can be seen as on bell curves with a LOT of overlap. When I first read Sari Solden's work, it deeply resonated. It was only later that I found out people say she writes the woman's perspective. Cynthia's work resonates with me too. As they say, "when you met one person with ADHD, you've met one person with ADHD." We're all unique with common threads. Rick of RenaFi.com
Hi, I suspect I am combined type. But never really got formally diagnosed. I was given Ritalin as a child but I didn't like the way it made me feel, and then just went on with no help. I am now and architect and reasonably successful. But I struggle with certain things pertaining to friendships and work. I'd be happy to do an interview.
I'm she would love to interview you! She's looking for people with inattentive that struggled, and became successful in spite of being missed by the medical community. You could find her here. www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-hammer-msw-118450173/ Let me know if that doesn't work and I'll contact her myself to connect the two of you. Rick of RenaFi.com
I am combined type female who was diagnosed right after turning 50 years of age. I am not really talkative, unless it is one of my obsessive interests, since I am also diagnosed with Autism, ADHD/ADD, and OCD. How do I contact you for an interview?
Cynthia or RenaFi?
Cynthia
I'm 51 and undiagnosed. Never would've thought it was a thing because I have zero hyperactivity and am not even vaguely high energy. It was not until one of my daughters was diagnosed and she pointed out how much the things she was learning described me. And then realized that the traits of women with inattentivre type fit her mother shockingly well too, and... It's been a little much. And I'm still not sure what to do about it as I've got 51 years of coping and don't know if I want to add a new med to my life.
Yes, it absolutely does feel like "a little much." I was diagnosed at 46. I wasn't entirely surprised but getting fully and properly diagnosed was a game changer. Suddenly I had an explanation for an inexplicable past. AND, I had the beginnings of a road map to make my life, and the lives of those around me, better. Using mainstream meds is a choice, of course, just like wearing eye glasses. The question is, do the benefits outweigh the risks. In the case of ADHD, there is NO QUESTION. They do for the vast majority of ADHDers. For a few, there are health concerns, so it's important to get a competent medical evaluation. A full diagnosis should include a full physical anyway. The process of diagnosis is largely a process of ruling everything else out, such as sleep apnea which presents symptoms exactly like ADHD. Good luck. It's a journey, not a sprint. Rick of RenaFi.com
@@RenaFi I'm not anti-med at all. Just don't have the best of luck regarding function, side effects, etc. Taking a new med is always a worry for me. Realizing the tale this lays over my own history has certainly been helpful. That, in itself, may be the best benefit.
@@rw8147 For sure. Meds aren't for everyone and there are other means to remediating ADHD symptoms. Mindfulness practice has been shown to strengthen Executive function capabilities. That foundational improvement helps improve every aspect of our lives. Yes, knowledge of self is perhaps the holy grail. I consider my diagnosis as a gift of self awareness. Not that the ADHD itself is a gift, but that the knowledge of how it's impacting my life is a gift. With that knowledge we can begin to design a life that actually works. Rick of RenaFi.com
I found this video after wanting to pursue an ADHD diagnosis I have lived with 90% of all the symptons associated with ADHD all my life so I would like to think I have combined ADHD. I remember going to the clinic for behaviour issues when I was around 8-9 years old this would of been 1988/89 (i'm 43 now) and I don't even think I ever got a formal diagnosis as there is nothing in my medical records. I do remember that back then in the 80s ADHD wasnt so recognised, am i right? Anyway i have booked an appoitment for a refereal to get a diagnosis but I am scared now that I am not going to be believed.
I hear of people saying whats the point etc? You havent got ADHD, your just scatty etc but I feel i need to know, i need to deal with it and get on with stuff knowing.. ADHD isnt even the half of it I have severe anxiety and frequent random panic moments too. All very strange but i want to know if this is all linked, I am based in the UK btw
For people who ask you, "what's the point?," ... the point is self knowledge and the beginning of a journey to remediate the negative side and accentuate the positive. Rick of RenaFi.com
I'd be willing to interview cuz Im definitely combined type, but no official diagnosis YET!! Please send me a reply if this (informal?) study is still going on? I'd love to do it!!
