Oct 27
Okay, so you did a bunch of learning and self-reflecting and you suspect you might have ADHD. Now what? The process of getting an ADHD diagnosis can, ironically, be super inaccessible for the ADHD brain, so I wanted to do an updated re-release of my episode on how to seek out a diagnosis for those of you who don’t know where to start.
Whether you’re afraid that you won’t be believed by your provider, that you’ll be accused of drug-seeking, or that you won’t be able to remember anything you wanted to say in the moment, I’ve created a checklist of adult ADHD symptoms based on the DSM-5 and Russell Barkley’s Adult Scale that will help you discuss your experiences with confidence. I’m not a doctor, but I know how your brain works because I share it, and my aim with this episode is to give you the framework and the courage to fight for the medical support you deserve.
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YOUTUBE
"I’ve noticed that a lot of women are fearful and stressed out by the prospect of having to meet with their general practitioner, family doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist to discuss ADHD."
- Tracy Otsuka
"You must go in prepared. I did a lot of research and went into my appointment understanding what the symptoms of ADHD were generally, but also how they presented for me. If you’re nervous going in and then you meet with a psychologist or psychiatrist who doesn’t understand ADHD, your short and longterm memory will fail and you won’t remember anything. This won’t happen if you’re prepared."
- Tracy Otsuka
"If I want to learn how to surf, I’m not going to hire someone who’s never surfed and just watches other people surf. If I want to learn how to cook, I’m not going to hire someone who’s never cooked but gets all his knowledge from watching others cook. So why would I trust my brain to anything less?"
- Tracy Otsuka
- Lauren shares her struggles with ADHD, depression, and negative self-talk, but finds hope and validation through Tracy's podcast and the stories of other guests.
- Tracy was initially hesitant to get diagnosed with ADHD, but she was motivated by the hope of finding relief from symptoms that had been present since childhood.
- Tracy's own ADHD diagnosis was made through a brief appointment with a psychiatrist who handed her a prescription for Adderall without discussing non-pharmacological options.
[18:30 - 29:21] ADHD Specialists and Resources
- Tracy describes her personal experience with ADHD testing and diagnosis, including the cost and difficulty of finding a qualified professional.
- Tracy emphasizes the importance of finding an expert in ADHD for diagnosis and treatment, as they have personal experience with medication not working and wanting to find the best possible care for their child.
- Tracy recommends asking professionals how many women with ADHD they've treated and checking their training and experience in ADHD coaching.
- Tracy emphasizes the importance of being prepared for an ADHD diagnosis appointment by understanding symptoms and how they present personally.
- Tracy struggles to provide examples of difficulty sustaining attention when asked by a doctor, demonstrating the need for a structured framework to discuss symptoms.
- Tracy created a checklist to help diagnose ADHD by mirroring the DSM criteria and providing examples of how symptoms manifest in daily life, such as forgetting appointments or misreading directions.
