Doctors Who Don’t Believe in ADHD

Doctors trying diagnose an xray.
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Many doctors still don’t believe in ADHD. It is a real disorder that affects millions of people every day and it can be hard to get diagnosed and treated. Don’t give up hope though! There are several treatments for the symptoms of ADHD available, including medication and therapy. In this post, we will discuss some treatment options available to those who suffer from the condition so you can get back on track with your life!

Many ADHD deniers have ADHD themselves

This is likely the reason why they are not open to treatment options. ADHD symptoms may be intolerable for some of these people, and because their lives revolve around ADHD denial it makes sense that they would seek out ways to cope with ADHD rather than find a solution that allows them to manage ADHD. Unfortunately, without guidance or some structure, the coping mechanisms can be maladaptive.

Some ADHD deniers are so invested in ADHD denial that they choose to be blind to the facts. Even if their child is diagnosed with ADHD, some parents will continue to deny ADHD symptoms and refuse treatment until it has a significant impact on quality of life or academic performance. It’s important for people who don’t believe in ADHD to understand that many people who have not been treated, have developed other serious problems in life including drug and alcohol addiction.

Medical School doesn’t teach us about how to make the most of our ADHD lives.

You can find doctors who know more about ADHD than others that don’t believe in it. Do your research, ask around for referrals from friends and family members. Doctors are people too so they have to start somewhere just like you did when you were first diagnosed with ADHD. The doctor that doesn’t believe in ADHD isn’t going to help much but there’s always hope!

You can also find doctors who specialize in ADHD treatment. This may be the best option for someone with ADHD because they know what treatments work and don’t work well together. Your ADHD specialist knows ADHD inside and out. They know how ADHD affects you, your life, and everything about ADHD.

Your ADHD specialist will be there for you every step of the way because they understand what it’s like to have ADHD. It can take a long time sometimes but at least you’ll have quality care so that makes going through ADHD treatment a little easier.

Doctors don’t learn much about ADHD in medical school. They have to go through continuing education courses so they can stay up to date on the new ADHD treatments. No one is perfect, not even your doctor! So try not to get too upset if you’re dealing with ADHD and he or she doesn’t get it.

You can’t treat what you don’t know.

Doctor Who Doesn't Believe in ADHD with a patient.
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The adage applies to ADHD just as much as it does anything else. But if you are a doctor who doesn’t believe in ADHD, then you will be unable to diagnose or treat the disorder. You can’t help your patient if you don’t know what’s wrong with them.

That is why it is so important to find a doctor who believes in ADHD if you are living with the disorder yourself or someone close to you has been diagnosed. The ADHD adult symptoms of untreated adults may be just as severe and detrimental as those of heart disease.

Luckily for those living with ADHD adult symptoms, there are doctors who specialize in ADHD treatment for adults. As you can imagine, ADHD adult symptoms may make it difficult to diagnose the disorder correctly, which is why ADHD specialist doctor help should be sought out when you feel you are not making progress.

Many doctors are now being diagnosed with ADHD.

If they are being diagnosed in this way, then who is treating the patients? While many doctors don’t have experience with ADHD or understand how to treat it, there are some that do. Many of these medical professionals may not believe in ADHD and will tell you that your child does not deserve treatment for their condition. I have a patient that is a retired family practice doctor that I diagnosed at the age of 66. Although he is retired, he had a very different opinion of the disorder than many doctors that I have met who will not treat the patients they don’t believe in.

Many people do not understand what it feels like to be unable to control your own thoughts and actions because you don’t know how to.

It is not because they don’t want to, it’s simply that they cannot. Doctors like this one believe in the disorder and with treatment, is achieving things he never thought possible.

In conclusion, Doctors Who Don’t Believe in ADHD.

Doctors who don’t believe in ADHD are a sad part of the healthcare system. They can keep many people from speaking up just by the tone of their voice or the look on their faces. It’s important to take your child or yourself seriously and seek treatment for ADHD. Many doctors may not believe in the disorder so much that they refuse to diagnose it, but there are those who do. If you find a doctor who does believe in ADHD symptoms, then great! If not, don’t let their opinions dissuade you from finding a doctor who you believe will be able to help.

