[irrational]

Back in the 1970s I had a bed wetting problem. They tried a medication called Ritalin to address this problem. This medication had an interesting side effect of making me pleasant to be around for the first time in my life. Both my parents and all of my teachers remarked on how much better I was able to pay attention and be kind to other people. Then they took me off the medication and I reverted to my wild ways. I don't think many or any people had heard of ADHD back then, so it didn't occur to anyone to try to medicate me for what I clearly had. Over the decades I've learned to cope with ADHD without medication, but I can't help but wonder how much better my life would have been if I had been able to concentrate and not been so hyperactive. Maybe I would have done better in school and had friends.

Even today, I wonder if I should go through the trouble of being diagnosed and getting on medication. The last three days I wasted my time instead of doing the work my company pays me to do and got exactly nothing done. The entire time I kept thinking, "I really should do that work so I can keep my job and provide for me family" but I couldn't concentrate and procrastinated day after day.

Most of my children have ADHD. Before they could be diagnosed, they did have to go through extensive testing by a psychiatrist and there were interviews conducted with us as their parents and with their teachers. The 15 minute diagnosis mentioned in the article has not been my experience. We have regular meetings (every 6-8 weeks) with the psychiatrist to evaluate their dosage and how things are going.

[M4v3R]

> but I couldn't concentrate and procrastinated day after day

Please make sure to take care of yourself and try going through with the diagnosis. What you described is very similar to what I was going through - severe procrastination which resulted in worse and worse performance at work, eventually I had to quit my job because of it. Later I’ve learned procrastination of this magnitude is basically your subconscious screaming at you that something is not right and you should be taking care of yourself instead of forcing yourself to work.

On a side note - ADHD is hereditary so if your children have it there’s a good chance you and/or your SO have it too.

[trowawee]

Hey! I got diagnosed with ADHD last year as an adult and getting diagnosed and medicated has been a massive improvement in my quality of life. If you have the energy to do it, I would strongly recommend it. The medication is great—I have far fewer "stare at the wall, bounce in my seat, get nothing done" days—but I also appreciate having a concrete diagnosis. Even after decades of assuming I had it, it felt good to actually hear it from a doctor for some reason.

[HocusLocus]

I had a bedwetting problem too. It was awful and tormenting, when visiting friends I had to bring clothes and sleep on the floor. Male puberty solved it almost to the day. All of a sudden it was gone and what a relief that was. I think it was just training the lizard brain to hold things a little tighter during sleep, or until then the nerve pathways were not supple enough.

[robocat]

> Even today, I wonder if I should go through the trouble of being diagnosed and getting on medication

Maybe talk to people diagnosed with ADHD as adults? Of my acquaintances like that, they mention an immediate improvement. The benefits were very obvious to them.

It is almost as if we should test for ADHD by just testing amphetamines in questionable situations and just seeing if people respond well?

Likely very questionable advice, but if you are a risk-taking type then maybe score something and just test it on yourself? Try to be scientific of course. And try to understand the risks (which you need to understand even if you were diagnosed by the medical system).