'It's just awful': The pain is in the process for many seeking an ADHD diagnosis

Some mornings university student Jaclynn Culham has to break down basic tasks into tiny steps simply to get going for the day.
"On bad days, it's awful, it's just awful," Jaclynn, who has been diagnosed with ADHD said.
"I tell myself the night before what I'm going to do, but I physically can't do those things.
"I have to talk myself through it in steps.
"Step one, walk to the door, step two, open the door."
While it sometimes seems the number of people being diagnosed with ADHD has exploded, the path to diagnosis is by definition often difficult for those with attention difficulties.
Many can quickly become overwhelmed by everyday tasks, let alone complex and drawn-out processes such as the steps needed for diagnosis and medication.
Jaclynn welcomes government moves to make this process simpler, but cautions that ADHD is different for every individual.
"When people think of ADHD they think of forgetfulness or getting distracted, but a lot of what's going on for me is internal frustration," she said.
"It's known as 'executive dysfunction'.
"You have lists of things to do, you want to get up and go, but because you don't have the motivation, there's no urgency to do it."
She said this leads to procrastination and then having to remind herself she is not lazy, it's just part of the condition.
"The whole process of my diagnosis was so long and tedious.
"The process can feel impossible at times."
Jaclynn said when she was filling out the initial form, answering questions to assist with her diagnosis, she was doing fine until she was asked to provide additional information.
"I couldn't complete it.
"It was something I wanted to do so badly, and was motivated to do it.
"Looking back it is just a ridiculous thing the huge process they've given us with no support to complete it."
On another occasion, she was asked to photocopy all her primary school reports which caused her a great deal of stress.
She said she had sticky notes taped all over her wall to remind her of all the things she needed to do before her appointments.
Jaclynn has other friends who missed their appointments completely because they forgot about them.
"Everyone's diagnosis journey is going to be slightly different," she said, adding that she was grateful she could have her consultations with her GP and psychiatrist online.
"It was much easier for me to not go in person.
"I didn't have to think, what time is it on, where is it, where's the train, where do I get off - I would have to think about every aspect of the process."
It took five years before Jaclynn was finally diagnosed, which she said came as a relief after years of people saying she seemed to have ADHD.
"The first time I heard the term was when I was 13," she said.
"I had no idea what that meant. I thought, oh well, that's just me and that's how I act.
"I was forgetting things all the time, zoning out of conversations, then sometimes I'd get really excited and more energetic.
"I was not doing well at school.
"I had always found it frustrating that I wasn't able to do the things that other people found really easy, even domestic chores."
Things became more difficult when she started at the University of Wollongong, NSW.
"I failed a couple of classes, which really surprised me.
"I was actually studying early childhood development, which is also where I learned more about it.
"It wasn't a heavy load but I was still struggling."
Jaclynn was referred by her GP to a psychiatrist and was lucky to see someone within a few months.
"That's much quicker than lots of other people I know," Jaclynn said, saying many were waiting up to nine months for an appointment.
She was eventually diagnosed with combined ADHD hyper inattentive disorder.
Treatment has helped, and she has now switched to studying media and communications and is feeling more on top of things.
She supports the government making the process of diagnosis less complicated.
In terms of the proposed reforms, she says while she has some reservations, she personally would have benefitted from an earlier diagnosis.
Health Minister and Member for Kiera Ryan Park spoke in support of the reforms in parliament.
"Over the last two years, the minister for mental health and I have heard from countless families and parents about waiting, sometimes years, to access those diagnostic appointments and to ensure their children get on a path of treatment," Mr Park said.
He said under new reforms 1000 GPs will be empowered to provide ongoing prescriptions for ADHD patients while some will also be able to provide diagnosis.
He said ADHD is expected to impact around six to 10% of children and adolescents and delays in diagnosis disproportionately disadvantage rural and regional families.
Jaclynn hopes pathways will be quicker and easier for others in the future.
"I wish it had been available for me.
"It would have cost less and been less hassle.
"Dealing with the processes involved can be very difficult for people with ADHD.
"That's why I put it off for so long.
"This will be a lot less pressure."
And while Jaclynn now has many more good days than bad she says; "I still have to remind myself I have a neurological disorder, that I'm not just lazy."
Some mornings university student Jaclynn Culham has to break down basic tasks into tiny steps simply to get going for the day.
"On bad days, it's awful, it's just awful," Jaclynn, who has been diagnosed with ADHD said.
"I tell myself the night before what I'm going to do, but I physically can't do those things.
"I have to talk myself through it in steps.
"Step one, walk to the door, step two, open the door."
While it sometimes seems the number of people being diagnosed with ADHD has exploded, the path to diagnosis is by definition often difficult for those with attention difficulties.
Many can quickly become overwhelmed by everyday tasks, let alone complex and drawn-out processes such as the steps needed for diagnosis and medication.
Jaclynn welcomes government moves to make this process simpler, but cautions that ADHD is different for every individual.
"When people think of ADHD they think of forgetfulness or getting distracted, but a lot of what's going on for me is internal frustration," she said.
"It's known as 'executive dysfunction'.
"You have lists of things to do, you want to get up and go, but because you don't have the motivation, there's no urgency to do it."
She said this leads to procrastination and then having to remind herself she is not lazy, it's just part of the condition.
"The whole process of my diagnosis was so long and tedious.
"The process can feel impossible at times."
Jaclynn said when she was filling out the initial form, answering questions to assist with her diagnosis, she was doing fine until she was asked to provide additional information.
"I couldn't complete it.
"It was something I wanted to do so badly, and was motivated to do it.
