Albany Psychiatrist

A Comprehensive Guide to ADHD TreatmentAlbany, NY

ADHD treatment may help patients with ADHD live a more functional and fulfilling life. ADHD refers to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and is one of the most common mental disorders that affect children and adults.

According to CHADD, there are over 10 million adults living with ADHD. ADHD symptoms can impact your ability to maintain interpersonal relationships and function in everyday life. Fortunately, there are treatment options available for those who struggle with ADHD.

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    What is ADHD?

    While the medical community recognized the symptoms of ADHD in the early 1900s, there was no name for it until the 1980s. It is a debilitating condition that deeply impacts a person's professional and personal life. If you have ADHD, you may find it difficult to hold down a job, control your behavior, or make it to appointments.

    Ways to diagnose ADHD

    Children with ADHD usually manifest symptoms before the age of 12. While teachers and staff may suspect ADHD, they cannot make a diagnosis. Professionals may interview parents, children, and other adults in the children's lives. Parents may have to fill out behavior rating scales while also providing a full medical history. Different conditions can mimic ADHD in children, including anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and major life changes.

    Sometimes, adults will recognize symptoms of ADHD in themselves when their child receives a diagnosis. In other cases, adults might believe they have depression or anxiety or seek help for a different condition. Psychiatrists look for persistent symptoms that date back to childhood. To receive a diagnosis and ADHD treatment, provide a history of your behavior and an interview with someone close to you, and allow yourself to undergo a physical and psychological examination.

    Types of ADHD patients

    The most common ADHD diagnosis occurs during a patient's childhood. School-aged children stand out because they may exhibit behavioral problems in the classroom or find it difficult to complete schoolwork.

    ADHD does affect boys and girls differently. Boys tend to externalize their symptoms with hyperactivity. More often than not, parents and teachers will suspect ADHD in a boy before a girl. While ADHD may affect the same amount of girls, boys receive a diagnosis more often. Girls internalize their symptoms and have periods of inactivity rather than hyperactivity.

    While some adults see symptoms improve as they reach adulthood, others may see no change or instead see a variety of symptoms. Patients can also receive an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood.

    Types of ADHD symptoms

    ADHD can affect different people by presenting various symptoms. Your treatment depends on the types of symptoms you have.

    There are three types of ADHD:

    • Primarily inattentive ADHD: People with inattentive ADHD have the most difficulty paying attention. They may make careless mistakes when following detailed instructions or organizing tasks. Most people with primarily inattentive ADHD find distractions difficult to overlook. They have a weaker working memory and may lose things often. Girls and adults tend to receive a primarily inattentive diagnosis.
    • Primarily hyperactive and impulsive ADHD: People with hyperactive ADHD always want to move. They squirm and fidget and cannot stay seated for long periods of time. Children with hyperactive and impulsive ADHD tend to run around excessively and rarely appear to run out of energy. Adults and children may interrupt others, talk non-stop, and struggle with self-control.
    • Combined ADHD: If you have combined ADHD, you have six or more symptoms from both types of ADHD.

    When diagnosing ADHD, professionals look for disorganization, lack of focus, restlessness, irritability, impulsivity, and excitability. Generally, the symptoms can become so severe that you cannot maintain personal relationships or excel in the workplace or as a student.

    How can psychiatrists treat ADHD?

    No one knows what causes ADHD to manifest. Some evidence points to genetics as the culprit. Evidence also shows that children with ADHD have different brain functions than children without. Different areas of their brains activate for the same tasks.

    For ADHD treatment, the psychiatrist must consider the patient's age, history of symptoms, and the way the disorder affects their daily lives. Most of the treatment options look similar for adults and children. Both kids and adults can benefit from medication, therapy, and behavior strategies.

    Types of ADHD medication

    Most psychiatrists use medication to control ADHD. However, finding the right medication for you may take trial and error. Sometimes, medication will work for you at first but not work over time. Likewise, some medications are more effective for children, not adults.

    Stimulants are normally the first line of defense against ADHD. Professionals may start you with a low dose and increase the dose every seven days until you can control your symptoms. Stimulants increase your dopamine levels, which play a role in your executive function and attention regulation.

    Non stimulants do not work as quickly as stimulants but can effectively treat ADHD. You begin with a low dose and raise it once every five to 14 days. In addition to non-stimulants, psychiatrists can also use antidepressants to treat ADHD. 

    Types of ADHD therapy

    Psychiatrists may suggest behavioral therapy as part of a treatment plan. Patients with ADHD need strategies to deal with the unique challenges they face throughout life. For example, many adults with ADHD may not have strong time management or organizational skills. They may find themselves unmotivated and unable to believe that they can succeed.

    Cognitive behavioral therapy shapes your thought processes. It teaches you to reframe your thoughts to change your negative behaviors. Behavioral therapy teaches you to manage your negative emotions, cope with stress, figure out behavioral patterns, and deal with stressful obligations.

    In addition to behavioral therapy, you may also benefit from ADHD coaching as part of your treatment plan. Coaching helps you build skills that you may not have due to your ADHD symptoms. You can learn how to live a more simple and orderly life with better time and task management skills.

    Conclusion

    ADHD treatment aims to minimize the impact ADHD has on your life while increasing your ability to cope with the remaining symptoms. Treatment plans generally require a combination of behavioral therapy and medication.

    Get more information here: https://albany.evolvepsychiatry.com or call Evolve Psychiatry at (518) 675-3097

    Contact Us

    Evolve Psychiatry is located at
    1365 Washington Avenue Suite 104
    Albany, NY
    12206

    (518) 675-3097