ADHD Specialist

What is ADHD?

While attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common mental health condition diagnosed in children, adults can also have ADHD with symptoms that interfere with their quality of life. ADHD affects your ability to concentrate and sit still, as well as your impulse control.

While ADHD can last from childhood into adulthood, many adults have lived with ADHD for years and managed to work around their symptoms until they reached a critical point.

Everyone has trouble focusing or controlling their impulses now and then. However, if your symptoms interfere with your ability to function or succeed at work or school, or if your child’s behavior disrupts your home life, you may need professional help to learn techniques to cope with your symptoms.

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

Children and adults experience ADHD in slightly different ways.

Children

Children demonstrate hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive symptoms, including:

Hyperactive/impulsive symptoms:

• Fidgeting and can’t sit still
• Running and climbing at inappropriate times
• Unable to play quietly
• Extremely talkative
• Blurts out answers or interrupts
• Trouble taking turns

Inattentive symptoms:

• Doesn’t pay attention to detail, makes mistakes on schoolwork
• Can’t focus on tasks or activities
• Doesn’t seem to listen
• Doesn’t follow instructions or complete schoolwork
• Poor organization, loses homework
• Easily distracted

Adults

While adults have both impulsive and inattentive symptoms, they tend to present differently than the behaviors you would see in children. For example, as an adult, you might display impulsiveness with irresponsible spending or making risky or dangerous decisions about drug or alcohol use or sexual activity.

You may also have trouble at work or school because of poor time management and organization or a lack of attention to detail.

Adults with ADHD also usually have short tempers and are prone to mood swings and angry outbursts. You may also have a low tolerance for frustration and struggle to cope with stress.

How is ADHD treated?

Dr. Estakhri usually treats ADHD with a combination of medication, therapy, and lifestyle modifications. For example, reducing processed foods that include high levels of preservatives and sugar and getting regular physical activity can help regulate your moods and burn off excess energy.

Dr. Estakhri may also prescribe medication to regulate your brain chemistry and reduce your distractibility and impulsivity. During therapy, you focus on learning strategies and techniques to improve your organization and decrease distractions.

If you’re concerned about ADHD, call Allied Psychiatry & Mental Health or schedule a consultation online today.