"Looking back it is just a ridiculous thing the huge process they've given us with no support to complete it."
On another occasion, she was asked to photocopy all her primary school reports which caused her a great deal of stress.
She said she had sticky notes taped all over her wall to remind her of all the things she needed to do before her appointments.
Jaclynn has other friends who missed their appointments completely because they forgot about them.
"Everyone's diagnosis journey is going to be slightly different," she said, adding that she was grateful she could have her consultations with her GP and psychiatrist online.
"It was much easier for me to not go in person.
"I didn't have to think, what time is it on, where is it, where's the train, where do I get off - I would have to think about every aspect of the process."
It took five years before Jaclynn was finally diagnosed, which she said came as a relief after years of people saying she seemed to have ADHD.
"The first time I heard the term was when I was 13," she said.
"I had no idea what that meant. I thought, oh well, that's just me and that's how I act.
"I was forgetting things all the time, zoning out of conversations, then sometimes I'd get really excited and more energetic.
"I was not doing well at school.
"I had always found it frustrating that I wasn't able to do the things that other people found really easy, even domestic chores."
Things became more difficult when she started at the University of Wollongong, NSW.
"I failed a couple of classes, which really surprised me.
"I was actually studying early childhood development, which is also where I learned more about it.
"It wasn't a heavy load but I was still struggling."
Jaclynn was referred by her GP to a psychiatrist and was lucky to see someone within a few months.
"That's much quicker than lots of other people I know," Jaclynn said, saying many were waiting up to nine months for an appointment.
She was eventually diagnosed with combined ADHD hyper inattentive disorder.
Treatment has helped, and she has now switched to studying media and communications and is feeling more on top of things.
She supports the government making the process of diagnosis less complicated.
In terms of the proposed reforms, she says while she has some reservations, she personally would have benefitted from an earlier diagnosis.
Health Minister and Member for Kiera Ryan Park spoke in support of the reforms in parliament.
"Over the last two years, the minister for mental health and I have heard from countless families and parents about waiting, sometimes years, to access those diagnostic appointments and to ensure their children get on a path of treatment," Mr Park said.
He said under new reforms 1000 GPs will be empowered to provide ongoing prescriptions for ADHD patients while some will also be able to provide diagnosis.
He said ADHD is expected to impact around six to 10% of children and adolescents and delays in diagnosis disproportionately disadvantage rural and regional families.
Jaclynn hopes pathways will be quicker and easier for others in the future.
"I wish it had been available for me.
"It would have cost less and been less hassle.
"Dealing with the processes involved can be very difficult for people with ADHD.
"That's why I put it off for so long.
"This will be a lot less pressure."
And while Jaclynn now has many more good days than bad she says; "I still have to remind myself I have a neurological disorder, that I'm not just lazy."
Some mornings university student Jaclynn Culham has to break down basic tasks into tiny steps simply to get going for the day.
"On bad days, it's awful, it's just awful," Jaclynn, who has been diagnosed with ADHD said.
"I tell myself the night before what I'm going to do, but I physically can't do those things.
"I have to talk myself through it in steps.
"Step one, walk to the door, step two, open the door."
While it sometimes seems the number of people being diagnosed with ADHD has exploded, the path to diagnosis is by definition often difficult for those with attention difficulties.
Many can quickly become overwhelmed by everyday tasks, let alone complex and drawn-out processes such as the steps needed for diagnosis and medication.
Jaclynn welcomes government moves to make this process simpler, but cautions that ADHD is different for every individual.
"When people think of ADHD they think of forgetfulness or getting distracted, but a lot of what's going on for me is internal frustration," she said.
"It's known as 'executive dysfunction'.
"You have lists of things to do, you want to get up and go, but because you don't have the motivation, there's no urgency to do it."
She said this leads to procrastination and then having to remind herself she is not lazy, it's just part of the condition.
"The whole process of my diagnosis was so long and tedious.
"The process can feel impossible at times."
Jaclynn said when she was filling out the initial form, answering questions to assist with her diagnosis, she was doing fine until she was asked to provide additional information.
"I couldn't complete it.
"It was something I wanted to do so badly, and was motivated to do it.
"Looking back it is just a ridiculous thing the huge process they've given us with no support to complete it."
On another occasion, she was asked to photocopy all her primary school reports which caused her a great deal of stress.
She said she had sticky notes taped all over her wall to remind her of all the things she needed to do before her appointments.
Jaclynn has other friends who missed their appointments completely because they forgot about them.
"Everyone's diagnosis journey is going to be slightly different," she said, adding that she was grateful she could have her consultations with her GP and psychiatrist online.
"It was much easier for me to not go in person.
"I didn't have to think, what time is it on, where is it, where's the train, where do I get off - I would have to think about every aspect of the process."
It took five years before Jaclynn was finally diagnosed, which she said came as a relief after years of people saying she seemed to have ADHD.
"The first time I heard the term was when I was 13," she said.
"I had no idea what that meant. I thought, oh well, that's just me and that's how I act.
"I was forgetting things all the time, zoning out of conversations, then sometimes I'd get really excited and more energetic.
"I was not doing well at school.
"I had always found it frustrating that I wasn't able to do the things that other people found really easy, even domestic chores."
Things became more difficult when she started at the University of Wollongong, NSW.
"I failed a couple of classes, which really surprised me.
"I was actually studying early childhood development, which is also where I learned more about it.
"It wasn't a heavy load but I was still struggling."
