It never ceases to amaze me that here we are in 2016 and there are still people continuing to assert that ADHD does not exist here in Portland OR.

They contend that it can be explained away in several different ways and all one has to do is start doing some things or stop doing some things and their symptoms will disappear.

These could be start exercising,  take certain supplements or vitamins, do yoga, start biofeedback and other “remedies”.

While some of these may be tangentially helpful, for most they are only another setback in finding relief from symptoms that have plagued them for years.

Finally out of desperation I get the call and hear tale after tale of failed academic endeavors, failed relationships, employment issues, irritability, time issues and many other problems.

I understand their plight after hearing thousands of similar tales and I wonder how in this electronic age with information flashed around the world in seconds, we can have so many professionals and lay-people who continue to assert that ADHD is a fabricated disorder and is being over diagnosed leading to overprescribing of certain medications.

The reality here in Portland Oregon is that there aren’t enough ADHD specialists to satisfy the need. To make matters worse, Portland has seen an explosion of new residents that are attracted to the area for many different reasons.

This has only exacerbated the problem because many new transplants were diagnosed previously, are taking medications, and are needing to find a new ADHD specialist to take over their medication management and or therapy.

My recommendation is to be patient, be proactive in finding someone that understands the complexity of ADHD and is willing to work with you.

Too often when one goes to see a doctor or other health care provider, you feel as though you are invisible, simply just another number. If that happens, discuss it with your provider, ask for what you need, and if you still don’t feel heard or understood, that might be indicative of needing to find someone else that you feel understands you better.

As always, feel free to contact me at (503)492-2200 to discuss your needs. I welcome your thoughts, feedback, and questions.