ADHD

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a mental health disorder caused by differences in development of the brain. The disorder is characterized by:

1) Symptoms arising from childhood
2) The symptoms cause dysfunction in many different of a person’s life (work, home, school, hygiene, social)
3) The dysfunction happens most of the time (on most days or almost every day)

What can I do to help myself?

Your doctor may recommend medications to help you with your symtpoms. Medications are typically stimulants, which are in the same category as cocaine. Stimulants are potentially addictive, can elevate heart rate, increase blood pressure, decrease appetite, and disrupt sleep. However, patients with ADHD who take medications typically feel that their thoughts slow down and patients can better deal with one thought at a time. The purpose of medications is not to make you “feel” different or to give you “more energy” to complete tasks, but to alleviate the dysfunction experienced. We are looking to improve tangible aspects of your functioning, such as improving the ability to stay on task at work, to be able to actively participate in conversations with friends, and to be able to sit through a long movie. The medication will not help you to enjoy or care about tasks you fundamentally do not enjoy, but it would allow you to focus on tasks you try to focus on.