Jaclynn was referred by her GP to a psychiatrist and was lucky to see someone within a few months.
"That's much quicker than lots of other people I know," Jaclynn said, saying many were waiting up to nine months for an appointment.
She was eventually diagnosed with combined ADHD hyper inattentive disorder.
Treatment has helped, and she has now switched to studying media and communications and is feeling more on top of things.
She supports the government making the process of diagnosis less complicated.
In terms of the proposed reforms, she says while she has some reservations, she personally would have benefitted from an earlier diagnosis.
Health Minister and Member for Kiera Ryan Park spoke in support of the reforms in parliament.
"Over the last two years, the minister for mental health and I have heard from countless families and parents about waiting, sometimes years, to access those diagnostic appointments and to ensure their children get on a path of treatment," Mr Park said.
He said under new reforms 1000 GPs will be empowered to provide ongoing prescriptions for ADHD patients while some will also be able to provide diagnosis.
He said ADHD is expected to impact around six to 10% of children and adolescents and delays in diagnosis disproportionately disadvantage rural and regional families.
Jaclynn hopes pathways will be quicker and easier for others in the future.
"I wish it had been available for me.
"It would have cost less and been less hassle.
"Dealing with the processes involved can be very difficult for people with ADHD.
"That's why I put it off for so long.
"This will be a lot less pressure."
And while Jaclynn now has many more good days than bad she says; "I still have to remind myself I have a neurological disorder, that I'm not just lazy."
Some mornings university student Jaclynn Culham has to break down basic tasks into tiny steps simply to get going for the day.
"On bad days, it's awful, it's just awful," Jaclynn, who has been diagnosed with ADHD said.
"I tell myself the night before what I'm going to do, but I physically can't do those things.
"I have to talk myself through it in steps.
"Step one, walk to the door, step two, open the door."
While it sometimes seems the number of people being diagnosed with ADHD has exploded, the path to diagnosis is by definition often difficult for those with attention difficulties.
Many can quickly become overwhelmed by everyday tasks, let alone complex and drawn-out processes such as the steps needed for diagnosis and medication.
Jaclynn welcomes government moves to make this process simpler, but cautions that ADHD is different for every individual.
"When people think of ADHD they think of forgetfulness or getting distracted, but a lot of what's going on for me is internal frustration," she said.
"It's known as 'executive dysfunction'.
"You have lists of things to do, you want to get up and go, but because you don't have the motivation, there's no urgency to do it."
She said this leads to procrastination and then having to remind herself she is not lazy, it's just part of the condition.
"The whole process of my diagnosis was so long and tedious.
"The process can feel impossible at times."
Jaclynn said when she was filling out the initial form, answering questions to assist with her diagnosis, she was doing fine until she was asked to provide additional information.
"I couldn't complete it.
"It was something I wanted to do so badly, and was motivated to do it.
"Looking back it is just a ridiculous thing the huge process they've given us with no support to complete it."
On another occasion, she was asked to photocopy all her primary school reports which caused her a great deal of stress.
She said she had sticky notes taped all over her wall to remind her of all the things she needed to do before her appointments.
Jaclynn has other friends who missed their appointments completely because they forgot about them.
"Everyone's diagnosis journey is going to be slightly different," she said, adding that she was grateful she could have her consultations with her GP and psychiatrist online.
"It was much easier for me to not go in person.
"I didn't have to think, what time is it on, where is it, where's the train, where do I get off - I would have to think about every aspect of the process."
It took five years before Jaclynn was finally diagnosed, which she said came as a relief after years of people saying she seemed to have ADHD.
"The first time I heard the term was when I was 13," she said.
"I had no idea what that meant. I thought, oh well, that's just me and that's how I act.
"I was forgetting things all the time, zoning out of conversations, then sometimes I'd get really excited and more energetic.
"I was not doing well at school.
"I had always found it frustrating that I wasn't able to do the things that other people found really easy, even domestic chores."
Things became more difficult when she started at the University of Wollongong, NSW.
"I failed a couple of classes, which really surprised me.
"I was actually studying early childhood development, which is also where I learned more about it.
"It wasn't a heavy load but I was still struggling."
Jaclynn was referred by her GP to a psychiatrist and was lucky to see someone within a few months.
"That's much quicker than lots of other people I know," Jaclynn said, saying many were waiting up to nine months for an appointment.
She was eventually diagnosed with combined ADHD hyper inattentive disorder.
Treatment has helped, and she has now switched to studying media and communications and is feeling more on top of things.
She supports the government making the process of diagnosis less complicated.
In terms of the proposed reforms, she says while she has some reservations, she personally would have benefitted from an earlier diagnosis.
Health Minister and Member for Kiera Ryan Park spoke in support of the reforms in parliament.
"Over the last two years, the minister for mental health and I have heard from countless families and parents about waiting, sometimes years, to access those diagnostic appointments and to ensure their children get on a path of treatment," Mr Park said.
He said under new reforms 1000 GPs will be empowered to provide ongoing prescriptions for ADHD patients while some will also be able to provide diagnosis.
He said ADHD is expected to impact around six to 10% of children and adolescents and delays in diagnosis disproportionately disadvantage rural and regional families.
Jaclynn hopes pathways will be quicker and easier for others in the future.
"I wish it had been available for me.
"It would have cost less and been less hassle.
"Dealing with the processes involved can be very difficult for people with ADHD.
"That's why I put it off for so long.
"This will be a lot less pressure."
And while Jaclynn now has many more good days than bad she says; "I still have to remind myself I have a neurological disorder, that I'm not just lazy."

