Non clinical solution for ADHD???
I was evaluated by my psychologist with the DSM-5 and she diagnosed ADHD and saw signs of social anxiety last year.Then, he suggested my parents that I join Candradimuka social class.
However, Candradimuka social class is not a clinical solution for me who has ADHD. Candradimuka and my coaches only suggest generic things and basic social skills and basic discipline skills.
In fact, one of the coaches said that I don't need to worry about trivial matters. For example, he said that catcalling can be reported to the teacher. I explained that people who catcall might not stop even if I report the teacher or I tell them to stop. I think I have a deeper fear than catcalling being reported. I feel uncomfortable if guys see me as just a pretty girl.
Candradimuka classes often make me read basic materials and listen to generic suggestions. Often, my fears and ADHD issues are not studied in depth. I once said that I wanted to try CBT only. But there were also coaches who said that they wanted to try to increase my enthusiasm and improve through social classes first. My psychologist also claimed "This is your CBT!" with the intention that the suggestions he and the coaches gave were a form of CBT
I see messages in online ADHD communities from people who have been diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD is clearly a lifelong neurological condition.
There are also suggestions from my psychologist that it is overwhelming me because zoning out is a stress response. So when I am told to keep moving or increase my activity, I end up exhausted and overwhelmed.
Now that I confront about this, he is going to do Hypnotherapy even when I suggested CBT. He never does CBT. Now he told me to visualize the state I want to be in and set my mind that way.
I need CBT cause when I get stressed or overwhelmed, I zone out which leads to executive dysfunction and difficulty starting tasks. Those things are INVOLUNTARY
Is this an ethical thing for my psychologist to do?
@TheSweetNight Hi there, welcome to the Disability Support Community!
You are having a really rough time and from someone that should be listening and helping support you. I do wonder at their reasons as CBT is suitable and can give positive results with teens for ADHD. Perhaps they are not trained in it or some other reason.
There are some very helpful CBT pdf's online that you could run through yourself, and learn from, and perhaps you would be able to go through them?
We also have a separate ADHD Community Here https://www.7cups.com/forum/adhd/ that you may want to read through, although I see you have posted there. I hope you find a solution.
@MistyMagic Yeah, I also wonder why my psychologist doesn't wanna do CBT. He claims to be an HR Consultant, Clinical psychologist, CBT therapist, Hypnotherapist, and Family therapist.
Also thank you for the information! Would you mind sharing the PDF that you know had helped you or others?
@TheSweetNight It's not really for me to recommend, you could search for them as only you know your reasons and your country. Let's see if you get any other replies.
Update!
The licensing board actually did a follow up and even had a court with my psychologist. They said his license is registered correctly and he had done the procedures correctly. I'm not sure what they do about the suspected malpractice or suspected ethical violations (Basically I think I didn't get therapy for my ADHD. I only joined a social skills program with generic advices. He claimed to have done CBT but he said I didn't realize he did CBT)
But the thing is, I am a minor and my mom is the one signing the informed consent. My mom said only she have access to session notes (but she currently doesn't have them) and she prohibited me to see it cause she thinks I will keep blaming my former psychologist. (FYI I wanted to see what had actually happened with my former psychologist so my new therapy can be effective)
@TheSweetNight thanks for updating us.
@MistyMagic
Y'all are welcome!
Unfortunately, teens in my country doesn't have full autonomy on healthcare. The authority on a minor's healthcare is on the parents/guardians.
I am so glad that someone from the ministry of health had refered me to a better (and more affordable) psychologist. However I am worried for other teens in the non clinical program that may not be treated properly
Update! I went to a psychiatrist last Wednesday. The psychiatrist (and also a professor) asked me some questions and then she said that I have mild autistic tendencies. She said that my autistic tendencies are more pronounced than my ADHD tendencies.
There are things like my flat tone (monotone voice), my stimming for self regulation, decline in empathetic sympathetic response, difficulty socializing, limited emotional expression (I can be so expressive to a certain person or people and shut off to others), lack of initiation, etc that are considered.
I took meds that calm down my racing thoughts. I'm so much calmer now. Still waiting for an EEG.
But it is surprising that my family went from "No you're not autistic!" to "Okay I guess you're mildly autistic". (I was rumoured to be autistic at school).
Reminder: It's actually very normal for different types of doctors to see different things from you. Each doctor have different approaches and may have different diagnoses sometimes. This is common in the field of mental health ❤️
