“I think I might have ADHD”: where to start

Maybe it started with a video that felt a little too familiar. Or a friend got diagnosed and described your week back to you. However it arrived, the thought can sit there for a while: I think I might have ADHD.

This piece won’t tell you whether you do. Nothing in an app can. What it can do is walk through the steps many people take next: noticing what actually happens, talking to a doctor, and knowing what to bring.

Noticing, not diagnosing

Everyone loses their keys sometimes. NIMH, the US mental health research institute, points out that many people show some of these behaviours some of the time. For adults with ADHD, it says, they are more severe, frequent and persistent, and get in the way of daily life across different situations.

That’s why one bad week, or a list of signs online, can’t answer the question. What helps is a clearer picture of your own life, in your own words.

So instead of asking “do I have it?”, it can help to simply notice what happens. The form you meant to send three weeks ago. The hour that disappeared into your phone when you sat down to start something. The appointment you remembered as you walked past the building, an hour late.

Jot a few of these down when they happen, or soon after. NIMH suggests being specific with a health professional about when things started, how much they affect you, and how often they happen. A note on your phone is plenty.

It also helps to notice where things show up. The NHS says an assessment looks at different areas of your life, such as work and education, and family and friends. Home, money and time can be part of the picture too.

Talking to a doctor

One place to start is a conversation with your doctor. The NHS suggests booking an appointment if what you’re noticing is affecting your studies, work or relationships, to find out what support is available. If you don’t know where to start, NIMH suggests bringing it up with your usual doctor.

The NHS says the doctor will ask about your symptoms and how they affect your life. They may also want to consider other conditions that could explain what’s going on, such as anxiety, to help you get the right care. That isn’t doubt about you. It’s part of getting the answer right.

Appointments can be short. NIMH notes that providers have limited time for each appointment, so it may help to think of your questions beforehand. If saying it out loud feels hard, you can bring it written down and hand it over.

What to bring

Your examples. A handful of real moments says more than “I’m a bit forgetful”. Where it happened, how often, and what it cost you.

Anything from childhood. If you’re referred on, the NHS says the specialist will ask about the history of your symptoms, particularly if they started when you were a child. NIMH notes that school reports or other childhood records may be looked at, so it’s worth seeing what you can find.

Someone who knows you. NIMH says a provider may ask to talk to people who know you well, such as a partner, family members or friends. Some people bring a friend or relative to the appointment for support, to help take notes and to remember what was said.

Your questions. What happens next? What support is there in the meantime? Who can you contact if more questions come up later?

Only a qualified professional can say

Online quizzes and videos can start the thought, but they can’t settle it. NICE guidance in England reserves the diagnosis for a specialist psychiatrist or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in diagnosing ADHD, after a full assessment. It also says rating scales alone aren’t enough for a diagnosis.

An assessment might point to ADHD, to something else, to a mix, or to nothing that fits a diagnosis. Each of those answers tells you something you didn’t know before.

And there’s no age limit on asking. In a US survey by the CDC, more than half of adults with ADHD were diagnosed as adults. As NIMH puts it, it is never too late to seek a diagnosis.

General information, not medical advice. Talk to your prescriber or doctor about your own treatment. How we write

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