
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a real disorder affecting millions of people across the United States, but it can be difficult to get a diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Fortunately, Devang Patel, DO, of Crescent Medical Service, PC in Dallas, Texas, is a specialist in the condition with a unique insight as he has ADHD himself. If you're troubled by what could be symptoms of ADHD or are worried that your child is showing signs of having the condition, call Crescent Medical Service, PC or book an appointment online today for expert diagnosis and treatment.
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that makes it hard for you to focus and manage your behavior.
ADHD develops during early childhood and often causes children to have difficulties at home and at school. The condition continues into adulthood, but you may experience different issues as you get older.
Living with ADHD is a constant challenge, not least because there are still doctors who refuse to accept that ADHD is a genuine condition. As he has it himself, Dr. Patel knows that this condition is real and understands the impact ADHD can have on his patients' lives.
What are the symptoms of ADHD?
ADHD might make you feel continually restless and need to be on the move. Or you might find concentrating on one thing almost impossible. In many cases, people with ADHD experience a combination of these problems, as well as other issues such as:
- Trouble paying attention
- Leaving tasks or projects unfinished
- Being easily distracted
- Poor organizational skills
- Frequently misplacing belongings
- Forgetfulness
- Poor listening skills
- Fidgeting
- Playing noisily
- Talking constantly
ADHD can present differently in adults, so you might have a messy or cluttered desk, experience problems with your personal relationships, and suffer frequent breakups or divorce. You could develop a compulsion to drink or smoke.
Dr. Patel compares ADHD to the feeling of having 20 internet browser tabs open in your head.
Without treatment, children can struggle to achieve their potential at school and may be labeled as badly behaved or disruptive. In adulthood, you may find it hard to stick with one job or find yourself in an unfulfilling career. You might also develop a drug or alcohol addiction.
How is ADHD treated?
Dr. Patel provides complete ADHD management for children and adults at Crescent Medical Service, PC. He designs your treatment to meet your specific needs and reduce the severity of problematic symptoms. The two primary therapies for ADHD are:
Medication
Stimulant drugs can address typical ADHD problems such as hyperactivity and inattention. Stimulants like amphetamines and methylphenidates work by changing certain chemical messengers called neurotransmitters in your brain.
Nonstimulants and medicines like antidepressants can also help some patients.
Behavioral therapy
Behavioral therapy is a form of talking therapy that focuses on helping you understand your ADHD and providing you with strategies to manage unwanted behaviors. Learning stress management techniques can also be invaluable.
If you're concerned that you or your child has ADHD, Dr. Patel specializes in diagnosing and treating this condition. Even if other doctors have dismissed your concerns, you can be sure of a compassionate and respectful response from Dr. Patel.
To benefit from Dr. Patel's skill in managing ADHD in children and adults, call Crescent Medical Service, PC today, or book an appointment online. We provide online ADHD care in Texas and Illinois.
ADHD for Ages 5-10
What does ADHD feel like for school-aged kids? If you're the parent of a child who may have ADHD, how can you help? Dr. Devang Patel -- who has ADHD himself! -- shares some of the emotions that ADHD can have for kids, as well as some simple solutions for making sure you remember how AMAZING you are, in the video below!
ADHD for Teens and Tweens
If you are a teen or tween who has not yet been diagnosed with ADHD but you suspect you may have it, first know this: you're in the right place! Here at ADHD2, you will find education and inspiration about ADHD, as well as resources for better understanding what ADHD feels like, how you can see it as a superpower -- and if appropriate, how to get additional treatments through behavior modification or medications (with your parents' or guardians' involvement).
What does it feel like to have ADHD when you're a teen or pre-tween?
You may have had excellent grades, but it feels like you're doing so much more work than everybody else. You may not feel you can say that out loud, and you also may feel that other people are able to do so many more things than you.
But deep inside you know that if you started doing those same things, your grades would immediately suffer. That's how much effort you're putting in.
It doesn't mean that you're dumb. Quite the opposite! Here's an example: the world thought Albert Einstein was dumb. Okay. Now, this guy ended up being the most intelligent man in recorded history. And, you know, I often say, you know, he figured out the secrets of the universe using a chalkboard.
After that, I just remember hearing from a whole bunch of scientists through the years. Einstein was right. Einstein was right! Now I'm not saying you have to be amazing at math or physics. But that feeling that you can do more, but you can't get yourself to do it; that feeling when someone tells you to do something, and you immediately say, "Well, I'm not going to do it, because you told me to do it!" -- it probably existed for such a long time that you never even knew any different way.
And you probably remember being like this even as a kid, but you would do OK. And then every once in a while you would do something so amazing that you would forget how hard it was to do it. Because you were just doing it. You just got in the zone.
It might be the opposite! It might be that you can't pay attention during movies, where you're always asking your friends, "Hey, what happened? I don't know what's going on. I don't get that." Or you physically want to rewind or go back or see the same thing over and over again.
Sometimes you'll get caught in this loop where you just want to see this one thing that just brings you so much joy and laughter. It could be like a micro clip and you'll just want to watch it over and over and over again. And no one else seems to get that about you.
Another common thing that I experience with teen and tween patients is they'll say, "It's like my brain just turns off sometimes. And I can't control it. When my brain is on, it's on but then it just turns off. I would love to be able to just lay in bed all day when I'm working. But when I'm laying in bed, I feel like doing something and I can't sleep. It's like I have everything backwards."
I didn't know I had ADHD until after I finished medical school. So, just because you're getting straight A's does not mean you don't have ADHD. It might be that because you have ADHD, you're getting straight A's because you found the ability to focus on what you needed to do, and it might be different than what other people have to do. Which is the reason why you come back to: it seems like everybody else is putting in much less effort to do this.
If this feels like you, you might want to talk to your parents to get on to a consultation with me. We'll figure out what's going on. And if you have it, cool, we'll deal with it! If you don't have it, it's also cool!
Note: you will need your parents or guardians to be a part of the process, because until you turn 18, you must have parental consent.
ADHD for Young Adults
Check back soon for more information!
ADHD for Adults
What does it feel like to have ADHD as an adult? There is no one presentation that matches everyone. Some people who have ADHD are doctors, lawyers, engineers or high-level executives. On the other hand, some people with ADHD may be navigating with hurdles including unemployment, imprisonment or other struggles.
Some adults with ADHD have never felt understood and will spend decades on a question for information and enlightenment.
Identifying ADHD with so many different presentations actually starts by looking for similarities.
When adults have ADHD, they often feel as if they have a million things to do, but can't get anything done. And the things that do get completed may not feel "good enough."
Relationships are also often tested, at work or at home.
The bottom line is, there is help. It's worth getting screened, and you often can do so without having to pay for the test or assessment (if you're not sure where to start, contact me and I can provide some suggestions).
By the way, if you're wondering "how can he possibly know what it's like to be an adult with ADHD," not only am I an ADHD Specialist & Board Certified Family Medicine, I myself was diagnosed as an adult...after I became a doctor!