ADHD Misunderstandings

ADHD Misunderstandings

4 years ago

Perhaps the biggest misunderstanding about ADHD syndrome in adults is that it is one fixed condition that remains the same throughout the years. As I have discussed before, ADHD is best looked at on a continuum between normal behavior and areas of attention, impulse control, and hyperactivity that pose problems in day-to-day living. Our personalities evolve and adapt according to environment, culture, biology and other factors. The cookie-cutter approach that some expect to fix all aspects of what we call ADHD is a hindrance to appropriate management of the condition. One of the most difficult aspects of my work as a Cleveland area psychiatrist and physician treating ADHD conditions is to attempt to educate patients who believe a simple treatment such a such as a stimulant medication would fix all the problems in their lives. Patients have to go through the stages of disappointment and anger, bargaining and hopefully acceptance to be able to address and rebuild their lives in a bio psycho social and existential/spiritual context.

The Cumulative Trauma of Being a Psychiatrist: The Dark Side of Psychological Transference and Countertransference, and the Burden of the Self
The Cumulative Trauma of Being a Psychiatrist: The Dark Side of Psychological Transference and Countertransference, and the Burden of the Self
5 months ago

Psychiatry, perhaps more than any other medical specialty, is a field defined by ambiguity. Unlike...

Ketamine as an Antidepressant
Ketamine as an Antidepressant
6 years ago

The FDA's approval of esketamine (which is a derivative of the anesthetic drug ketamine) for treatment of depression has been hailed as a ‘game changer’ in the treatment of major de...

ADHD and anger, strategies for management
ADHD and anger, strategies for management
6 years ago

Low frustration tolerance is a hallmark of the ADHD sufferers. The scenario goes something like this: You are trying to focus on completing your expense report, and the guy from the next cubicle in...