r/ADHDUK

Hello everyone!

I very recently received my diagnosis through a 3rd party contracted with the NHS after 3 years of waiting!

I just wanted to give those still waiting for their assessments a little heads up about something that happened during my Assessment B, when my mother attended with me to answer the "childhood" questions.

In the Assessment A appointment, one of the questions I was asked was around any previous self harm. I had in fact had a period of self harm at the age of 15. Only my husband and a few close friends know about this - I kept it from my parents because a) I managed through it without the need of medical intervention and b) I knew it would break my mum's heart. Anyway...

Assessment B with my mother attending, the clinician (a different person to who did my Assessment A assessment) starts to read out all of the notes from the previous one without warning. All of them - including the bit about self harm.

My mother didn't seem to react or say anything afterwards, so I am not sure if she heard it properly or not. But still... it was not something I wanted her to find out about, and especially not in this manner of reading through a bunch of notes!

I suppose my warning is: if there is anything you say in your Assessment A appointment that you would not like your companion in Assessment B to know/hear - make this clear when they make notes in that first appointment. I didn't know they would read them all out loud in the next one, so didn't think to request that information be left out when it was read out in front of my mother aswell as myself.

Hopefully I can save someone else from any awkwardness resulting in this kind of thing!

Ok so diagnosed autistic/ adhd person here.

Always been asexual (I’d consider myself Biromantic asexual). Been with my boyfriend 6 years this year; did tell him when we first started dating that I considered myself asexual. I love him. I do sleep with him, but I do it out of people pleasing. I can/ do feel pleasure when we do it, but I just could go forever without it and I don’t have the “sexual attraction” to anyone. I love him, the person he is and want us both to be happy.

When we have sex my brain is usually thinking of basically anything else but, I can’t help it. I’ll be in the moment for a few seconds then a random thought will pop in my mind, something I forgot to do, something I remembered and want to tell him and my brain will only be able to focus on that. Sometimes I can hold it back and save it till later (or likely forget it) and others I blurt it out. And after he’ll often say why would you tell me that while we were having sex. It’s a bit of a light hearted joke about my impeccable mood killing skills.

Anyway yesterday we’d gone to just chill and lay in bed. He’d fallen asleep. I was nodding off. And long story short he woke up, and starting putting the moves on and put my hand on his erection and there just was no mask and I was just repulsed. And I feel so bad because I know how bad the reaction I had was. And now I feel so guilty and keep replaying it in my head. And I’m just sat here crying.

We’re ok. He doesn’t seem off with me. But I just feel so bad. I know how badly I reacted but I was tired and just there was no mask.

But yeah don’t know why I’m making this post. Just think I needed to tell someone or write it down, because my brains struggling to get over it majorly. Please can someone just reassure me.

This is more of a vent about medication, so I didn’t know which category to put it under, sorry if it’s wrong!

So I’ve been titrating for around 3 weeks now (currently at 70mg Elvanse- spoiler alert it’s probably too high) and for that whole period I’ve had tons of uni work (final year dissertation). It’s been great at keeping me focussed. I finished everything on Tuesday.

Now I have nothing that’s actually important to do. I have no direction to channel the meds towards. And I definitely saw the consequence of that yesterday.

I spent my ENTIRE day. From 4pm until 4am. Hyper focused on learning how to make those cool edits on TikTok. 12 HOURS. It felt like 30 minutes!!!! I didn’t even eat!! I checked the time at 7pm, ate a bowl of cereal, and went back to it. Came back to reality at 4am.

Very concerning. Although I had no obligations, and it was my first day without a pressing deadline, so maybe I was just indulging in the fact I now can spend 12 hours doing bullshit? But it scared me a little how fast the time passed for me. I didn’t even go to the bathroom until my boyfriend got home from work and snapped me out of it.

So yeah. Think my dose is too high lol. And I have to find a way to not get sucked into stuff when I have nothing important to do.

TLDR: had nothing important to do for the first time in a month, spent 12 hours locked into learning how to edit.

Hi all, M29 here, I was diagnosed with ADD last year and am currently in titration for Elvanse. I am now taking the max dose of 70mg a day. I’ve found with every dose my sex drive has been through the roof, I’m wanting to have sex with my partner every night which is unusual for me. When I’m focused the drug really appears to help, but any dip in attention and all I can think about is sex and porn. I’ve also found it’s given me new sexual desires that I didn’t have before and I’ve recently found myself order sex toys for my partner. I’d really appreciate hearing others experiences taking this medication, did the hyper sexuality wear off? How did others manage it? DM’s open.

Hi everyone,

I started Elvanse 30mg yesterday for ADHD-c, which is severe. This has been a really huge milestone for me, so I’m feeling quite emotional about how it went and would really appreciate some reassurance.

