ADHDers are often familiar with the idea of self-medicating — through food, booze, cigarettes, shopping, gaming, high-speed hobbies, risk, work, or anything that gives a moment of relief or a hit of dopamine.
There’s nothing inherently “wrong” with these behaviours, but when you already struggle with regulation, they can snowball fast.
And here’s the difficult truth:
Being able to “cope” doesn’t mean you’re not struggling.
Autistic and ADHD adults are often elite-level maskers, pouring unbelievable amounts of energy into appearing “fine” in a world not designed for their wiring.
The impact of being undiagnosed and unsupported is real.
Very real.
- Around 1 in 4 women with untreated ADHD will consider or attempt suicide.
(JAMA Psychiatry, 2017) - For men, it’s about 1 in 10.
- ADHD is hugely overrepresented in prisons, with estimates between 25–40% meeting diagnostic criteria.
(Young et al., 2015) - ADHDers are 2–3 times more likely to develop addictions without appropriate support.
(Wilens et al., 2011) - There’s also a significantly higher risk of accidents and injuries, especially road accidents.
(Dalsgaard et al., 2015)
This isn’t about fear — it’s about recognition.
ADHD isn’t harmless when left unattended.
And you deserve better than “getting by.”
Why get a formal assessment?
The short version:
Knowledge is power.
A diagnosis gives context to why life has felt “harder than it should be.”
So many ADHD adults grow up internalising:
lazy, careless, scattered, emotional, unreliable, dramatic, too much, not enough.
Understanding ADHD reframes the entire story:
It’s not that you “can’t get your act together.”
It’s that your brain is wired differently — beautifully differently — and now you finally have the user manual.
ADHD is now recognised as a lifelong condition, not something children “grow out of.”
A diagnosis can open the door to strategies, support, medication (if wanted), workplace adjustments, and — crucially — community.
Sometimes the real gift of diagnosis is not the label… but the relief.
A small but important note on the DSM
Most NHS and private clinicians diagnose using criteria from the DSM-5 — a manual whose origins are, let’s say… not purely scientific.
If you’ve never seen Dr James Davies explain how DSM categories were actually created, please enjoy:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj2ENhs9i1o
It’s eye-opening, validating, and makes it easier to hold diagnosis as a tool, not a moral stamp.
How to get assessed
Start with your GP.
Tell them you’ve done a screener and want a referral for formal assessment.
GPs cannot diagnose ADHD — they can only refer.
(And if they try to fob you off with “you can’t possibly have ADHD,” please direct them to ADHD UK.)
There are three main routes in the UK:
1. NHS Diagnosis (free)
Great if you can manage the wait.
Some areas are months, others are years — unfortunately patchy.
2. Private Assessment (£700–£2,000)
Fastest.
Make sure the provider is accredited — there are ADHD cowboys out there.
3. Right to Choose (England only)
The best of both worlds: NHS-funded assessment through an external provider such as:
• Psychiatry UK — https://psychiatry-uk.com
• ADHD 360 — https://www.adhd-360.com
You get seen quicker, and the NHS picks up the bill.
The catch: many GPs don’t know this exists, so you may need to gently insist.
More info + monthly updated list:
https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/
Template letter for your GP:
https://www.psychiatry-uk.com/right-to-choose/
What to expect from the assessment
Usually:
• questionnaires
• a history-taking conversation (60–90 minutes)
• examples from childhood
• looking at patterns across your life
• possibly speaking to a parent if available
Most people walk away with a diagnosis of inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, or combined.
It’s not scary.
It’s not a test.
It’s a conversation.
Is it really worth it?
Yes.
Because struggling in silence is lonely.
Because answers are stabilising.
Because you deserve support that actually fits your brain.
And because if it’s not ADHD, at least you’ve taken something off your plate.
If it is, then you finally get the validation and clarity you’ve probably needed for years.
Further Reading
ADHD UK Screener
https://adhduk.co.uk/adult-adhd-screening-survey/
ADDitude — ADHD & Suicide Risk
https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-suicide-prevention-risk/
Young et al. — ADHD & Prison Populations
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26156906/
Wilens — ADHD & Addiction
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21961768/
Dalsgaard — ADHD & Accidents
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25934889/
Right to Choose Overview
https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/
James Davies on the DSM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj2ENhs9i1o
Katherine Mengardon 
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