Just the Facts
Whoever said 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' clearly never experienced any mental health issues.
If you have been diagnosed with ADHD or any other mental health conditions, you are most likely quite familiar with regular trips to see the doctor.
Whether we like it or not, it is a fact of life. But, going to the doctor is important to maintain your health and wellness. It is a crucial part of self-care that should not be ignored or avoided.
Talking doctors on The ADHD Podcast
As we are working through a series on comorbidities on The ADHD Podcast, it has given me time to think about our medical professionals and how we interact with them.
On our first episode of our series, Pete and I spoke with Dr. Michael Felt about depression and anxiety that often are diagnosed along with ADHD.
During this enlightening conversation, Dr. Felt shared how important it is to use the right language when speaking to your healthcare provider about new or worsening symptoms you may be experiencing.
He cautioned our listeners to avoid telling your doctor you think you have a certain condition. When you give the doctor your thoughts on what your diagnosis might be, it can influence how the doctor interprets the symptoms you share.
Instead, Dr. Felt urged us to simply share your life experiences with your doctor and all them to come to the diagnosis for themselves based on the evidence you provide.
For example, instead of telling your doctor that you think you have ADHD, tell your doctor you have a hard time focusing on unpleasant tasks for long periods of time without beginning to feel upset, but when you focus on pleasant tasks, you can lose hours of time without even realizing it, and this is affecting your work productivity.
Why does it matter?
Unfortunately, our doctors aren't mind readers. They can't see or feel what we have experienced, so we have to try our best to describe things to give them a clear picture to search for clues that can ultimately lead to a diagnosis.
While you may feel you know what the problem truly is, many symptoms of various issues or disorders tend to overlap. While you may feel that you are experiencing all the signs and symptoms of ADHD, you may not know that many of those same signs and symptoms can show up after a concussion or other traumatic head injury. But, if you forget or decide not to share that important information with your healthcare provider, you may be accidentally pointing them toward an incorrect diagnosis.
I know how much ADHDers like to feel in control of their own situations, but I highly recommend that in this instance, you allow your doctor to create their own theories based on just the facts. That can go a long way to ensuring you get the best and most accurate care from your doctor—and who doesn't want that?
Thank you for your time and attention,
Nikki
