ADD and the Evolving Workplace

As technology evolves, workplaces continue to change. Many workplaces offer work from home opportunities, allowing employees to do their jobs without stepping foot in a workplace. Working in a bathrobe and slippers without leaving the house may sounds luxurious to some.

For people suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder (or ADD), a condition known to impact a person's ability to focus or complete tasks, remote work may make it difficult to complete tasks. Fortunately, there are ways to address these challenges utilizing one or more of the following strategies:

1. Get a noise machine

ADD can cause car horns, thunder, and other everyday sounds to shift concentration away from work. Getting a noise machine can help to drown out background noise, making focusing on tasks more manageable.  Noise machines come with different sounds, such as white noise or rain sounds. There is no one size fits all way to program the machine; try experimenting with different sound and volume settings to see what works best for you.

2. See a psychiatrist

Stimulants are commonly utilized by psychiatrists to help patients with ADD stay focused. Additionally, some anti depressants can be used off label to help manage ADD side effects. Speak with a psychiatrist to explore what option may work best for you.

3. Go to therapy

For people with and without mental health diagnoses, task completion can be difficult when there is a lot on the mind. This is particularly true or people with conditions that impede their ability to maintain concentration. Talking to a therapist can help process emotions you may be struggling with. In addition, some therapists can help identify and work on coping skills specifically related to ADD symptoms.

4. Workout

Staying focused while sedentary at home the whole day is nearly impossible. Incorporating exercise into a workday has been shown to improve productivity and concentration. This does not necessarily mean you need to join a gym. Something as simple as taking a long walk or doing a yoga video can be helpful.

ADD symptom management is possible, even when working remotely! Anyone with the condition can try these different coping skills to help mitigate symptoms associated with ADD.

Written by: Sara Fraum

Telehealth and How it Works

As lockdowns abate, residual effects linger in healthcare.  In mental
health, these adjustments are particularly pronounced.  Telehealth has
always been a form of treatment but became popular during the pandemic. 
It was typically used in the past for those patient's suffering from
such things as Agoraphobia or when a patient was traveling for work. 
During the pandemic Illinois' JB Pritzker was one of several governors
to enact legislation allowing for the use of virtual mental health
services. Currently, insurance will cover telehealth sessions at parody
with in-person session.  This law is set to expire within the next two
years. So what exactly is virtual therapy?

Telehealth does not require a patient's physical presence in an office. 
The therapist and patient may never meet in person.  Instead, they
connect utilizing HIPPAA compliant telemedicine websites.  Think Skype
with privacy safeguards.

Patients "check in" and wait in a virtual waiting room until the
agreed-upon appointment slot.  The therapist accepts the request and
commences the session.

Virtual therapy can be intimidating especially since it's on a screen.
However, after the first session most of the awkwardness should abate. 
Instead, the therapist and patient can form an intimate relationship
where all topics can easily be discussed.

There are many advantages to telehealth.  It saves time as the patient
doesn't need to commute to the office.  For example, a patient could
slip into an empty office if a last-minute meeting is scheduled at work
that would prohibit in person attendance.  Telehealth makes regular
attendance more manageable for the those with very busy work schedules
or those who travel for their jobs.

Virtual interactions have replaced the old "phone call" therapy where
the therapist was never able to see the patient's expressions while they
spoke.  Much was lost during phone calls.  Although not ideal, the
therapist has a much better read of the patient's mood and body language
during a session.

We've all learned that telehealth affords patients and therapists more
options.  With the Psypac laws you can even see patients who reside in
different states once credentialed to do so.  As a Clinician telehealth
has made therapy available to many who ordinarily would not have had
access to therapy.  I encourage you to give it a try if you can't see a
therapist in person.

We all wear masks - and this has nothing to do with Covid-19.

We all wear masks. I'm not referring to our Covid face masks. Rather, the masks we use to emotionally protect ourselves.

Sometimes, when we feel interpersonally uncomfortable we may falsely present ourselves.
This defensive style often begins early in our lives. After years of repetition we hardly know we're being "fake." Many of us experience conflict when we don't feel authentic. Our goal as therapists is to help you grow closer to your "true self."

Protecting ourselves is a natural part of human interaction. Defensiveness, however, can become burdensome and sometimes exhausting. Anger, sadness and isolation occur when our relationships feel false. Eventually, we may even believe that no one loves or cares about the "real" you. After all you haven't shared intimacy in a long time.

Ultimately, hiding who you are and how you feel from others leads to superficial relationships, conflict avoidance, and isolation. All of which prevent us from feeling close and fulfilled in our personal
interactions.

How can therapy help?

By becoming more self-aware through self-reflection. This process can seem daunting but with an empathic
ear and direction, you will make great advancements. Therapy teaches you how to better identify your feelings while normalizing your experiences.

Counseling will help you address your conflict directly within a safe and nurturing environment. The therapeutic relationship fosters self-acceptance especially of your flaws. All of these techniques lead
to a greater sense of contentment and more fulfilling relationships.