Back in the 1970s I had a bed wetting problem. They tried a medication called Ritalin to address this problem. This medication had an interesting side effect of making me pleasant to be around for the first time in my life. Both my parents and all of my teachers remarked on how much better I was able to pay attention and be kind to other people. Then they took me off the medication and I reverted to my wild ways. I don't think many or any people had heard of ADHD back then, so it didn't occur to anyone to try to medicate me for what I clearly had. Over the decades I've learned to cope with ADHD without medication, but I can't help but wonder how much better my life would have been if I had been able to concentrate and not been so hyperactive. Maybe I would have done better in school and had friends.
Even today, I wonder if I should go through the trouble of being diagnosed and getting on medication. The last three days I wasted my time instead of doing the work my company pays me to do and got exactly nothing done. The entire time I kept thinking, "I really should do that work so I can keep my job and provide for me family" but I couldn't concentrate and procrastinated day after day.
Most of my children have ADHD. Before they could be diagnosed, they did have to go through extensive testing by a psychiatrist and there were interviews conducted with us as their parents and with their teachers. The 15 minute diagnosis mentioned in the article has not been my experience. We have regular meetings (every 6-8 weeks) with the psychiatrist to evaluate their dosage and how things are going.
Even today, I wonder if I should go through the trouble of being diagnosed and getting on medication. The last three days I wasted my time instead of doing the work my company pays me to do and got exactly nothing done. The entire time I kept thinking, "I really should do that work so I can keep my job and provide for me family" but I couldn't concentrate and procrastinated day after day.
Most of my children have ADHD. Before they could be diagnosed, they did have to go through extensive testing by a psychiatrist and there were interviews conducted with us as their parents and with their teachers. The 15 minute diagnosis mentioned in the article has not been my experience. We have regular meetings (every 6-8 weeks) with the psychiatrist to evaluate their dosage and how things are going.