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I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD, something that I am delighted with as it provides a lot of answers to my personality and why I am struggling in a new senior management role at work.
I am shortly going to start medication for the symptoms and am hoping they provide the relief that I need in order to address quite a few troublesome areas of my working day-to-day.
Has anyone else experience of being diagnosed late in life? (I am 50) and did the medication help?
Well done on getting the diagnosis. I have a friend who's been in the process for years and never seems to get to the head of the queue (from my unlearned perspective, he seems a good candidate).
Well done on getting the diagnosis. I have a friend who's been in the process for years and never seems to get to the head of the queue (from my unlearned perspective, he seems a good candidate).
Took two weeks from initial contact with GP to diagnosis.
Good for you. I own an ADHD assessment service and have completed many such assessments. As a clinical psychologist, my first thought isn’t always medication, but for ADHD it can be excellent. I have seen many people much older than you start medication and find it makes a huge difference. I think you have every reason to be positive and excited.
For what it’s worth, the people who do best with a diagnosis and on medication are those who remember two things. Firstly, the diagnosis provides a good understanding of how your brain works, but it doesn’t define you and isn’t the whole picture. Secondly, the medication is amazing but will be most effective when combined with non-medical adaptations and the boring stuff like diet and exercise, which are especially important for an ADHD brain.
Finally, the issue with medication is always to think ahead of time about what you want it for. What does better look like for you? Having a sense of that is really important because otherwise it is tempting to always want to increase dosage or change the type of meds you’re on in search of a world where you’re always the best version of yourself, which obviously doesn’t exist for anyone.
Hope this helps a little. Good luck with your journey!
ADHD diagnosis assessments are now big business and lessen the diagnosis for people that truly have it.
Covers a lot of things up for people who go round saying they now have ADHD when they don't.
We were told in 2011 to get my son checked out for it when he was 5 years old - we didnt ask, we were told to get it checked. Five years laters, going through the NHS as we were skint, he was diagnosed.
I am highly dubious of anyone who says they can get it diagnosed in two weeks, highly dubious of companies that offer it.
The real truth on ADHD and the diagnosis will come to the mainstream soon.
So many people talk about having it now, as if it's some badge to wear.
That's great, sounds like it is something that could really work for you.
I am 49. It has become increasingly obvious I would likely be a slam-dunk for a diagnosis but have decided not to seek to 'formalise' it because I don't want it to define me and (more importantly) I don't want to medicate. Understanding it better has helped answer many questions, but the 'what next' is not so clear right now.
Diagnosed early 50s (inattentive). Sadly medication wasn't a success for me, due to increased symptoms in the evenings and difficulty sleeping. My daughter is also diagnosed and she has had more success with stimulants for studying. What I would say is, don't expect miracles from meds. All medications come with side effects. Stimulants will reduce your appetite, quite dramatically in my case, but it's important to eat a normal diet.
I was referred to Psychiatry UK and had my assessment last year. The delay between referral and then the initial assessment by them went pretty quickly.
Titration was a slow ramp up on the medication whilst doing a lot of blood pressure/pulse monitoring
the staff were friendly and the patient portal is pretty decent to navigate.
I've found the drugs (meflynate) are very good at blocking out some of the outside world distractions and generally have been a big plus
worth noting, there is not a withdrawal period, so you can take them mon-fri for work if preferred rather than 7 days a week.
I find there are some negatives, as in i'm almost too focused and need prompts/reminders to eat/drink in the daytime as i feel i could just carry on all day.
Im 49 next month, so i'm happy to answer any questions you may have regarding it
ADHD diagnosis assessments are now big business and lessen the diagnosis for people that truly have it.
Covers a lot of things up for people who go round saying they now have ADHD when they don't.
We were told in 2011 to get my son checked out for it when he was 5 years old - we didnt ask, we were told to get it checked. Five years laters, going through the NHS as we were skint, he was diagnosed.
I am highly dubious of anyone who says they can get it diagnosed in two weeks, highly dubious of companies that offer it.
The real truth on ADHD and the diagnosis will come to the mainstream soon.
So many people talk about having it now, as if it's some badge to wear.
