Author: Padam Bhatia

Gambling addiction is a serious behavioral addiction that can lead to significant negative consequences in a person’s life. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V), gambling disorder is characterized by a preoccupation with gambling, difficulty controlling gambling, and negative impacts on relationships, career, and financial well-being. If left untreated, gambling disorder can have a devastating impact on a person’s mental health, finances, and relationships.  Read on to learn more.

The good news is that treatment for gambling addiction is available. The first step is to seek help from a qualified mental health professional. Treatment for gambling disorder typically involves a combination of therapy, support groups, and medication.

Therapy is a common treatment option for gambling addiction. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one type of therapy that has been shown to be effective in treating gambling disorder. CBT helps individuals identify the underlying thoughts and beliefs that contribute to their gambling behavior and develop coping strategies to manage those thoughts and beliefs. It can also help individuals learn to manage urges to gamble and develop new, healthier habits.

Support groups can also be a helpful part of treatment for gambling addiction. Gamblers Anonymous is a popular support group that is modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous. It provides a supportive environment for individuals to share their experiences with gambling addiction and receive support from others who have gone through similar experiences.

In some cases, medication may also be used to treat gambling addiction. Antidepressants and mood stabilizers have been shown to be effective in treating the underlying mental health issues that can contribute to gambling disorder, such as depression and anxiety.

It’s important to note that recovery from gambling addiction is a process that takes time and effort. It’s not a quick fix, but with the right treatment, individuals with gambling disorder can learn to manage their urges to gamble and lead a healthy, fulfilling life.

In addition to seeking professional help, there are steps individuals with gambling addiction can take to manage their behavior. For example, setting limits on gambling, avoiding triggers that can lead to gambling behavior, and finding alternative activities to fill the time and energy spent on gambling can be helpful strategies.

In summary, gambling addiction is a serious behavioral addiction that can have significant negative impacts on a person’s life. Treatment for gambling disorder typically involves a combination of therapy, support groups, and medication. Seeking help from a qualified mental health professional is an important first step in the recovery process. With proper treatment and support, individuals with gambling addiction can learn to manage their urges to gamble and lead a healthy, fulfilling life.

If you’re struggling with controlling your urges to gamble, contact us to seek treatment now!

For many years, seeking mental health care has been stigmatized in many societies around the world. People who seek mental health treatment have often been seen as weak, vulnerable, or unstable, leading to a reluctance to seek help when they need it. However, in recent years, there has been a growing movement towards destigmatizing mental health care, and the benefits of seeking help for mental health issues are becoming more widely recognized.

One of the most significant factors driving the destigmatization of mental health care is the growing recognition of mental health issues as a public health concern. According to the World Health Organization, around 1 in 4 people worldwide will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lives. These issues can have a profound impact on individuals and society as a whole, leading to lost productivity, reduced quality of life, and increased healthcare costs. By destigmatizing mental health care, we can encourage more people to seek help when they need it, reducing the burden on individuals and society.

Another key factor in the destigmatization of mental health care is the increasing openness of people about their own mental health struggles. In recent years, celebrities, politicians, and public figures have become more vocal about their experiences with mental health issues, helping to reduce the shame and secrecy that often surrounds these issues. For example, in 2017, Prince Harry opened up about his struggles with mental health following the death of his mother, Princess Diana. By speaking out about his experiences, Prince Harry helped to raise awareness of mental health issues and encourage others to seek help when they need it.

There has also been a growing recognition of the importance of early intervention and prevention in mental health care. Research has shown that early intervention and prevention can reduce the severity and duration of mental health issues, leading to better outcomes for patients. By destigmatizing mental health care, we can encourage more people to seek help early, before their issues become more severe.

Despite these positive trends, there is still much work to be done to destigmatize mental health care fully. According to a 2020 survey conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 49% of adults in the United States still believe that seeking mental health treatment is a sign of weakness. This belief can lead to a reluctance to seek help when needed, potentially exacerbating mental health issues and leading to negative outcomes.

To continue the progress towards destigmatizing mental health care, it is essential to address the root causes of stigma and discrimination. These causes can include negative stereotypes and beliefs about mental illness, as well as social and cultural factors such as gender and socioeconomic status. By addressing these issues and promoting education and awareness about mental health, we can help to reduce stigma and encourage more people to seek help when they need it.