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Advertiser

6 hours ago

• The Advertiser

'It's just awful': The pain is in the process for many seeking an ADHD diagnosis

Some mornings university student Jaclynn Culham has to break down basic tasks into tiny steps simply to get going for the day. "On bad days, it's awful, it's just awful," Jaclynn, who has been diagnosed with ADHD said. "I tell myself the night before what I'm going to do, but I physically can't do those things. "I have to talk myself through it in steps. "Step one, walk to the door, step two, open the door." While it sometimes seems the number of people being diagnosed with ADHD has exploded, the path to diagnosis is by definition often difficult for those with attention difficulties. Many can quickly become overwhelmed by everyday tasks, let alone complex and drawn-out processes such as the steps needed for diagnosis and medication. Jaclynn welcomes government moves to make this process simpler, but cautions that ADHD is different for every individual. "When people think of ADHD they think of forgetfulness or getting distracted, but a lot of what's going on for me is internal frustration," she said. "It's known as 'executive dysfunction'. "You have lists of things to do, you want to get up and go, but because you don't have the motivation, there's no urgency to do it." She said this leads to procrastination and then having to remind herself she is not lazy, it's just part of the condition. "The whole process of my diagnosis was so long and tedious. "The process can feel impossible at times." Jaclynn said when she was filling out the initial form, answering questions to assist with her diagnosis, she was doing fine until she was asked to provide additional information. "I couldn't complete it. "It was something I wanted to do so badly, and was motivated to do it. "Looking back it is just a ridiculous thing the huge process they've given us with no support to complete it." On another occasion, she was asked to photocopy all her primary school reports which caused her a great deal of stress. She said she had sticky notes taped all over her wall to remind her of all the things she needed to do before her appointments. Jaclynn has other friends who missed their appointments completely because they forgot about them. "Everyone's diagnosis journey is going to be slightly different," she said, adding that she was grateful she could have her consultations with her GP and psychiatrist online. "It was much easier for me to not go in person. "I didn't have to think, what time is it on, where is it, where's the train, where do I get off - I would have to think about every aspect of the process." It took five years before Jaclynn was finally diagnosed, which she said came as a relief after years of people saying she seemed to have ADHD. "The first time I heard the term was when I was 13," she said. "I had no idea what that meant. I thought, oh well, that's just me and that's how I act. "I was forgetting things all the time, zoning out of conversations, then sometimes I'd get really excited and more energetic. "I was not doing well at school. "I had always found it frustrating that I wasn't able to do the things that other people found really easy, even domestic chores." Things became more difficult when she started at the University of Wollongong, NSW. "I failed a couple of classes, which really surprised me. "I was actually studying early childhood development, which is also where I learned more about it. "It wasn't a heavy load but I was still struggling." Jaclynn was referred by her GP to a psychiatrist and was lucky to see someone within a few months. "That's much quicker than lots of other people I know," Jaclynn said, saying many were waiting up to nine months for an appointment. She was eventually diagnosed with combined ADHD hyper inattentive disorder. Treatment has helped, and she has now switched to studying media and communications and is feeling more on top of things. She supports the government making the process of diagnosis less complicated. In terms of the proposed reforms, she says while she has some reservations, she personally would have benefitted from an earlier diagnosis. Health Minister and Member for Kiera Ryan Park spoke in support of the reforms in parliament. "Over the last two years, the minister for mental health and I have heard from countless families and parents about waiting, sometimes years, to access those diagnostic appointments and to ensure their children get on a path of treatment," Mr Park said. He said under new reforms 1000 GPs will be empowered to provide ongoing prescriptions for ADHD patients while some will also be able to provide diagnosis. He said ADHD is expected to impact around six to 10% of children and adolescents and delays in diagnosis disproportionately disadvantage rural and regional families. Jaclynn hopes pathways will be quicker and easier for others in the future. "I wish it had been available for me. "It would have cost less and been less hassle. "Dealing with the processes involved can be very difficult for people with ADHD. "That's why I put it off for so long. "This will be a lot less pressure." And while Jaclynn now has many more good days than bad she says; "I still have to remind myself I have a neurological disorder, that I'm not just lazy." Some mornings university student Jaclynn Culham has to break down basic tasks into tiny steps simply to get going for the day. "On bad days, it's awful, it's just awful," Jaclynn, who has been diagnosed with ADHD said. "I tell myself the night before what I'm going to do, but I physically can't do those things. "I have to talk myself through it in steps. "Step one, walk to the door, step two, open the door." While it sometimes seems the number of people being diagnosed with ADHD has exploded, the path to diagnosis is by definition often difficult for those with attention difficulties. Many can quickly become overwhelmed by everyday tasks, let alone complex and drawn-out processes such as the steps needed for diagnosis and medication. Jaclynn welcomes government moves to make this process simpler, but cautions that ADHD is different for every individual. "When people think of ADHD they think of forgetfulness or getting distracted, but a lot of what's going on for me is internal frustration," she said. "It's known as 'executive dysfunction'. "You have lists of things to do, you want to get up and go, but because you don't have the motivation, there's no urgency to do it." She said this leads to procrastination and then having to remind herself she is not lazy, it's just part of the condition. "The whole process of my diagnosis was so long and tedious. "The process can feel impossible at times." Jaclynn said when she was filling out the initial form, answering questions to assist with her diagnosis, she was doing fine until she was asked to provide additional information. "I couldn't complete