We all know the medical system is flawed and adopts a paternalist / validist approach to neurodiversity (not to mention straight up corruption by big pharma). I don’t want to fetishize self-diagnostic, but if I went to my doctor to say “I’m depressed”, nobody will doubt my experience, so why would it be any difference for neurodivergence.
Put simply, a large cohort of mental health providers will look at anyone asking about ADHD as if they are lying and just fishing for a prescription for stimulants. Especially if you look like you’re college age. So if you get unlucky with who you see when you finally go to get tested they might just take one look at you and decide “This person is looking for drugs” and ignore literally everything you present with because of it.
We all know the medical system is flawed and adopts a paternalist / validist approach to neurodiversity (not to mention straight up corruption by big pharma). I don’t want to fetishize self-diagnostic, but if I went to my doctor to say “I’m depressed”, nobody will doubt my experience, so why would it be any difference for neurodivergence.
Put simply, a large cohort of mental health providers will look at anyone asking about ADHD as if they are lying and just fishing for a prescription for stimulants. Especially if you look like you’re college age. So if you get unlucky with who you see when you finally go to get tested they might just take one look at you and decide “This person is looking for drugs” and ignore literally everything you present with because of it.