In conclusion, the destigmatization of mental health care is an essential step towards improving the lives of people with mental health issues. By reducing the shame and secrecy that often surrounds these issues, we can encourage more people to seek help when they need it, leading to better outcomes for individuals and society as a whole. While progress has been made in recent years, there is still much work to be done, and we must continue to work towards a more inclusive and supportive society for people with mental health issues.

If you feel you need help regarding your mental health, please contact us to learn more about how we can support you.

While it’s common to experience one or two panic attacks in your life, at least 4.7% of all adults in America experience panic disorder at some point in their lives. This means that there’s a population of people who have had recurrent and unexpected panic attacks over a long period of time.

They also live in constant fear of having another attack, whether it be in public or alone at home. What’s more, anyone can have a panic attack at any time in their life. This includes children.

In this article, we’re going to uncover the details about panic disorder as well as how it’s treated. Read on to learn more.

Defining Panic Disorder

In the realm of mental health disorders, panic disorder is classified as a type of anxiety disorder. It causes recurring panic attacks – which are defined as feelings of sudden terror when there is no real danger present.

When a panic attack occurs, the individual experiencing it may feel as if they are losing control and exhibit the following physical symptoms:

• fast heartbeat
• chest or stomach pain
• difficulty breathing
• weakness or dizziness
• sweating
• feeling hot or a cold chill
• tingly or numb hands

As mentioned, a panic attack can crop up at any time and without warning. Many people who have panic disorder live in constant fear of their panic attacks and subsequently avoid places where a panic attack has occurred. In the more severe cases, individuals will become so fearful for their lives that they cannot leave their homes – which is also known as agoraphobia.

It should also be noted that panic disorder is also twice as common in women than it is in men, and it usually begins during the young adult years.

Experts don’t have a definitive answer as to why some people develop panic disorder or experience panic attacks. All that is understood about the disorder and its events so far is that the brain and nervous system play key roles in how fear and anxiety are handled, and that both panic attacks and the disorder are deeply rooted in stress.

It’s also understood that if you have a family history of anxiety disorders, mental health issues, or a substance use disorder, you’re at an increased risk for panic attacks and panic disorder.

Treating Panic Disorder

For individuals living with panic disorder, treatment can help reduce the frequency and intensity of which they experience panic attacks and preemptive fears that lead to these attacks. Like with most anxiety disorders, the primary method of treatment includes a combination of medications and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Training therapies are also used, such as interoceptive exposure, to help the individual identify their feelings and triggers to learn to cope with the everyday stressors that can bring on a panic attack.

If left untreated, panic disorder can develop into agoraphobia and other phobias, which will eventually interfere with your entire life. If you’ve experienced two or more panic attacks in your life, especially within the same month, it’s essential that you seek out a proper evaluation and possible treatment.

We can help with that. Contact us today to learn more about our affordable treatment options for panic disorder and other mental health disorders.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) currently affects 3.5% of adults in America every year. It’s also estimated that one in every eleven people will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetimes.

PTSD is actually classified as a type of anxiety disorder, and it typically occurs after an individual has witnessed a deeply traumatizing event in their life. It can also occur if the individual simply witnessed the event with no direct involvement.

Read on to learn more about PTSD and how it’s treated.

Symptoms of PTSD

People who suffer from PTSD are known to have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings that are directly related to a traumatic experience – long after the event has ended. The anxiety disorder is characterized by the individual “reliving” this event, usually through flashbacks or nightmares as well as feelings of sadness, anger, or fear.

They may also exhibit feelings of detachment or estrangement from others. This typically leads to avoiding situations or people that serve as a reminder of that traumatic event. It also leads to the individual experiencing strong negative reactions to things like loud noises or accidental or innocent touches.

The symptoms of PTSD are broken down into the four following categories:

1. Intrusion. This includes intrusive thoughts which can range from flashbacks to repeated involuntary memories.
2. Avoidance. This is when the individual actively avoids people, places, activities, or objects that may trigger distressing memories.
3. Alterations in cognition and mood. This involves the inability to remember important details of the traumatic event as well as negative thoughts or feelings that bring on distorted beliefs of oneself or others – which often leads to self-blame, shame, ongoing anger or fear, a loss of interests, becoming detached and losing the ability to experience positive emotions.
4. Alterations in arousal and reactivity. This includes being irritable, exhibiting angry outbursts, reckless and self-destructing behavior, being overly alert, being easily startled, or having issues with sleeping or concentrating.

