Diagnoses

What I have to deal with, work through, etc. is not who I am. But it is very useful to be diagnosed with illnesses and differences. It creates a shorthand of sorts (instead of listing all the symptoms I have of ADHD, I just name it and there is mutual basic understanding) between medical professionals and patients. It provides basic guidance for treatment, modifications, and strategies. And, most importantly for me, it takes away the blame and shame of not being able to do something that most or all of my peers can do.

Here is what I have been diagnosed with as of today:

ADHD

Clinical Depression 

Generalized Anxiety Disorder 

Potential diagnoses that are being explored are:

Caregiver PTSD

Caregiver Stress Syndrome (and other offshoots of this syndrome)

Borderline Personality Disorder/Personality Disorders in general

Issues with Word Binding

Autism Spectrum 

These are only the mental diagnoses I have. There are physical ones which do affect and are affected by the mental. 

Things that bother me but might not be a specific diagnosis:

Short term memory issues

Potentially having conversations with someone while awake and having absolutely no memory of it happening. 

Unable to read body language

Extremely difficult to think without speaking

27 hour internal clock (vs the 24 hour one most people experience)

I remember when I asked my psychiatrist about ADHD because my therapist thought I might have it. He was surprised I asked because he knew I graduated college with honors. I explained that it took me 6 years and 4 different schools to make it to graduation. The doctor nodded and then began asking me questions to determine if a diagnosis was appropriate. 

Ever since then I do everything in my power to make sure that the medical professionals I see are aware of everything that I see as being abnormal compared with an average adult. All people have biases, and they're not necessarily bad. All people hide things from the outside world. But when you do your best to put aside the biases and/or be as open as possible, progress can be made.