The lack of support for adult ADHD in Australia is unacceptable and needs to change now!

[MarieMay]

I'm a 26 year old woman who was diagnosed with combined ADHD at the age of 24. My QbCheck result was 96% so about 7 percent of the general population display the level of severity in symptoms that I do. My undiagnosed adhd has at one time or another, led to substance abuse issues, insomnia, anxiety, depression, low self esteem, suicidal ideation, problems maintaining friendships, poor academic performance, poor work performance and financial struggles. I spent years thinking all of the above was my fault, and having that idea continuously reinforced by being told I was lazy, not trying hard enough, not having any resilience, and "having so much potential that I'm throwing away". Medication has changed my life in the best way possible. It helps limit the severity of my symptoms. But it isn't a cure. I still struggle with that voice in my head which still places the blame on myself. I still struggle with severe symptoms if I've had less sleep than usual and my meds aren't as effective. I'm still suffering from the consequences of being undiagnosed for so long. The most brutal part is that my adhd is still not taken seriously. At work, if my ADHD symptoms negatively impact my performance because my meds weren't as effective that day, it's still subtly seen as a "you" problem. The NDIS doesn't take ADHD seriously enough to add it to their list of primary disabilities. The government doesn't take it seriously enough and will take over a year to respond to a senate inquiry. To treat ADHD effectively a combination of medication and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has been proven most effective. It costs over 200 dollars per session for an ADHD coach or a psychologist specialising in ADHD. I can't afford that in this economy. I am just so fed up. I feel like my disability isn't treated like a disability. In fact, I feel like because I have ADHD I'm not allowed to be disabled at all.    

[Glisten]

@MarieMay Welcome to the forum and you are 💯% correct.

Medication is a wonderful life changer.

But medication is only as effective as your hormone cycle. 
Low estrogen levels = Low medication effectiveness.

My family has 3 generations of ADHD ADD + Anxiety and dyslexia.

I’m the first one in my family to deal with ADHD symptoms before, during and after menopause.

Women are generally treated as second class citizens and regularly disregarded in the medical profession.

@Jynx will attest it is an everyday battle.

The question is, how do we advocate for change?

@tyme @Shaz51 

[tyme]

Hey @Glisten @MarieMay , 

Only recently, there has been a review into ADHD supports. This includes training up GPs to diagnose and support those with ADHD so that they can provide ongoing care.

This is long overdue. There HAS been a national inquiry, and recommendations made. This happened only recently.

https://www.adhdaustralia.org.au/senate-inquiry-into-adhd/#:~:text=About%20the%20Senate%20Inquiry,Af....

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-13/barriers-to-adhd-diagnosis-highlight-a-broken-system/10469026...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-14/adhd-invisible-disability-lived-experience-queer-neurodiversi...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-02/parents-speak-out-about-adhd-costs/104546464

I hear how frustrating it can all be @MarieMay  - but together, things CAN change.

[Jynx]

Ugh yep @MarieMay agree with you 1000%!! It's absolutely debilitating to deal with every day, and yet we're constantly given the message that we should 'just try harder!' or 'try staying organised!' 😡

It's hard to choose where the biggest pain comes from sometimes... is it the systemic issues that preclude me from support because my disorder is somehow not disordered enough for you? Or is it the constant stream of stigmatisation, ableism, and devaluing from society?

I'm so sorry you're having to deal with all of this. Your disability is absolutely valid, and it is no reflection of you that you're struggling with it all. 

TY for the tag @Glisten!! I wish I knew more about advocacy, would be especially handy if our disability was taken seriously hey. I'm kinda half-joking when I say 'maybe it's cos none of us can organise ourselves well enough to make a stand' lol... but I also am cautious about anything that could leave me with a defeatist attitude - cos then I'd have already given up. Sigh.

[Shaz51]

Agreeing with you @MarieMay 💯present 

My husband has had lots of different diagnosis and to put adhd and asd  to the list and he is on meds for bipolar 

my 4 step children have been diagnosed with Adhd and they have lots of ups and downs and are totally on their own apart from medications 

Thanks for the tag @Glisten 

@Jynx , @tyme 

[AmberGrace]

i have the same line up as your husband. It can be a real struggle at times. I'd love to get access to some meds for ADHD. They make it so hard to get meds for ADHD and formal diagnosis. ADHD is exhausting. I think my bipolar would be better if my ADHD had treatment.

[-DarkHades]

Oh @MarieMay how I have felt and still feel what you feel.My heart literally in broken reading this because I am still partly in this situation.

I was fortunate to be employed while seeking my ADHD diagnosis so I was able to front the cash. I didn't see if you were employed or not so I apologize if all of this is coming from an assumption perspective.

I needed to know what was wrong with me. I had my life literally flipped upside down and I couldn't handle all the shit that was happening.I reached out to a clinic place my clients have been seen at and figured I'd take the plunge.I did a combined assessment with ASD and ADHD because I figured if it ain't one it's the other. Turns out it's both 🤦🏾‍♀️. I understand that forking out 2500 is a lot of money for anyone but I needed to know that I wasn't a failure of a human being and that there was some sort of an explanation as to why I am behaving like this.

If I might add some suggestions so that you're able to atleast try to advocate/help yourself:

- on YouTube a channel called How To ADHD is a lovely resource.

- the ADHD chatter podcast on YouTube as well.

- Hidden 20% on YouTube is a good one. It has A LOT of professionals from everyday people like us to psychiatrists.

- Understood.org : is another website that has loads of info a out ADHD especially from the female side "MissUnderstood" is a section on their site that also has a podcast that is LOVELY I feel seen everytime I listen to something that they say.

- with ADHD you have got to reinvent the wheel everytime you wanna get yourself motivated to do something it's frikking exhausting but if you can find a few ways to dangle the carrot in front of you. It might assist for the time being.

I know these are not going to "fix" the problem but they are temporarily solutions to try and help while you try and get a diagnosis so you can get on medication.

Sending you so much love because ADHD IS disabling and it does interfere with so many aspects of life that people just chock it up to be "oh take a pill and you'll be fine." :face_with_rolling_eyes::face_with_rolling_eyes:

[tyme]

Thank you for sharing @-DarkHades @MarieMay @AmberGrace . Sounds like we can all relate in some way. 

I hope things change soon - for the better.

Hope you are all doing okay today.