About Troy Don, PMHNP
As an adult ADHD specialist in California, I help high-achieving adults better understand ADHD, anxiety, and burnout.
Troy Don
PMHNP-BC, AGACNP-BC, DC
Helping High-Achieving Adults Find Clarity, Relief, and a Better Way Forward
From the outside, many of the adults I work with appear successful.
They’ve built careers.
Raised families.
Started businesses.
Earned advanced degrees.
They’ve become executives, entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, attorneys, and leaders in their communities.
By almost every measure, they’re doing well.
Yet privately, many are struggling.
They’re overwhelmed.
Mentally exhausted.
Constantly behind.
They’re successful, but they don’t feel successful.
“Why does life feel this damn hard?”
If that question feels familiar, you’re not alone.
In fact, helping people answer that question is one of the reasons I founded Peace & Prosperity Psychiatry.
The Biggest Lesson I've Learned
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned throughout my career is this:
Success does not rule out ADHD.
Sometimes it hides it.
In fact, I’ve come to believe that some of the people most likely to go undiagnosed are the very people others assume couldn’t possibly have ADHD.
The entrepreneur who built a successful company.
The physician who graduated near the top of their class.
The attorney who manages a demanding caseload.
The executive leading a team of hundreds.
The mother who somehow keeps everything moving while privately running herself into the ground.
From the outside, everything looks fine.
But behind the scenes, many are working twice as hard as they need to.
They’re compensating.
Over-preparing.
Overthinking.
Overworking.
For years, I shared many of the same misconceptions about ADHD that many adults still hold today.
I believed the old stereotypes.
I assumed ADHD looked a certain way.
I assumed successful adults were unlikely candidates.
I was wrong.
Over time, through research, patient care, and personal reflection, I came to understand something that changed the way I think about ADHD forever:
Success can hide ADHD.
And because it hides it, people often suffer for years longer than they need to.
Why This Work Matters To Me
My path to psychiatry wasn’t a straight line.
Throughout my healthcare career, I found myself consistently drawn toward helping people who were hurting.
As a chiropractor, I helped patients overcome chronic pain and physical limitations.
What surprised me was that the greatest reward wasn’t helping someone move better.
It was watching them get their life back.
The pain improved.
Their mood improved.
Their relationships improved.
They laughed more.
They enjoyed life again.
Later, as a Nurse Practitioner in the Neuroscience ICU, I cared for patients recovering from life-altering injuries and illnesses.
That work was meaningful.
But over time I found myself increasingly interested in something deeper:
Why were people suffering in the first place?
Again and again, I found myself drawn toward the mental and emotional side of healing.
Eventually I realized that if I truly wanted to help people build healthier, happier, more fulfilling lives, psychiatry was where I belonged.
Why I Enjoy Working With High-Achieving Adults
These are my people.
I’ve studied entrepreneurship at USC.
I’ve built and operated businesses.
I’ve worked in demanding healthcare environments where responsibility doesn’t stop at 5 PM.
I understand what it’s like when the buck stops with you.
I understand the pressure of leadership.
I understand the sacrifices that often accompany success.
And like many of the patients I work with, I also understand the realities of balancing professional responsibilities with family life.
Beyond my work, I am a husband and father, and part of a family navigating many of the same challenges my patients face—including raising children while helping care for aging parents.
I understand what it feels like to be pulled in multiple directions at once while trying to remain fully present for the people who matter most.
And I understand something else.
Many high-achieving adults become incredibly good at compensating.
So good, in fact, that nobody realizes they’re struggling.
Sometimes not even themselves.
What I Hear Most Often
Many patients arrive believing they have a motivation problem.
Or a discipline problem.
Or a character flaw.
Instead, I hear things like:
- “I feel like an imposter.”
- “I have nothing left to give.”
- “I’m exhausted.”
- “I know I’m capable of more.”
- “I’ve spent my entire life feeling behind.”
- “I don’t understand why everything feels so hard.”
These aren’t lazy people.
They’re often among the hardest-working people I’ve ever met.
