Members with ADHD experience/knowledge wanted!

[GearedForwards]

So today I finally took the plunge and spoke to a GP about my concern that I have undiagnosed ADHD as a 28 year old, the problems have just become too much to ignore. Well, that was next to useless as I now wait for a questionnaire to maybe, at some point, arrive via... text? In the meantime I thought I'd hit up the braintrust:

- UK members what is your experience with the NHS and ADHD?

- Members with it or experience with it, what management strategies work best for you? Not being able to focus on work is crippling at the moment and the mood swings are something I want gone.

[OldBoy2016]

I don’t have it but I do have a medical condition and what I learned may be of help. Apologize if you already know this.

Number 1 is to be kind to yourself. Too easy to beat yourself up for not meeting expectations (yours, others), but you are gifted with only 1 body. Be kind to it. Mistakes will always happen and we tend to focus a spotlight on something that in reality is really nothing a month from now.

Exercise and eat right. Talk to an expert to get you started if you need to but it is amazing in all the little ways how the body appreciates your investment and how it pays it back to you down the road.

Best of luck my friend. But don’t worry you’ll be fine.

[Tasky]

Best I can suggest is CBT - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Nothing will cure this, but CBT helps you recognise what's happening, but most importantly understand why it's happening and where it comes from, as well as how it all relates to the world and situations around you.
From there, you then learn to devise methods of management that are tailored to, and work best for, you and your unique situation.

You can get this on the NHS, but you will need to talk your way through all the sessions of examination and referral until you finally get a CBT bod. Even then, the quality depends on your particular NHS Trust, but make sure you get an actual psychologist doing this, not just some counsellor or therapist. Avoid psychiatrists and medications if at all possible.

[Nix]

So today I finally took the plunge and spoke to a GP about my concern that I have undiagnosed ADHD as a 28 year old, the problems have just become too much to ignore. Well, that was next to useless as I now wait for a questionnaire to maybe, at some point, arrive via... text? In the meantime I thought I'd hit up the braintrust:

- UK members what is your experience with the NHS and ADHD?

- Members with it or experience with it, what management strategies work best for you? Not being able to focus on work is crippling at the moment and the mood swings are something I want gone.

1) If you get the diagnosis, it may let you be a little less down on yourself for leaving the car keys in the fridge or becoming distracted by the next MTo thread.... So, be compassionate with yourself.
2) Ancient texts from India described ADHD as "monkey brain" for the way the brain seemed to hop around with constant inquisition. Their answer: meditation. As a non-pharmaceutical intervention, this one can't be beat.
3) Develop strategies to minimize distractions, e.g. keep work areas uncluttered & tidy. Build good coping habits, e.g. always leaving keys in the same spot regardless. There are few good books out there that may help, "Delivered From Distraction" pops to mind, but I'm sure there are others.
4) No one can "multitask", but with ADHD trying to multitask on two tasks is a sure recipe to find yourself doing a third.
5) Exercise. Get rid of some of that restless energy first thing in the morning. Besides, exercise is good for everyone's mood!
6) Some people with ADHD can end up procrastinating. Meditation helped me develop a quicker ability to recognize when I'm starting to procrastinate. At that point, I try to be my own drill sergeant and get my butt back to work.
7) I know some people find meds useful, but I think it would be nice to avoid them if possible. YMMV.
If I forgot to recommend it already, meditation is your friend and good medicine. 

[GearedForwards]

Thank you all for the advice, I'll persevere with trying to get something out of the NHS, but will also look into meditation (again, it's hard okay!). It's very reassuring to have folks take it seriously and supportive, for which I greatly thank you all.