it. "It was something I wanted to do so badly, and was motivated to do it. "Looking back it is just a ridiculous thing the huge process they've given us with no support to complete it." On another occasion, she was asked to photocopy all her primary school reports which caused her a great deal of stress. She said she had sticky notes taped all over her wall to remind her of all the things she needed to do before her appointments. Jaclynn has other friends who missed their appointments completely because they forgot about them. "Everyone's diagnosis journey is going to be slightly different," she said, adding that she was grateful she could have her consultations with her GP and psychiatrist online. "It was much easier for me to not go in person. "I didn't have to think, what time is it on, where is it, where's the train, where do I get off - I would have to think about every aspect of the process." It took five years before Jaclynn was finally diagnosed, which she said came as a relief after years of people saying she seemed to have ADHD. "The first time I heard the term was when I was 13," she said. "I had no idea what that meant. I thought, oh well, that's just me and that's how I act. "I was forgetting things all the time, zoning out of conversations, then sometimes I'd get really excited and more energetic. "I was not doing well at school. "I had always found it frustrating that I wasn't able to do the things that other people found really easy, even domestic chores." Things became more difficult when she started at the University of Wollongong, NSW. "I failed a couple of classes, which really surprised me. "I was actually studying early childhood development, which is also where I learned more about it. "It wasn't a heavy load but I was still struggling." Jaclynn was referred by her GP to a psychiatrist and was lucky to see someone within a few months. "That's much quicker than lots of other people I know," Jaclynn said, saying many were waiting up to nine months for an appointment. She was eventually diagnosed with combined ADHD hyper inattentive disorder. Treatment has helped, and she has now switched to studying media and communications and is feeling more on top of things. She supports the government making the process of diagnosis less complicated. In terms of the proposed reforms, she says while she has some reservations, she personally would have benefitted from an earlier diagnosis. Health Minister and Member for Kiera Ryan Park spoke in support of the reforms in parliament. "Over the last two years, the minister for mental health and I have heard from countless families and parents about waiting, sometimes years, to access those diagnostic appointments and to ensure their children get on a path of treatment," Mr Park said. He said under new reforms 1000 GPs will be empowered to provide ongoing prescriptions for ADHD patients while some will also be able to provide diagnosis. He said ADHD is expected to impact around six to 10% of children and adolescents and delays in diagnosis disproportionately disadvantage rural and regional families. Jaclynn hopes pathways will be quicker and easier for others in the future. "I wish it had been available for me. "It would have cost less and been less hassle. "Dealing with the processes involved can be very difficult for people with ADHD. "That's why I put it off for so long. "This will be a lot less pressure." And while Jaclynn now has many more good days than bad she says; "I still have to remind myself I have a neurological disorder, that I'm not just lazy." Some mornings university student Jaclynn Culham has to break down basic tasks into tiny steps simply to get going for the day. "On bad days, it's awful, it's just awful," Jaclynn, who has been diagnosed with ADHD said. "I tell myself the night before what I'm going to do, but I physically can't do those things. "I have to talk myself through it in steps. "Step one, walk to the door, step two, open the door." While it sometimes seems the number of people being diagnosed with ADHD has exploded, the path to diagnosis is by definition often difficult for those with attention difficulties. Many can quickly become overwhelmed by everyday tasks, let alone complex and drawn-out processes such as the steps needed for diagnosis and medication. Jaclynn welcomes government moves to make this process simpler, but cautions that ADHD is different for every individual. "When people think of ADHD they think of forgetfulness or getting distracted, but a lot of what's going on for me is internal frustration," she said. "It's known as 'executive dysfunction'. "You have lists of things to do, you want to get up and go, but because you don't have the motivation, there's no urgency to do it." She said this leads to procrastination and then having to remind herself she is not lazy, it's just part of the condition. "The whole process of my diagnosis was so long and tedious. "The process can feel impossible at times." Jaclynn said when she was filling out the initial form, answering questions to assist with her diagnosis, she was doing fine until she was asked to provide additional information. "I couldn't complete it. "It was something I wanted to do so badly, and was motivated to do it. "Looking back it is just a ridiculous thing the huge process they've given us with no support to complete it." On another occasion, she was asked to photocopy all her primary school reports which caused her a great deal of stress. She said she had sticky notes taped all over her wall to remind her of all the things she needed to do before her appointments. Jaclynn has other friends who missed their appointments completely because they forgot about them. "Everyone's diagnosis journey is going to be slightly different," she said, adding that she was grateful she could have her consultations with her GP and psychiatrist online. "It was much easier for me to not go in person. "I didn't have to think, what time is it on, where is it, where's the train, where do I get off - I would have to think about every aspect of the process." It took five years before Jaclynn was finally diagnosed, which she said came as a relief after years of people saying she seemed to have ADHD. "The first time I heard the term was when I was 13," she said. "I had no idea what that meant. I thought, oh well, that's just me and that's how I act. "I was forgetting things all the time, zoning out of conversations, then sometimes I'd get really excited and more energetic. "I was not doing well at school. "I had always found it frustrating that I wasn't able to do the things that other people found really easy, even domestic chores." Things became more difficult when she started at the University of Wollongong, NSW. "I failed a couple of classes, which really surprised me. "I was actually studying early childhood development, which is also where I learned more about it. "It wasn't a heavy load but I was still