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This is mainly around my experience with ADHD but could be applied to many different areas.

I’m currently on a waiting list for ADHD medication following an assessment and diagnosis of moderate to severe ADHD and it could be six months or so to wait. So what to do in the meantime?

I am continuing with therapy that I have accessed for many years now, with a new focus on neurodivergence that in truth we’d barely ever talked about before. What’s normal to you can seem abnormal or even dysfunctional when you say it out loud in confidence so this has taken a different direction. I have two more sessions of ADHD coaching focused on executive function which is aimed at helping me to cope with everyday life at home and work and I’m reading up lots.

I see the wait for meds as another option with curiosity but not reliance. I want to know what life would feel like with clearer focus and drive, equally I know that it’s within me to improve my quality of life now before medicating. I’m still on antidepressants a year on from getting them for the first time aged 50.

I see a lot of social media posts around ADHD and experiences with meds although you have to fight through the repetitive AI-driven posts, real people can get stuck hoping that meds will cure all. Medication can cure some ailments and speed up recovery but it won’t cure ADHD but may help you to cope with it. Perhaps the realisation that it’s here for life (as it has been til now) can be calming – just need help to keep going.

We do over-medicalise in my opinion as we seek quick fixes and eradication of anything that we don’t like – not saying it’s wrong but there can be over reliance. Conversely working in primary care I do see the inverse care law in effect, people who need help the most often access it the least due to less capacity, knowledge of the system etc versus those very health literate who may need help less but demand it readily – the worried well in some cases.

So medication has it’s place and for ADHD it could be very helpful but I feel that it should be seem as a complementary aid on top of therapy/coaching/self help etc.

I’ll update if and when I get the meds and tell you how it’s going. Perhaps you could share your experiences either personally or of others you know/care for etc.