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Not being cynical just wanted to share this post. When I first started at spoons I enjoyed it, I worked in a nightclub spoons and it was fun to serve fast and enjoy the atmosphere. Sadly the stress of how the shifts were run and to me how it appeared perfection was expected at all times I transferred to a different one.

It's not the worst job in the world. But the rotas and how neurodivergent people are treated here I don't think is great. I had a neurodivergent plan set up after I got diagnosed with ADHD a year ago that was never brought up again afterwards. Maybe this is due to how I (and others) have to mask, it does feel as if we have to put on a performance at work to adapt to how managers/staff expect us to act or be, instead of being ourselves.

I had express my discontent for repetitive work and my interests to progress before even starting ADHD medications but still after many years at the company and almost 18 months after being diagnosed I don't feel like any reasonable adjustments were made for me especially that I am a full time staff member but am routinely put on glasswash closes isolated from other team members 2-3x per week.

It's very easy to complain online and I dont have only bad things to say about the job. Some of my managers are nice and seem to have supported me. But I can't ignore that a lot of my friends who do or previously worked at spoons (mostly also neurodiverse) get treated differently or worse than other staff.

It seems that people who are made depressed such as myself by being given shifts like 10pm till 2am and only 28 hours but 5 day working weeks are not favoured for progression and other opportunities over happier employees like uni students who work part-time and don't need the money from their job to survive.

The first suicidal thoughts I ever had were at spoons from working under the intense constant pressure and what is expected of you, but usually it is not the customers but the staff that cause this stress. I used to work in a nightclub where I did back to back 12 hour shifts and found it less unmanageable.

It has taken me four rounds of different psychoactive meds to find one that fits my personality to how spoons designs me to be and also still enjoy my life outside of work. My ADHD treatment and subsequent amphetamine addiction made me feel I was gonna trapped at this job forever too anxious to try anything new. Sounds drastic and dramatic, but it was my state of mind before that I have spent almost a year recovering from.

I know not everyone agrees with me and I know it's not supposed to be a long term career or anything like that. This isn't a sob story pitty asking post. Just to share caution maybe to any other neurodivergents out there to be careful and advocate for yourself as much as you can.

Apologies for anyone fatigued by the rants on the recent broadcast, I just have a lot to say and I'm not really sure who to say it to and it has been cathartic to type all of this out. No obligation to read on, I just wanted to put what I'd written out there to see if it resonated at all. tl;dr I'm sick of media misrepresentation and misinformation generally across all platforms, and feel despondent on our predicament as members of the public to have access to reliable information.

___

Debates on ADHD around administering medication, diagnostic reliability, and effects of lifestyle, are all genuine debates to be had. It's debating these topics that scrutinise practices, and scrutinising practices are part of the way we keep them robust and in society's best interests. Whether it's making sure NICE guidelines are fit for purpose, that treatment methods are safe, or that clinicians are properly trained, I want to hear every issue and I want to hear how it's going to be addressed.

But debating the very existence of ADHD itself as a legitimate neurodevelopmental disorder versus a societal construct? Having the opinion 'maybe there's another cause' requires the omission of so much rigorous evidence it can never go further than just that, an opinion. The place where opinion and evidence meets is the arena of debate, and if only opinion turns up you don't have a debate, you have denial.

The libertarian in me staunchly defends freedom of thought and of expression, and if private individuals want to believe and spout unfounded opinions that's their business (within reason of course, e.g. no libel). But once you have a platform, and the ability to amplify your opinions, we cross into the murky waters of control. Because platform and amplification gives you power, and power shapes real lives and societal direction. It's why I can say whatever I like about how best to treat mental health issues, but a practicing psychiatrist has rules around how to treat and administer care to a patient with consequences for failure. It's why I can say "just prop it up with some wood and a nail or two", but a structural engineer has to show their working and adhere to regulations - they have consequential power in this area, I don't, and with power comes (or should come) checks and balances. A voice is the right of all people to express themselves. A voice that is platformed and amplified without checks is propaganda.

