Long time lurking, first time post

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I’m not sure where to start....

Hi everyone! I was diagnosed with ADD-pi and Aspergers years ago. After trying a few different medications my psychiatrist and I settled on vyvanse. Years have gone by and I’ve gotten older. Found a job, which I have held for the past 6 years, and started a family.

In the spring of 2017 my wife asked that I find a psychiatrist that is closer so I can spend less time driving and more time with my family. Sounded great in theory! I was referred to a place close to home and went in thinking the best.

It’s been five months now. I’ve been told that I have neither ADD-pi or Aspergers. Yay! At first I was happy, I don’t have to take anymore medication so I stopped. That lasted about 5 days before my first intervention happened. My wife got really upset and told me that I really need to be on my medication. After two weeks my boss pulled me aside and gave me a nice chat of ‘I don’t know what’s up with you but’.

So back on medication I went. Problem is, my new psychiatrist isn’t on board with it so I only have a few days left. What are my options?

You need to go back to your old psychiatrist temporarily until you can find another new one nearer to you. There is no point in arguing with a psychiatrist who has made their mind up.

Seems like a simple answer. Thanks. I just thought the DSM codes were clear and I shouldn’t have this problem. I thought maybe there was something I could do to convince them otherwise.

Could it be that because of the medication, the symptoms weren't obvious enough for the new psychiatrist to see, thereby leading him to a false conclusion?

I would say that it could be a good thing to meet several psychiatrists if you're in doubt about your diagnosis. They all have different experiences in different areas, and some might not get you at all, while some will.
But if you think that your diagnosis makes sense, then I wouldn't bother listening to someone trying to prove you wrong. Experienced in psychiatry or not, they still don't know you better than you do.


Personally, I had to change psychiatrists because as soon as I told my first one that I suspected I might be on the spectrum, he just told me that "No, you're definitely not. Do you know how rare that is in girls? What you DO have is a personality disorder that looks a lot like AS, but it's not. Here, take this anxiety medication."
At first I believed him, but after a few meetings it became clear that he wasn't even listening to what I was saying. Kept telling me all about how my parents have messed me up, even though I barely said anything about them.

My current Psychiatrist was really great about it. I didn't want to say too much about AS when I first met him, because of my experience with the first guy. But as soon as it was mentioned (it's all over my journals) he was like "Oh yeah! That makes a lot of sense. Let's go ahead and look more into that."
Changed my life.


Some people have just made up their mind, and if you notice that someone's opinion of you isn't right, then screw them. There are better alternatives.

Yeah I think you’re right. The diagnosis made sense to me and I’ve worked on issues ever since instead of thinking it was the other person. I had read people will sometimes grow out of these symptoms so I thought maybe I had. The simple answer is no, no I did not.

This psychiatrist does retesting every 4 years for ADHD. I figured what’s the harm since I exceed the criteria. But I guess I don’t exceed it enough anymore. Who would have thought if you got through college, hold a great job, got promoted instead of fired, and could hold a long term relationship to produce offspring you no longer need the medication that allowed you to do it.

And I say medication because even though I have the drive and intelligence it would take me hours to days just to start a project and more hours and days just to figure out where I put the equipment I just had in my hand.

Positive response to medication is not evidence the ADHD has gone away, particularly for ADHD-PI.

Thanks everyone! I’m going to take your advise along with that of my wife.

I guess an accessment at age 12 that’s positive for ADHD-pi isn’t good enough for this psychiatrist so..

Welcome to Wrong Planet.

It is best to go to a PSYCHOLOGIST with knowledge of ASD's in adults. PSYCHIATRISTS tend to throw drugs at every problem. They tend to view all "impairing" issues as mental illness. Autism is a developmental disability/condition, not a mental illness or at least not a mental illness as defined by most people. Mental illnesses often co occur with ASD so at best these drugs sometimes help but the psychiatrist approach does not get to the root of ASD issues.

I agree, you should see a psychologist. Consider neuropsych testing, as it will help establish your diagnosis more definitively. Then you go and revisit the medication.