How to Talk to Your Doctor About ADHD

Difficulty concentrating and occasional forgetfulness are common among adults with many life stressors. Struggling to focus at work or follow conversations with friends and family can also be normal if it happens infrequently. However, it becomes necessary to consult a doctor if these symptoms become chronic and affect daily life because they can represent attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Most people think that ADHD is limited to children. That is why not everyone knows how to talk to a doctor about adult ADHD, and awareness about the available treatment options is insufficient. You can now see a doctor online and get a same-day Adderall prescription to relieve your symptoms. Below, you will find tips on how to talk to a doctor about ADHD and what you should know about this disorder before seeing a mental health professional.

Understand the Symptoms of ADHD

To get treated for ADHD, patients should thoroughly review their symptoms with the doctor. The symptoms vary from person to person, meaning two patients can present with totally different experiences. So, it is crucial to provide accurate information about daily challenges brought on by ADHD to help your doctor make a correct diagnosis.

As such, patients should note the key symptoms they’ve been struggling with before seeing a doctor. They should also highlight if they’ve tried addressing these symptoms through lifestyle changes or other interventions. Common symptoms of adult ADHD include:

• Inability to stay organized

• Difficulty focusing

• Fidgeting

• High distractibility

• Multitasking

• Restlessness

• Procrastination

• Impulsiveness

Lifestyle factors like lack of quality sleep, stress, mood disorders, and malnutrition can exacerbate ADHD symptoms. It is important to describe the symptoms to the doctor in detail, primarily how they affect daily life. Based on the assessment, patients can get ADHD medication prescribed and be recommended to attend psychotherapy.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

It is common to have many questions about how to bring up ADHD to your doctor. Some crucial questions can skip your mind during the appointment. To avoid this, consider writing down some pertinent questions about ADHD; for example, start with the ones discussed below.

What Type of ADHD Do I Have?

Doctors can diagnose one of the three types of ADHD depending on the patient’s symptoms. The types include predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive, or combined. Inattentive ADHD presents with the following symptoms:

• Inability to pay attention to details.
• Making careless errors.
• Difficulty focusing on tasks.
• Poor organization skills.
• Difficulty following simple instructions.
• Difficulty completing tasks.
• Getting easily distracted in tasks that require prolonged focus.
• Inability to meet important deadlines.

As the name suggests, adults with predominantly hyperactive ADHD exhibit hyperactivity and impulsivity. Common symptoms include:

• Inability to sit still.
• Fidgeting.
• Inability to perform activities quietly.
• Interrupting people during essential conversations.
• Talking excessively.
• Intruding in other people’s activities.

Combined ADHD features a combination of symptoms of the two other types. Some patients with combined ADHD have more symptoms of one kind, while others have several symptoms equally.

What Is the Best ADHD Treatment for Me?

The doctor will share different options to address presenting ADHD symptoms. In most cases, the doctor may suggest a combination of talk therapy and medicine. Doctors may also recommend behavioral changes to help patients remain organized.

ADHD Medication

Medications are an effective way to manage common ADHD symptoms. Depending on the patient’s symptoms and needs, the doctor may prescribe stimulant or non-stimulant ADHD drugs. Antidepressants are also effective in controlling the signs of the disorder.

Psychotherapy

As mentioned, chronic ADHD affects important aspects of the patient’s life. For instance, it can affect personal and work relationships. Patients may need to undergo comprehensive therapy to curb these issues. The doctor could suggest the following types of therapy:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy: patients can better understand how their thoughts and behaviors are connected through CBT. Patients can learn how changing their thought patterns can improve their behavior and reduce negative thoughts.
• Support groups: these are groups of participants with shared experiences. This helps patients know they aren’t facing such challenges alone, which combats the stigma of being diagnosed with adult ADHD.

Additional Tips

In addition to therapy and medication, a doctor may recommend anger management sessions. ADHD patients can find it difficult to control their emotions, including anger. Teaching patients about anger management helps them understand how to manage their impulsiveness and tolerate frustration. Patients get to understand their triggers and acquire important coping mechanisms that help them better control emotions arising from ADHD.

Also, healthy lifestyle changes can contribute to symptom improvement. For example, regular exercise helps boost mood-regulating neurotransmitters.

Can Adhd Symptoms Get Worse With Age?

ADHD symptoms can change, and their severity may fluctuate over time. For instance, menopause can worsen ADHD symptoms in women. Other life factors, such as a promotion at work or relocation to a significantly different environment, can affect ADHD symptoms.

Are There Natural Supplements I Can Take to Help Manage My Symptoms?

The use of natural supplements for various health conditions is becoming popular. Still, patients should ask their doctors which natural supplements are effective for ADHD. Zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and iron supplementation can sometimes help improve symptoms. But discussing the supplements with a doctor is important to avoid drug interactions.

The Bottom Line

Many patients with ADHD symptoms don’t know how to express their concerns to the doctor. Knowing how to talk to the doctor about your experience and being informed about the available treatment options simplify the diagnostic stage. A detailed review of symptoms and health history can help your doctor make accurate treatment recommendations. If you think you have ADHD, the guide above will be helpful when planning a visit to the doctor.