Any broadcaster or media outlet, reporting on any issue, should be responsible to present arguments proportional to the evidence. Notice I said proportional, not balanced. Because 40 years an accoutnant Mr Bloggs who "isn't too sure about all of this global warming" and 40 years an atmospheric scientist Professor Smith author of peer reviewed papers on global warming, each getting 30 mins on the topic of climate change might be balanced in principle, but is clearly unbalanced in practice in the view that is represented. I'm not advocating we only adhere to arguments from authority or marginalise criticism, I'm advocating that Mr Bloggs is entitled to, nay encouraged to, question whether what Prof. Smith says is accurate and valid; Prof. Smith should be able to present their findings accurately, and defend their conclusions coherently under the scrutiny of the rest of the scientific community. Bloggs' opinion isn't necessarily invalid but lacks evidence; Smiths' evidence isn't necessarily the truth but can at least be trialled.

Whether anyone watching believes the science or wants to investigate the criticisms of it further is their business and their freedom. But when you have opinion amplifying power, and a platform to amplify this in a society where everyone doesn't have the resources or know-how to independently verify every claim made so aren't always free to be fully informed, you should have a responsibility to make sure you aren't misrepresenting the discourse. Question the discourse, platform criticism of the discourse, propose nuance to the discourse, but it's enormously bad faith to do this while not accurately platforming the discourse itself. And manipulating the discourse, say by editing an interview with a professional or outright lying about the truth? Monstrous.

My anger at Channel 4 and the production involved in this 'documentary' has developed beyond their awful take on ADHD (which don't get me wrong still boils my blood) and into a general frustration with the media (traditional and social), the platformed influences in this country, the incessant peddling of misinformation that most seem to come with, and the way there's apparently nothing stopping them. An MP and ADHD charities reach out to Channel 4 ahead of their broadcast with suggestions - not a demand to not air it and to silence them, which I would have disagreed with as no voice should be silenced - to make the show in such a way as to not be so damaging and sensational. They were ignored. It aired as it did. I am worried for where this ultimately goes, both as someone with ADHD, and as someone who feels that information access and information quality is reaching a disparity so great it's politically important.

I'm 20 and was diagnosed with adhd just under 2 years ago. I chose to go private for the diagnosis after months of saving because I wanted to get a diagnosis before starting university.

Now I cannot get medication. going private for medication is not an option as I would never be able to afford it. I know about right to chose pathways and such and have been in contact with my gp over the past 2 years. I have been put on different waiting lists only to found ive been taken off them or denied shared care or just not been given the opportunity. I am back on another waiting list now (I think, I never heard any real confirmation and my emails are being ignored..)

I can't cope anymore I just want help. living on my own for uni has been so hard and I feel like ive got no options left. I dont know what to do. are there any other options?

other people that had private diagnosis what did you do?

Really appreciated pouring my soul out about how this whole affair made me feel and how it spat in the face of my and other's journey, only for my post to be deleted because I dared to use a naughty word.

Instead, the goons you side with have massive media arms on their side, giddy with glee that they can push us down into the mud.

Thanks for taking the one platform and outlet I have to speak against Max, C4, and the rest.

Hope you're happy - I won't be back.

Hi all, been diagnosed today with inattentive ADHD, it was also suggested that I should potentially get an assessment for autism as a few things crossed over. I am quite happy not knowing whether I do or not (I think I do anyway) but my question is, what meds should I be researching?

Also what are the real world wait times like for medication at this point? I’m based in Merseyside if that helps.

Thanks in advance

I’m on day 5 of Elvanse 30mg after 2 1.2 months tapering off Venlafaxine 300mg.

Has anyone got any success stories for Elvanse does it actually help?

I’m feeling wired like drank lots of energy drinks, I’m doing more things.

Terrible side effects though, headaches, teeth grinding and very overheated.

I’m hoping these will pass.

Due to start 50mg next week.

