ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR ADHD TEXAS – TELEHEALTH SERVICES
Online Mental Healthcare, specializing in medication management for adults in Texas with ADHD.
At Morrison Clinic, we prioritize a holistic approach to online mental healthcare for ADHD, specifically for patients residing in Texas. Our focus is on creating medication regimens that are easy for patients to adhere to. We believe it is vital to educate our patients about ADHD and evaluate how its symptoms influence their daily lives. By identifying specific challenges, we can craft a personalized ADHD treatment plan that addresses each individual’s unique needs.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS?
REGULARLY FORGETTING SIMPLE DETAILS OF TASKS
DIFFICULTY SITTING STILL AND DOING ONE TASK AT A TIME
STRUGGLING TO PAY ATTENTION FOR REASONABLE PERIODS OF TIME
FREQUENTLY MAKIING CARELESS MISTAKES
DIFFICULTY REGULATING EMOTIONS OF DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY
The prefrontal cortex, located just behind your forehead, plays a crucial role in filtering out environmental stimuli, enabling focused attention on a single task. For individuals without ADHD, this part of the brain efficiently filters out background noise, whether it’s actual sounds, visual distractions, or even intrusive thoughts, allowing them to concentrate on the most important task at hand. However, in individuals with ADHD, the prefrontal cortex does not function optimally, making it challenging to filter distractions and maintain focus.
How is the ADHD Attention Span Different?
However, in individuals with ADHD, the prefrontal cortex does not function as effectively, leaving them unable to consistently filter out background noise. They can focus on one task at a time if it captures their interest and attention. In such cases, they may enter a state known as hyper-focusing, where their concentration becomes so intense that they can spend extended periods “in the zone,” with hours passing by feeling like mere minutes. During hyper-focusing, they filter out distractions so effectively that they may not hear their name being called or notice significant changes in their environment.
When do People with ADHD Find it Hard to Focus?
The attention span of someone with ADHD can be likened to a light switch. When something captures their interest, the switch is turned on, allowing them to hyper-focus. Conversely, when faced with a boring or mundane task, the switch is off, making it extremely challenging to maintain attention. In these situations, their brains are racing, unable to filter out background noise. As they try to focus on a task like reading a dull book, they become easily distracted by surrounding noises, shiny objects, and their own wandering thoughts. Indeed, individuals with ADHD may experience a rapid flow of thoughts, potentially having more thoughts before 10 a.m. than others might have throughout the entire day.
Why do People with ADHD Find it Hard to Listen Well?
Individuals with ADHD often struggle to absorb information that is boring or mundane. If the information isn’t presented in a way that captures their attention, their prefrontal cortex may fail to filter out background noise effectively. In my office, I use an example to illustrate this to patients. I humorously suggest they imagine I’m very boring—though this requires some imagination given my dynamic and captivating personality. I then ask if they’ve had difficulty filtering out “background noise” during our conversation. If they’re uncertain, I prompt them by asking if they were distracted by things like cars driving by, pictures of my two beautiful kids, the noise of the A/C unit, their own random thoughts, or the shiny lamp in the corner. Their eyes often widen in recognition, and they emphatically say, “YES!”
Why do People with ADHD Find it Hard to Sustain Attention for a Decent Period of Time?
Take, for example, my patient who was trying to listen to me during our session. In that brief period, she had to actively push out numerous intrusions vying for her attention. These included the noise of the A/C unit, the visual distractions of cars driving by, various pictures, shiny objects, and her own random thoughts. Anyone forced to ignore such a barrage of stimuli is likely to miss important details of the task at hand. When she attempts to read a book, she often finds herself re-reading the same paragraph multiple times. In conversations with loved ones, her wandering mind may lead her to leave the discussion without truly remembering what was said. Imagine the challenges she faces in paying attention during a mundane meeting or a classroom lecture. In all these scenarios, she experiences frustration and mental exhaustion from the constant effort required to filter out background noise and focus on the speaker.
Why do People with ADHD Procrastinate?