There are those out there that do not understand what it feels like to have ADHD and who may refuse to diagnose or treat the disorder, but this is simply because they cannot comprehend how difficult your life must be by having ADHD symptoms. Take your child seriously if he or she has been diagnosed and seek out a doctor who believes in ADHD symptoms.

ADHD and Business: a Successful Combination.

ADHD and Business: a Successful Combination. Many ADHD success stories involve people who started their own company and achieved the American dream.

     Entrepreneurship and ADHD can make a great pairing, but ADHD also presents some unique challenges. ADHD entrepreneurs will need to tackle those challenges before they can succeed as well as others do. ADHD often makes it harder to focus on work tasks like organizing, planning, setting goals, and self-motivating. However, people with ADHD may be more creative than others and have all kinds of ideas popping into their minds every minute of the day which gives them an advantage over other types of people in terms of coming up with new business opportunities or improving existing ones. And being creative is one of the best aspects of this type of mindset because ADHDers can use creativity to help them focus on the ADHD-specific challenges that they face. ADHD entrepreneurs will likely need some assistance for this purpose, however, whether it’s ADHD coaching or hiring someone to help with ADHD organization and planning.

Because ADHD affects different people in different ways, ADHD entrepreneurs should take advantage of their business community by accessing resources like ADHD associations, reading books about ADHD success stories (like one of my favorite books called “Delivered from Distraction“), and attending conferences.

     People with ADHD are often passionate individuals who want things done their way—and on their time frame. They may not always work well with others, but ADHD entrepreneurs can harness these positive traits while also working on collaboration skills. This might mean ADHD-proofing the workplace and allowing ADHD entrepreneurs to work from home (or more specifically, ADHD centers of excellence where ADHD entrepreneurs can do what they do best without distraction). ADHDers often run into problems when others don’t respect their time.

You can finally stop doing good and start living good.

crop man counting dollar banknotes
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     Entrepreneurs with ADHD should also try to avoid distractions such as excessive video games and social media. Some ADHD experts actually recommend taking medication for this purpose since people who would rather play video games than work might not be able to find success as business owners. Because of this, it’s crucial that ADHD entrepreneurs create a schedule and stick to it. It’s all about finding the right balance between discipline and creativity—something ADHD entrepreneurs will need more than most people.      

In conclusion, ADHD and business: a combination that can be extremely successful but ADHD entrepreneurs face their own unique challenges. ADHD entrepreneurs should try to access ADHD resources, hire ADHD help, ADHD-proof the workplace, have ADHD-specific schedule set in place, avoid distractions and learn to harness ADHD traits that are beneficial to this type of lifestyle.

Disclaimer: I am a physician who has ADHD. This is just my take on what I’ve read/learned for myself or seen firsthand through personal experiences with ADHDers throughout my lifetime. If you think there are any errors about the subject matter being talked about within this article, feel free to comment below so that it can be corrected for future readers who wish to learn more about this particular topic as well.

Are you a professional with ADHD?

Doctor with ADHD and blue stethoscope
Doctor with ADHD. Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

What is ADHD?

Are you a professional with ADHD? How do you know if you have ADHD? ADHD is an issue that affects millions of Americans and this includes doctors, lawyers, and your run-of-the-mill CEO. It can affect one’s behavior and ability to focus but it can present differently in adults. Perhaps a messy or cluttered desk, poor personal relationships with frequent breakups or divorce, a compulsion to drink or smoke, and often a feeling like you have twenty internet browser tabs open in your head. ADHD has no current known cause or cure and it doesn’t just go away either; it requires long-term treatment which I’ll outline below.

What are my treatment options?

One method of caring for symptoms of ADHD is with medications. Stimulant therapy is the most common ADHD treatment method available, but medications are not limited to stimulants. ADHD medication can be helpful, but there are some downsides. ADHD medications have a high potential for abuse and addiction, they can also lead to drug tolerance.

Another way to care for symptoms of ADHD is psychotherapy. There are different types of behavioral therapy that are available nowadays. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be very powerful and it is available in many ADHD treatment centers. ADHD specialists can also help patients to get better and be more self-aware of their ADHD symptoms and how they affect others around them through coaching.

