Answering Your Concerns
Common Questions About ADHD
ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder service located in Doylestown and King Of Prussia, PA
The Right Medication Matters
Regain Control Over your Focus
When clients are diagnosed with ADHD, there is often a great relief. They understand their daily life patterns and how they experience things differently than those around them. Unfortunately, failed attempts in academics, careers, self-care, relationships, and hobbies can lead to lowered self-esteem. These things can be challenging without the proper medication that allows for some consistency in daily life. P.S. Psychiatry understands that your ADHD symptoms aren't you being “lazy” or “absent-minded,” and it's certainly not that you want to be scattered. With the right medication, you can take back your focus.
Focusing on How You Feel
Signs & Symptoms of ADHD
Everyone feels a little scattered sometimes, where it's hard to get things done. But sometimes, this can be more persistent than you'd like, causing difficulties at work or home. If you have difficulty staying focused on a single task at a time or like you need to constantly be doing multiple things, it might be time to talk to your P.S. Psychiatry professional.
Inattention: You might fail to give close attention to details, have difficulty sustaining attention or have difficulty organizing tasks.
Hyperactivity: You often find yourself fidgeting, leaving your seat (when you’re expected to stay seated), or often seen as being “on to go.”
Impulsivity: You tend to act without thinking. This can look like blurting things out in a conversation or buying something spontaneously.
Lacking Persistence: You find it hard to stay on task. Instead, you might jump from task to task before each is completed.
Early Onset: Symptoms of ADHD (even without a diagnosis) were present in childhood, specifically before 12 years old.
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Treatment Options
We understand that ADHD can feel very limiting and difficult to overcome. You’ve probably already tried things to help yourself too. Below are a few things that can help reduce or even eliminate some of your symptoms.
Medication: A prescription from your P.S. Psychiatry provider can help with your ADHD symptoms.
Evaluation: A formal Neuropsychological Evaluation (also called an assessment) is critical in obtaining a formal diagnosis and an appropriate treatment plan.
Therapy: Talking with a Therapist or an Executive Functioning Coach is a great place to learn different strategies to navigate your ADHD symptoms
Nutrition: The term 'we are what we eat' can make all the difference in terms of your adhd symptoms.
Q
Can your psychiatrists diagnose me with ADHD, or do I need a full evaluation and testing?
Our Psychiatrists and Nurse Practitioners are qualified to diagnose you with ADHD. It is important to be very clear about your symptoms so they can have all the information to make an accurate diagnosis. If you have addictive tendencies, disclosing those to your provider is essential. If the Psychiatrist or Psychiatric NP has questions or there are other mental health issues that make the decision more difficult, they may recommend you for a Psychological Evaluation from a Licensed Neuropsychologist.
Q
Do some people use substances like coffee, nicotine, or marijuana, to self-medicate for ADHD?
Research has shown that certain substances, such as caffeine and nicotine, can help patients with ADHD feel more focused. Others find that marijuana helps them as well. However, these substances can be abused and should not be used as ongoing treatment of ADHD without talking to your P.S. Psychiatry provider.
Q
Do ADHD meds make you feel like you are speeding? I have also heard they make some people feel like robots. Is this true?
Every patient responds differently to ADHD medication. Some clients report a “speeding” or robotic feeling with no emotion. Others experience no negative side effects.
Q
What is the difference between ADHD and ADD?
ADD is no longer in the DSM-5-TR, which is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. ADHD is the term used for this mental health issue.
Q
Is ADHD medication addictive or habit-forming?
Stimulant ADHD medications are considered controlled substances. They can be habit-forming and addictive. Your provider will take a thorough history when they meet with you, and if you have addictive behavior or tendencies, they may choose one of the non-stimulant medications for ADHD.
Q
I feel like I cannot keep a schedule or stick to any new things that I begin. Is this ADHD?
Individuals with ADHD often describe a history of not being able to follow through on a daily routine or with starting new activities. Many individuals feel a sense of relief when beginning an effective regimen of medication.
Q
My child/adolescent seems lazy and disorganized. How do I know if it's ADHD?
Parents often think their children are lazy or are just not motivated when in fact, they have ADHD. ADHD is a neurological issue due to not having enough of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. If your P.S. Psychiatry provider has concerns about ADHD, they may recommend a comprehensive Neuropsychological Evaluation. Your provider can also provide helpful tips for parents of children with ADHD to help your family understand and manage the condition.
Q
Is Dyslexia always a symptom ADHD?
ADHD and dyslexia are different brain disorders. But they can occur at the same time. About 3 in 10 people with dyslexia also have ADHD. And if you have ADHD, you are six times more likely than most people to have a mental illness or a learning disorder such as dyslexia. But having ADHD doesn’t mean you will get dyslexia. Nor does dyslexia cause ADHD.
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