Treating PTSD Traditionally, PTSD is treated with a combination of medications and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

However, the medical and psychiatric communities are brainstorming new methods of effective treatments all the time. For example, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is becoming increasingly popular among PTSD patients, and medically assisted MDMA treatment is also making its way up the ranks in clinical studies.

Unlike many other mental health disorders, PTSD is one from which individuals can recover over time and with the right combination of medication and therapy.

It’s important to mention that the symptoms of PTSD often don’t occur until about three months after the traumatizing event. If you’ve recently gone through or witnessed a traumatizing event, it’s a good idea to talk to someone as soon as possible to mitigate any potential PTSD symptoms that may crop up.

We can help you with that. Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can treat PTSD and more.

Approximately 2.3 million Americans have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The number of individuals who have the mood disorder but aren’t currently diagnosed, however, is even greater.

Bipolar disorder is arguably the most misunderstood of all the mental health disorders out there. In a nutshell, the disorder is marked by extreme shifts in mood. It’s also rarely diagnosed by itself as it’s typically associated with depression and anxiety.

No two individuals suffering from the disorder will have the same exact experiences as it affects everyone differently. The one common denominator is that it impacts every aspect of a person’s life – sometimes to the point where they cannot function or be productive.

What’s more, people who don’t understand the disorder fear it. This only feeds into the stigma surrounding bipolar disorder and those struggling with it. That’s why we’re going to use this article to cover the basics.

Keep reading to learn more about bipolar disorder and what it means to live with it.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder – originally known as manic depression – is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings. These extreme mood swings are further broken down to include the emotional highs and lows regarded as mania or hypomania and depression.

There are a few different types of bipolar disorder, with the two most prevalent being Bipolar I and Bipolar II. Bipolar I disorder is defined by mania while bipolar II is defined by hypomania. Both include periods of elevated feelings such as euphoria, high energy, or irritability. They can affect sleep, daily activities, judgment, behavior, thought patterns, and energy levels.

The primary difference is that mania (Bipolar I) is much more severe and can lead to episodes of psychosis. It’s also longer lasting while hypomania (Bipolar II) is less severe and only lasts a few days, while it also always is associated with severe depression.

It should be noted, however, that Bipolar II isn’t a “milder form” of Bipolar I, but rahter a separate diagnosis altogether. While the manic episodes of Bipolar I can be severe and incredibly dangerous, those with Bipolar II disorder can become more depressed and for longer periods.

Generally speaking, bipolar disorder can occur at any age even though it’s usually diagnosed in the teenage years or early 20s. The symptoms can vary from individual to individual and also typically vary over time.

How Is Bipolar Disorder Treated?

Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, which means it requires regular treatment to manage the symptoms.

The most common treatments for bipolar include:

• mood stabilizers
• antipsychotics
• antidepressants
• antidepressant-antipsychotic
• anti-anxiety medications

Medication is often in addition to cognitive behavioral therapy and other forms of therapy, including interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT). Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is also an increasingly popular form of treatment for those unresponsive to medications alone.

With the right combination of treatments, plenty of individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder are able to live normal and healthy lives. Get in touch with us today to learn more about bipolar disorder and how we can help you determine the severity of your case and manage it appropriately.

Schizophrenia is a severe and chronic neurological disorder estimated to affect at least 1.1 percent of the adult population in the United States. That’s roughly 2.8 million people over the age of 18. There’s also an estimated 40 percent of individuals that have Schizophrenia but are either undiagnosed or aren’t receiving treatment.

What’s more, Schizophrenia is an even less talked about mental health condition than Major Depressive Disorder and all of its forms. This is because Schizophrenia is highly stigmatized, as it’s characterized by the interference of an individual’s ability to think clearly, manage their emotions, make decisions and relate to others – making it one of the more disabling conditions affecting part of the population.

In this article, we’re going to dive into the basics of Schizophrenia so we can start breaking down the stigma attached to it. Keep reading to learn more.

Defining Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is defined as a serious and complex mental health disorder in which individuals interpret reality abnormally. Moreover, the condition can cause hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking and behavioral patterns so extreme they can interfere with the individual’s daily functions.

