How to get diagnosed with ADHD in New Zealand

This is my story

I’m 36 years old, I have ADHD, and I’ve only just found out. I’m intelligent, funny, and quick-witted. From the outside I’m often confident and outgoing, and I’ve had some amazing experiences and opportunities in my life. But dammit, can I find my keys when I need to leave the house? No way. Do I struggle with admin, patience and executive function? Oh yes.

” Come on, ADD? Mate, that’s for kids… That happens to everyone sometimes…”

Sometimes… With ADHD it’s not just sometimes, this gift touches literally every part of our lives, all the time however adverse or glorious it can be.

I have been diagnosed with adult ADHD – inattentive, at the age of 36. Where to start, I guess upon my suspicion and how it arose. After being in a bit of a professional rut and being worn down by a narcissistic boss, these “symptoms of ADHD in adults” were exacerbated and I found myself questioning myself, my clarity and my perception. Never in my life had I thought I had ADHD. A book title caught my eye, “Scattered Minds“, I had to hear it.

During a two hour drive, I played the audiobook and I drove down the state highway in the rain and right there as I rounded a corner, admiring a glimmer of sun through the trees, I knew I hadn’t listened to a word in the 20 minutes it had been playing… I started the book again, and forced myself to pay attention to the words. The Dr. went on to describe in excruciating detail, the seemingly benign difficulties of my life, as well as the wins. The excellent problem solving, ability to learn and excel at literally anything, anything that is “hyper-focus” topic of the week that is.

I knew it. I knew there must’ve been “something” that inhibited my potential. I was capable but the battle to succeed felt like trying to walk in chest quicksand.

How was this not picked up earlier?

Through school I excelled at a young age, until I hit a wall. As soon as I hit high-school at 13 my grades declined. It’s not that I wasn’t capable, infact in subjects I enjoyed I placed in the top few pupils in the school. In English I couldn’t get a good grade to save myself, no matter what I tried I just wasn’t interested and I didn’t want to do it, I physically couldn’t, maths however I consistently ranked at the top of my year. I recall once scoring 99% in a maths exam because I couldn’t show my working, there was none. Equation went in, result came out.

Following school I went to uni Studying mechanical engineering. With executive dysfunction snatching defeat from the jaws of victory because I couldn’t follow upon the paperwork and admin bullshit. If you have ADHD you will know exactly what I’m talking about. From there many jobs, retail, IT Sales, superyacht crewing in the South of France.. Yet the satisfaction never came. I needed extrinsic motivation. Working to make others wealthy while I could not get ahead became depressing and that low point became my turning point and I was determined to know what was wrong with me.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis process went relatively straight forward and with a little research and support I booked an appointment with my Doctor. I needed to get referred to a psychiatrist to seek on official diagnosis as well as a treatment plan. After asking a couple of questions regarding symptoms she quickly wrote up a referral.

It was interesting to phone around a few clinics/practices as I was met with instant dismissal (ironic right?) by several saying “Oh, no. Not till next year”… Are you kidding… ” No, thanks. I’ll phone around”. ” Yeah, good luck” she exclaims! I found the right clinic soon after. The receptionist who took my call was patient, understanding and extremely clear in giving me the process, I had an appointment within the first phone call. In a month!

There is something to be said for the feeling of relief I was met with upon hearing “Thanks Dan, you clearly meet the criteria and I’m confident to diagnose you with ADHD.” I cried. It was emotional. All of the things started falling into place and I was relieved as well as feeling vindicated. There was a reason I feel this way, why I am always overwhelmed, sometimes weird and always distracted.

My life changed that day

In less than two hours I had these “wonder drugs” in my hands, on which I had done so much research.

Several months into a medication I find motivation for the first time in my life. I’m in a job I love, have started a new company in my field (marine industry) and become an advocate for adult ADHD providing Support and services to help others. So here we are. Doing the things, just like a real adult, and loving it. With the right treatment and attitude there’s hope. Beyond the dismissive Dr’s and crippling RSD the sun shines.

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