Where is this place you located, In the USA?
Women have a hard enough time getting diagnosed as it is.
Yes, that's changing a bit but it's still a problem. A much higher percentage of women are the "inattentive" type. But inattentive without hyperactivity is harder to recognize and the symptoms are more often attributed to something else.
I'm 44 and in the process of being diagnosed. I feel like I can't even tell where my masking begins and ends anymore. I don't really know who I am.
That resonates! I've worn a mask since grammar school. It's challenging to come out from behind it. I've found that removing my mask has a been a layered affair, like peeling back the layers of an onion. It takes a long time and a lot of effort to work through the layers. But as we do, we discover more about ourselves than we were ever aware of. Rick of RenaFi.com
I would love to be part of you study I’m ADHD combining tipe and I just been diagnosed less than 1 years ago with 42 years old 😢
You should be able to contact her here ... www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-hammer-msw-118450173/ Thanks for inquiring. Rick of RenaFi.com
When she said we often forget to follow our doctors regime i thought Crap, forgot to take my heart meds this morn 😅
Yep, we're notoriously non medically "compliant." I have the same problem. Rick of RenaFi.com
9:00 bingo!!!
I’m 38 and I’m self diagnosed adhd combined type
Interesting. I am for sure combined. I have known for about 30 years but I was diagnosed 2 years ago and have been on meds one year. I am70 years old
I'm 71, was diagnosed at 46. Meds have been very helpful, along with a lot of self work and coaching. Rick of RenaFi
My dauggter is combined undiagnosed. At 11. I have inattentive ADHD undiagnosed.
Diagnosis is important. If you have health insurance, the process isn't too hard. Usually ADHD comes with co-occurring conditions and there are things that can mimic ADHD as well.
I am combine. I feel all over the place.
That's how I experience it as well. Some days in some situations, all is well. Other times in other circumstances I feel helpless to "get it together." In my case, meds help a lot. Rick of RenaFi.com
Forgive my ignorance, but how does getting formally diagnosed help you? If you’re not willing to medicate and you just know, why is a diagnosis important, what does it give you?
IMO, because we don't "just know." We don't know if it's ADHD or sleep apnea or the manifestation of any number of other underlying causes. We don't know what co-occurring conditions might be interacting. 70% of us have a co-occurring condition. We don't truly, deep down believe that it is ADHD and will have a strong tendency to blame character causes such as laziness, irresponsibility or use the excuse, "I just can't because I have ADHD." We're likely to go on for years and decades in some sort of "ground hog" day existence rather than living our best life. We're likely to take our loved ones, friends and co-workers down with us. Without diagnosis and proper treatment our life expectancy is shortened by over 15 years (Barkley 2008). Without diagnosis we're likely to continue to skew away from main stream medication (which helps 80% of us) in favor of all manner of snake oil alternatives.
Without taking the first step of understanding we will likely think we know more than we do, to resist, and make excuses. Very much like desperately needing glasses but deciding, without evidence, that glasses are somehow bad for us.
That's just my take. There are other views for sure. Other views that I, after meeting and talking with thousands of ADHDers over the past 27 years, truly do not understand. Rick of RenaFi.com
@@RenaFi thank you very much.
So what are the 8 symptoms?? Did I miss something? Highly possible.
Might been a bad editing job on our part. This is a clip from a much longer talk.
BUT, briefly, inattentive type ADHD often manifests as a short attention span, easily distracted, careless mistakes, appearing to be forgetful, losing things, being unable to stick to tasks that are tedious and/or time-consuming, appearing to be unable to listen to and/or carry out instructions, constantly changing from one activity to another, difficulty organizing tasks. Rick of RenaFi.com
@@RenaFi
Wow.... Thank you very much. I just put that into the memory log.!!!! And a print out.😃
I had to stop at 6:38 lol
Does being treated mean having to use medication? I don't want to go down that route.
