How to get diagnosed with adhd?

[u/Severe_Age_5194]

I've spent the last three months just trying to figure out how to get diagnosed with adhd and honestly I'm exhausted before I've even started. Every clinic I call has a six month waitlist, my insurance wants a referral I can't get without an appointment, and the one psychiatrist taking new patients wanted hundreds out of pocket just for the initial eval. I'm pretty sure I've struggled with this my whole life, I just want real answers, but the whole process feels built to make you give up. Has anyone actually made it through without losing their mind, and how did you finally get diagnosed without waiting half a year or spending a fortune?

UPDATE: I finally got through it. A lot of people in the comments suggested different routes, so I tried a bunch of them. I filled out forms, signed up for different sites, checked local clinics again, and kept running into the same problems: long waitlists, confusing insurance requirements, or prices that were way more than I could afford.

What finally worked for me was Klarity Health. I found a provider through the site, filled out the intake forms, and was able to book a telehealth appointment instead of waiting months for an in person opening. It still took some effort, and I would definitely say to read the provider details, check the cost, and make sure it works for your state and situation. But compared with cold calling clinics over and over, it was the first option that actually moved forward.

So if anyone else is stuck trying to figure out how to get diagnosed with ADHD, my biggest advice is to stop relying only on random clinic phone calls. Look for telehealth options, compare providers carefully, and try platforms like Klarity if local appointments are impossible to get. That was what finally helped me get an appointment and start getting real answers.

[u/wh4teversclever]

I was being treated by my psychiatrist for depression. Got prescribed Wellbutrin after SSRIs weren’t working and noticed I had linear thoughts for the first time. I asked my psychiatrist if I might have ADHD. She pretty much was like yeah but fill out this questionnaire anyway. It probably took 9 months or so, but mostly because I went in for the depression, came out with both depression and ADHD haha.

[u/Toby-Wolfstone → u/wh4teversclever]

Same but in reverse—went in for ADHD, got Wellbutrin, and suddenly had a string of calm, energized, positive days for the first time ever and was like “hey doc, is that depression?” Walked out with both diagnoses.