Getting an assessment

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I have self-diagnosed ADHD which I’m very sure of. I don’t just have some of the characteristics, I have all of them. I have even gotten the diagnosis before but it’s not official because it was by doctors that I only had for part of a hospital stay and I usually end up just being considered BiPolar and anxiety disorder and PTSD because they are the most obvious and the reason for the multiple hospitalizations. The doctors just focus on these and ignore the other issues. This is frustrating because the things that would help like Acceptance and commitment Therapy are impossible to do on my own because I don’t have the executive functioning skills to follow through on them. The ADHD causes the most day to day problems like getting my apartment organized. I also have trouble setting and working on goals. I’m trying to find a coach for these things and there are some that sound great but are expensive. If anyone knows of any coaching that works on a sliding scale please let me know!

There is also a high probability I’m on the spectrum I score very high on any tests and I have related to people with autism sine I started reading books on the subject starting when I was around 10.

I’m very lucky because the mental health center I go to does offer assessments which are covered by Medicaid. There is a six month wait but that’s ok. What I was wondering about was is there a specific way the assessments are done or is each place or doctor different? I know that sometimes people get misdiagnosed. I know a diagnosis won’t magically fix everything, I’m just hoping that getting one will lead to getting more specialized help. I’m currently on way too much medication and it’s only for bipolar, anxiety and depression. I’ve never been on ADHD medication even when doctors agreed that I had it. I’m not sure what will be gained from an ASD diagnosis aside from my own validation, but I’m hoping I will qualify for some treatment that is more streamlined to my needs.

I was officially diagnosed in the late 2000s when I was 2 years old. I've noticed how my official diagnosis changed quite a few aspects of my life, though I wonder what my current life would be like if I hadn't been diagnosed (or at least not at such a young age).

In a way, it feels like I've beaten the odds. The child psychologist who diagnosed me told my mother and maternal grandmother that I was essentially "mentally ret*d" at the time of my diagnosis (being born partially deaf due to a buildup of fluid and wax in my ears didn't help), but here I am about a decade and a half later living a mostly normal life and being of at least average intelligence. I was misdiagnosed as "profoundly" autistic by that woman when in reality, I'm only mildly autistic. Even as a toddler, I showed at least some signs of intelligence. Many people are shocked when they're told that I'm on the spectrum (likely due to my ability to mask).

I could write an entire autobiography about what I've been through growing up diagnosed with autism since toddlerhood, but I will just tell you that at my current age of 16 1/2 years old, I've succeeded in many areas of my life so far, and I intend on living a normal life when I become an adult. I'm already considering getting my first part time job this summer (though unfortunately, it doesn't seem that too many places near me are currently hiring anyone right now, let alone teenagers who are still in high school like me).

I took out a loan and got in with a private practice who does telehealth. It was around 1k, but it was worth it.

Ask yourself what your needs are, and if getting a formal diagnosis would help. For me, it was totally and completely worth it, as I am now getting lawfully mandated work accommodations. I didn't realize it at first, but these accommodations are an absolute need for me if I want to continue working and also maintain my health and sanity.