The aftermath of a diagnosis: From resistance to reconciliation

The author, a doctor, describes the aftermath of being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in his late 30s. He was incredulous and immediately resented the diagnosis. He reluctantly agreed to try the prescribed medication but struggled with that as well. Instead of rejecting the ADHD label, he later began reading and watching informative videos about ADHD and the many ways that executive functioning deficits affect behavior, including impulsive outbursts. The communication gap with his psychiatrist widened because of their "virtual" visits during the pandemic. He turned to his primary care physician, with whom he felt less inhibited, and shared his fears and concerns for his family, his career, and himself. As of now, he is looking for the added support of a therapist experienced at helping people with ADHD. Despite everything, he knows he will slip at times. But he is determined to get better at stemming episodes before they reach a tipping point. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).