Along with ADHD medication and behavioral therapy, ADHD can be treated with natural remedies such as fish oil or dietary supplements. Although this is not a cure, many patients have found relief for their symptoms. Treatment has been mainly stimulants for decades. Stimulant medications have been approved by the FDA and have been on the market for many years. ADHD is a disorder of the brain that has to do with chemicals in the brain that causes hyperactivity, impulsivity, and sometimes forgetfulness. Medication can help ADHD patients to calm themselves down from these symptoms and become more productive members of society. ADHD patients with high out-of-pocket expenses for ADHD medication may want to consider the options that work best for them and see if they qualify to save on ADHD medication.

How can a professional with ADHD get help?

Unhappy doctor during a consultation.
Professional with ADHD that is not satisfied. Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Many people have trouble finding a doctor even if they have insurance. We have made it easy using a direct primary care model for our practice. ADHD patients can save on ADHD medication by visiting a primary care physician rather than a psychiatrist. In addition, some ADHD stimulant medications have generic forms that cost much less.

Some of our professional ADHD patients have expressed concern about being able to schedule appointments months in advance. Many have trouble scheduling their days and weeks, let alone months. Now, with the help of modern-day scheduling apps, ADHD patients can book their ADHD appointment in just a few clicks. You can also email or text our staff whenever you remember because we know that you have a million things going on.

What if I don’t like medications?

The right medication in the wrong physician’s hands can make for a terrible experience. Some patients may even be able to use medications that didn’t work for them in the past. I prescribe medication using a different target. Historically, physicians have overprescribed stimulants where the patient was hyperfocused and had personality changes. This also happens in childhood but kids typically say they don’t feel like themselves when they take the medication. This is one of the main complaints that patients have with medication. It’s also very troubling for parents to see their kids go through this. Perhaps you were that kid that grew up in a family that didn’t “believe in ADHD”.

What’s next?

This blog post is just a small glimpse into the world of ADHD and how it can affect your life. Are you a professional with ADHD? We recommend reaching out to our team so we can help. Click on the Contact Us button at ADHD2.com. What has your experience with ADHD been like? Please share below.

Many ADHD women go undiagnosed.

Many ADHD women go undiagnosed, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. ADHD is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects men and women differently with symptoms often being more intense in girls than boys. ADHD can present differently in females when compared with males decreasing the likelihood of timely diagnosis.

Why does ADHD look different in women?

Symptoms often go unnoticed in ADHD women because they are typically disorganized and forgetful. ADHD girls have a higher risk of being misdiagnosed with depression or anxiety, especially when ADHD goes undiagnosed during adolescence. ADHD is also associated with impulsivity which makes it harder for females to recognize the disorder as an adult. There has been research that ADHD symptoms may not be as apparent in adulthood. ADHD women often struggle with their self-esteem. It is a common reason why it goes undiagnosed because it isn’t as apparent to others, but it causes distress behind the scenes.

How does ADHD present in school-age girls?

ADHD girls can have a difficult time in school because ADHD symptoms usually go unnoticed. ADHD doesn’t always show itself through easily recognized behavior, but it does present itself through the lack of organization and forgetfulness which could make ADHD girls seem lazy or careless to teachers. Girls are not often as disruptive because they sit quietly. ADHD girls are often highly creative and they have an outside-the-box perspective which is very useful.

Can ADHD be misdiagnosed in girls?

MRI Images of ADHD brain
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ADHD can be misdiagnosed because these girls are usually less disruptive than their male counterparts. Functional MRI shows promise but can be expensive. Many ADHD women go undiagnosed until adulthood when they realize other people’s perception of them is different from their own self-perception. ADHD diagnostic criteria were developed around boys so medication has not been studied nearly as much on females. Girls are also more likely to have a comorbid disorder which means they could have another mental health issue along with ADHD, but there’s no research on how these disorders affect each other so it can make diagnosis difficult.

Do menstrual cycles worsen ADHD symptoms?

ADHD woman suffering from a menstrual pain
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ADHD symptoms could get worse during menstrual cycles. ADHD girls are more likely to skip ADHD medication doses or not take them at all during their menstrual cycle because of perimenstrual symptoms worsening. Women also experience ADHD differently than men so ADHD treatment could be different for ADHD women as well. There is less research on how ADHD affects women throughout their life which can make it difficult to find the best way to manage the symptoms in women during their cycles.

Does grandma have ADHD?

Different generations of ADHD
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Grandma may also struggle with undiagnosed or untreated mental health issues that could be mistaken for other disorders such as depression or dementia. ADHD is commonly found within families which means ADHD can be passed down from one generation to the next.

