Have you ever felt like you think about things a bit differently than other people?
When other people can sit down, shut out the distractions, and focus on work, you struggle to focus on even the most mundane tasks. While other people have no trouble showing up to every dinner and social occasion on time, you’re perpetually rushing around, always five minutes late to every appointment.
You don’t need to blame yourself. The problem may stem from a psychological disorder: ADHD. This disorder can go undiagnosed in children and go on to manifest in troublesome symptoms for adults.
If you think you may need an ADHD diagnosis in Dallas, come to Premier Mental Health & Wellness. We provide comprehensive evaluations to accurately identify your condition and create a personalized treatment plan tailored to effectively address your symptoms.
Table of Contents
Are you in a hurry? Use our table of contents to skip ahead to the information about getting an ADHD diagnosis in Dallas.
Why Does ADHD Go Undiagnosed in Adults?
What Is ADHD?
ADHD stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. This disorder is exceedingly common, affecting approximately 6% of adults. ADHD results in a variety of symptoms, which can include disorganization and excessive energy. This disorder typically manifests in 3 main types: inattentive type, hyperactive/impulsive presentation, combined presentation.
Inattentive Type
If a patient has the inattentive type of ADHD, they may have trouble focusing on tasks or organizing their schedule.
Hyperactive/Impulsive Type
Patients with the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD may have excessive amounts of energy and an inability to sit still.
Combined Presentation
As the name suggests, this type of ADHD occurs when patients show signs of both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive types.
Why Does ADHD Go Undiagnosed in Adults?
If you’re a parent, you know—children can be unpredictable. So when children manifest symptoms of ADHD, it can go unnoticed by parents and teachers alike. Additionally, depending on the financial circumstances of a child’s family, getting a formal diagnosis may be difficult.
As children grow older, they may develop coping strategies that can make their ADHD symptoms appear less noticeable, adding complexity to accurate identification and support. As a result, many adults with ADHD may not recognize the condition in themselves, as their symptoms can become less noticeable over time. Symptoms may become more pronounced through adulthood with big life changes, such as parenthood or job changes
Fortunately, at Premier Mental Health & Wellness, our specialists can evaluate your symptoms and assess for adult ADHD. But what signs do we look for when identifying this condition?
The Symptoms of ADHD
ADHD can cause a wide range of symptoms across its three main types. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common symptoms we use to make an ADHD diagnosis in Dallas.
Mental Hyperactivity
Hyperactivity is a symptom many people associate with ADHD, but it is more commonly observed in children. As you age, this symptom often becomes less noticeable, sometimes presenting instead as internal restlessness or a persistently active mind.
Instead of constant fidgeting and bottomless energy, you may experience an overactive train of thought, an endless internal monologue, or taking on too many obligations.
Impulsiveness
Do you often make decisions without fully thinking them through? Do you look back on your actions and wonder what was going through your head? This is a sign of impulsivity, which is another common symptom of ADHD.
Disorganization
Another symptom we can use for an ADHD diagnosis in Dallas is disorganization. Disorganization doesn’t just mean having a messy workspace (though it can mean that, too!). Disorganization can also manifest in the form of an inability to stick to a schedule or having difficulty prioritizing important tasks.
Mood Swings
ADHD can also make it difficult to control your emotions. If you find yourself flying off the handle without cause, or notice your moods shifting without reason, then this may be a sign of ADHD. This symptom may also make it more difficult for you to cope with stress.
Do You Need a Diagnosis?
It’s important to note that not everyone with these symptoms has ADHD. Because some of these symptoms may stem from other conditions, or stressors in your daily life, it can be difficult to determine the right time to meet with a professional.
If your symptoms are making it hard to function normally or feel overwhelmed with daily life, you should come to Premier Mental Health & Wellness to be assessed for an ADHD diagnosis in Dallas.
Diagnosing Your Condition
When you come to our clinic for an ADHD diagnosis, our team members work to create a complete picture of you, your history, your lifestyle, and your concerns.