The problem isn’t effort.
The problem is that effort alone isn’t always the answer.
Why Patients Choose Me
Many patients choose to work with me because:
✓ I understand high-achieving professionals.
✓ I understand entrepreneurs and business owners.
✓ I understand the realities of leadership and responsibility.
✓ I understand that ADHD often looks different in successful adults.
✓ I believe diagnosis should be thoughtful and thorough.
✓ I believe treatment should go beyond medication alone.
✓ I see patients as whole people—not diagnoses.
✓ I care about helping people build better lives, not simply manage symptoms.
I understand that life is about more than symptom reduction.
It’s about having enough energy left to enjoy your life.
My Approach
I believe every patient deserves more than a diagnosis and a prescription.
You deserve to be understood as a complete person.
That means understanding your history.
Your strengths.
Your challenges.
Your goals.
And the unique ways ADHD may be affecting your life.
Accurate diagnosis matters.
Thoughtful treatment matters.
But understanding yourself matters too.
Medication can be incredibly effective.
But medication alone is rarely the entire answer.
My goal is to help you understand how your mind works so you can create a life that feels easier, more intentional, and more fulfilling.
Why Peace & Prosperity Psychiatry Exists
I founded Peace & Prosperity Psychiatry because I believe too many successful adults are suffering unnecessarily.
Life is hard enough. ADHD makes it harder.
If it doesn’t have to be that hard, why continue suffering?
My mission is simple:
- To help high-achieving adults find answers.
- To help them understand themselves.
- To help them reclaim their time, energy, relationships, and potential.
- And ultimately, to help them find greater peace and prosperity in the life they’ve worked so hard to build.
What Life Can Look Like
One of the most rewarding parts of my work is watching people realize that life doesn’t have to be as hard as it’s always been.
The noise begins to quiet.
The mental clutter becomes manageable.
The constant guilt loosens its grip.
Family time becomes more present.
Relationships improve.
Energy returns.
People begin enjoying the life they’ve worked so hard to create.
And something else often happens.
Many patients get a little pissed off.
Not because treatment isn’t working.
Quite the opposite.
Because they finally realize how long they spent suffering unnecessarily.
How many years they spent carrying an invisible backpack they didn’t even know they were wearing.
I understand that reaction.
I see it all the time.
But after the frustration fades, what usually remains is relief.
Relief.
Not because life suddenly becomes easy.
Life is still life.
Problems don’t magically disappear.
But things often become a hell of a lot easier.
It’s like taking off a pair of earmuffs and hearing the entire symphony for the first time.
It’s like removing blinders and realizing how much you’ve been missing.
It’s having the energy to be present with your spouse, your children, your friends, and yourself.
It’s finally having room again for joy.
For connection.
For purpose.
For fun.
For life.
Ultimately, that’s what peace and prosperity mean to me.
Not perfection.
Not endless productivity.
But having the clarity, energy, and freedom to fully experience the life you’ve worked so hard to build.
If that journey resonates with you, I would be honored to help.
FAQ
Ready to Learn More?
If you’ve spent years wondering why life feels harder than it should, you may have questions about the evaluation process, treatment options, or what it’s like to work together.
Below are answers to some of the questions I hear most often.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — and this is extremely common.
Many high-achieving professionals with ADHD have developed sophisticated coping strategies that hide symptoms for years.
You may look successful on the outside while privately dealing with:
• constant overwhelm
• chronic procrastination
• difficulty starting or finishing tasks
• mental exhaustion from trying to stay organized
• feeling like everything requires twice the effort it should
In fact, many of the most capable professionals are diagnosed later in life once their responsibilities grow beyond what their coping strategies can handle.
An evaluation can finally provide clarity about what’s actually happening — and how to fix it.
One of the biggest misconceptions about ADHD is that successful people cannot have it.
In reality, many adults succeed because they are intelligent, driven, resilient, and willing to work harder than most people around them.
For years, these strengths may compensate for underlying ADHD symptoms.