struggling." Jaclynn was referred by her GP to a psychiatrist and was lucky to see someone within a few months. "That's much quicker than lots of other people I know," Jaclynn said, saying many were waiting up to nine months for an appointment. She was eventually diagnosed with combined ADHD hyper inattentive disorder. Treatment has helped, and she has now switched to studying media and communications and is feeling more on top of things. She supports the government making the process of diagnosis less complicated. In terms of the proposed reforms, she says while she has some reservations, she personally would have benefitted from an earlier diagnosis. Health Minister and Member for Kiera Ryan Park spoke in support of the reforms in parliament. "Over the last two years, the minister for mental health and I have heard from countless families and parents about waiting, sometimes years, to access those diagnostic appointments and to ensure their children get on a path of treatment," Mr Park said. He said under new reforms 1000 GPs will be empowered to provide ongoing prescriptions for ADHD patients while some will also be able to provide diagnosis. He said ADHD is expected to impact around six to 10% of children and adolescents and delays in diagnosis disproportionately disadvantage rural and regional families. Jaclynn hopes pathways will be quicker and easier for others in the future. "I wish it had been available for me. "It would have cost less and been less hassle. "Dealing with the processes involved can be very difficult for people with ADHD. "That's why I put it off for so long. "This will be a lot less pressure." And while Jaclynn now has many more good days than bad she says; "I still have to remind myself I have a neurological disorder, that I'm not just lazy." Some mornings university student Jaclynn Culham has to break down basic tasks into tiny steps simply to get going for the day. "On bad days, it's awful, it's just awful," Jaclynn, who has been diagnosed with ADHD said. "I tell myself the night before what I'm going to do, but I physically can't do those things. "I have to talk myself through it in steps. "Step one, walk to the door, step two, open the door." While it sometimes seems the number of people being diagnosed with ADHD has exploded, the path to diagnosis is by definition often difficult for those with attention difficulties. Many can quickly become overwhelmed by everyday tasks, let alone complex and drawn-out processes such as the steps needed for diagnosis and medication. Jaclynn welcomes government moves to make this process simpler, but cautions that ADHD is different for every individual. "When people think of ADHD they think of forgetfulness or getting distracted, but a lot of what's going on for me is internal frustration," she said. "It's known as 'executive dysfunction'. "You have lists of things to do, you want to get up and go, but because you don't have the motivation, there's no urgency to do it." She said this leads to procrastination and then having to remind herself she is not lazy, it's just part of the condition. "The whole process of my diagnosis was so long and tedious. "The process can feel impossible at times." Jaclynn said when she was filling out the initial form, answering questions to assist with her diagnosis, she was doing fine until she was asked to provide additional information. "I couldn't complete it. "It was something I wanted to do so badly, and was motivated to do it. "Looking back it is just a ridiculous thing the huge process they've given us with no support to complete it." On another occasion, she was asked to photocopy all her primary school reports which caused her a great deal of stress. She said she had sticky notes taped all over her wall to remind her of all the things she needed to do before her appointments. Jaclynn has other friends who missed their appointments completely because they forgot about them. "Everyone's diagnosis journey is going to be slightly different," she said, adding that she was grateful she could have her consultations with her GP and psychiatrist online. "It was much easier for me to not go in person. "I didn't have to think, what time is it on, where is it, where's the train, where do I get off - I would have to think about every aspect of the process." It took five years before Jaclynn was finally diagnosed, which she said came as a relief after years of people saying she seemed to have ADHD. "The first time I heard the term was when I was 13," she said. "I had no idea what that meant. I thought, oh well, that's just me and that's how I act. "I was forgetting things all the time, zoning out of conversations, then sometimes I'd get really excited and more energetic. "I was not doing well at school. "I had always found it frustrating that I wasn't able to do the things that other people found really easy, even domestic chores." Things became more difficult when she started at the University of Wollongong, NSW. "I failed a couple of classes, which really surprised me. "I was actually studying early childhood development, which is also where I learned more about it. "It wasn't a heavy load but I was still struggling." Jaclynn was referred by her GP to a psychiatrist and was lucky to see someone within a few months. "That's much quicker than lots of other people I know," Jaclynn said, saying many were waiting up to nine months for an appointment. She was eventually diagnosed with combined ADHD hyper inattentive disorder. Treatment has helped, and she has now switched to studying media and communications and is feeling more on top of things. She supports the government making the process of diagnosis less complicated. In terms of the proposed reforms, she says while she has some reservations, she personally would have benefitted from an earlier diagnosis. Health Minister and Member for Kiera Ryan Park spoke in support of the reforms in parliament. "Over the last two years, the minister for mental health and I have heard from countless families and parents about waiting, sometimes years, to access those diagnostic appointments and to ensure their children get on a path of treatment," Mr Park said. He said under new reforms 1000 GPs will be empowered to provide ongoing prescriptions for ADHD patients while some will also be able to provide diagnosis. He said ADHD is expected to impact around six to 10% of children and adolescents and delays in diagnosis disproportionately disadvantage rural and regional families. Jaclynn hopes pathways will be quicker and easier for others in the future. "I wish it had been available for me. "It would have cost less and been less hassle. "Dealing with the processes involved can be very difficult for people with ADHD. "That's why I put it off for so long. "This will be a lot less pressure." And while Jaclynn now has many more good days than bad she says; "I still have to remind myself I have a neurological disorder, that I'm not just lazy."