[Post edited 23 Jun 12:59]
There was a panorama in 2023 about the boom in private ADHD diagnoses and the inconsistency which the same individuals could receive from different clinics.
Inattention, forgetfulness, and low attention span can also be found in people who suffer from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression, while impulsive behaviour and emotional lability are characteristic symptoms shared between ADHD and other conditions. Sleep disorders alone can produce a convincing ADHD-like profile. This is precisely why a proper assessment must rule out alternative explanations before landing on an ADHD diagnosis, something a rapid commercial assessment is structurally poorly placed to do.
Much of the recent surge in adult diagnoses relies heavily on self-report questionnaires and subjective recall. These are compromised in varying degrees by subjective memory and evaluation biases which can affect the specificity and discriminative ability of diagnostic tests. If someone has read about ADHD on social media, identified with the descriptions, and then attends a private assessment already convinced of their diagnosis, the process is vulnerable to confirmation bias on both sides of the desk.
There have been some brilliant replies in this thread, and I really appreciate everyone who’s taken the time to respond.
Up until recently, my understanding of ADHD was embarrassingly basic, I honestly thought it was just a label people gave to “naughty kids”. I was pretty naïve.
But after actually reading, learning, and recognising how the symptoms line up with the things I’ve struggled with for years — like how I want to start tasks but physically can’t get myself moving — it all finally clicked. I’m confident the diagnosis is right, and medication feels like the right next step for me.
My wife is just as excited as I am. For more than 30 years I haven’t been able to work or drive with any kind of background noise — no music, no radio, no podcasts — because it completely derails me. So the idea that I might finally get to experience what “normal” feels like is honestly amazing.
ADHD diagnosis assessments are now big business and lessen the diagnosis for people that truly have it.
Covers a lot of things up for people who go round saying they now have ADHD when they don't.
We were told in 2011 to get my son checked out for it when he was 5 years old - we didnt ask, we were told to get it checked. Five years laters, going through the NHS as we were skint, he was diagnosed.
I am highly dubious of anyone who says they can get it diagnosed in two weeks, highly dubious of companies that offer it.
The real truth on ADHD and the diagnosis will come to the mainstream soon.
So many people talk about having it now, as if it's some badge to wear.
[Post edited 23 Jun 12:59]
working in HE we arrange for lots of students to have such assessments (and we pay the fee). i've never known one not get the diagnosis. people are diverse in personality and styles of cognitive processing and i fear, at the not severe end, we're muddling that normal human variety up with something medical.
And so as the loose-bowelled pigeon of time swoops low over the unsuspecting tourist of destiny, and the flatulent skunk of fate wanders into the air-conditioning system of eternity, I notice it's the end of the show
There was a panorama in 2023 about the boom in private ADHD diagnoses and the inconsistency which the same individuals could receive from different clinics.
Inattention, forgetfulness, and low attention span can also be found in people who suffer from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression, while impulsive behaviour and emotional lability are characteristic symptoms shared between ADHD and other conditions. Sleep disorders alone can produce a convincing ADHD-like profile. This is precisely why a proper assessment must rule out alternative explanations before landing on an ADHD diagnosis, something a rapid commercial assessment is structurally poorly placed to do.
Much of the recent surge in adult diagnoses relies heavily on self-report questionnaires and subjective recall. These are compromised in varying degrees by subjective memory and evaluation biases which can affect the specificity and discriminative ability of diagnostic tests. If someone has read about ADHD on social media, identified with the descriptions, and then attends a private assessment already convinced of their diagnosis, the process is vulnerable to confirmation bias on both sides of the desk.
Whilst I do appreciate the points you have made here, ADHD is actually under diagnosed in the UK compared to other countries. Yes, there has been a surge in referral requests - particularly in adult women - but historically it was thought that girls didn't get ADHD. What a surprise, when clinical trials only started using women in the mid 1990s...
Anyway, I digress. I have definite family history of both autism and ADHD, plus there are clear indicators that I had classic traits of female presenting ADHD in childhood before puberty, which is a key marker when it comes to diagnosis. Symptoms must have been present in early childhood. If not, then the symptoms are indicative of other conditions.
