Your Schedule Changes. Your Brain Does Not.
Winston-Salem has two speeds. There is the university side -- Wake Forest students and faculty moving fast, thinking big, publishing papers. And there is the healthcare side -- nurses, techs, and medical staff at Atrium Health working 12-hour shifts, switching between days and nights, trying to keep their own health together while taking care of everyone else.
Both of those worlds are brutal for someone with undiagnosed ADHD.
If you are a healthcare worker, you know what it is like to be "on" for 12 straight hours. Your brain is firing on all cylinders during a shift. But the second you get home, you cannot do a single thing on your to-do list. The dishes pile up. The bills go unpaid. You fall asleep on the couch and wake up at 2 AM wondering where the night went.
If you are in school or research, it is a different flavor of the same problem. You can hyperfocus on a topic you love for six hours. But you cannot make yourself start the assignment that is due tomorrow. You read the same paragraph four times and still do not know what it says.
Why Shift Workers Get Missed
ADHD is hard enough to spot in people who work regular hours. When your schedule rotates every few weeks, it is almost invisible. The symptoms look like sleep deprivation. Or burnout. Or "just being tired."
But here is the difference. Sleep deprivation gets better when you sleep. Burnout gets better when you rest. ADHD does not get better on its own -- no matter how many days off you take.
If you have tried sleeping more, exercising more, eating better, and cutting back on caffeine -- and you still feel like your brain will not cooperate -- it might be time to look at this from a different angle. Take our free 2-minute ADHD screening and see where you stand.
Not Sure If It's ADHD?
Our free screening takes about 2 minutes. It is based on the same tool doctors use. No commitment, no cost.
Take the Free ADHD TestHow ADHD Treatment Works at ADHD One
Step 1: Reach out. Call (855) 468-2343 or fill out the form on this page. No referral required. No calling your PCP first.
Step 2: Meet your provider. A licensed psychiatric provider sits down with you one-on-one. They do not just read off a symptom list. They want to understand your daily life -- your schedule, your stressors, what has worked and what has not. Here is what that evaluation looks like.
Step 3: Get a plan that fits your schedule. If it is ADHD, your provider walks you through treatment options. That includes medication comparisons so you can make an informed choice. Short-acting or long-acting. Stimulant or non-stimulant. What works best for shift workers versus 9-to-5 schedules.
Same-day appointments are often available. Most people are seen within days, not months.
Serving the Piedmont Triad
We see patients across Winston-Salem, Clemmons, Kernersville, Lewisville, and all of Forsyth County. We also serve patients across the Piedmont Triad, including Greensboro, Burlington, High Point, and Thomasville.
If you are in other parts of North Carolina, we also serve Charlotte, Durham, Asheville, Raleigh, and everywhere in between.
Frequently Asked Questions
I work night shifts. Can I schedule appointments outside normal hours?
Yes. We know not everyone works 9 to 5. We offer flexible scheduling so you can find a time that works with your rotation -- not against it.
Could my symptoms just be from shift work and not ADHD?
It is possible. That is exactly why a proper evaluation matters. Your provider will look at your full history -- not just your current symptoms. ADHD is a lifelong pattern, not something that started when you began shift work. A good evaluation can tell the difference.
I am a Wake Forest student. Do you see college students?
Yes. We see adults 18 and older, including college and graduate students. Many students do not get diagnosed until college because the increased demands finally overwhelm the coping skills that worked in high school.
How long does the evaluation take?
Your first appointment is usually 45 to 60 minutes. Your provider takes the time to understand your full picture. Follow-up visits are shorter -- typically 15 to 30 minutes to check how things are going and adjust if needed.
Will ADHD medication affect my ability to work in healthcare?
ADHD medication is prescribed to help you function better, not worse. Many healthcare workers find that treatment actually improves their focus and reduces errors at work. Your provider will choose a medication that fits your schedule and demands.