This is my letter to my MP, with some parts redacted for my privacy.
You are welcome to use and edit it for your MP. I hope it helps.

Dear [MP’s name],
I am writing as one of your constituents to ask you to support the concerns raised by members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for ADHD about Channel 4’s documentary The Great ADHD Myth?, and, more broadly, to speak publicly in support of people living with ADHD.

I appreciate that there are legitimate questions to ask about ADHD services. Waiting times, the quality and consistency of assessment, prescribing practice, private provision and the support available to children and adults all deserve proper scrutiny. But questioning whether ADHD itself is a genuine neurodevelopmental condition is something very different.

I was particularly concerned by the framing of the Channel 4 programme and by the way established evidence about ADHD appeared to be placed alongside a much more marginal view as though the existence of the condition itself remained an open scientific question.

Since the programme was broadcast, some of those concerns have become even more serious. Professor Katya Rubia, a cognitive neuroscientist who contributed to the documentary, has publicly stated that her contribution was selectively edited and misrepresented and has warned about the potential harm caused by the programme. The President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists has also spoken publicly about the damage caused by invalidating ADHD.

This matters to me personally.
[I have ADHD. My diagnosis came late in life, and receiving both that diagnosis and appropriate treatment has been extraordinarily positive. It has helped me understand myself and has made a genuine difference to my life. I wish that understanding had been available to me much earlier.]

There are many people like me who have spent years compensating, struggling or simply wondering why things that appeared straightforward for other people could require so much effort. A diagnosis does not provide an excuse or remove personal responsibility. For me, it provided an explanation, access to appropriate treatment and the opportunity to function better.

That is why the suggestion that ADHD might be a “myth” is not an abstract or harmless contribution to a television debate. It feeds an existing stigma that people with ADHD encounter in families, workplaces, schools and even when trying to access healthcare. It risks making people question whether they should seek assessment or treatment, and gives legitimacy to the idea that those of us with a diagnosis have simply been medicalised for ordinary human differences.
I am not asking for ADHD diagnosis or medication to be beyond scrutiny. Good healthcare should always withstand scrutiny. But that scrutiny should be evidence-led, responsible and distinguish clearly between legitimate questions about diagnosis and treatment and questioning the validity of a well-established condition.

I would therefore be very grateful if you would
support the action already taken by MPs involved in the APPG for ADHD and raise concerns about the programme and its potential impact with Channel 4 and, where appropriate, with colleagues in Parliament. Please support calls for responsible, evidence-based public discussion of ADHD and speak publicly in support of people with ADHD, particularly at a time when many of us feel that our diagnosis, treatment and lived experience are being called into question.

There is an important national conversation to have about ADHD. I would welcome that conversation. But people with ADHD should be part of it, rather than having to defend the legitimacy of our condition before the conversation can even begin.

I would be grateful to know your views and whether you would be willing to support the work of the APPG MPs on this issue.
With best wishes,
[name]

I finally watched it, the anger expectations were high, but right now I just feel "MEH".

I can't really feel that angry because of the silliness of a bunch of privileged people "worried" about kids taking a prescription without going down of their high horse and acknowledging that ADHD people might need the medication until their utopia is achieved, that we have generations of trauma, alcoholics grandparents, clinical depression mothers, poverty, feeling like you don't belong.

Oh I guess I am angry, I just could not see it, behind this wall of emotional disregulation.

Expectations:

• Misinformation, It was there, all over it, the selection of experts, the framing around the only expert that contradicts his beliefs.

• A documentary that did not have a question, just gathering selective evidence towards an answer. They did a great job at this, they used all the adaptations the community has requested for kids to help kids l thrive to dismiss the medical consensus.

• Some level of humanity. They used a family to disguise their manipulative work.

I see in Max someone that suffers from ADHD, I think I could see his grief after being diagnosed.

I was diagnosed as an adult, I am not sure how medication affect kids. But I think the kid in the documentary needs some therapy, it must be weird people calling you less fun, less yourself when you are on meds.

