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No evidence ADHD is being over-diagnosed, say experts (www.cam.ac.uk)
submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by to c/science@lemmy.world
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Research.

Overdiagnosis is not a problem, but misdiagnosis may be as people are driven into the private sector by long waits, and sadly, missed diagnoses remain common —Tamsin Ford

Experts are warning that far from being over-diagnosed, people with ADHD are waiting too long for assessment, support and treatment.

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[–] 42 points 7 months ago (6 children)

I spent most of my life undiagnosed, because it used to be believed that only boys could have ADHD. But I knew, and was formally diagnosed as an adult only at the insistence of my partner.

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  • [–] 11 points 7 months ago (3 children)

    Like many adults I just got recently diagnosed in my mid 30s.

    For me it was that I can't have adhd because I was good at school and uni. Then I completely fell apart when I entered work.

    I had to go through depression and burn out and bore out and more. Eventually someone said I could have adhd and just been able to deal due to high IQ.

    Turns out that's what it was. I'm really good at learning new stuff. So school and uni. I really suck at repeating the same shit all day. So work. Welp. Helps to know.

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  • [–] 4 points 7 months ago (1 child)

    Wow, this could have been written by me. I got diagnosed last year in my early 50s after my 4th burnout. I'm currently assessing career options and try to work out what to do next. Unfortunately one has to make money to survive, I'm just trying to find something that won't break me again. Bonus points if it's interesting too.

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  • [–] 4 points 7 months ago

    This is where I am too, in my late 30s. Had a really bad year last year reaching burn out and ending up with panic disorder 😵 I wonder if changing to a job that's more systematic would help, but also the boredom kills me and I need money. I hope you figure it out!

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  • [–] 2 points 7 months ago

    Huh, never conceived of it that way. I was stellar in secondary school, burnt out in university and crashed out in post-grad plans/attempts. Still trying to revisit those, but have to go at a slower pace.

    I've felt like my brain just works... slowly. But I also seem to be pretty good at learning/picking up new things, because the novelty is key. That is definitely a helpful way to reframe it!

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