How I Got My ADHD Diagnosis in 12 Weeks Using Right to Choose
I spent 35 years thinking I was just rubbish at life. Then I discovered Right to Choose, and everything changed.
The Lightbulb Moment
It was 2 AM, and I was doom-scrolling through Reddit again—something I did most nights when I couldn't sleep. A post on r/ADHD stopped me cold: "Anyone else get diagnosed as an adult?" The comments were like reading my diary. People describing exactly how I felt: the chronic procrastination, the forgotten appointments, the shame of being "intelligent but lazy."
I'd heard of ADHD before, obviously. But like most people, I thought it was just hyperactive kids who couldn't sit still in class. I wasn't hyperactive—I was just a bit disorganised. Okay, very disorganised. And yes, I'd lost three jobs due to "performance issues" (missing deadlines, forgetting meetings, arriving late). And fine, my partner had threatened to leave because I never remembered our anniversary and interrupted her constantly. But that was just me being... me. Right?
By 4 AM, I'd completed every online ADHD screening questionnaire I could find. Every single one came back: "High likelihood of ADHD. Seek professional assessment." My hands were shaking. At 35, I'd finally found a possible explanation for why everything was so bloody hard.
The Brick Wall Called "NHS Waiting Times"
Monday morning, I booked an appointment with my GP. I was nervous but hopeful. Surely this was the start of getting help, right?
Wrong.
"Yes, the symptoms do sound like ADHD," my GP admitted, looking at my completed screening forms and old school reports (which helpfully noted "bright but easily distracted" and "needs to apply himself more"). "I can refer you to our local ADHD service."
"Great! When will I be seen?"
"The waiting list is currently..." she checked her screen, "...about two and a half years."
Two and a half years. I'd already waited 35 years to understand why I was like this. The thought of waiting another 30 months felt impossible. I was struggling at work right now. My relationship was hanging by a thread. I couldn't function properly, and I needed help yesterday, not in 2027.
That's when I discovered Right to Choose for ADHD assessment in the UK.
What Nobody Tells You About Right to Choose
I'd never heard of Right to Choose before stumbling across it on ADHD UK's website. Apparently, if you live in England (sorry, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland—this doesn't apply to you), you have a legal right to choose which NHS provider assesses you for ADHD.
This isn't some secret loophole. It's literally your legal entitlement under the NHS Constitution. Yet most GPs either don't know about it or conveniently forget to mention it. The providers who accept Right to Choose referrals typically have waiting times of 12-20 weeks instead of years.
Let me repeat that: 12 weeks instead of 2.5 years.
The catch? You have to specifically request it. And you need to know which providers accept Right to Choose referrals. And you need to convince your GP to refer you to a different provider than their "usual" pathway.
Sounds simple, right? It absolutely wasn't.
The Battle with My GP
I returned to my GP surgery two weeks later, armed with information. I'd downloaded referral forms from Psychiatry UK (one of the main Right to Choose providers), printed NHS guidance about Right to Choose, and practiced my speech.
"I'd like to be referred to Psychiatry UK under Right to Choose," I said confidently.
My GP looked confused. "I don't think we can do that. I need approval from the ICB first."
"Actually," I said, pulling out my printouts, "Right to Choose doesn't require commissioner approval. You can refer me directly to any provider with an NHS contract."
She frowned. "Let me speak to our practice manager."
I waited. And waited. Finally, she returned: "We only refer to our local service. I can't refer you elsewhere."
This is where I nearly gave up. But I'd read about this exact scenario on ADHD forums. GPs refusing because they're unfamiliar with the process, concerned about funding, or simply resistant to deviating from their usual procedures.
I took a breath. "This is my legal right under the NHS Constitution. If you refuse, I need that refusal in writing please, because I'll be filing a complaint."
The atmosphere turned icy. But it worked. Twenty minutes later, she agreed to make the referral "as a one-off exception." I left with written confirmation that she'd send the referral to Psychiatry UK that afternoon.
The Waiting Game
Two weeks passed. Nothing. I called my GP surgery.
"Oh yes, the referral was sent," the receptionist confirmed.
Another three weeks. Still nothing. I emailed Psychiatry UK directly. They had no record of my referral.
Back to the GP surgery. "Are you absolutely certain it was sent?"
Turns out, it hadn't been. My GP had "forgotten" to actually submit it. I requested she send it immediately while I waited in the surgery. This time, I watched her click "Submit" on the computer screen.
One week later, I finally received a welcome email from Psychiatry UK. My referral had been received and I'd been added to their waiting list. Current wait time: approximately 18 weeks from referral date.
It wasn't perfect, but it was infinitely better than 2.5 years.
The Assessment That Changed Everything
Sixteen weeks later (slightly faster than quoted), I joined a video call with Dr. Sarah, a consultant psychiatrist who specialised in adult ADHD diagnosis.
The assessment lasted 90 minutes. She asked about my childhood (I'd struggled academically despite being "clever," constantly lost things, and drove my teachers mad with daydreaming). She asked about my current life (the job losses, the relationship struggles, the crushing overwhelm of basic admin tasks).
She asked about my school reports. About how I'd managed to get through university (barely, with all-nighters and extensions). About whether anyone else in my family struggled similarly (my dad, I realised, probably had undiagnosed ADHD).
At the end, she didn't keep me in suspense.
"You meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, Combined Type, with moderate to severe functional impairment. I'm formally diagnosing you with ADHD today."
I cried. Properly sobbed on camera. Not because I was sad—because I was relieved. For the first time in my entire life, someone was telling me that my struggles were real, that I wasn't just lazy or stupid, and that there was actually help available.
Life After Diagnosis
That was eight months ago. I'm now on medication (Elvanse, after trying Concerta first), and honestly? It's like putting on glasses for the first time.
I don't lose my keys anymore (well, rarely). I remember appointments. I can start tasks without spiralling into paralysis. I'm still figuring things out, and medication isn't a magic cure-all, but the difference is night and day.
My relationship survived. My job performance improved dramatically. I finally understand my brain instead of constantly fighting against it.
And it all happened because I learned about Right to Choose and refused to accept a 2.5-year wait.
Key Takeaways
- Right to Choose is your legal entitlement in England for ADHD assessment—no ICB approval needed
- Waiting times through Right to Choose are typically 12-20 weeks instead of years via standard NHS pathways
- Your GP cannot refuse a Right to Choose referral without valid clinical reasons—it's your legal right
- Be prepared for GP resistance and bring NHS guidance documentation to support your request
- Check your referral was actually sent by following up with both GP and chosen provider
- Main Right to Choose providers include Psychiatry UK, ADHD360, CARE ADHD, and Clinical Partners
- The entire process from GP to diagnosis took me about 5 months total, including GP delays
Final Thoughts
If you're in England and suspect you have ADHD, please don't wait years for an assessment. You deserve to understand your brain. You deserve support. And Right to Choose makes faster access possible.
Is the process perfect? No. You'll likely face GP resistance, administrative delays, and frustration. But compared to waiting until 2027 for help I needed in 2024? Absolutely worth every difficult conversation.
The hardest part was advocating for myself. But that's a skill worth developing anyway—especially when you have ADHD and the world isn't designed for how your brain works.
If you're starting this journey, I'm rooting for you. You've got this. And if you hit obstacles, remember: thousands of us have successfully navigated this pathway. The ADHD community has your back.
For more information about understanding and managing ADHD, we're here to help.