I have a very difficult situation. I'm fairly certain that I have the innattentive form of ADHD based on everything I've heard, seen, or read. The trouble is, my mom will not take me seriously and take me to get an evaluation- she doesn't understand and calls me "lazy" all the time. The symptoms are having a HUGE impact on my life and some days I want to die because of this. What do I do???

I would wait until a good time and tell her you need to revisit this subject again. I would tell her about the seriousness that you feel about the subject and ask her what she thinks about you talking to a school counselor about it. Then I'd stop off at my school counselor and see what could be done about getting tested.

Don't give up. You keep talking about it until someone can hear you. If she still is not responsive get your father, aunt, uncle, grandmother, grandfather, godparent, anyone who could help you get tested. Either your school has resources or your family doctor has resources to point you and your parents in the right direction.

I am a parent who has a daughter who was diagnosed later in life with ADHD. Because there is a disconnect from your brain and your mouth and your brain and your hand with ADHD/ADD, she could not verbalize or write about her suffering. Suffer she did. Through research after her diagnosis I became aware of just how difficult this disorder is and how it can affect those undiagnosed. Because of her, I answer these type of questions, because if I can help one person, it's worth it. I understand, I believe you, go and get help.

Your mom sounds like she is in some denial. I love Dragonfly's answer to you. Also I might suggest that you print up the stuff you are reading and show it to her so she can see that you are not just making it up or seeking attention.

Mental illness has gotten a "bad" rep through out the years but it needs to come into the light that MOST people suffer some sort of mental illness sometime in their life time. Mental illness needs a new face! If people saw mental illness with a new face maybe they would be not so afraid of it anymore.

There is another way, and it's probably not good for a first approach.

But if you run out of options, here's one more:

Try this:  "OK, mom, you think I'm just lazy.  So make an appointment with a doctor that is qualified to diagnose attention deficit disorder with or without the hyperactivity and if he says that it's just laziness, we'll discuss how I can do better."

And yes, I am ADHD, and it is difficult to function at 100% of ability without having some specific methods of adapting explained to you.

Also, I am 70 years old.  I was diagnosed at age 50.  That diagnosis changed my life.

If you're a minor, you have to rely on your parents to help you.  Is your Dad in the picture?  Can you go to the doctor and talk to him or her about this?  We really don't know the whole story or your Mom's side of this. 

So far, Yin and Yang and Dragonfly have provided with good answers! I'm only answering to share my personal experience and to support that you aren't alone.

I love my parents very much, I really do, but I totally understand that sometimes it's frustrating when they don't even try to understand what you're going through. My parents don't take mental illnesses of any kind very seriously. They think that it's just an excuse for people who are weak, who can't get their act together, who are lazy, or who want to do bad things. Growing up, I knew what they believed wasn't completely right but I thought that it would never affect me so I didn't bother with them about that.

It wasn't until I went to college where I was away from my parents that I was diagnosed with two mental illnesses. A lot of things started to make sense why I've always been dealing with all these issues that other people didn't seem to have. I was able to start taking medication and getting help (in college, it was relatively simple to get a prescription from the campus's psychiatrist, visit the campus pharmacy, and pay for it on my own or I could go drop by to see a campus psychologist for no cost) and it improved my condition a lot.

Sadly even after a formal diagnosis, my parents refuse to believe that I struggle with mental illness. They kept and still keep on insisting that it's because I am lazy, stupid, ungrateful, or whatever. Currently I'm visiting them for summer break and it's a lot harder to get help when you have a tight leash around your neck. I've been forced to get off of my meds and let me tell you, it hasn't been pretty. I understand that my parents do this because they are worried or because they are afraid, but it makes me sad that the stigma around mental health has blinded them so much.

My experience may not be super hopeful as it is still an ongoing event in my life, but I just wanted to let you know that you aren't by yourself. If your mother, like my parents, will continue to be in denial, you should still pursue help elsewhere. There are people out there who will believe you and can help you! For me, it was my school that started to help me and I am sure that there will be a way for you too. Don't give up!