Individuals with ADHD often have a tendency to avoid mundane tasks. The additional mental effort required to filter out background noise can be exhausting, frustrating, and downright uncomfortable. As they continue to procrastinate on a task, their stress levels rise, eventually leading them to a critical point known as “crunch time”. This is one of the few instances where a person with ADHD can fully focus on a mundane task. The pressure of an impending deadline activates their filter, enabling them to produce an impressive amount of work in a short time. They can swiftly complete a paper, cram for a test, or finish a project with results that are truly remarkable. However, the emotional toll of the anxiety this process generates can be harmful, not just for the individual with ADHD, but also for those around them.
What are the online mental healthcare treatment options for ADHD?
At the Morrison Clinic, we strive to minimize the use of medication; however, it remains the gold standard for treating ADHD. Research indicates that adults with untreated ADHD are twice as likely to be involved in fatal car accidents, twice as likely to experience divorce, and five times more likely to encounter significant impulse control problems. Therefore, we recommend that our patient’s ADHD treatment begins with medication.
To minimize medication dosage, we focus on identifying specific problem areas that can be improved by developing coping skills, which are essential in managing ADHD. Cultivating organization and time management skills, as well as tools to handle hyperactivity and distractibility, is crucial. We collaborate with you to find a therapist or ADHD coach who can assist in integrating these skills into your daily life, ensuring a comprehensive approach to treatment.
What medications are prescribed to treat ADHD?
The gold standard medications for ADHD treatment are stimulants, which might initially seem counterintuitive for someone experiencing hyperactivity. However, this approach makes sense when considering the underlying biology of ADHD. Individuals with ADHD typically produce insufficient levels of natural stimulants in their brain, which can lead to them waking up feeling tired, lethargic, and with a brain that operates at a slower pace. This can result in difficulties staying awake or feeling alert, particularly in the morning.
From an evolutionary perspective, this lethargy could pose a significant risk. In a scenario where predators such as lions, tigers, and bears are a threat, a person with ADHD might be at a disadvantage due to their slower response and alertness. To compensate, the central nervous system of someone with ADHD may trigger hyperactivity as a survival mechanism. This hyperactivity increases brain activity, enhancing alertness to potential dangers, and promotes physical restlessness, which could improve responsiveness to threats. Thus, using stimulant medications can help regulate brain activity, improving focus and alertness by supplementing the brain’s natural stimulant levels.
What results should I expect from medication used for ADHD treatment?
When a person with ADHD takes a stimulant, their energy, motivation, and concentration tend to improve significantly. This allows them to remain vigilant without their brain resorting to hyperactive compensation. Consequently, their hyperactivity decreases, and their brain functions at a more regulated pace. This also reduces impulsivity, enabling them to process their surroundings more effectively and think before acting.
With stimulant medication, individuals with ADHD often experience a noticeable improvement in attention span, which greatly aids in learning and retaining new information. These cognitive enhancements provide the foundation necessary for developing coping skills and tools. At the Morrison Clinic, we recommend working with a therapist experienced in ADHD treatment. While stimulant medication can address many symptoms, it does not inherently teach the skills needed to manage all aspects of ADHD. Therefore, therapy is an essential component of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Scheduling your online mental healthcare appointment for ADHD
As you can see, ADHD treatment with medication is a crucial first step in enhancing your quality of life. Optimal results are achieved by working with a specialist trained in ADHD management. Amy Morrison, PA, has been expertly managing patients with ADHD in Texas since 2006. In addition to her clinical expertise, she has served as a national speaker who educates doctors, PAs, and other healthcare providers about ADHD treatment.
Amy Morrison treats patients who have already been diagnosed with ADHD and offers comprehensive ADHD evaluations to establish a diagnosis. Each patient undergoes computerized psychological testing prior to each appointment. These testing results are used to aid diagnosis and to objectively measure the effectiveness of ADHD treatment, ensuring a personalized and effective approach to managing the condition.
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Additional ADHD Online Mental Healthcare Resources and Information:
If you would like to learn more about ADHD we recommend you visit the websites ADDitude Magazine and CHADD AND follow our Pinterest boards and Facebook page.
