ADHD

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a mental health condition caused by imbalances in brain chemicals and nerve communication. These brain changes affect your ability to focus and regulate behaviors and emotions.

Everyone occasionally becomes hyperactive or has a hard time paying attention. But if you have ADHD, these problems occur daily, and they're severe enough to interfere with school, work, and socializing.

The signs of ADHD appear before the age of 12 but may go undiagnosed until later in life. For at least one-third of children diagnosed with ADHD, the condition continues throughout adulthood.

What symptoms occur due to ADHD?

You can have three types of ADHD: inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, or combined, which means you have symptoms of both.

Primarily inattentive ADHD

Inattentive ADHD causes symptoms such as:

• Not paying attention
• Not noticing details
• Getting distracted
• Making reckless mistakes
• Not following directions
• Struggling to finish tasks
• Forgetting to do chores
• Finding it hard to get organized
• Avoiding tasks that require concentration

People with inattentive ADHD may seem like they're lost in their own thoughts or get distracted by noises in the environment that others can tune out.

Primarily hyperactive-impulsive ADHD

If you have hyperactivity and impulsivity, you may have symptoms such as:

• Being unable to sit still
• Not waiting to take your turn
• Staying constantly active
• Frequently talking or talking too much
• Interrupting others when they're talking
• Making rash decisions

Children and adults with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD often have a hard time controlling their emotions and impulses, leading to angry outbursts and challenging behaviors.

How is ADHD treated?

During your first telemedicine appointment, your provider learns about your symptoms and concerns, explores your behavioral history, and determines if you have ADHD.

Then they create a personalized treatment plan that may include:

Psychotherapy

Talk therapy helps people with ADHD develop the skills they need to manage the challenges caused by ADHD. For example, you may need help learning how to organize your time or control anger.

Medications

The first line of treatment for ADHD often includes stimulant medications. These medications increase the brain chemicals that support attention and regulate behaviors. If you can't tolerate stimulants, your provider can prescribe non-stimulant medications that improve ADHD symptoms.

If you or your child need help with ADHD, call Nunn Psychiatric Care or use the online booking feature to request a telemedicine appointment today.

We see patients in the following surrounding cities: Hodgenville, KY, serving  Elizabethtown, Bardstown and Louisville, KY. Call us to book your appointment today.