The most effective treatment for ADHD is known to be 1) Main stream medications properly prescribed, 2) Behavior modification therapy or self work 3) Creating an ADHD friendly work, social and living environment for yourself. Medication has been found to help 80% of us. It is not always necessary, but I'd say, if ADHD is making a mess of your life (as it did mine) then medication is worth considering. I think of it as analogous to eye glasses. I'd rather not use them but they make my life better. I hope this helps. We all must design our own treatment plan, which in my case involves medication and a number of professional providers.
@@rickwebster3387 Thank you. Think I'll try option 2 and 3 first. Since I hate the thought of medication.
Medication exists for a special reason, no matter what others tell you. They don't exist to hook you up. According to the current theory ADHD is a disorder conducted by mismatching neurotransmitters, predominantly noradrenaline and dopamine, so by increasing the availability of these transmitters a lot of problems are seemingly improved or almost fixed. The catch is, that the responsible nerve cells in your brain are well guarded by the blood-brain barrier, so it's not easy to do so. Around 98% of medication is filtered by this protection layer and only stuff like Methylphenidate or amphetamine can pass through there (as do other illegal drugs ironically) to get the job done. The risk for addiction in a professional treatment setting is very low, in fact I sometimes forget to take Vyvanse and find the capsule on my desk in the evening, I also had very bad compliance with Methylphenidate and forgot to take that multiple days in a row. But I very well never forget to smoke - should give you some inside how "addicting" these meds actually are if used correctly.
But I also want to add that meds aren't working 100% perfectly, in a good therapy setting they play an important role but are never the one and only coping mechanism - ideally you combine them with therapy and coaching.
@@shadowmystery5613 100%!
Agreed! Pills don't build skills. A combination of both is most helpful.@@shadowmystery5613
When I was diagnosed it was just called ADD.
Same for me. The name was changed in the most recent DSM. Over the years, the name has varied. At least they don't call it "minimal brain dysfunction" these days. It has been called Organic Drivenness, Minimal Brain Dysfunction, Hyperkinesis, Hyperactive Syndrome, Attention Deficit Disorder, and now ADHD. Socrates gave a description of the trait, though I don't think he named it. Rick of RenaFi.com
It has taken me 32 years and more than 10 therapists & 1000's ££££😢😮 to find THE therapist the knows exactly. Please look at Dr Daniel Amen videos ❤
Yes, Dr Amen has some excellent information. Good until he goes into sales mode with his very expensive brain scan offers. Eventually, brain scans will hopefully prove to be great tools for the individual. ATM, they're getting very good at analyzing and predicting for large populations. Not as good with individuals. I wouldn't dissuade anyone, but just realize there might be better ways to invest in your healthcare if money is limited. All that said, Dr Amen has some great, research backed information in his books and publications. Rick of RenaFi.com
Was going to watch this until I saw "she/her" included with the name.
seriously ? Perfectly good video. Its not a big deal.
@@leechan8272
Yes, seriously!
There also happen to be plenty of other good videos out there with the information I'm looking for..
🙏
Thank you. We're an inclusive community. All are welcome and valued. Our entire staff uses pronouns any time they're front facing to the public. It's a welcome sign to all. Rick of RenaFi
@@RenaFi
You're welcome.
May you enjoy serving your intended audience.
I'm simply just not into the pronouns topic.. 🙏
@@CloudSpirals I'm not into pronouns either. I do it for others. The world is quite diverse and we enjoy meeting people of all genders, colors, cultures, etc etc etc. I love learning about the lived experiences of others. Rick of RenaFi.
Please reach out to me . I love this I would like to start my adhd blog
How can we help you with that? Let us know. I did a lot of journaling and other writing when I was recently diagnosed. It helped a LOT!
Two minutes plus for an intro is killing me....
Looked like 11 seconds to me but I'll pass your observation on to Heather, who puts these clips together. I'm not a fan of long intros either. Thanks, Rick @ RenaFi.com
Sorry but my attention span can’t cope with this video I’ve tried to watch it three times now.
She/her 😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