I have ADHD, and my therapist has confirmed it, just like the results of ADHD tests. He isn’t bad, he greatly helps me with my depression. However, he doesn’t provide an official diagnosis nor prescribe pills.

He says it’s my trait and that I should learn to live with it. Like, take more breaks, find a motivation. Easy to say, hard to do. I can’t keep up with the strategies he suggests, and I feel like I’m not trying hard enough.

The world doesn’t wait for me. This trait is ruining my work and my routine, and it’s stealing my money and my time. I can’t start tasks, I can’t concentrate, and I can’t do anything boring or unpleasant.

For example, I can stare at a wall in the middle of a work task, with my hand over the keyboard, and lose myself in thoughts about my hobby. And I don’t give a damn at this moment about all my reminders, the absence of irritants, and so on.

Of course, sometimes I can force myself “just to do it”, but it costs a ton of energy (btw, because of my depression, I have a tiny amount of energy). It often requires a ton of luck, too.

Is this normal? Am I just complaining?

  • atrielienz@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    4 hours ago

    Having a diagnosis officially opens up some doors for the world to wait for you. That’s one of the major helpful parts of having the diagnosis. It means that you are officially diagnosed with a disability, and that certain allowances would be made for you under the law (if you live in a country with such provisions).

    Even without medication, that can make a world of difference and is an important factor in getting an official diagnosis.

    Extra time for college or work assignments, a more flexible schedule, a private work space, noise canceling headphones, etc can be beneficial along with the coping mechanisms he’s trying to get you to develope in order to facilitate a better management of your condition.

    That’s probably the conversation you should be having with this therapist. Because if he can’t legally give you a diagnosis he should put in a referral for a doctor who can. And if he can give you a diagnosis, I think he should be doing the job you pay him for.