Hey I’m T and I have
"Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder”
is a behavioural disorder which commonly includes symptoms such as inattentiveness
hyperactivity and impulsivity
I’m taking up the ukulele!
My Dad was diagnosed and as ADHD is genetic he suggested that I should
get it checked out
I ran it by my friends said: “ Hey guys, I think I’ve got ADHD!”
To which my friend Kirsty said:
“Yeah but you probably don’t have ADHD like it’s so overdiagnosed
everyone thinks they’ve got it”
Kirsty didnae know what she was talking about
WHAT?!
Thinking back over the years there might have been a few signs that
ye boy had ADHD
Like how I would find it hard to focus on conversations. I would get completely
distracted by my own train of thought and no hear a word that the other person had said
Or how I always found it impossible to sit still without shaking my leg or fidgeting
with something, much to the annoyance of the friends and family around me
Would you please stop that!?
Stop wit?
Everybody with ADHD has unique symptoms. So this can include things like:
difficulty being on time, problems being organised, difficulty managing stress
trouble holding down a job, drug and alcohol related addiction issues, as well as finding it
very difficult to maintain a healthy relationship
There's a lot of people, like myself, who weren’t diagnosed in childhood
But there’s a lot of people who find it very difficult to get an adult ADHD diagnosis
I done a bit of research to try and find out why this is. I asked a representative
from The Scottish ADHD Coalition:
“Why is it so hard for adults to get diagnosed with ADHD?”
and they replied:
That’s a lot of information. What it basically means is: if you weren’t
showing ADHD symptoms as a kid, it’s very hard to prove you’ve got it as an adult
I was very lucky in the fact that my mum came along with me to let the doctor know
what I was like growing up
So also, currently in the UK for every 3 to 4 boys that are diagnosed, only 1 girl is diagnosed
I asked why this was, and they said that it might be due to the fact that girls tend to
present symptoms differently from boys. They said:
ADHD might also get misdiagnosed as depression or anxiety as these are actually
symptoms of the disorder
Add to all of that the fact that there is a recognised shortage of psychiatrists
There is a growing demand for adults to get diagnosed
You can see why it would be difficult to get a diagnosis...but not impossible
I was actually diagnosed with ADHD this year. That was after a six month waiting period
and a lifetime of difficulties, but I was able to finally get my diagnosis and get support
and treatment that has massively helped!
ADHD meds are a controversial topic but they have definitely made a massive difference
in helping me get my mind under control and organise my thoughts
However they are not the only option! Other options include meditation, exercise
and ADHD courses that help you understand your disorder better
And even though the NHS recommend medication as a first-line treatment, everybody is different
For me personally, I manage my symptoms by taking medication, writing lists constantly
and using a calendar app on my phone to track my appointments
Listen, I know that was a lot of information, right? But if you think you're suffering from ADHD
don’t hesitate to check in with your GP. If you think you know someone who might have
ADHD ask them to do a bit of research
There's a lot of amazing support groups in Scotland, do not hesitate to contact them as well
ADHD can be difficult but it can also be a wonderful, wonderful thing
It makes up my personality, it makes up part of who I am
and I’m proud of that
I hope you find this video helpful, I hope it makes a difference
I've been T, I’ve got ADHD
stay focused team, stay focused.