Grandma had different life choices when she was younger. The lack of education about what these conditions actually do affects people differently over time which makes living well today much harder. Many girls could also be the first ADHD diagnosis in their family which means grandma and others may not understand ADHD as well making it harder for them to get support.

Conclusion

ADHD is a difficult condition to live with and can lead to many struggles in life. Furthermore, it is often missed in girls and women. We are familiar with how this diagnosis impacts your health care needs.

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What has your experience been like? Leave us a comment below!

What should I feel with ADHD medication

Physical feelings with stimulants for ADHD

Forget that they are called stimulants (Adderall, Vyvanse, Concerta, etc). Many people with ADHD feel tired with these medications. It’s the same people who say they can drink coffee and still fall asleep. What’s happening to the brain physically is that dopamine is being released. This happens with anything stimulating (yes… sex, drugs, Rock and Roll included). However, when a neurotypical person is exposed to this, they have a surge of energy as if they “pushed the pedal to the metal”. An ADHDer brain slams on the brakes. In that case, the only thing I can relate it to is the drag race scene in The Fast and the Furious. A ten-second race is stretched out to two minutes. With the brain getting that “nitrous charged air”, time actually seems to slow down. The ADHD brain picks up more information during the slowed time. This can lead to emotional changes.

Emotional feelings with stimulants for ADHD

One of the most common things I hear when a patient is following up is that their mood has improved and they are less sad. They also have more patience and people around them have also noted positive changes. When you give a “neurotypical” patient stimulant medications, they may note increased anxiety or agitation. I have had so many patients over the years that we were able to get off of SSRI meds or at the very least, required lower dosages. Think about Vin Diesel’s character racing again. Look how calm and collected he is after a race but have him run the family grocery store and he’s got his head in his hands.

Cure… Problem?

If you look at ADHD as a disease that needs to be cured, you’re going to make the mistake that physicians often do. You’re gonna keep escalating the dosage until the patient resembles a neurotypical. What I teach my patients is that ADHD is similar to having poor vision and you need glasses that are “just the right strength”. How do you do that for a patient? Reframe the problem.

Imagine that you have 20 browser tabs open in your mind. (This is when the patient usually chuckles and nods their head). The goal is not to get them so focused that they only have one tab open because that’s when you start getting personality changes. Try to target keeping 3 or 4 tabs open. They are just focused enough to get their tasks done and still fun to be around. In my opinion, this is much better of a gauge than the ASRS-v1.1 that we make patients do. Both are subjective but one leaves a smile on your face, the other one doesn’t.

Are ADHD people smart or dumb?

ADHD aspects: Drawing courtesy of @JesstheMess914

Do you know someone with ADHD?

If you do, then really think about them. Do you find them bumbling through life like Forrest Gump? How do you assess intelligence? Is it only with testing? I’d like to think that most of us can just tell when we’re around a smart person. It doesn’t depend on their perfect grammar or a piece of paper on their wall. We are often intrigued about other people’s minds by the questions they ask. Even if the question is as simple as “why?”, we can wonder about their thought process. How many times have you heard about geniuses being able to change the world, yet unable to do simple household tasks or personal budgeting? Are they smart or dumb? They may just have ADHD.

Why would they be considered otherwise?

In all of my years as a physician, I have come across all types of people. Some smart, some not. I have yet to see a kid with ADHD whose parents aren’t amazed by the child’s hidden talents or an adult with ADHD that doesn’t have an entrepreneurial drive. I see anywhere from 10-15 patients a day just for ADHD. The stories I could tell. I’ve had doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lawyers, engineers, law enforcement, and even one astrophysicist. Most of them diagnosed later in life, just like me. The difference between them and the high school or college dropouts is that one group got motivated to keep going. This is a special thanks to all the GOOD teachers out there that never give up (some of which I have treated for ADHD).

Here’s a list of people with ADHD traits. Are they smart or dumb? (courtesy of mentalup.co)

Top 6 Famous Historical Figures Diagnosed with ADHD

(Click on the link above for a bigger list)

6- Walt Disney – Smart or dumb?

Walt Disney, the creator of Mickey Mouse, one of the first and biggest cults of the animation world, is also on the list of those who struggled with ADHD especially due to the difficulties he experienced during his school years.

Walt Disney

5- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Smart or dumb?

