Julie and Jel Legg discuss the adult ADHD diagnosis process in New Zealand – what lead them to seek a diagnosis in their 50s, the assessment procedure, and their personal journey.
They share their experiences navigating professional evaluations, uncovering hidden impairments, and reflecting on past behaviors through the lens of ADHD. With insights into the emotional relief and self-discovery that follow, they highlight how a diagnosis offers clarity, improved coping strategies, and a framework for personal growth and better understanding of ADHD's influence on daily life.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Why Seek a Diagnosis? Personal and family-related curiosity often sparks the journey toward ADHD assessment. Symptoms like work struggles, life transitions, or past undiagnosed behaviors often prompt individuals to seek clarity.
- Assessment Process: Diagnosis requires professionals such as clinical psychologists or psychiatrists. Psychologists can assess and diagnose; psychiatrists can prescribe medication. The process involves interviews, trait analysis over a lifetime, and ruling out other disorders. Questionnaires may be included to ensure comprehensive assessment.
- Reactions to Diagnosis: Receiving a diagnosis can bring relief, clarity, and validation - along with grief and anger. It reframes lifelong experiences and provides a new lens for understanding challenges. Diagnosis often sparks a journey of self-discovery, addressing hidden impairments and developing tailored strategies.
- Navigating Adult ADHD: Adults approach diagnosis proactively, considering its impacts and benefits on their personal and professional lives. While traits may not change post-diagnosis, understanding ADHD allows for improved relationships, self-acceptance, and coping strategies.
- Challenges in Diagnosis: Waiting times and the emotional risk of confronting potential outcomes, like ruling out other conditions, can make the process daunting. Diagnosis requires honesty and self-reflection to ensure accuracy.
- Post-Diagnosis Reflections: Diagnosis provides a framework for understanding behavior and decisions. It can help reshape perspectives on past struggles and current strategies, fostering growth. Self-awareness helps individuals identify strategies that worked pre-diagnosis but might need adjustments to align with better outcomes post-diagnosis.
LINKS
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