Adult ADHD Psychiatrist New Jersey | Evaluation, Diagnosis & Medication Management
Is this you – if you are an adult in New Jersey who suffers from constant distraction, chronic disorganization, missed deadlines, or you feel you’re not living up to your potential – you deserve a straight answer, not more assumptions.
Dr. John C. Shershow, M.D. is a board-certified Adult ADHD Psychiatrist practicing confidential professional telehealth visits to treat Adult ADHD in New Jersey. Dr. Shershow has over 25 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in adults, and brings to his practice the depth of psychiatric evaluation that too many NJ adults have never had.
Driving into Manhattan is not necessary. No need to wait on a waitlist for months. ADHD psychiatric care in New Jersey is available — and it begins with a phone call.
Why Adults in New Jersey Need a Psychiatrist – Not Just a Doctor – for ADHD
When it comes to choosing an ADHD evaluation specialist, one of the most crucial decisions you’ll make is who will be taking care of you. In New Jersey many adults receive their ADHD evaluations at the office of their Primary Care Provider or General Practitioner, who often have limited time, limited training in adult neurodevelopmental disorders and limited tools for differentiating ADHD from the many conditions that resemble it.
An ADHD psychiatrist, on the other hand, will have a completely different set of skills:
- Psychiatrists are a medical doctor (M.D.) with a psychiatric residency program that lasts four years and concentrates solely on the brain, behavior, and mental health
- A psychiatrist is a doctor who is fully-licensed to diagnose, prescribe, and manage psychiatric medications
- An ADHD psychiatrist specialist can distinguish ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma reactions, and sleep disorders – which all share many of the same symptoms.
- A psychiatrist has a long-term perspective – learning what has happened to you in the past, not just what you feel like right now
Dr. Shershow is not a general practitioner who sees adults with attention problems occasionally. He specializes in the treatment of adults with ADHD. Every patient where he has been is fully examined by a doctor who has been in the practice for years and who understands this condition.
What Adult ADHD Actually Looks Like in New Jersey Adults
ADHD is not always the hyperactivity and inattention of the inattentive child. Among adults – especially those who were never diagnosed as children – ADHD can manifest as an internal battle that is not visible to the rest of the world.
People with ADHD in adults often find themselves with symptoms such as:
At Work:
- Initiating with good will and failing to finish them
- Not performing well given a person’s intelligence and work effort
- Inability to maintain focus during meetings or readings of written documents
- Persistent failure to meet deadlines (even when a genuine effort is made)
- Spending too much time on tasks that others can get done in no time
At Home:
- Ongoing problem of clutter and organization despite a desire to do things differently
- Missed appointments, bills that are past due, missed obligations
- Struggles with maintaining household obligations regularly
- Conflict arising from lapses of attention, distraction, and emotional responses
Internally:
- A mind that’s never going to turn back or stay still – or both
- Being stuck when it comes to starting even when you are at stake
- Persistent feelings of failure and blame
- Easily emotionally triggered, temper flares rapidly, or can’t bounce back from failure
These are not the faults or shortcomings of the characters. Are manifestations of a treatable neurological disorder. They react to the appropriate psychiatric treatment.
The ADHD Evaluation Process for New Jersey Adults
You don’t have to fill out a hurried checklist or attend a 10 minute consultation with Dr. Shershow. He starts with a complete, slow and thorough assessment based on your symptoms but also your personality.
Initial Psychiatric Consultation
The first appointment is a full clinical interview. Dr. Shershow examines your current symptoms in all areas of life – work, relationships, functioning, finances, and emotional health. He listens.
Developmental and Life History Review
Adult ADHD is, by definition, rooted in childhood – even if it was never diagnosed. Dr. Shershow discusses your past school experience, teacher feedback, experiences with transitions, friendships and the level of mental health care or diagnoses you received in the past.