Generally speaking, individuals with Schizophrenia will exhibit the following symptoms to varying degrees:

• delusions, such as thinking that you’re being harassed when you’re not, that you have exceptional talent or fame, that another person is in love with you, or that a major catastrophic event is about to occur
• hallucinations, which involve seeing or hearing things that aren’t there or don’t exist
• disorganized thinking, which is inferred from disorganized speech, affecting the individual’s ability to communicate effectively
• disorganized or abnormal motor behavior, which can manifest in childlike silliness and ranging to unpredictable agitation or refusal to abide by instructions, excessive and useless movement, or bizarre or inappropriate posturing
• inability to function normally, such as neglecting personal hygiene, inability to make eye contact, lacking emotions, and so on

It should be noted that Schizophrenia is not characterized or associated with split or multiple personality disorders. People with the condition also are not any more violent than the average human being, which is another common misconception.

Treating Schizophrenia

While there isn’t a cure for Schizophrenia, it is a highly treatable condition once diagnosed accordingly. The most common treatments for managing the condition include:

• antipsychotic medications, which are taken daily in pill form or as a long-acting injectable (LAI)
• psychosocial treatments, which involve learning coping skills to address everyday challenges and are usually followed after the doctor and patient find the right medication or combination of medications that work
• Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC), which is a treatment model that integrates medication, psychosocial therapies, case management, family involvement, and even supported education and employment services
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), which is a non-invasive and safe procedure that involves sending a mild electrical current through the brain to alter nervous system activity and pathways. ECT is often used when other medications and therapies have not worked.

While individuals experiencing acute symptoms of schizophrenia require hospitalization, many people with the condition are able to go on to live normal and healthy lives. If you think you or someone you care about may be exhibiting symptoms of the disorder, it’s essential to get a proper evaluation by a mental health professional to rule out any other mental health disorders and determine the severity of the case.

To learn more about getting evaluated or treating schizophrenia, get in touch with us today.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder characterized by a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions).

It should be noted that having the need to be organized and tidy most of the time is not the same as having OCD. This is because the obsessions and compulsions of an individual who has OCD actually interferes with their daily activities and causes a significant amount of distress.

When people with OCD try to ignore their obsessions or stop their repetitive behavior, it only increases their distress and anxiety. Ultimately, someone with OCD will feel driven to carry out these compulsive acts to try and ease their stress and fears, regardless of their effort to rid themself of troubling thoughts or urges. This is what leads to the ritualistic behavior of feeding into these obsessions and compulsions, otherwise known as the OCD cycle.

Additionally, OCD tends to relate to certain themes. For example, the excessive fear of germ contamination, which could cause a struggling individual to compulsively wash their hands until they’re dry, sore, and chapped.

Read on to learn more.

Symptoms of OCD

The symptoms of OCD are broken down by the obsessive component and the compulsive component.

Obsessions stem from unfounded thoughts, worries, or fears. They crop up often and cause the individual a great amount of anxiety. The common obsessions of OCD include:

• a strong fixation with germs or dirt
• repeated doubts, such as worrying if the stove was turned off
• a need to have things in an ultra-specific order
• thoughts about violence or hurting others
• spending long periods of time counting or touching certain items
• a fixation with order and symmetry
• persistent thoughts of horrible sexual acts
• troubling thoughts that are against personal religious beliefs

Compulsions are the repetitive and ritualized acts brought on by the disorder. They are aimed at reducing the anxiety caused by the obsessions, and typically include the following:

• repetitive hand washing (often 100 or more times a day)
• checking and rechecking to ensure doors are locked or appliances are shut off
• following rigid rules of order, such as arranging clothing in a color-coded order each day, alphabetizing everything, arranging items in specific places – and becoming significantly upset when that order is disrupted

Again, something as simple as preferring to keep your seasonings and spices in alphabetical order isn’t the same as having OCD. Obsessions and compulsive acts are time-consuming. They’re excessive and disruptive to an individual’s life, usually to the point where they interfere with that person’s daily life and relationships.

OCD Treatment

OCD is traditionally treated in two ways – psychotherapy and medications.

Psychotherapy includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as exposure and response therapy (ExRP or ERP). CBT aims to provide individuals with the tools to cope with their OCD while ERP works to expose the individual to their obsession to work on resisting the urge to carry out the compulsive act that typically follows.