Many high-achieving adults unknowingly rely on:
• perfectionism
• anxiety-driven productivity
• long work hours
• extensive organizational systems
• sheer determination
As responsibilities increase, those coping strategies often become harder to maintain.
That’s when many adults begin asking why life feels so much more difficult than it should.
In many cases, the answer is surprising:
Success does not rule out ADHD. Sometimes it hides it.
Many adults with ADHD were overlooked as children — especially women.
Girls with ADHD are more likely to appear:
• responsible
• perfectionistic
• high-achieving
• quiet or internally anxious
Instead of disrupting classrooms, they often work twice as hard to keep up.
Because of this, many women are not diagnosed until their 30s or 40s when life becomes more complex with:
• demanding careers
• parenting responsibilities
• increased cognitive workload
At that point, the coping systems that once worked stop being enough.
A proper adult ADHD evaluation is far more than a quick checklist.
Your evaluation will include:
• a detailed discussion of your history and symptoms
• how ADHD may be affecting your work, relationships, and daily life
• screening for related conditions like anxiety or depression
• evidence-based ADHD assessment tools
The goal is not simply to assign a diagnosis.
The goal is to understand how your brain works so we can create a treatment plan that actually helps.
If ADHD is confirmed, we develop a personalized treatment strategy designed to improve:
• focus
• productivity
• mental clarity
• emotional regulation
• day-to-day functioning
Treatment options may include:
• medication when appropriate
• behavioral strategies
• executive function support
• lifestyle adjustments that improve cognitive performance
Many patients experience rapid improvements in focus and mental energy once the right treatment plan is in place.
No.
Medication is often highly effective, but treatment is always individualized.
Your plan may include:
• medication
• behavioral strategies
• executive functioning techniques
• lifestyle adjustments
The goal is not simply prescribing medication.
The goal is helping you function at the highest level possible.
Yes.
Many adult ADHD evaluations and follow-up visits can be completed through secure telehealth appointments throughout California.
Telehealth makes it easier for busy professionals to access care without the time and inconvenience of commuting to an office.
This is exactly why a thorough evaluation is important.
Many adults seeking ADHD assessment are actually dealing with:
• anxiety
• chronic stress or burnout
• sleep issues
• depression
A comprehensive evaluation helps determine what is really happening, so treatment addresses the root cause — not just the symptoms.
A proper ADHD evaluation is far more than a checklist.
Most evaluations take approximately 60-90 minutes and include a detailed review of your symptoms, history, functioning, and potential contributing factors.
The goal isn’t simply to determine whether ADHD is present.
The goal is to understand what’s actually happening and develop a treatment plan that makes sense for your unique situation.
The first step is scheduling an initial consultation.
During this visit we will:
• review your symptoms and history
• determine whether ADHD evaluation is appropriate
• begin developing a personalized treatment strategy
For many adults, this evaluation is the moment when years of confusion finally start to make sense.
And once the right treatment is in place, many patients experience dramatic improvements in focus, productivity, and quality of life.
Many adults with ADHD develop sophisticated coping strategies that help them succeed for years.
You may rely on:
• detailed calendars and reminders
• extensive to-do lists
• rigid routines and structure
• working longer hours than others
• constant self-monitoring to stay organized
These strategies can be highly effective.
The challenge is that as life becomes more complex—with demanding careers, leadership responsibilities, parenting, or caring for aging parents—the systems that once worked may stop being enough.
In fact, many high-achieving adults seek an ADHD evaluation not because they have no coping skills, but because the strategies they’ve relied on for years are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.
Not necessarily.
However, ADHD symptoms often become more noticeable as life becomes more demanding.
As responsibilities increase, many adults find themselves managing:
• larger workloads
• leadership responsibilities
• parenting demands
• aging parents
• greater cognitive and emotional stress
For years, intelligence, determination, and hard work may have compensated for ADHD symptoms.
Eventually, the demands of life can exceed those coping strategies.
This is one reason many adults are not diagnosed until their 30s, 40s, or even later in life.
The ADHD wasn’t necessarily getting worse.
Life simply became more complex.