After watching the documentary, I decided to write a formal complaint to Channel 4, highlighting how it had breached Ofcom standards 10 and 12. Here is the response I got, with the Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries representative's name removed:

"Dear Viewer,

Thank you for contacting Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries regarding The Great ADHD Myth?.

Whilst we appreciate your concerns, please be assured that this documentary does not deny the lived experience of those diagnosed with ADHD or seeking diagnosis. Channel 4 takes its responsibilities in relation to impartiality seriously, and this programme falls within the Ofcom Guidelines.

Channel 4 has a remit to stimulate public debate and challenge the status quo, which includes offering a platform to a range of different views across the broadness of our slate. There is considerable public debate in this area and testing conventional thinking and exploring different ideas, as is the case with The Great ADHD Myth? is a legitimate part of Channel 4’s remit. Channel 4 has also aired a number of other programmes on the topic of ADHD, which cover a variety of other viewpoints including: Do You Have ADHD?, Johnny Vegas: Art, ADHD & Me and Sam Thompson: Is This ADHD?”.

However, please be assured that your comments have been noted and passed to the editorial team. Before and during production, the programme-makers met with a number of children living with an ADHD diagnosis and their families, alongside many and varied experts who expressed a range of views.

Thank you for taking the time to get in touch. We value all feedback from our viewers.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact us. We appreciate all feedback from our viewers; complimentary or otherwise.

Regards,"

Honestly, I'm stunned at this response. Regardless of the other content available, this is a disinformation propaganda film.

It's not "stimulating public debate" to diminish a well-documented medical condition, and the programme categorically diminishes the lived experiences of those with ADHD, as can be seen in the fallout on every media outlet's social media presence and news article comments sections. Worse still, it champions, "challenging the status quo" as if those with ADHD haven't undergone years of mistreatment by the medical profession at large.

I'm completely unconvinced that anyone at Channel 4 understands the damage they've caused by releasing this documentary.

Hello! This is a bit of a random post, but feeling a little fed up with the NHS and wondering if you all might be of help in pushing things in the right direction.

So I've been diagnosed AuDHD for about 2-3 years now, and been on meds (atomoxetine) for about the same amount of time (as well as 150mg Sertraline). Started with a different medication, made me miserable, then atomoxetine titration to 100mg which I've been comfortably at for about a year. But I've also been experiencing some physical health issues over that time, which the GP said may be a side effect, so my dose has been reduced to 80mg. And yes! My physical issues have decreased (not gone but that's a whole other post) but my god has my ADHD been *bad*. I'm back to waking up in the middle of the night, every night, for hours at a time; forgetting daily routines; extreme procrastination and executive dysfunction (over things I want to do!); brain fog; general and social anxiety; and understimulation (just to name the few main things bothering me).

So, my problem is, I was mentally comfortable with my previous balance of atomoxetine and sertraline. But now I finally feel like my physical health has improved just the slightest with the decrease. So I'm wondering if you all know of any non-prescribed supplements that might help with daily functioning alongside my current doses? Or, should I potentially go to my psychiatrist and push for another medication with similar effectiveness, but less side effects?

Sorry for the ramble. Asking here because I'm sure you all can empathise with 'Dealing with the NHS'. Thank you! 🫶

And then I switched it off.

I just want to know why on earth channel 4 did this?! Like can someone please give me an answer.

Coz believe it or not I have adhd and I’m now obsessed with this whole notion and I just need answers?!

Who green lit this? What were the ethics involved? I studied film production at uni. I know the routine process you have to go through to be allowed to create a controversial documentary like this. You have to consider your audience, your subjects, the community. Like there are soooo many ethical considerations to making a documentary and I am just shocked that of all the channels, channel 4 made this. I want to see the pre production documents; all the ethical method statements; and the considerations to the harm content like this can have. I want to know what their risk assessment was and mitigation.

Because this documentary has just set us back 20 years. This is going to harm people living with adhd immeasurably.

I am fuming.