The medications typically prescribed to OCD patients include antidepressants, as OCD is often associated with depression and anxiety.

When medications and psychotherapy are used together, most individuals find relief from their obsessions and compulsions and can live a normal life. However, there is no “cure” for OCD as it’s a condition that requires ongoing management.  New treatments, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are gaining steam and could provide another treatment modality for those suffering from this illness.

If you or someone you know is struggling with symptoms of OCD, don’t hesitate to contact us to see how we can help!

Everyone feels anxious from time to time, especially during the more stressful events that occur in life. However, if you’re experiencing consistent and excessive anxiety day in and day out, you may have a mental health disorder known as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

GAD is characterized by ongoing anxiety and worry that’s difficult to control and interferes with an individual’s everyday activities. It’s possible to develop this mood disorder as a child or gradually as an adult, and its symptoms are very similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Panic Disorder (PD), and other types of anxiety – although each is its own distinct mental health condition.

Living with GAD can pose many long-term challenges in life. More often than not, GAD occurs with other mood disorders, including Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), as well as the conditions mentioned above. Mental health professionals typically diagnose GAD in individuals when the worrying and feelings of anxiousness persist on almost a daily basis for a period of six months. This is considered to be to the point of prohibiting a person from living a normal life.

The Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

GAD tends to develop when an individual is unable to cope with internal stress, which is seen in the areas of the brain that control fear and anxiety. It can also be a side effect of medicine or substance use, or it can be related to certain medical conditions that increase hormone activity.

The most common symptoms of GAD include:

• the persistent worrying or feelings of anxiousness about things that are not proportionate to the impact of the actual events
• overthinking plans and solutions to all potential worst-case scenarios
• perceiving situations and events to be threatening when they aren’t
• trouble coping with uncertainty
• indecisiveness and fear of making a wrong decision
• the inability to let go of worry, even temporarily
• the inability to relax and constantly feeling restless or on edge
• difficulty concentrating

There are also physical symptoms associated with GAD, such as:

• trouble sleeping or insomnia
• fatigue
• muscle tension and aches
• feeling twitchy, trembling
• nervousness, being easily startled, states of hypervigilance
• sweating
• irritability
• nausea, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

There may be times when these feelings don’t completely consume the individual with GAD, however, they’ll still feel anxious when there’s no reason to. This could cause significant distress in social situations, at work, or in other areas of a person’s life. The worry may also change from one concern to another and change with time and age.

How Is GAD Treated?

When it comes to diagnosing GAD, a mental health professional will take into consideration an individual’s overall health and several other factors to determine the right course of treatment.

The treatment can include one or more of the following, depending on the individual case:

• medication, including antidepressants
• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• relaxation techniques
• coping techniques
• making lifestyle changes to reduce stress and become healthier physically and mentally, which often includes avoiding stimulating substances, smoking, alcohol, and even illicit substance use
• LSD has also been cleared by the FDA for clinical trials for the potential treatment of mood disorders

If you believe you have GAD, please contact us immediately to set up an appointment so that you can start a path toward feeling better!

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), or clinical depression, is a mood disorder characterized by the persistent feeling of sadness and loss of general interest. This mood disorder affects how an individual thinks, feels, and behaves, potentially leading to other emotional and physical problems.

Individuals with Major Depressive Disorder may have trouble carrying out normal, everyday activities. They may sometimes, or often, feel that life isn’t worth living.

One of the most important things to understand about depression is that it’s not something that a person can simply just snap out of. It’s not a weakness, and it’s not something that will go away on its own. It requires the help of a mental health professional as well as treatment, which often involves psychotherapy and medication.

What Are the Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder?

The symptoms of depression tend to reveal themselves in waves, although some symptoms remain more consistent over time. If you or someone you love is experiencing Major Depressive Disorder, the following symptoms will occur nearly every day, lasting for most of the day:

• Feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness to varying degrees
• Outbursts of anger, irritability, or frustration over small things and big things
• Loss of interest or pleasure in most normal activities, such as hobbies, sex, sports, etc
• Sleep issues, including insomnia or sleeping too much
• Fatigue or general tiredness, to the point of small tasks feeling like they take too much effort
• Appetite changes that result in weight loss or weight gain
• Ongoing anxiety, agitation, or restlessness
• Slowed thinking, speech, or even body movements
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• A tendency to fixate on past failures and to self-blame
• Problems with concentration, general thinking, decision making, and remembering things
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches
• Frequent or recurring thoughts of death or suicide
• Suicide attempts

For many people with depression, these symptoms are usually prominent enough to cause noticeable problems in daily activities, including work, school, social activities, and relationships. It also causes people to feel miserable or unhappy, in general, without really understanding why.

