ADD – ADHD: Who Can Help Me?

A question I am asked all of the time is: Who do I go to for help? Knowing which professional to go to for help is critical in receiving the correct kind of assistance for diagnosis or treatment. Yet, it can be confusing, as there are so many different resources. The first step is knowing what kind of help you are seeking. Below is a brief explanation of the types of professionals who can provide the help that adults with ADD commonly seek from a professional.

EVALUATION

First, I strongly caution against seeing your family doctor for advice or evaluation for any suspected mental health issue, as they typically lack the needed specialized knowledge. This lack of expertise can result in delays in receiving the correct diagnosis and treatment plan. Consequently, your ability to move effectively and efficiently toward your goals may be severely compromised.

It is my strong belief that unless the doctor is an expert in the area of mental health, specifically ADD in this case, she does not have the necessary background nor does she likely keep current in the field.

However, your family doctor may be able to help you by making an appropriate referral. For an evaluation, it is best to ask for a referral to a psychologist, psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. These professionals are trained in the field and are the most qualified to make a diagnosis. The advantage of seeing a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner for evaluation is that they can also prescribe medication, if a need is indicated by the evaluation.

MEDICATION

If you decide to include medication as part of your treatment, I recommend that you seek a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner who again has expertise in the field. The understanding needed to prescribe the right medication used to treat ADD is far too complex for a generalist, like your family doctor.

Also, when you first get your prescription it is important to have a specific plan for the follow-up needed to monitor the effectiveness and any negative side effects of the medicine. It is often the case with ADD medication that you will need to adjust the dosage and possibly the type of medication before you have the right one. For these reasons, be sure that you and the practitioner you are working with have agreed on a follow  up plan before walking out the door to the pharmacy.

ONGOING SUPPORT

Therapy and ADD Coaching may provide the support that you need. It is important to distinguish between the two to ensure that you are receiving the right support for what is getting in your way.

Generally speaking, therapy can help you uncover and heal from destructive thought patterns, behaviors and painful beliefs in order to help you operate better in your daily living. While there are many options for therapy, it best to work with someone who understands ADD and any other condition that you may have.

Coaching from an ADD coach, who has training and experience in both coaching and ADD, can help you to operate more effectively in making plans and taking action in order to reach your goals. In general, ADD Coaching deals more from a present and future oriented perspective.

For many ADDers, the issue that prevents them from reaching their goals is not one of knowing what to do or being stuck because of their past experiences. Rather, the difficulty lies in following through in what they know. If this rings true for you, an ADD Coach can provide the education, support and accountability you need to reach your goals.

ORGANIZATION OF HOME AND WORK SPACE

An organizer who understands ADD can be an invaluable part of your team, if you are finding it hard to create an environment that works well for you. The need for the organizer to understand ADD is incredibly important. Otherwise, you may end up with a system that does not work for you because it is too complex and not sustainable or does not take into consideration the way you operate best.

OTHER SUPPORT

As you learn more about the challenges that your ADD symptoms present, you may consider different types of help that can help you in reaching your goals. For example, if house cleaning is getting in your way, consider hiring a house cleaner. If taxes are too much to do, hire a tax preparer or accountant. If money is an issue, consider bartering for services. Be creative as you think about who and what can support you in your journey.