During your intake session, we may ask you if you’ve ever been diagnosed with a psychological condition, if you’ve ever tried therapy, and if you’re on any medication(s).
We’ll also ask you why you came to meet with our team in the first place. What symptoms are you experiencing? How are they affecting your life? The answers to these questions along with other formal assessments provide us with the information we need to make an ADHD diagnosis in Dallas.
Our ADHD Treatment Options
Once we determine you have ADHD, our experts can develop a treatment plan based on your needs and preferences. We have multiple methods for managing your ADHD symptoms so you can feel more comfortable and collected throughout your daily life.
Ruling Out Other Causes
Before we recommend treatments to address your ADHD symptoms, we may complete a diagnostic lab to confirm there isn’t an underlying medical condition contributing to your symptoms.
Using a sample of your blood, we can determine whether your symptoms are a result of a hormone, nutrient, or vitamin deficiency. If we suspect that is the case, we can reduce your symptoms with supplements or wellness injections to balance out your hormone, nutrient, or vitamin levels.
Medication
If a patient is struggling with their ADHD symptoms, we may recommend medication to help reduce their symptoms. Notice we said, “reduce” and not “eliminate.” You cannot completely cure ADHD, but with the right medication, you can reduce the noise in your mind.
But why does medication work?
The medications we prescribe to treat ADHD can increase the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, which can lower mental hyperactivity, address impulsive behavior, and make it easier to focus.
Finding the right medication and dosage can take time, but our team members can monitor your results and adjust your plan as needed.
Therapy
Another option we offer following an ADHD diagnosis in Dallas is therapy. Therapy involves creating strategies to help you overcome the negative thought patterns that may stem from ADHD. Many patients develop self-deprecating and self-destructive thoughts as a result of their ADHD symptoms.
If your mood swings or time-management skills are impacting your relationships, you may also feel depressed and blame yourself.
However, with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we can help you identify these negative thought patterns as they’re occurring, so you can reframe your mindset in a more positive way. CBT also helps build patients’ confidence so they can better cope with their symptoms.
We can take CBT a step further with mindfulness based therapy (MBT). This process uses mindfulness to help patients regulate their emotions to boost mental wellness.
At Premier Mental Health & Wellness, we can provide psychiatric assistance both in-person and online, so no matter where you are and what your schedule is, you can receive the help you need.
You don’t have to choose between therapy and medication to treat ADHD. Our team members can combine both methods in a personalized care plan that addresses your specific concerns.
Providing Lasting Support
Once our team members assess for an ADHD diagnosis in Dallas and develop your treatment plan, we can provide continuous support for ongoing positive results.
ADHD treatment isn’t an overnight process. It’s a journey of hills and valleys. Initially, you may achieve favorable results with behavioral strategies, but symptoms can feel like they worsen.
This isn’t a sign of failure; it’s just a sign that we need to update your treatment plan.
What works for one patient may not work for another. If CBT and MBT aren’t providing substantial results, we may suggest combining therapy with medication.
Depending on how you respond to your prescription, we may increase your dosage or alter your prescription. Your needs may change over time, but we can change your treatment plan to reflect that.
Read More About Our Available Treatments
At Premier Mental Health, we have treatments to provide relief from symptoms stemming from a range of mental health disorders; not just ADHD. We can also provide treatment for:
- PTSD
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- And more
If you want to learn more about the treatment options we provide, take a look at our educational blog.
This resource contains important information about the services we offer at Premier Mental Health. And the best part is, we update this blog every month, so there’s always something new to read—and to learn!
Diagnose Your Concerns, and Get the Treatment You Deserve
The first step in experiencing relief from your concerns is identifying what’s causing them in the first place. ADHD often goes undiagnosed in adults, but our experts at Premier Mental Health know the signs and the symptoms.
To discuss a possible diagnosis, request an appointment with our team. We can go over your symptoms, pinpoint your condition, and build a personalized treatment plan to address it.
To learn more about our other treatment options, like esketamine for depression, give our team a call. Contact Premier Mental Health & Wellness to experience the calm that comes with a clear mind.
