MarieMayNew Contributor
The lack of support for adult ADHD in Australia is unacceptable and needs to change now!
I'm a 26 year old woman who was diagnosed with combined ADHD at the age of 24. My QbCheck result was 96% so about 7 percent of the general population display the level of severity in symptoms that I do. My undiagnosed adhd has at one time or another, led to substance abuse issues, insomnia, anxiety, depression, low self esteem, suicidal ideation, problems maintaining friendships, poor academic performance, poor work performance and financial struggles. I spent years thinking all of the above was my fault, and having that idea continuously reinforced by being told I was lazy, not trying hard enough, not having any resilience, and "having so much potential that I'm throwing away". Medication has changed my life in the best way possible. It helps limit the severity of my symptoms. But it isn't a cure. I still struggle with that voice in my head which still places the blame on myself. I still struggle with severe symptoms if I've had less sleep than usual and my meds aren't as effective. I'm still suffering from the consequences of being undiagnosed for so long. The most brutal part is that my adhd is still not taken seriously. At work, if my ADHD symptoms negatively impact my performance because my meds weren't as effective that day, it's still subtly seen as a "you" problem. The NDIS doesn't take ADHD seriously enough to add it to their list of primary disabilities. The government doesn't take it seriously enough and will take over a year to respond to a senate inquiry. To treat ADHD effectively a combination of medication and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has been proven most effective. It costs over 200 dollars per session for an ADHD coach or a psychologist specialising in ADHD. I can't afford that in this economy. I am just so fed up. I feel like my disability isn't treated like a disability. In fact, I feel like because I have ADHD I'm not allowed to be disabled at all.
