ADHD, Depression, And Anxiety Specialist

What is ADHD?

The providers at Southwest Family Medicine Associates test for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adults and then work with you to manage symptoms.

The symptoms of ADHD in children fall into three categories: inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Your child may struggle with one, two, or all three areas. Examples of behaviors include:

• Inattentiveness: easily distracted, doesn’t listen, can’t pay attention, forgets to do homework
• Hyperactivity: frequently in motion, fidgets, can’t stay seated
• Impulsivity: often interrupts, can’t wait to take turns, acts without thinking

What do you need to know about ADHD and memory loss?

Difficulty with memory affects children and adults with ADHD. Low working memory in children with ADHD hinders their ability to temporarily store information and use it to guide behavior and learning. In adults, difficulty with both memory and attention are the primary symptoms of ADHD. If you have ADHD and memory problems, the team at Southwest Family Medicine Associates can help with medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other treatments.

When should you be concerned about depression?

Depression is such a common problem that some people don’t take it seriously, but you should never ignore it. Contact the team at Southwest Family Medicine Associates if you have any of these symptoms for more than two weeks:

• Loss of interest in daily activities
• Feeling worthless or hopeless
• Sleeping more or less than usual
• Fatigue
• Inability to concentrate
• Weight gain or loss
• Agitation and restlessness
• Thoughts of suicide

When should you be concerned about anxiety?

You can’t avoid anxiety in daily life, but it usually subsides after you face the situation that made you anxious. When anxiety is constant or lasts a long time, it affects your mental and physical health and causes diverse symptoms.

You may feel tense, irritable, apprehensive, or filled with dread. Anxiety raises your heart rate, makes it hard to breathe, and causes other physical problems, such as an upset stomach. Severe anxiety can trigger a panic attack.

When anxiety interferes with daily life — you have trouble working, you stop meeting with friends, or you avoid activities — it’s time to consider getting professional help.

How can a life coach help you?

A life coach helps you identify goals you want to achieve in your personal and/or business life, works with you to create an action plan to reach those goals, and then supports you as you implement the plan. A qualified life coach like Rachel Mills at Southwest Family Medicine Associates can shed light on difficult situations and act as a sounding board. Through regularly scheduled meetings, she also motivates you to follow through on your action plan.

What is cognitive behavioral therapy?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on the relationship between what you think, how you feel, and the way you behave. Through structured assignments, you identify automatic thoughts, explore whether they’re realistic, and learn ways to change them if necessary.

You also define the places, activities, and thoughts associated with feelings like anxiety and stress. With each step, you learn to change your thoughts, feelings and reactions, which leads to improved mental health.

What life challenges benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy?

CBT effectively treats a variety of challenges, including:

• Sleep disorders
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Phobias
• Mood disorders
• Anger
• Eating disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

Trust the behavioral health services at Southwest Family Medicine Associates. Call or schedule an appointment online.