Hi all! So I am diagnosed with bipolar 1 and have been since I was 19. 

Due to some complications, I don’t currently see a psychiatrist but whenever I do go again I want to bring up the topic of getting services to diagnose or rule out ADHD. 

My reasoning behind it is because my mom (in her late 40s) has very recently been diagnosed with ADHD. I feel like the risk factor is strong enough, especially since the bipolar disorder is inherited directly from my father. 

Since then I’ve been looking up some signs and symptoms and I have to say that they are prevalent. I’ve also been on treatment regimens pretty strictly for the past 3 years (minus the recent time I’ve spent without a psychiatrist due to insurance changes) and have never felt truly normal or truly good, even when I felt like I was on my best treatment regimen for bipolar disorder. 

Any advice on bringing this up? Is it best to have rapport with my new psychiatrist first or just go into the first appointment raising concerns for my suspicion? Is this enough basis to want diagnostic services, or would they just write it off based on Dr. Google? 

If you are dually diagnosed, what led you to ask a provider about the other illness?

Thank you for any advice!