Sydney Morning Herald

a day ago

• Sydney Morning Herald

A medicine shortage is heaping undue stress on schoolkids like Alon

'The school has been very supportive, and we haven't had any phone calls going 'this is ridiculous', but in terms of his marks, even just he gets a little disappointed in himself because he wants to do better and he wants to finish the math test, and he just couldn't concentrate,' she says. 'It's not because he's aiming to be annoying and waste time in class.' While many schools are understanding and work with students with ADHD, the medication shortage is creating an extra layer of stress for families with children with additional needs, according to development pediatrician Dr Suzi Riess. Riess, who treats children with behavioural issues, says the scarcity of Concerta is increasing demand for other medications and causing further shortages. She says more doctors are having to find alternatives but they must be cautious when switching medications. 'You have to be able to start low [with dosage] and go up slowly, and for families it's very stressful to navigate that,' Riess explains. 'I've had families who have finally found a good combination of medication, and it's been really hard for them because they've experienced the benefit.' For those living regionally or in outer suburbs, that can mean driving to multiple pharmacies to find the medication they need. It's also important for schools to be able to respond to changes in the behaviour of children, according to University of Melbourne associate professor of education Matthew Harrison. Harrison, who specialises in inclusive education, helps train teachers on how to work with neurodivergent kids and also has ADHD himself. 'For teachers who are trying to plan supports for young people, if someone's needs are changing based on whether they're medicated or not, it can be really stressful,' Harrison says. 'It's difficult for teachers, it's difficult for the parents, and of course, it's most difficult for the young people themselves.' He says for many neurodivergent students, medication also helps them socially – not just in the classroom. It can also allow them to be more engaged and present. Harrison says it is important that schools foster calm, predictable environments. 'It's having routines and systems in place, even things about what happens when we arrive at school, what happens when we enter the classroom,' he suggests. Loading Fostering positive relationships between teachers and their students is key, so when young people are struggling they can be open about it, he says. '[Neurodivergent] kids have to feel safe and happy first before they're learning.' Sydney-based mum and accredited ADHD coach Sharon Collon agrees, and says she has seen a surge in parents raising concerns about limited medication supply. 'We're having increase of more challenging behaviours at home and school environment,' she says. 'We are seeing increased levels of distress.' Collon says her husband and three sons all have ADHD, and finding the 'holy grail' of medication meant going through a lot of trial and error. 'Everyone is unique, and some medications can make their behaviour worse or have negative side effects, so when you finally find the one that works for your child … to then have to stop it or swap it for another because of a shortage, it causes so much stress for families.' One of her sons, whose ADHD had been well managed, had to switch from a medicine that was scarce. 'He got suspended twice in one week.' She says it was also a blow to his self-esteem: he wanted to do well and had never faced disciplinary action at school. 'And it was all because he hadn't had the right medication at that time.' Collon says teachers supporting students with neurodiversity were struggling with medication disruptions but she urged them to opt for 'connection'. 'You can't discipline ADHD out of a child, and anytime someone tries to do that all it does is cause shame,' she says. Kids may need to move more or go for 'brain breaks' where they go for a short walk. They may also need additional supports like visual cues. Many schools and teachers are already doing what they can, she explains, but it's important for them to communicate with parents about what's going on. Mum Nadine Barkay is already concerned about what happens next for Alon. 'My community chemist has run out of Ritalin ... and they don't have a due date for it,' she says. They eventually found it at another pharmacy, but the shortage is prompting the family to consider what to do next. The Department of Education was asked if it was aware of the shortages. 'Schools ensure that every student is able to attend and learn in a safe environment, regardless of a student's medical condition,' a spokesperson said in a statement.

