Adult diagnostics?

[KPeveler]

A little background: I've been seeing therapists for a decade (since I was 15 or so), and I have had a mishmash of mental/developmental health diagnoses: ADD, ADHD, Generalized Anxiety, Social Anxiety, PTSD, "sensory things," eating disorders, self injury, depression, etc. The only "official" testing done (as in a standard test in a specialized setting) was for ADD/ADHD. I was diagnosed when I was 15 with ADD, ADHD (combined type - I was told this is rare for a 15 yr old girl), and anxiety.

I was on meds for ADD/ADHD, and once briefly for anxiety (Paxil + me = zombie). The meds (ritalin, concerta) did not work for me, and really made some things worse. None of the "coping techniques" anyone tried to teach me really stuck.

Most doctors/therapist said at 15+ I was too old for most of their tests, and basically treated me as if I should have been able to "control" things by now.

Does anyone have any suggestions of where to start for figuring out the things that don't usually fit into the obvious "mental health" category. I mean, I know I have anxiety and depression problems, but no one has ever seemed to realize or care that my impulse control problems, sensory problems, obsessive thoughts/actions, etc fit into that. I was always just called "quirky."

Quirky is fine, but this has always greatly controlled my life (as in, all of you here and my other sites are basically my only friends), and I have no idea where to start. Bookwormde, I know you always suggest pediatric neuro or developmental psych, but I don't have any idea where to go as an adult!

I figure I am not the only one out there with this problem, and so I figure answers for me may be able to help others too. Thanks

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Don't really have an answer for you, but a sympathetic ear because I'm in a similar boat.

I'm also diagnosed with clinical depression and ADHD, and I'm sure if I were to go as far as to tell my psych every little quirk I have, he'd tell me I have sensory and impulsivity issues too. Mine, however, aren't life hampering. I'm very figety, if there's a napkin or a straw wrapper around you can find me shredding it or twisting it into things, I used to be a cutter and I ended up with a tongue ring on an impulse years ago. Every once in awhile, I still go into mild manic episodes and get very impulsively destructive, but the episodes only last 2 or 3 hours. I started seeing therapists and whatnot around the same time you did agewise, but my psych still considers me "young adult" since I'm 24. Like I said, most of it isn't anything people don't get used to after awhile. Most of my friends and family know I'm twitchy and don't always put things in ways they might, and I'm not looking at them while they talk to me because there's something over their shoulder that's more interesting.

 

[bookwormde]

A lot the the pediatric neurologist are partnered with adult practices or are a subgroup of one.

Also you have heard and read a lot on this board, so you have a feel for the major underlying characteristics which create the co-morbidities you are living with. Pick one of the major characteristic groups that you feel has the most impact (typically creates the most anxiety) and start a log and document the day to day impact and what you feel the source and compare it to the currnet literature. It is important not to do this in a vacuum since it is easy to go down a rabbit hole. If you are not working with a councilor with a lot of experiance and understanding of the underlying characteristics, find one. Often family councilor who work with kids will do adults which have co-morbidities of the characteristics they work with, and have the depth of insight to piece the sources together (and in reality work with undiagnosed parents all the time).

bookwormde

 

[KPeveler]

A diary is a good idea - I did not even realize until I started thinking about it today how fidgety I really am, and how often I hurt myself doing things like biting my lip/cheeks/fingers... I feel like I really cannot cope on my own anymore, so it is time to start looking for outside help. thanks for the advice!

 

[bookwormde]

If you have not read Attwood yet please do, that can be one of the quickest way towards improvement since self awareness is one of the greatest anxiety reducers.

bookwormde

 

[KPeveler]

If you have not read Attwood yet please do, that can be one of the quickest way towards improvement since self awareness is one of the greatest anxiety reducers.

bookwormde

I will have to get that once I get a little income again. I have always had anxiety problems, which manifested as social anxiety after my mother's attempt at curbing my impulse control problems. I have been housebound pretty much all the time for the last couple years, and entirely without contact with the outside world save via internet for 4 months, which has basically just blown up all my anxiety issues. I know I need to get a good handle on it, but I just did not know where to start. Thanks

 

[bookwormde]

Good luck, the book is only $17 or if you have someone who can get it from the library for you most have it. If you do not have innate social skills, venturing our can be very overwelming and anxiety producing.