ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects children and adults, causing significant emotional and behavioral challenges that affect every aspect of their lives. Though the disorder often lasts a lifetime, treatment provided by Stanley Okeyemi, PMHNP, at Brighter Light Behavioral Health Services can dramatically improve your symptoms and life. You can also get ADHD care through telemedicine, a service available to people in Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Washington, Idaho, Connecticut, Nebraska, Florida, Iowa, and Arizona. If you’re ready to face ADHD head-on, call the office or use online booking to schedule a telemedicine appointment.

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood when certain areas of the brain develop differently and produce fewer neurotransmitters. These brain changes lead to ADHD’s three core symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Everyone occasionally struggles to pay attention or feels hyperactive. But for people with ADHD, these problems occur frequently, and they’re so severe they disrupt family life and make it hard or impossible to be successful at work and school.

ADHD is usually identified during the elementary school years but may not be diagnosed until adulthood. Additionally, it continues into adulthood for at least two-thirds of children who have it.

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

The type of ADHD determines the symptoms you have. You may be diagnosed with one of the following three types:

Predominantly inattentive

If you have inattentive ADHD, you experience symptoms such as:

• Making reckless mistakes
• Overlooking details
• Getting easily distracted
• Not starting or finishing tasks
• Misplacing or losing important items
• Struggle to get and stay organized
• Having a hard time following directions

With this type of ADHD, you may find yourself daydreaming when you should be paying attention. 

Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive

People with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD have symptoms such as:

• Talking excessively
• Interrupting others
• Lacking impulse control
• Failing to take turns
• Needing to stay active
• Wanting immediate rewards
• Fidgeting or moving in situations where they’re expected to be still

Adults may internalize hyperactivity and have symptoms like agitation and racing thoughts. 

Combined ADHD

People with combined ADHD have inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms.

How is ADHD treated?

Your Brighter Light Behavioral Health Services provider completes a thorough psychiatric evaluation. In addition to discussing your challenging behaviors and emotions, they may ask you to complete a questionnaire exploring how frequently you experience different symptoms.

Stimulant medications are the gold standard for ADHD treatment because they effectively improve attention and reduce hyperactivity. Stimulants are available in numerous forms, so your provider can customize your therapy. If you prefer to avoid stimulants, your provider can prescribe non-stimulant medicines.

Therapy can improve the challenges of ADHD by teaching skills that make a difference in your daily life. For example, you may need to learn social skills, how to organize or plan your day, or ways to manage emotional outbursts.

Call Brighter Light Behavioral Health Services or request an appointment online to start ADHD treatment that can transform your life.