The 4-1-1 on ADHD

I wanted to discuss with you about a disorder that affects many children, adolescents, and adults, Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, better known as ADHD. ADHD affects a person's home, social, academic, and occupational functioning. ADHD comprises of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. In regards to inattention, a person may struggle from making careless mistakes, having a hard time remembering obligations, they may have trouble finishing tasks and activities. They may struggle with listening when spoken to, they may have a hard time keeping themselves organized. Also, they may have a hard time sustaining attention while reading and trying to complete a task, thus, they may dislike or avoid activities that require sustained attention.

In regards to hyperactivity, a person may feel like they're always on the go, they may feel fidgety and they may feel squirmish. So when they're sitting down, they just can't sit still, they have to get up during meetings or classroom time and they have to get up and walk around and this could be very distracting to their coworkers and classmates.

In regards to impulsivity, a person may struggle with waiting their turn, they may blurt out answers when questions aren't completed, and they may interrupt others while they're speaking. ADHD does not discriminate based on age class or status. You could be a student or a professional and ADHD is affecting your quality of life. That's why I recommend it's best to follow up with a mental health provider who will be able to evaluate if you truly do have ADHD, and they will also look at other conditions such as depression, anxiety, and many other psychiatric conditions, which may affect concentration and impulsivity.

Once ADHD is diagnosed, you and your provider will be able to talk about your treatment options, such as medication management, therapy, or lifestyle modifications. When discussing medication management with your psychiatrist, you'll be able to find out which medicine works best for you and also you'll talk about when you should be taking the medication and how often. And in regards to lifestyle modifications, the psychiatrist or therapist can help guide you in different tasks and resources to help you reduce your symptoms. I hope this conversation was very helpful for you.

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Author

Dr. Ifeanyi Olele Ifeanyi Olele, DO, MBA, MS, is a board-certified psychiatrist who sees adolescent and adult patients in the greater Washington DC metropolitan area at Genesis Psychiatric Solutions. Dr. Olele is a dedicated psychiatrist in the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma-related stress disorders, and attention deficit disorders. Dr. Ifeanyi Olele is one of the few psychiatrists who utilizes psychotherapy (talk therapy) as part of his treatment plan.