It is admittedly difficult to remember back to childhood when you are a middle-aged person, but help from parents memories, your own memories and school reports etc help to give the assessors clarity.
Also, many claim it's fashionable to seek an ADHD diagnosis. Believe me, if I hadn't had so much struggle in certain areas of my life and wondered why it seemed to be so simple for other people to do seemingly simple life tasks, then I wouldn't have put myself through 4 years of waiting on a diagnosis and treatment.
People with ADHD have an impairment of the executive function part of the brain. I'd rather not have it than pretend stuff for a diagnosis or struggle so much at things others find a breeze.
It's important to differentiate between the "oh, I forget stuff sometimes, I'm so ADHD" brigade, and those who genuinely struggle to function in a neuro-typical world.
Well done for sharing your news and making the first step towards an easier life. I’m 38 and recently diagnosed (November last year). I’m medicated and would love to share a bit about the positive progress I’ve made. It’d be good to understand more about your situation too.
Good for you. I own an ADHD assessment service and have completed many such assessments. As a clinical psychologist, my first thought isn’t always medication, but for ADHD it can be excellent. I have seen many people much older than you start medication and find it makes a huge difference. I think you have every reason to be positive and excited.
For what it’s worth, the people who do best with a diagnosis and on medication are those who remember two things. Firstly, the diagnosis provides a good understanding of how your brain works, but it doesn’t define you and isn’t the whole picture. Secondly, the medication is amazing but will be most effective when combined with non-medical adaptations and the boring stuff like diet and exercise, which are especially important for an ADHD brain.
Finally, the issue with medication is always to think ahead of time about what you want it for. What does better look like for you? Having a sense of that is really important because otherwise it is tempting to always want to increase dosage or change the type of meds you’re on in search of a world where you’re always the best version of yourself, which obviously doesn’t exist for anyone.
Hope this helps a little. Good luck with your journey!
Hi Alex, I’ve just replied to this post as I’m on my own discovery journey and read your response. Would be great to chat with you if you don’t mind sending over your contact details via a DM?
Well done. I hope you find answers in your diagnosis.
My teenage son has ADHD and is medicated, unfortunately the education system failed him but he is thriving being home educated but nervous about the next step.
My wife is recently diagnosed in her 40s and she has found the diagnosis explained a lot of her traits and behaviour. She is just starting meds now and it's trial and error..
My daughter is sure she has ADHD but isn't bothering with a diagnosis as doesn't want meds and has found her own coping mechanisms and holds down a job.
Yes our family is a bit chaotic, a bit hectic, a bit loud and outsiders don't get it and can find us too much.
Well done. I hope you find answers in your diagnosis.
My teenage son has ADHD and is medicated, unfortunately the education system failed him but he is thriving being home educated but nervous about the next step.
My wife is recently diagnosed in her 40s and she has found the diagnosis explained a lot of her traits and behaviour. She is just starting meds now and it's trial and error..
My daughter is sure she has ADHD but isn't bothering with a diagnosis as doesn't want meds and has found her own coping mechanisms and holds down a job.
Yes our family is a bit chaotic, a bit hectic, a bit loud and outsiders don't get it and can find us too much.
We support each other.
Love this. I have a work colleague who is pretty sure she has ADHD, but finds the pros outweigh the cons for her. She's only in her twenties, so time will tell whether the onset of perimenopause will make her symptoms less manageable, as I was relatively ok until I hit 45. The changes to the female brain in puberty/pregnancy/perimenopause are often the catalyst for moving from coping to not coping.
But medication is certainly not the only fix. Personally I have found CBT a HUGE help to formulating a coping strategy,
What I'm hoping medication does for me is to turn down the noise in my head (something my neuro-typical husband doesn't get). Being just able to think of one thing at a time, or even nothing at all, is something I've never been able to do.
Edited to clarify: I have combined type ADHD, so inatentive and hyperactive together.
ADHD diagnosis assessments are now big business and lessen the diagnosis for people that truly have it.
Covers a lot of things up for people who go round saying they now have ADHD when they don't.
