What is ADHD?
ADHD is a brain wiring difference that affects how you focus, plan, and control your impulses. It is not laziness and it is not a lack of effort. About 10% of children and 4-5% of adults in the US have it. A lot of adults in the Catawba Valley grew up being told they just needed to try harder -- when the real issue was ADHD that nobody caught.
ADHD does not look the same in everyone. Some kids cannot sit still in class. Some adults can sit through an entire meeting and not remember a word of it. Some people bounce between tasks all day. Others get locked into one thing and cannot pull away. Women are especially underdiagnosed because their symptoms tend to look more like anxiety or forgetfulness than the stereotypical hyperactive kid.
How We Treat ADHD
We start with a real evaluation. Your provider will sit down with you and talk through your symptoms, your history, and how ADHD is affecting your work, your family, and your daily life. For kids, we involve parents and can work with schools when needed.
If medication is the right move, we prescribe from the full range. Stimulants like Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, and Concerta are the first-line treatment for most people. If stimulants are not a good fit, we also prescribe Strattera, Wellbutrin, Qelbree, and guanfacine. And if past medications have not worked, GeneSight testing can help us figure out why.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Your first appointment takes about 60 minutes. We ask about your symptoms, when they started, and how they show up day to day. If ADHD is the right diagnosis, we can usually start treatment that same visit. No waiting around for weeks to get answers.
Insurance and Payment
We accept most major insurance including Blue Cross NC, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and NC Medicaid plans (Healthy Blue, WellCare, AmeriHealth Caritas). Cash pay is available for uninsured patients.
When to Get Evaluated
If you cannot finish what you start. If you lose your keys, your phone, and your train of thought multiple times a day. If you put off important things until the pressure is unbearable. If your brain feels like it will not cooperate no matter how hard you try -- those are worth looking into. ADHD does not fix itself, but the right treatment can make a real difference fast.