How is Major Depressive Disorder Treated?

Once properly diagnosed by a mental health professional, there are several courses of treatment that are typical for depression. Namely, therapy in conjunction with medication.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on changing the views an individual has of themself and their current situation. The goal is to help the individual heal their mental state holistically as well as their relationships as therapy provides them with the tools to manage their stressors, identify the validity of their feelings, and more.

Antidepressants are often prescribed to help with what therapy can’t — the “chemical” aspect of depression. This medication, in the right dosage and type, can positively impact the brain’s chemicals to produce the important neurotransmitters that are lacking, such as dopamine and serotonin.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is one of the most effective treatments for depression, having a better response rate than CBT or antidepressants, with minimal side effects.

Other less conventional but still very effective treatments for Major Depressive Disorder include electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and ketamine treatments.

Depression can make you feel worthless, helpless, and exhausted. It’s important to understand that these feelings and negative views are not your reality and are a direct result of having a mood disorder. With proper treatment, you can find relief over time and prevent depression from taking over your life.  If you’re seeking treatment for MDD, please contact us to schedule an appointment.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition that affects millions of children and adults. ADHD is characterized by a combination of persistent problems, which include difficulty maintaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behaviors. This mental health disorder often shows in children as young as seven years of age and continues into adulthood, although symptoms can also first appear in young adults.

Children with ADHD are especially known to struggle with low self-esteem, poor performance in school, and even trouble in relationships with their peers and eventually significant others as they enter adulthood. ADHD is not something that can be “outgrown,” however, a combination of coping techniques and medication can help with many of the symptoms.

Common Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

There are three categories of symptoms when it comes to ADHD, and there are also three major classifications for the mental health disorder.

Those three classifications, known as “types” include:

• Combined: The combined type of ADHD is the most common as it’s characterized by impulsiveness and hyperactivity as well as the inability to pay attention.
• Impulsive/hyperactive: This type of ADHD is the least common, and is characterized by impulsiveness and hyperactivity minus the inability to pay attention.
• Inattentive and distractible: This type of ADHD is primarily characterized by the inability to pay attention and the tendency to become distracted easily, minus any hyperactivity or impulsiveness.

As for the typical symptoms associated with ADHD, you have:

• Inattention:
  • Difficulty sustaining attention (short attention span)
  • Difficulty listening to others
  • Difficulty with details
  • Easily distracted
  • Forgetfulness
  • Poor organizational skills and study skills for the age

• Impulsivity:
  • Interrupts others often
  • Has a difficult time waiting their turn in school or during social activities
  • Has a tendency to blurt things out, like answers to questions, rather than waiting to be called upon
  • Takes frequent risks without thinking before acting

• Hyperactivity
  • Seems as if they’re in constant motion, walking, running, or climbing, without an actual reason
  • Has trouble remaining seated
  • Fidgets excessively
  • Talks excessively
  • Has a hard time engaging in quiet activities
  • Is forgetful or loses things often
  • Unable to stay on task, often shifting from one task to another without completing the previous task

Keep in mind that ADHD symptoms may also be related to other medical conditions or behavioral problems. They also may occur in children or adults who do not have ADHD. The key component in diagnosing ADHD is identifying whether or not these symptoms significantly impair the adaptive functioning at home, in school, at work, or in other social environments.

Treatment of ADHD

The course of ADHD treatment is determined by healthcare professionals based on several factors, including age, overall health, medical history, the extent of the symptoms, and more.

Typically, ADHD is treated using psychostimulant medications, such as methylphenidate products (like Ritalin, Concerta, and Focalin) or amphetamine derivatives (like Adderall, Vyvanse, and Dexedrine) which are designed to balance the brain’s chemicals to promote impulsive behavioral control.  Psychosocial treatment is also used which essentially works by training the parents and even teachers in the proper behavioral management skills to support the child or individual struggling with ADHD.

If you feel that you, or someone you know, is struggling with symptoms of ADHD, please contact us for a full evaluation!