I took my first dose at about 5:30am- I didn’t eat breakfast because I wanted to see what the baseline effect was like. I felt it kicking in around 6:30. For the first couple of hours, it felt fine, if a bit buzzy. I went out for a walk and had this incredible sense of clarity, when I spoke to someone, my head felt clear like there weren’t 15 thoughts competing for space at the same time.

But then when I sat down to work things didn't go so well. I have a very busy desk based, technical adminy job. As soon as I needed to absorb things, it was like my brain just wouldn’t take anything in. Obviously this is a 'thing' for me because of my ADHD, but yesterday felt like there was an extra layer of treacle over everything. I was fighting to read and think, and when I had to speak to people I was getting words in the wrong order, I couldn't really think things though. It was dreadful.

For the rest of the afternoon, my head felt 'swampy', like it was stuck in mud. I got so overwhelmed and upset about not being able to handle a meeting that I postponed it to today.

At around 2pm, a really bad headache kicked in, and it stayed all evening, I went to bed with it, slept badly, kept waking up, and woke up with it this morning. OTC painkillers aren't touching it.

Trying to anticipate some things I might be asked:

• I ate ok yesterday, though probably a bit less than normal
• I drank about 3 litres of water
• I had no caffeine at all
• I’ve been reducing caffeine over the last few months, but I definitely didn’t have my usual cups of tea yesterday, so I don’t know if caffeine withdrawal could be part of the headache

Today I feel a bit wiped out, and I’m facing a similar kind of work day. I’m really torn about whether to take today's dose or skip it. Tomorrow should be easier, and then I have the weekend, so part of me is wondering whether it would be better to restart when I don’t have to think and function.

Does this resonate with anyone? Does it settle? I’m just feeling really deflated after being so optimistic about this.
Thanks in advance.

Just had my appointment they are putting me on methylphenidate one tablet to start with. Is this ok? I hear of others speaking about elvanse. I’m so so nervous. Also struggle to swallow tablets is it small enough she said 18mg but if I can’t do it she’ll send me the ones I can crush but to try this out first as it’s extended release. I’m nervous about side effects. I just really want to get help with my adhd my head is always so busy and anxious and can never focus or commit to goals or dreams. Trying to focus positively I just hope something changes and I get better

I'm currently on the waiting list for titration with Psychiatry UK (was referred to them through my GP nearly two years ago and had my assessment in October '25). My psychiatrist recommended Elvanse for whenever I start titration. 🤞

I have seen the PsychUK website on their titration process, but wanted to know what it's like from people who have experienced it.

- Is 12 weeks really long enough to find which medication works best for you?

- how can you tell you've found the right medication? My concern would be "wasting time" for side effects to wear off whilst trying a new med or a new dose. The pressure of finding the right medication and optimal dose in a limited time frame makes me feel a bit like Goldilocks meets Hunger Games. 😅

Thanks in advance!

So I’ve been on 50mg for two weeks now, and I run out in 2 days. I had a review on Saturday just gone (16th) and I told my prescriber I was going on holiday this Sunday coming up and he assured me my meds would be here by before then.

Well my prescription still hasn’t come through to the pharmacy clinic so I haven’t ordered them, so by now it’s too late as they take a few days from ordering. I’ve emailed care adhd twice, tried phoning but could never get through. I messaged them on Facebook and they just said they’ve flagged my email and to just wait for someone to get back to me.

I’m not sure what to do as I’ll have to have a week off my 50mg, then go straight to 60mg which I’m sure isn’t safe. But I can’t get a reply from anybody, can anyone advise at all cos it’s really stressing me out!

Took my meds with my breakfast porridge at like 7 or so. 10mg Medicanet XL. I don't think i feel anything right now. I'm getting worried its not gunna do anything. worried when will it kick in. will i feel lit like a wave? no idea whats going on.I did the usual, cut all caffeine out Saturday in prep for this, i now take decaf everything, tea coffee, soft drinks. Myminds actually racing more than usual and im way more nervous because i have no idea whats about to happen to me if anything at all.

*EDIT*

I can say i feel something right now, but i can't put my finger on what it is exactly.I guess i could say.."floaty" abit "zippy, eyes darting abit but idk if its for certain or placebo. My biggest thing i wanted at work done is done. but that was my plan today anyway.

Does anyone else feel like they have to really graft at taking care of themselves. Like I really have to force myself to get out of bed, see to the kids, take my meds, remember to eat and drink, get an early night, show up for work, tidy the house.

And ultimately doing all these things makes me feel better and a more fulfilled person, but the whole time until my meds kick in its like I'm fighting against the ADHD that's kicking and screaming, telling me to go back to sleep, fuck it all off, quit my job, go on a bender. I will literally get ready for the day in tears some days but then once I've woken up properly, I feel great lmao. I feel like I'm always resisting the ADHD urge to ruin my life and chase dopamine.

While I was making a brew this morning I had the thought, I can understand why people used to think they had actual demons inside them. It definitely feels like that some days.

Hello,

I have been told that I should have an appointment for an assessment under RTC in the next couple of weeks, and that if diagnosed, I will be offered medication on the same day as diagnosis.

