I posted a couple weeks ago about an upcoming mental health evaluation that I was anxious about. That evaluation was today.

For background, I am a middle aged white guy, previously untreated for any psychiatric condition except a < 2 month stint on SSRI’s about two decades ago after a nasty breakup.

I was seeking an evaluation for what I thought from my online research might be mild to moderate ADHD symptoms, which were starting to affect my job. I also have suffered from irrational anxiety for a couple years now, but it got really bad over the last year or so. I had tried going through my primary care doctor but, despite being a great GP, they were not helpful with this. I bounced off a few other attempts over several months before finally getting referred to a psychiatrist who specializes in ADHD. I saw them this morning.

I utilized the advice I was given and let the psychiatrist know very early in the meeting what my concerns were around rehearsing/masking, and that I was extremely anxious, not about the ‘interview’, but about the outcome. Mostly how I was very worried that I would appear to ‘have it together’ to such an extent that they would send me home to live with my issues without any help.

This was supposed to be a general mental health eval for about 50 minutes, but the doctor kept me there for about 85 minutes and I walked out with a fresh diagnosis of mild ADHD and three prescriptions. I’ve been prescribed daily low dose Focalin and a SNRI, along with an anti-anxiety sleep aid that I can take as needed. I had trouble finding a pharmacy that had Focalin in stock but eventually found one and I’m waiting for the prescription to get transferred by the doctor, so I likely won’t start that until next week.

I don’t know what’s next, I don’t know how these meds will affect me or if they will help at all, but I’m hopeful. I’ve very nervous about the SNRI because I did NOT like how I felt on SSRIs 20 years ago, but I’m willing to try what the doctor recommended. It feels like a new chapter is about to start, for better or worse.

Thanks to all that gave me advice in the other thread. I don’t know why I felt like I had to write all this out, but thanks for reading this, too. For everyone out there struggling, please don’t give up. It took me almost a year from when I knew I had a problem that needed some attention, until today when I finally saw someone who listened, agreed with my concerns, and took action. Keep trying.

  • ZenGrammy@lemmy.worldMFrysk
    2·
    1 year ago

    So glad you came back with an update, and that it wasn’t quite as bad as you thought it would be I hope your meds work out well for you. If they don’t, I’m sure you can let the doctor know and they will switch you to something else.

    • CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.worldOP
      2·
      1 year ago

      Thank you. My doctor was very clear about this being a starting point, and not to be afraid to call him and talk about issues or things I think need adjusting. I’m very happy with how he approached all of this because I am by nature a person who doesn’t particularly like to take medications when there’s an alternative. But he thinks this is the best course to try first, and I’m listening to the expert.

    • MasterBlaster@lemmy.worldFrysk
      2·
      1 year ago

      I feel you. I am having worsening symptoms myself. I’m middle aged white guy, too, and have been living with ADHD for years, but I’ve been unemployed for 6 months and am also having increasingly hard to dismiss anxiety. For the first time ever, i went throigh a whole night without sleeping at all.

      I’m going to change up my meds, and I have a therapist finality after months of searching. I had to hammer home that while I want explore all the shit I’ve suffered, the key thing now is to get me functional so I can solve some immediate real world problems like imminent financial ruin and potential homelessness.

      Ageism sucks.one day you are a star performer, the next you’re unhireable. Shortly after that, your broke and alone, and nobody cares.