Differential Diagnosis
So, where adult psychiatric skills come in. Anxiety disorders, major depression, bipolar II disorder, trauma, and sleep disorders can all trigger ADHD symptoms, and ADHD often coexists with these issues. Dr. Shershow doesn’t draw conclusions. He makes sure that the big picture is seen before he makes a diagnosis.
Medication History Review
Dr. Shershow reviews if you have previously taken psychiatric medications, for any reason, he will discuss what was used, how responded, what helped, and what did not. This keeps from reinventing ineffective efforts and helps to develop a more intelligent treatment plan for ADHD.
Collaborative Treatment Planning
Dr. Shershow then proceeds to share what he has discovered with you publicly and transparently. If it is diagnosed, he speaks with you about all treatment options, including if medications are needed, which drugs and drug classes are appropriate for your clinical profile, and what other non-medication strategies can complement your treatment.
Telehealth ADHD Psychiatry for New Jersey: How It Works
Telehealth appointments are available with Dr. Shershow for adults in the State of New Jersey, including Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Union, Passaic, Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
While telehealth is an option for ADHD, the process is as follows:
- Make appointments by calling or using the contact form on drjohnshershow.com
- Get a secure telehealth link in advance of the appointment
- Connect from any private space – home, office, anywhere comfortable
- Have psychiatric assessment at the same level as in the Office
- Continue follow-up at regular intervals for meds and continued care
Clinically equivalent to face-to-face psychiatric evaluation and ADHD medication management. It saves on travel time, cuts scheduling obstacles and brings expert psychiatric services to adults throughout New Jersey who otherwise may not have received them.
ADHD and Co-Occurring Conditions: Why Comprehensive Care Matters
Many adults with ADHD have at least one other comorbid condition. The most frequently reported ones are:
ADHD and Anxiety: Adults with ADHD are very prone to chronic worry, physical tension, and avoidance behaviors, some of which may be the direct result of years of untreated ADHD symptoms, and some of which may be a secondary anxiety disorder that must be treated.
ADHD and Depression: Ongoing difficulties in work performance, conflict, and self-criticism in relationships can take a toll over time and lead to lowered mood and motivation, which are common features of depression. Adults with ADHD frequently experience a marked improvement in depression when their ADHD is treated.
ADHD and Sleep Disorders: Sleep disturbances have a close relationship with ADHD in adults, including trouble going to sleep, hyperactive mind at bedtime, disordered sleep patterns and tiredness. Impulsivity, mood and attention are impaired, which in turn disrupts sleep.
ADHD and Autism (AuDHD): Recent research has identified that there is a high co-occurrence of ADHD and autism. Treatment planning for adults with both diagnoses must be considered with both types of neurotypics.
Dr. Shershow’s psychiatric training allows him to manage all these overlapping presentations: a general practitioner or non-physician provider would be better suited to medical and non-psychiatric conditions.
Take the First Step – Schedule Your ADHD Evaluation in New Jersey
If you’re an adult in New Jersey who’s experienced unexplained difficulties with focus and concentration, long-term disorganization, or a vague sense that something is amiss, it’s time to figure it out.
Dr. John C. Shershow, M.D. has assisted hundreds of adults in New York and New Jersey with their ADHD, get them the help they need and elevate their lives to work for their brains.
The first step is a conversation. Dr. Shershow is currently accepting new telehealth patients throughout New Jersey.
Insurance and Fees
Dr. Shershow accepts United Healthcare out-of-network benefits, which can help lower the out-of-pocket costs for eligible patients. He charges for initial consultation and subsequent visits in an effort to help these payments remain affordable.
Private pay options are available for those who do not have insurance coverage. Speak with the office office directly to discuss your particular situation.
Why New Jersey Adults Choose Dr. John C. Shershow
- Board-certified psychiatrist – M.D. trained in psychiatric medicine and licensed to prescribe medications
- Adult ADHD specialty – Adult ADHD – not a general practice; ADHD in adults is the specialty
- Comprehensive evaluation – not a checklist, but a thorough clinical interview
- Dual licensed in NY, NJ – practicing in both states
- Telehealth available statewide – no travel required
- Expertise in co-occurring conditions – anxiety, depression, and AuDHD and sleep disorders
- Accepted out-of-network benefits from United Healthcare
- Board Certified in Psychiatry, American Psychiatric Association
Frequently Asked Questions – Adult ADHD Psychiatrist New Jersey
What is the difference between an ADHD psychiatrist and an ADHD therapist in New Jersey?