Mozart, the genius of classical music and one of the biggest composers of the 18th century, is among those who struggled with ADHD according to the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

4- Alexander Graham Bell– Smart or dumb?

Bell, the inventor of the phone, gained his innovative and problem-solving personality thanks to his struggle with ADHD even though he had serious problems during his school years.

Alexander Graham Bell

3- Thomas Edison– Smart or dumb?

The man who brought light to our lives, the award-winning American inventor Edison, is also believed to have had ADHD. His hyperactivity led him to the urge to always learn and discover something new.

Thomas Edison

2- Albert Einstein– Smart or dumb?

Einstein is one of the most important physicists of the 20th century. He was known for his carelessness and forgetfulness. But Einstein is another award-winning, famous person to prove that it is possible to be successful and productive with ADHD.

Albert Einstein

1- Leonardo Da Vinci– Smart or dumb?

Da Vinci is another instance of a famous person that lived with ADHD. The difficulty of focusing on one single thing due to ADHD caused him to be interested in many different subjects. He was an artist, sculptor, inventor, scientist, musician, architect, anatomist, astronomer, and a mathematician.

Leonardo Da Vinci

Why do they need medicine to get good grades?

We don’t NEED anything if the topic’s interesting enough (or at least engaging). But asking an ADHDer to be calm and focused while studying or taking a test is like asking someone without ADHD to be calm while racing a car. (Race responsibly and on a designated course). We need stimulation which is what stimulant medication offers. It allows our “Ferrari brains” to apply the brakes and actually slow things down (yeah it has the opposite effect). Giving a stimulant to a non-ADHDer applies the throttle and speeds things up.

Why don’t more people with ADHD reveal themselves?

If you clicked to read this blog post, more than likely you know the answer. There is a myth that if you have ADHD, you’re not good at school and probably will drop out like these people. The rest of it is shaming because when you have ADHD, you can’t tell something is wrong because you are just being yourself. The words of the diagnoses don’t help the case either because we don’t have a deficit of attention when something is interesting and we’re not hyperactive when we’re focused on something. The stigma that has been built up around this has made it very difficult to come forward without fear of reprisal or repercussions. Hopefully, people might be less ashamed when they find out that a board certified licensed physician has ADHD. That’s why, I started this blog because I have ADHD too. I don’t know if that makes me smart or dumb.

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What to do when ADHD meds don’t work.

There are alternative treatments for ADHD. For a lot of people, medications will not work. This is unfortunate because medications have such a good track record in terms of efficacy and can lead to significant improvements in individuals that can take them. There is a targeted approach with regard to medication management.

There’s more to it than just meds.

The good news is that ADHD is a manageable condition. If you read my other posts, then you know that I don’t believe it to be a true disorder or diseases like diabetes or cancer. I believe it to be a trait that is inheritable like eye color. If you look at it from this standpoint, you’ll see that there are many options available.

Alternatives to medications

Medications release dopamine in our brain. There are many things that release dopamine. A few examples are smoking, drinking, sex, and drugs. Of course, if you use any of these to the extent of treating ADHD you will most likely have other issues. That is why we need to discuss other socially acceptable activities that can release dopamine.

Exercise is the first thing that comes to mind. The good thing about exercise is you do not need to continuously move around but rather exercise regularly. This is even true for short bouts of exercise like doing 10 jumping jacks when you find yourself drifting off.

For us couch potatoes with ADHD.

There are other non-physical routes as well. Any form of artistic expression whether it be playing music, painting, or simply journaling one’s thoughts can help moderate the release of dopamine during those periods in between these activities. Albert Einstein played his violin whenever he needed to regain his focus. Can you imagine if he had the ability to play Call of Duty?

Albert Einstein at his messy desk was a classic sign of ADHD.
Does your desk look like a genius was there?

Finally, one of the things that deplete us of dopamine very quickly is poor nutrition. Poor nutrition isn’t just about putting bad stuff in us but not putting enough good stuff in us. I love my Twinkies but I also make sure that I’m getting enough fruits and vegetables in my diet. As an alternative, ADHD symptoms are also improved by omega fatty acids.

In conclusion, ADHD is a very treatable condition and for those that are unable to take medications either due to side effects or contraindications, there are many alternatives that fall under the category of “lifestyle design”, as I like to call it.