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ADHD Treatment
Do You Or Your Child Struggle To Pay Attention?
Photo by: Chona Kasinger with Disabled And Here
Is ADHD affecting your ability to focus and get work done? Are your thoughts scattered and disorganized? Or do you have a child that’s struggling socially and academically because of ADHD, and you don’t know how to help them?
ADHD affects children and adults. You might remember being described as “high energy” or a “daydreamer” when you were a child. But now that you’re an adult, it feels like you can’t get it together. Perhaps it's hard to control racing thoughts or impulsive behaviors. Or maybe you struggle to get motivated, even when you’re trying to accomplish something you really want to do.
Do You Have A Child Who’s Suffering From ADHD?
You may have a child who struggles to pay attention and sit still in school. Maybe you’ve noticed they’re always losing their homework. Perhaps they struggle to clean their room, no matter how often you remind them. Or it could be that they’re constantly rushing to get ready for school even when they wake up early.
It might be hard to believe that you or your child can ever find a way to concentrate more effectively and regulate painful emotions. But with treatment for ADHD, you can find rapid improvement in your symptoms and learn to control your focus.
The Prevalence Of ADHD Has Increased Over Time
Since the first national survey that looked at the prevalence of ADHD in 1997, the rate of reported diagnosis has increased from 5% to almost 10% in 2019*. As researchers learn more about ADHD, it’s clear that it’s a common issue for kids and adults alike.
ADHD is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder—which means it affects how the brain grows and develops. Researchers don’t know the exact cause of ADHD yet, but they do know genetics play an important role**.
This means that those who have ADHD are born with the disorder, even if the symptoms can change and the impact it has on them often fluctuates throughout their lifespan.
People Who Struggle With ADHD Receive Many Negative Messages From Society
Because of the executive functioning troubles and impulsive behaviors typical in ADHD, people who have the disorder are exposed to more corrective or negative messages than their peers. Simply put, a lot of people misunderstand ADHD sufferers and chalk up their symptoms to “misbehavior” or “laziness.” Some experts estimate that children with ADHD have received as many as 20,000 more corrective messages than their peers by the time they’re 10 years old***.
It can be easy to internalize negative messaging, especially when you try your hardest to change your behaviors. But the nature of ADHD makes it difficult. Living with ADHD can be tough, but it doesn’t have to define your life. Whether it’s you or your child who is having trouble managing ADHD symptoms, it’s possible to find relief with treatment.
ADHD Treatment Can Help You Manage Your Time And Organize Your Life
At Peninsula Child & Family Services, our goal is to help you or your child live life to the fullest, and that includes getting the best treatment. In psychology, it’s often a combination of medication and therapy that has the best results, and ADHD is no exception. We want to help you find the best combination of medication to address the disorder at its roots. We also want therapy to assist you in learning skills to better manage your symptoms.
With treatment, you can find ways to stop feeling overwhelmed and understand ADHD better. If your self-concept has been damaged with thoughts like, “I’m just lazy,” or “Everyone can do this task but I can’t, so something must be wrong with me,” then it’s time to shift your understanding of ADHD. Here you have a safe space to work things out. If it’s your child who is struggling with ADHD, we can help them learn to advocate for their needs and figure out new ways to manage their time and space.
What To Expect In ADHD Treatment Sessions
Your first appointment will consist of background information so that your therapist can understand how things are going across all relevant areas of your life. We want to get to know you and establish a relationship. If you suspect you might have ADHD but haven’t received a diagnosis yet, you might fill out a few questionnaires to determine if it’s ADHD or something else causing your symptoms. This will allow us to develop a clearer treatment plan.
If you’re bringing your child for treatment, the process is similar. The intake session will be with you and your child together. From there, the therapist will have one session alone with you before they start individual sessions with your child. Once your child starts a consistent schedule, their therapist will check in with you to see how things are going at home for about fifteen minutes in each session.
We Tailor Our Approach To Meet Your Needs
When it comes to ADHD, medication provides an enormous impact almost immediately. Because we want you to find the most relief as quickly as possible, our first step is to help you start a medication that works for you.
Medication can be the puzzle piece that quiets the brain and lets you harness your focus. There are numerous medications that are approved for ADHD. Stimulants like Ritalin or Vyvanse increase the amount of dopamine in the brain, which can help you regulate attention span, focus, and impulsive behaviors****. There are also non-stimulant medications like Strattera and Wellbutrin which can also be used for ADHD.
Treatment with medication can help you function on a better level than you have before. And once medication helps you focus, counseling for ADHD can assist you in learning new coping skills for managing your symptoms.
But You May Still Have Concerns About ADHD Treatment…
I heard ADHD medications have terrible side effects.
We never know exactly how a medication will affect someone. There are always going to be some side effects, so we try to focus on whether or not the side effects outweigh the benefits of the medication. When you try medication for the first time, you will be seen in our office regularly so that we can discuss how the meds are affecting you and go over any changes we might need to make.
What if medication doesn’t work for me?
Medication rapidly improves ADHD symptoms for the vast majority of people. Even if the first medication prescribed doesn’t work for you, there are others we can try. If you're hesitant about medication, behavior modification therapy is another choice for ADHD treatment. We are here to help you find relief from your ADHD symptoms and will work with you to find the treatment plan that helps you thrive.
My child has ADHD, but I’m not sure they need therapy. I think they’ll grow out of it.
ADHD is a lifelong disorder. The symptoms may change and the impact it has may lessen over time, but sometimes ADHD can get harder to manage as your child grows up and assumes more responsibilities. Your child wants to improve and have more control over their behavior, and a therapist who understands ADHD can help them do that. Therapy is a process, so you may not see changes overnight, but with time, your child can learn new skills and strategies to help them succeed in life.
You Can Make A Positive Impact On Your Life With ADHD Treatment
There is hope that you can find relief from your ADHD symptoms. To begin the treatment process and get help for you or your child, you can schedule online or call us for a free, 10 minute phone consultation.