I see that people usually seem to be on Elvanse or Ritalin; how does the NHS determine whether to try Elvanse Vs Ritalin first for an adult with ADHD?

Are you allowed to express a preference?

I ask because I have spoken to a friend on ritalin (she was prescribed it privately) and she explained that she only takes it on days where she works, and that because it's short acting, her mind can be in relaxation mode when she no longer needs to be switched on.

My instinct is that I may prefer this.

Am.I allowed to request this or say I have a preference for it?

Thank you so much!

I have titrated up to 60mg over 4 months. When I got to this does I had around 2 weeks of it being effective. Was more focused and binge eating was at an all time low(first time i feel I’ve ever eaten like a normal person)

Then 2 days before my period it stopped working. I thought this was possibly the issue due to the oestrogen drop (even though when I started I would have just ovulated so would have already been dropping.

Now I’m on day 6 of my period and the effects of the Elvanse have still not come back. Surely on 60mg this shouldn’t happen? Surely I don’t build a tolerance this fast.

I couldn’t feel the effects on any other dose so when this dosage worked I was so happy.

I have tried medikinet and that did not work.

The prescriber mentioned trying non stimulant if 70mg does not work at my next appointment but if that doesn’t work there is nothing else they can offer.

I suppose I’m wondering if anyone else has been in this situation? What worked for you?
I know everyone is different so it still might not work for me either.

As the title says... just had my (31F) assessment via RTC, and was told to 'keep it short' and not to give long answers to questions, as I'd have time to elaborate later.

I gave short answers (sometimes just a yes or no as that was what was asked of me, with the understanding that I can say more later on in the call) but the promised elaboration time never came and my assessment was over in 45 mins, no further questions, I don't meet the criteria for ADHD.

Immediately burst into tears, shocked, confused, tried to say but there's a whole list of things that I noted beforehand but never got a chance to speak about in the way the questions were asked, can we not talk about them now? "Sorry, I can only go based on what you've said"

However, I never got to mention anything I struggle with in any detail, such as: impulsive spending, lack of object permanence with things and with people (I constantly forget to check in on friends and family if they're not physically there), mental barriers for basic tasks like washing my face, showering, leaving the flat as it involves going down 3 flights of stairs (which was laughed off as normal?) losing things every single day when I try to pack my bag and having breakdowns about it (which my bf has witnessed first hand), constantly making mistakes at work, missing deadlines, task overwhelm that leads to complete shutdown and doomscrolling or playing a game instead, failing to do simple tasks because they're not written down therefore gone out of my brain entirely, not being able to focus on anything, even things I enjoy, and no consistency in maintaining anything whatsoever including housework, reading, hobbies, even keeping up with to do lists and bullet journals... the list goes on.

I didn't get a chance to mention any of this, bar maybe one or two things as I was told to 'keep it short', and the advice after being told I didn't meet the criteria was to ask for a second opinion and start the process again.

Is this a normal experience? Am I likely to be able to get a second opinion?

I’m looking for a good set of ANC headphones to help with focus at work. Not even so much for music but just so I can limit the amount of noise coming from other people along with potentially like White Noise or something along those lines. I’m leaning towards AirPods because I have all Apple stuff. phone mac watch et cetera but also don’t have much experience comparing them to other headphone options.

In April I ordered my second Hidden Disabilities Sunflower card to add ADHD to my other hidden disabilities (POTs, MCAS, c-PTSD), because I find it helpful to wear, especially when out alone. The personalised ones are £11.50 + postage and there are quite a few boxes to fill in, as well as choosing different symbols.

I did the initial one ok, but this time I was having a particularly bad day and forgot to delete “Add your name here” and put my name in. I ticked “the card is for me” though, and obviously they had my full name and address. As well as that, they say they keep our data for 3 months.

The card took 3 weeks to come, and wouldn’t you know it, under my photo it says “Add your name here”. 🙄 I was so annoyed at myself, so emailed immediately and apologised, explaining I have ADHD and had missed that part of the form.

Nearly 2 weeks later, they’ve just replied and basically said “Tough. You should have double checked. We can’t reprint it.”

Is it me, or is that a bit of a shitty attitude from an organisation that is supposed to be helping people who have disabilities? It would probably cost them about £2 to reprint it but they want £15. Pffft.

ETA: Not me posting too quickly (thanks, impulsivity 😩) - I replied and had a polite moan, and they’ve refunded me for the wrong one so I can order again. 👍🏻).

I have been in titration since January, started on concerta but it made me tired and the higher dose I was an emotional mess. Now on elvanse and titrating up but between my appointments and the new prescription im going days without medication. I have awful nightmares when not on the medication and I feel like im so much worse than before. I have to stagger it towards end of medication to make sure I have enough for work days. Its now 9 days since last appointment and I've nothing yet. I will bring this up next appointment because its the worst so far. Is this how it works? Its ok to have these breaks?