The Age

a day ago

• The Age

A medicine shortage is heaping undue stress on schoolkids like Alon

'The school has been very supportive, and we haven't had any phone calls going 'this is ridiculous', but in terms of his marks, even just he gets a little disappointed in himself because he wants to do better and he wants to finish the math test, and he just couldn't concentrate,' she says. 'It's not because he's aiming to be annoying and waste time in class.' While many schools are understanding and work with students with ADHD, the medication shortage is creating an extra layer of stress for families with children with additional needs, according to development pediatrician Dr Suzi Riess. Riess, who treats children with behavioural issues, says the scarcity of Concerta is increasing demand for other medications and causing further shortages. She says more doctors are having to find alternatives but they must be cautious when switching medications. 'You have to be able to start low [with dosage] and go up slowly, and for families it's very stressful to navigate that,' Riess explains. 'I've had families who have finally found a good combination of medication, and it's been really hard for them because they've experienced the benefit.' For those living regionally or in outer suburbs, that can mean driving to multiple pharmacies to find the medication they need. It's also important for schools to be able to respond to changes in the behaviour of children, according to University of Melbourne associate professor of education Matthew Harrison. Harrison, who specialises in inclusive education, helps train teachers on how to work with neurodivergent kids and also has ADHD himself. 'For teachers who are trying to plan supports for young people, if someone's needs are changing based on whether they're medicated or not, it can be really stressful,' Harrison says. 'It's difficult for teachers, it's difficult for the parents, and of course, it's most difficult for the young people themselves.' He says for many neurodivergent students, medication also helps them socially – not just in the classroom. It can also allow them to be more engaged and present. Harrison says it is important that schools foster calm, predictable environments. 'It's having routines and systems in place, even things about what happens when we arrive at school, what happens when we enter the classroom,' he suggests. Loading Fostering positive relationships between teachers and their students is key, so when young people are struggling they can be open about it, he says. '[Neurodivergent] kids have to feel safe and happy first before they're learning.' Sydney-based mum and accredited ADHD coach Sharon Collon agrees, and says she has seen a surge in parents raising concerns about limited medication supply. 'We're having increase of more challenging behaviours at home and school environment,' she says. 'We are seeing increased levels of distress.' Collon says her husband and three sons all have ADHD, and finding the 'holy grail' of medication meant going through a lot of trial and error. 'Everyone is unique, and some medications can make their behaviour worse or have negative side effects, so when you finally find the one that works for your child … to then have to stop it or swap it for another because of a shortage, it causes so much stress for families.' One of her sons, whose ADHD had been well managed, had to switch from a medicine that was scarce. 'He got suspended twice in one week.' She says it was also a blow to his self-esteem: he wanted to do well and had never faced disciplinary action at school. 'And it was all because he hadn't had the right medication at that time.' Collon says teachers supporting students with neurodiversity were struggling with medication disruptions but she urged them to opt for 'connection'. 'You can't discipline ADHD out of a child, and anytime someone tries to do that all it does is cause shame,' she says. Kids may need to move more or go for 'brain breaks' where they go for a short walk. They may also need additional supports like visual cues. Many schools and teachers are already doing what they can, she explains, but it's important for them to communicate with parents about what's going on. Mum Nadine Barkay is already concerned about what happens next for Alon. 'My community chemist has run out of Ritalin ... and they don't have a due date for it,' she says. They eventually found it at another pharmacy, but the shortage is prompting the family to consider what to do next. The Department of Education was asked if it was aware of the shortages. 'Schools ensure that every student is able to attend and learn in a safe environment, regardless of a student's medical condition,' a spokesperson said in a statement.