ADHD

ADHD services offered in Orange, South San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, CA

If you keep losing your keys, miss deadlines at work, or your mind wanders when others are talking, you may have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). At Black Onyx in Orange, California and South San Francisco, experienced mental health professionals Peter Pham, PMHNP-BC, and Diana Bush, PMHNP-BC, specialize in diagnosing and treating ADHD in adults. ADHD can continue causing challenges throughout your adult life, whether or not it was diagnosed in childhood. Treatment for ADHD is effective and can make a dramatic difference in your life. Call Black Onyx or book an in-person or telemedicine appointment online today to learn more about ADHD.

ADHD Q & A

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder typically diagnosed in children. However, the disorder persists for many, and some people don’t learn they have ADHD until adulthood.

The reason ADHD develops is still being explored. However, the experts know that the disorder has a neurological basis. People with ADHD have differences in brain growth, nerve pathways, and neurotransmitter levels compared to those who don’t have ADHD.

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

There are three types of ADHD: inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, and combined (having symptoms of both). Your symptoms depend on the type:

Adults with inattentive ADHD may:

Get easily distracted
Struggle to stick with a task
Put tasks off to the last minute
Miss important details
Lose important items
Lack organizational skills
Struggle to pay attention (your mind is elsewhere)

You may make careless mistakes at work, forget appointments, or have difficulty preparing reports on time.

Adults with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD may:

Talk too much
Feel the need to keep moving
Struggle with waiting or being patient
Feel restless or irritable
Have angry outbursts
Cross boundaries (interrupting conversations)

You may have a hard time concentrating on what someone is saying or tend to keep talking without realizing others aren’t listening.

How is ADHD diagnosed?

Diagnosing ADHD requires a thorough evaluation of your medical history, emotional and behavioral issues you’ve faced throughout your life, your current symptoms, and whether they’re severe enough to affect your ability to function at work, home, school, or in your social life.

Your provider may also ask you to complete psychological tests measuring issues affected by ADHD, such as working memory and executive function (planning and decision-making skills).

How is ADHD treated?

Treatment for ADHD often begins with stimulant medications that improve problems with attention and hyperactivity by balancing brain chemicals. Your provider can also suggest non-stimulant medications if you can’t tolerate stimulants.

Many adults also receive behavioral therapy to improve the skills they need in their daily life. For example, you may want to improve organizational or social skills or learn techniques for managing your emotions.

Your provider can also recommend practical strategies. As integrative medicine specialists, they may recommend dietary changes that improve brain function or suggest strategies you can use at work or home to stay organized and focused.

Call Black Onyx today or request an appointment online to get comprehensive care for ADHD.