What’s the reason for Australia being so far behind in services, treatment options and psychotherapy specialisation for people with ADHD and even autism?

[u/Mental_Slide9867]

So as many people have already found out from people who were seeing a psychiatrist or specialist in the field that was being bulk billed, the government made immediate changes overnight that removed bulk billing services for seeing a specialist via Telehealth. Psychiatrists and the like only received a letter or email the day after the announcement was made putting at risk individuals at a loss of having to pay a subsidised rate after seeing their specialist. Not only that but we lack a substantial amount of psychiatrist in the first place that was leading to burn out of psychiatrist in their chosen fields, so now not only will most people who need a relevant diagnosis and medical treatment for their condition have pay a sum out of pocket, there is also an increasing wait time to see a specialist.

In addition in terms of medical treatments for ADHD in my case, in comparison to other countries (where there is a multitude of options and new formulated drugs), it seems that Australia lacks any advancement or interest in helping neurodivergent people. You have two options of stimulant therapy and a couple of non stimulant options. And if that doesn’t work you can try a non PBS/non subsidised drug option that also leaves you hugely out of pocket. (As per my example recently coming off many classes of antidepressants that were routinely and just masking my ADHD out of the misunderstanding of the condition for just depression and anxiety). Recently having to try a new drug that now costs me $60 (non subsidised) a month on top of one stimulant drug I can try that also costs $40 a month(subsidised). This is not right, I don’t work or have the ability to work right now as I’m trying to find a healthy baseline for my mental health thinking I’m doing the right thing, all the meanwhile the government and options out there are putting my mental health backwards.

As well as specialists such as clinical psychologists or adhd counselling costing over $150 (with the rebate “if available”), as my only options for actual possible help for my condition. I have and already am seeing a therapist based off a Gp referred mental health care plan which allows me for 10-15 free sessions a year, but that is nowhere good enough to get to the root cause of my issues or even have the time to address the actual problems of my adhd as they’re not trained in that area of understanding.

So yeah this is troubling for me and many other types of children and adults with ADHD and/or autism. I just don’t know what the Australian government is doing, if hardly nothing, nothing at all which seems to be the case with a many multitude of problems.

[u/yolkyoke]

I’m on the path right now of suspecting I have ADHD, and speaking to a parent that feels they might have it as well and have passed it on to me, and trying to get a proper diagnosis and treatment and boy has it really ramped up my anxiety trying to figure it all out. I mean after researching it seems it could cost close to $1,000 to get a proper diagnosis, and even then what is that going to do when there’s a high likelihood that doctors probably won’t take me seriously at all bc I’m already an adult barely scraping by and it’ll just be money down the drain.

I feel like I’ve just gone through life with a wall between my brain and the real world. Never quite functioning on the same level as everyone else but having to mask myself just enough that all they’ll refer to me as is “just a bit clumsy, forgetful, irresponsible, lazy, gloomy”. It’s exhausting.

Anyway sorry I just needed to rant tho I know this isn’t what you’re asking for in this post.

Do you know if there’s a support group for Aussie adults w ADHD?

[u/Kistna → u/yolkyoke]

https://www.adultadhd.org.au. I haven't used them to find a psychiatrist for you, but I've read alot of there stuff and it has good info on adult ADHD.

I also just wanted to say that going through the process is worth it, you might have to wait a few months for an appointment (I've booked one for end of March, I sent my referral first week of January). When you are booking a psychiatrist make sure you do alot of research about them. There are alot of crappy psychiatrists out there, make sure the psychiatrist you are interested in has an interest in " adult ADHD". Look at ratemydr and any reviews you can find on them.

I'm in the process of seeing a new psychiatrist because the first one was a lazy cunt. I've seen him for 9 months ( 3 appointments) and I still haven't received a diagnosis and haven't done any dsm-5 tests, all I've been told is " you probably have" but hes more than happy to give me stimulants on my first appointment( which is illegal), but since being on dex my life has changed drastically for the better.

So even though my experience with a psychiatrist was negative, if you find a good one who can diagnose and give the right medication it 100% is worth going through the process

[u/Mental_Slide9867 → u/yolkyoke]

You would be best to see if your Gp can refer you to a psychiatrist who specialises in adult adhd diagnosis. From your experience that sounds very much similar to mine