Accept the diagnosis; often emotions around this are strong — anger, remorse, grief — what might I been able to do/ to be if this were known much earlier? Dwelling on that wastes energy, it happened, you can’t change it; therapy is often helpful in working through the emotions so you can move on.
Learn about ADHD, discover your “flavor” of ADHD ; Use the 3-part approach for success with your ADHD: 1- The Basics: Sleep, exercise, eating what and when; 2 – Strategies for time management, organization, getting accommodations at school or work, living a life that takes less energy; and 3 – medication – the best one for you, taken in a pattern over the day that works for you.
It was an easy decision for me to leave the practice of general Family Medicine in 2005 to open my own practice specializing in the field of ADHD when the “have a second problem? Make a second appointment” approach became the norm of Primary Care medical practices. I had never done it that way in 26 years and was not about to start. My own diagnosis of ADHD had come five years before (gee, that explained a LOT of things) so it was a natural progression.
The aspect of Family Medicine I enjoy the most is the privilege of taking part in the lives of the people I serve and watching them grow and change over time. Specializing in the field of ADHD gives me the joy of seeing positive changes much more often than not.
I have evaluated over 3000 patients since 2005 and if it weren’t for dealing with insurance companies, I could say I that I still enjoy every part of doing what I get to do. I am in full-time practice, with the nebulous goal of retiring “someday soon” ( the typical “when I get around to it” of ADHD).