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My Journey with ADHD
BackStory
The month of June is dedicated to mental health for men. In this blogpost, I will be sharing my experience as a man living with ADHD.
I have always struggled with my attention span and maintaining concentration throughout my schooling years. It spilt over into certain aspects of my life, such as maintaining relationships. I did not understand what I was going through while living in Nigeria for most of my life because of the lack of awareness of mental health and behavioural conditions. Unfortunately, I had to bear this burden while navigating life.
I moved to the UK for my master's degree, and I struggled with meeting the deadline for coursework. I came across a resource on the university portal about ADHD while I was filing a form for an assignment extension. This piqued my interest and led me to research ADHD symptoms, and I related this to what I have experienced all my life. I filled out the form on the University website to get screened. The screening revealed certain symptoms, but due to the one-year duration of my master's program, I wasn't referred for further evaluation.
My GP referred me to Psychiatric-UK a few months after I completed my master's, based on the screening tool assessment. Unfortunately, I was not given an official diagnosis, and I was put on the waitlist for over a year and four months. My symptoms became more difficult to manage while waiting and I realised that It had a significant impact on my mental health. I decided to go private with ADHD-360 after a long and horrendous wait, with no hope of getting a diagnosis.
Diagnosis
The process of registering with ADHD-360 was quick and smooth. The first assessment with the clinician was booked for the next day, after successful registration on the website. I was required to complete an online evidence-based test provided by QbCheck before the first video call consultation with the clinician. The test is part of a two-stage evaluation to enhance the ADHD assessment and treatment process.
The online consultation with the clinician explored my struggles with ADHD from childhood to the present day. The clinician asked extensive questions consisting of childhood experience, medical history, present symptoms, etc. I was officially diagnosed with ADHD after the consultation. The clinician offered me the choice of managing the symptoms with behavioural support or medication. I opted for the latter.
Treatment and effect
The medication arrived six days post-diagnosis, albeit at a high cost due to its private nature. The doctor prescribed 30mg for the first seven days, followed by 50mg for the subsequent 21 days. Upon commencing the medication, I experienced an intense sense of euphoria and noticed an uplift in my overall mood and productivity. As I embark on the first week of treatment, I aim to provide a more comprehensive account of its impact following a month of dedicated adherence to the prescribed medication.