I have been honored over the years to work with hundreds of patients who had ADHD symptoms. Many knew that they weren’t like the other kids in the class as children, or like the other colleagues at work or students in college. They had problems with concentration, focus, organization, completing tasks, procrastination, losing or misplacing things, were easily distracted etc. Some went online and read about the bias against medication and tried all the other strategies to combat their symptoms. They used herbs, Chinese medications, naturopathic medication, increased exercise, yoga, biofeedback, fish oil and other modalities and found while some were more helpful than others, they still had the same problems. In desperation, they came to me and we discussed their options. Some tried medication and found it to be miraculous in the changes they were able to make. One patient this past week indicated “now I know that I am not stupid or lazy”, another marveled at how well they were able to stay on task and complete things that had piled up for years saying “I accomplished more in three weeks than I had in three years before”. They describe stories of spouses, partners, co-workers, friends, classmates, and teachers noticing huge differences and wondering what had changed. Of course medication may not be best for each and every person, but if you can relate to any of the above mentioned symptoms, I encourage you to contact me and discuss your situation. I welcome your comments and questions about ADHD.

I have noticed a small number of posts around the net, asking if ADHD is real? Some are stating that they believe ADHD is over diagnosed and the symptoms are more related to anxiety or some trauma. I couldn’t disagree more. In my professional experience of treating hundreds of patients/clients with ADHD, not a single one had symptoms that were related to some trauma, if anything the inability to deal with the ADHD was traumatic! Additionally, if anxiety was seen, it was again in knowing that they couldn’t focus, concentrate, stay on task, complete tasks, would lose things, etc. and that inability resulted in high(er) anxiety not the other way around. This is not my professional opinion alone. There are many among my medical colleagues and my psychological peers who are showing that ADHD is if anything, under diagnosed, and now that it is on our radar screens, more children are being tested and saved from years and years of unnecessary suffering. If you believe that you are one of those who has been having problems in school, work, or personal life with concentration, focus, organization, task completion, starting multiple tasks and not finishing them, losing things, procrastination, and forgetfulness, you may have ADHD inattentive type. You may want to contact a professional who has expertise in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD and ADD) for testing and evaluation. If any of this resonates with you, I invite you to leave a comment, or write in with questions, or call me directly at (503)492-2200.

What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or AD/HD or ADD) is a developmental disorder. It is characterized primarily by “the co-existence of attentional problems and hyperactivity, with each behavior occurring infrequently alone” and symptoms starting before seven years of age.

Read more at Wikipedia

Welcome to Portland ADHD! This blog provides information and resources for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and other mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. Services are available for medication, treatment, counseling, diagnosis, and psychotherapy in Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA. Feel free to post comments or questions and I will respond accordingly.