An ADHD psychiatrist is an M.D. specialist that has completed psychiatric residency training and is fully qualified to diagnose ADHD, prescribe and manage medications, and handle complicated cases that include other psychiatric illnesses. A therapist/counsellor with ADHD training offers behavioral and cognitive support and does not prescribe medication. Seeing a psychiatrist is key for any adults who are potentially candidates for ADHD medication management in New Jersey. Dr. Shershow offers your care in one comprehensive care relationship in which he or she works closely with you to diagnose and manage your medications.
Can I get an ADHD evaluation in New Jersey without coming into an office?
Yes. Dr. Shershow provides fully-remote, psychiatric evaluations for adults in NJ with ADHD. Your initial evaluation, diagnosis and medication management can all happen at your home. Adults statewide, across all of NJ counties have access to Telehealth care services.
How do I know if I need an ADHD evaluation or if my symptoms are caused by stress or anxiety?
This is exactly what a psychiatric assessment does. Symptoms of ADHD overlap with those of anxiety, chronic stress, depression and sleep disorders, and ADHD can manifest as forgetfulness, disorganization, inability to concentrate or emotional dysregulation – these are all signs of anxiety or depression. The only person who can truly distinguish between the two is a board-certified doctor or psychiatrist with specialization in ADHD located in New Jersey. Self-assessment tools and online quizzes will not determine this.
Can adults in New Jersey be newly diagnosed with ADHD for the first time?
Absolutely. In New Jersey, many adults are diagnosed with ADHD for the first time during their 30s, 40s or 50s, and sometimes as a result of being told by others for years that they are lazy, disorganized or that they just aren’t trying hard enough. Women, in particular, are often underestimated because they tend to internalize the symptoms and find ways to compensate for their ADHD in their normal environments. Late diagnosis is not the exception, and it’s never too late to get a proper evaluation and treatment.
Does Dr. Shershow treat ADHD that occurs alongside anxiety or depression?
Yes. In adults, ADHD is not just one condition, but many. Dr. Shershow’s psychiatric education has enabled him to assess and treat anxiety disorders, major depression, and ADHD, among other illnesses, using a specialized approach. Treatment for one condition, but not for the others, will not achieve optimal results. Dr. Shershow views working with everyone’s patient as a holistic treatment.
How long does it take to get an appointment with an ADHD psychiatrist in New Jersey?
Call Dr. Shershow’s office directly to check availability. New Jersey adults can make an appointment for telehealth services at a regular time. In NJ, early contact is recommended as there is a high demand for psychiatric services for adults with ADHD.
Does Dr. Shershow prescribe controlled substances via telehealth?
Dr. Shershow abides by all federal and state guidelines for telehealth prescribing, including the DEA guidelines, which govern prescribing of controlled substances. At your consultation he will talk with you about what is clinically appropriate and legally permissible according to current telehealth regulations. Please write to the office and ask any questions you may have regarding the situation.
How often are follow-up appointments needed after an ADHD diagnosis?
Patients have regular follow-up appointments after the initial evaluation and diagnosis to monitor medication effectiveness, to adjust dosage as appropriate, and to discuss new concerns. Follow-up will occur more often depending on where a patient is during treatment – usually more often early in treatment and less often when a patient is more stable. At your first appointment, Dr. Shershow will provide you with a clear follow-up schedule.
Satisfied Patients
“Professional and thoughtful in his practice. Good listener. Genuinely wants the best for his patients..”
“I could not have asked for a better first visit with Dr. Shershow. He was kind, funny, intelligent and cared about my medications and what plan was best for me. “