Could it be ADHD?
Executive functioning challenges affecting things like attention, memory and motivation are indicators that you might have ADHD, but they can also present with other conditions like trauma, substance use, menopause and more (which are just as deserving of identification and support). Speaking to a trained professional will help you sort through your experience, but these links might help you on your way...
Shared here by The ADHD Association, The Adult Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Screener can help you recognise the signs and symptoms of adult ADHD, and a version of it is often used by doctors as the first step in identifying ADHD. It can be taken online or on paper.
The NHS pages give an interesting overview of the symptoms, causes and comorbidities that doctors observe in patients with ADHD, based on the latest research available.
Diagnosis of ADHD follows the criteria listed in the DSM-5, a guidebook that practitioners use to define mental health disorders. It is diagnosed as one of three subtypes: predominantly inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, or combined. This overview is from Canadian ADHD support group, Frida.
How do I pursue a diagnosis?
In the UK, the first step towards a non-private diagnosis is to speak to your doctor. Their referral will allow you to access NHS or Right To Choose services, both of which currently involve waiting on a list for a psychiatric appointment. The NHS waiting lists tend to be anything from 2 years to 7 years depending on where in the country you live, with Right to Choose currently more like 4 months to 2 years.
Right to Choose is a legal right of patients to choose the provider of their free mental health support. It can be transferred to any ADHD service with an NHS Standard Contract, who often have shorter waiting lists than their NHS counterparts. Many of the services provide forms and template letters on their websites to give to your doctor for referral.
Private clinics also offer diagnoses within a much shorter waiting time. They can incur fees of over £1,000.
This page from ADHD UK provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date list of Right To Choose providers operating in the UK. It is regularly updated to include current waiting times and links to websites so that you can contact the providers independently to choose who is best for you.