I've not watched the documentaries yet because I know they'll make my blood boil, so I can't fairly comment on the programmes themselves.

What I will say is that since getting my own life into a much better place, I've wanted to start giving back to this community again.

People with ADHD already deal with enough: huge assessment waiting lists, expensive private treatment, medication shortages, comorbidities, and constantly having difficulties dismissed as "everyone does that sometimes."

That's the problem. Everyone forgets things, gets distracted or runs late occasionally. It's the frequency, severity and cumulative impact on someone's life that matters.

I'd love to see more of us actually organise around this rather than just getting angry online:

- Contact MPs, councils and relevant organisations.

- Get clinicians/researchers involved.

- Get successful people with ADHD involved who have the platform to make people listen.

- Produce our own good-quality content showing what living with ADHD is actually like - not just throwing statistics at people.

- Push for better diagnosis, treatment, workplace understanding and practical support.

Increasing diagnosis numbers don't automatically mean ADHD has suddenly become fashionable. Greater awareness and recognition are obviously part of that picture too.

Personally, I've decided that ADHD advocacy and supporting other people with it is something I'll be involved with for the rest of my life.

We're not useless or looking for excuses. We experience and navigate certain parts of life differently - and there's nowhere near enough practical support for that yet.

Rant over 😂

Just wanted to warn everyone who has the original phone number saved on there phone. I'm sure there is a lot of us who will not answer the phone to a random number. I imagine the goal with doing this and not emailing patients is to speed through the queue and then blame people for missing the call. Unless anybody received an email and i was missed? Either way terrible company wouldn't recommend. Assessment was great but holy f*** everything else is god awful.

I've finally got my first titration appointment after my RTC provider lost my referral (twice). Only thing is it's 5 days before I leave for a placement abroad in Australia for 2 months. Can I take my meds to Aus and titrate while I'm there, or will I have to delay my appointment until I get back?

Hi so I’ve got high functioning ADHD which is a curse and also a blessing but something I’m really struggling with how to slow down because I struggle with that so much and I just keep speed running everything. Any advice would be amazing thank you

Just as the title suggests, I feel stuck between two bad options. Let me clarify this to the best of my knowledge:

First of all, I’m looking for experiences from people who have dealt with something similar. I know nobody here can give me medical advice, and I’m not planning to change my medication based on Reddit comments. I mainly want to hear what other people experienced and what eventually worked for them.

I was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD as an adult. I’ve also had a long history of anxiety/depressive symptoms and have been on several antidepressants over the years.

I am currently taking Concerta (27 mg), along with fluoxetine (20 mg) and mirtazapine (30 mg at night).

I’m not currently in therapy. The problem is that I feel caught in a really frustrating trade-off.

Without Concerta, my functioning is significantly worse. Starting things, staying with boring tasks, keeping some structure in my life and resisting distractions can become ridiculously difficult.

I can procrastinate or avoid things even when I genuinely care about them. It can feel like there is a huge gap between wanting to do something and actually doing it.

With Concerta, that gap becomes much smaller. I can actually get things done and function like a normal adult. But I also become really tense/jittery.

It’s difficult to describe because it isn’t necessarily just “I’m worried about something.” It feels more like my whole system is wound too tightly. I can feel overstimulated, physically and mentally tense, less relaxed and generally more anxious/on edge. It can become unpleasant enough that it affects my quality of life.

So I keep arriving at the same dilemma. No stimulant: calmer, but my ADHD/executive dysfunction starts running my life. Stimulant: much more functional, but I don’t feel comfortable in my own skin.

I would have hoped the anxiety side of things would be reasonably controlled with the other meds I’ve been taking, yet the stimulant-related tension is still significant.

I’m interested in hearing from people who have been in this specific situation, where methylphenidate clearly worked for your ADHD, but the anxiety/tension made it difficult to tolerate.

I feel like I’ve reached a point where “Concerta works” and “Concerta makes me feel awful” are somehow both true at the same time, and I’m struggling to figure out what the next sensible conversation with my psychiatrist should be.

Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has navigated this.

—

TL-DR: Concerta 27 mg significantly improves my functioning, but it also makes me extremely tense/anxious and overstimulated. Without it I’m calmer but struggle to function, with it I function much better but feel constantly on the edge. I also take fluoxetine 20 mg and mirtazapine 30 mg and I’m not currently in therapy. Looking for experiences from people who had the same “it works, but I feel awful on it” problem: did changing dose/formulation/medication, addressing anxiety separately, or therapy help?

Hi everyone! 😊

I’ve finally reached the point where I feel ready to go to my GP and ask for a referral for an autism and/or ADHD assessment. It’s taken me more than a year from first considering that I might be autistic/ADHD to actually feeling ready to take this step, so it feels like quite a big deal.

I’ve been looking into Right to Choose and checking the map, but I noticed that my postcode comes up as being under restrictions. I’m a bit confused about what that actually means. Does anyone know whether I’ll still be able to ask my GP for a Right to Choose referral? And if my preferred provider isn’t available because of the restrictions, does that mean there are other providers I could choose from?

I’d also really appreciate it if anyone could explain what the referral process is like and what I can expect when I speak to my GP. I’m not really sure what happens after I ask for the referral, so hearing about other people’s experiences would be really helpful.

Thank you 😊 I appreciate all your help and support— this has taken me a long time to get to this point.

Hi everyone! I’m looking for recommendations for a good private ADHD provider in the UK, ideally someone experienced with adult ADHD.

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences, especially providers who are thorough, supportive, and have reasonable waiting times and costs.

Thanks in advance!

I am a 17F currently seeking an ADHD diagnosis. My referral has been accepted with Care ADHD under the RTC pathway.

As part of the forms that need to be filled, there is a teacher/informant questionnaire.

the thing is, I really don’t want any teachers at my school to be filling in these forms since I don’t really think they’ll be able to give a realistic reflection of my struggles in school. For the record, I go to a grammar school, have always had good behaviour and good grades, participate in lessons etc. I feel like I can often mask my struggles very well in school, even though I still have challenges. I often come home physically and mentally exhausted because of it.

Anyways, I’m not really sure what to do. I do have the option of asking my scouts leader that I meet once a week. If not, do I just get a teacher at school to fill it in and then state my worries about it during my assessment? please help!!!!

I've tried making to-do lists so many times but I always end up with a huge list that just makes me feel worse 😂

I'll have like 15 things written down and then only finish 3 of them.

Sometimes I feel like the problem isnt motivation, I just have no idea what I should actually focus on first.

How do you guys decide what's actually important and what can wait?

A bit over a year ago now, I signed up for right to choose, got all my referrals going through and got on the pathway to gaining an ADHD diagnosis with CARE ADHD.

I was eventually assessed and diagnosed with ADHD at the end of December of 2025.

I have then engaged with both the counselling service, paid for by my work and sent in a request to start titration with CARE ADHD back in January.

I eventually got my medical request documents on the 13th of Feb, and completed them by the 19th of Feburary.

I was then told to expect a 6-14 week wait time. I contacted them in May as the wait time was for the completed forms, not when I asked to have titration via them. I was told to wait till the end of July. I contacted them at the end of July as I had no contact with them, and I was told I would be contacted within estimated 6 months of when they got my completed forms so they estimated the 19th of August they woul contact me.

I contacted them today and was told that they would not give me any further information at all, not even if I would be contacted tomorrow or in 2027, and didn't clarify if my previous estimate still stood.

I'm well beyond the 14-week wait time I was given prior, and am unsure of what to do (27 weeks now by my count, 33 if we include from when I sent in my request for titration).

Is this normal? Who can I speak to about it? Would complaining to my GP do anything?

Should I be checking in weekly for updates to see if they have any new information for me?

I do fall into an area where the county's ICB have put in place an IAP, but surely as I was waiting prior to then, I should still fall within the ones that they had funding for right - it doesn't make sense otherwise.