When I went to my GP recently to talk about restarting ADHD medication, I expected to be referred to someone who actually specialises in ADHD.
Instead, I was sent to a mental health practitioner — which confused me, because ADHD isn’t technically a mental health condition. It’s neurological.
The whole point of that appointment was simple: to discuss access to ADHD medication again.
I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was ten years old and was medicated for years. But in 2005, my medication was stopped because, back then, ADHD wasn’t recognised as an adult condition.
Fast forward to now — I’m 37, and life has become harder to manage. My focus, organisation, and memory are all declining, and I’m likely approaching perimenopause, which makes symptoms even worse. So I did what I was supposed to do: I asked for help.
“For twenty years my doctor has never asked about my ADHD or how I’m coping with it. So now all this feels like a slap in the face.”
ADHD gIRL
Today, the mental health practitioner told me the only thing she could do was refer me to the adult ADHD clinic — and the wait time?
Up to two years.
Two years just to have an appointment to discuss the pros and cons of being medicated again. Not to start treatment. Not to review dosage. Just to talk about it.
It’s infuriating. I already have a diagnosis. I already know what helps. But because the system didn’t recognise adult ADHD back then, I’m now being treated like a brand-new patient.
Meanwhile, life doesn’t pause.
My symptoms don’t pause.
And neither does the frustration of being trapped in a system that forces people to prove their condition — again and again — instead of simply supporting them.
This isn’t good enough. ADHD doesn’t go away when you turn 18, and it doesn’t wait patiently in line while the NHS catches up.
Two years for a conversation is two years too long.
