Goodness no, you do not! Seeing as adult ADHD is a thing, you can absolutely keep taking your meds as long as they are working for you. The only exception I can think of is if you had any kind of other health problem where you couldn't take a stimulant. But other than that, you can keep taking ADHD meds for as long as you want--ADHD generally doesn't improve with development (and even in cases where it appears to, it's often because of symptoms being manifested in different ways). They are no more a "crutch" or "training wheels" than insulin is to a diabetic person.

I'd recommend finding a new therapist. It's always hard to accept, but there are bad and even harmful therapists out there. A good therapist would have asked you to explain more about your symptoms instead of brushing you off (especially in such an accusing way). I do want to clarify though, that a therapist cannot diagnose you with anything. Only a psychiatrist is licensed to do that. I promise there are better therapists out there! I've had to go through a couple duds myself, but I've had some great therapist experiences too. It's a relationship about trust, and if at any point you feel like your therapist is being hurtful, dismissive, or manipulative, get out of dodge.

First off, you are valid.A point I like to make when it comes to ADHD is that even with the reputation of "Doctors are throwing around the diagnosis to push pills", ADHD is a very common disorder. It's not rare or unlikely for any person to have ADHD of various severity, though women and POC are massively underdiagnosed. As far as disabilities go, it's at about the same level as needing glasses or having asthma--extremely common, very treatable. I know that parental support means a lot, especially when it comes to your health. Possibly bringing it up in that context will be easier for them to get on board with. When it comes to worrying about if you're wrong about it, remember that if you feel like something is wrong or off, that's your brain/body telling you that something is off. We also tend to blame ourselves due to the anxiety that goes with ADHD.You're doing good by looking out for yourself and learning. And you're always welcome to message again with any updates!

Hello, I have ADHD and OCD! From what I've noticed in myself, there is overlap in the inattentive department--my intrusive thoughts are always massively distracting and often keep me from focusing. I also feel like some of the impulse control with compulsions kind of feeds into my adhd as well.Any followers have info or stories?

Hello there! There's absolutely benefits to getting a paper diagnosis, especially when it comes to school and accommodations. And it's good to know that a doctor cannot require you to take medications! They can recommend medication and get you a legal prescription, but it's also understood that not every can take medication, for a variety of reasons. And if you start off without meds and then decide you want to try them out, just notify your doctor and talk about different types you can use, it's totally normal to take a bit of experimentation to find out what works for you!