We were told in 2011 to get my son checked out for it when he was 5 years old - we didnt ask, we were told to get it checked. Five years laters, going through the NHS as we were skint, he was diagnosed.
I am highly dubious of anyone who says they can get it diagnosed in two weeks, highly dubious of companies that offer it.
The real truth on ADHD and the diagnosis will come to the mainstream soon.
So many people talk about having it now, as if it's some badge to wear.
[Post edited 23 Jun 12:59]
It's no badge of honour to those who have it. It's a hinderance to many aspects of life. I wish there was a magic pill to take it away, in all honesty.
But I agree there is a massive increase in those who claim they must have it and seek help. Much the same as the recent sharp surge (post 2015, then again post COVID) of trans-identifying young people, particularly pre- and early-pubescent girls.
Whilst there is a clear demographic who genuinely have a physical/mental ADHD condition that needs treatment, there are plenty of others following a social trend and/or mistaking their symptoms for something less complicated.
Part of my role is to support individuals with neurodiversity in the criminal justice system. Medication for those with ADHD can be transformative. Good luck to you with your journey.
I’m 54 and think I have ADHD and want to get tested. I can’t afford to be tested privately but I heard from a friend that when she went to her GP to ask for a test he told her she was old enough to deal with it!
I’m 54 and think I have ADHD and want to get tested. I can’t afford to be tested privately but I heard from a friend that when she went to her GP to ask for a test he told her she was old enough to deal with it!
That's awful! My advice is, do your own research into symptoms and do an honest assessment of yourself and ask if you fit the symptoms. Avoid websites that offer free tests - they are touting for business, so they may be biased. Use trusted sources like NHS and a great charity site called Additude to research symptoms.
If you think the symptoms fit your list, then plan an appointment to your GP. Explain that you would like an assessment for ADHD because, x,y,z. If you have a decent GP, they will refer you to your local mental health trust for a triage appointment, usually over the phone, which takes up to 45 minutes. If that triage professional thinks you need an assessment, you can join the NHS waiting list for an appointment.
However, the NHS waiting list is enormous, especially if you fall under Norfolk and Suffolk catchment.
You can, at this stage, ask your GP to provide a list of 'Right to Choose' private assessors they work with and can refer you to. There is a list online that someone linked to on this thread, which will outline the current waiting times and expected timelines for assessment and then, if positively diagnosed, medical treatment.
It can be a long and drawn out process, and is not for the feint hearted, but worth it if you get the diagnosis and are able to access support
ADHD diagnosis assessments are now big business and lessen the diagnosis for people that truly have it.
Covers a lot of things up for people who go round saying they now have ADHD when they don't.
We were told in 2011 to get my son checked out for it when he was 5 years old - we didnt ask, we were told to get it checked. Five years laters, going through the NHS as we were skint, he was diagnosed.
I am highly dubious of anyone who says they can get it diagnosed in two weeks, highly dubious of companies that offer it.
The real truth on ADHD and the diagnosis will come to the mainstream soon.
So many people talk about having it now, as if it's some badge to wear.
Great discussion between a number of sensible people, but there’s some utter ratbag stupidity in amongst it that really does nothing to support neurodivergent people and passively leans into a lot of the ableism that’s been creeping into society over the last five/six years.
They are, unfortunately, not wrong. They have a financial incentive to diagnose people with ADHD so they can sell them very expensive prescriptions and they are preying on people who may have a litany of mental health issues.
The issue is that the symptoms of ADHD have a large overlap with lots of other conditions and you really need to spend time identifying the right one. In the NHS, they are pretty damn thorough but this means it takes time when they keep cutting psychologists and the waiting lists keep increasing.
One of my wife's family members has had issues for a long time and became convinced she had ADHD. Didn't want to wait for the NHS so her dad paid for her to be seen by one of these clinics. They did the minimum and she got her diagnosis and prescription.
As it turned out, she had complex PTSD.
And they gave her medication that made the problem much, much worse.
This ended up with a crisis team called and police response, along with my wife's career nearly completely derailed whilst she dealt with the fallout.
There's a reason a lot of GPs will refuse to take over prescriptions that come from these places.
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