Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Treatment options for ADD include counseling and medication. It is essential to try both to determine which is more efficient.
People suffering from classic ADD tend to be inattentive and unorganized, aswell being hyperactive. They have a low blood flow to their prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia and the thalamus. They also have low dopamine levels. Treatment typically involves increasing the levels of dopamine.
Stimulants
Stimulants boost the body's systems. They are legally available as prescription drugs, including amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine) and methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids like Didrex, Bontril and Fastin and are also illegally used frequently mixed with other substances, including methcathinone and cocaine (crack). They are available as syrups, pills, liquids or patches that are applied to the skin.
They boost the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine that are present in the brain's synapses, improving concentration. They also reduce hyperactivity, impulsivity and improve working memory. They are the most commonly prescribed medication for adults suffering from ADHD. They can trigger adverse effects like a decrease in appetite, insomnia and an increase in heart rate or blood pressure. They may interfere with certain medical and pharmaceutical treatments It is important to discuss any concerns you have with your doctor.
About 70-80 percent of people who are taking ADHD medications will experience reduced symptoms. However, not all people respond to the same medication, and the effects don't always long-lasting.
Some people find that stimulants don't work for them or they aren't able to handle the negative effects. In this situation doctors may prescribe nonstimulant medications. They aren't as effective as stimulants but they can help improve attention, focus and control impulses. Doctors often prescribe these medications alongside stimulants to increase the effectiveness.
Nonstimulant drugs take longer to begin working and they don't react as fast. They affect neurotransmitters differently than stimulants and don't raise dopamine levels in the brain. Examples include Atomoxetine (clonidine), guanfacine, and Clonidine. Drowsiness is the most frequent side result. The drowsiness can be decreased by increasing the dose or taking the medication before the time of sleep. The drowsiness will diminish in a few weeks after starting treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants work by changing the chemical substances in the brain known as neurotransmitters. They are classified according to the way they affect these neurotransmitters with each group having medications that act in slightly different ways. These include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), atypical antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
A health care provider might suggest you start taking a medication from one of these groups to help reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. These medications may not offer immediate relief. It could take a few weeks before you feel the full benefits. Your doctor and you will decide the best treatment for you. They can mix two antidepressants or add other medications to enhance the effects of your treatment. This is called augmenting. The most popular augmenting drugs are aripiprazole quetiapine and lithium.
Antidepressants can cause a variety of side effects. You should discuss these adverse effects with your doctor since they could cause problems in your daily activities. These effects may be mild or severe, and they can be triggered by the type of antidepressant that you're taking. It is also important to inform your doctor about any other medicines or herbal remedies you're using, including over-the-counter drugs and herbs like St. John's wort.
SSRIs have been proven to cause fewer side effects than other antidepressants. The SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
The SNRIs increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine within the brain. This is why they're considered to be more effective than SSRIs. They also have a shorter half-life, and are less likely than SSRIs to interact with other medications. SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Atypical antidepressants are used to boost energy levels and help you feel more awake. They are beneficial for people suffering from insomnia or severe anxiety. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin Zyban) and mirtazapine (Remeron). These medications can cause jitteriness or insomnia but they can be helpful for people suffering from depression, ADHD, and anxiety. They are also used for bulimia and to aid in quitting smoking.
Cognitive therapy for behavioural problems
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a research-based treatment for mental health issues. It is based on the notion that feelings and thoughts are interconnected and can be changed. CBT is a short-term, goal-oriented procedure that can help you learn new methods to manage anxiety and negative habits. It can be used to treat bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety.
CBT aims to transform unhelpful thoughts and feelings into positive emotions or behaviors. The technique is the combination of two therapies: cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. This type of psychotherapy is typically short-term and can be performed in a group or individually. A therapist will teach you various techniques, and you'll be able to apply them in your daily life. These techniques include: understanding how to recognize negative automatic thoughts as well as practicing mindfulness meditation and keeping an account of your thoughts.
A therapist can also assist you in identifying negative thoughts that cause you to take on a negative behavior, and show you how to change your beliefs. They'll also help you develop problem-solving techniques to help you face challenges in your daily life. CBT therapists advise you to establish SMART goals to make it easier for you to track your progress.
Although each type of CBT has its own approach, all cognitive behavioral therapies focus on identifying and changing underlying thoughts that contribute to emotional distress. adult adhd treatments employ various methods but they all operate on the principle of operant and classical conditioning, which involves relating stimuli to their effects. During the treatment the therapist will give you a reward for completing tasks and will punish those who fail to complete the tasks.
In the first few sessions your therapist will work with you to identify problem behaviors and replace them with healthy ones. adult adhd treatments might also assign homework to help you learn the techniques. It is possible that you will require anywhere from six to twenty one-onone sessions, based on the nature and severity of your condition.
CBT can be utilized to treat a variety of conditions that include depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). It is also effective for adult ADHD that affects people as young as seven.
Counselling
Counselling is a kind of psychotherapy that involves regular, scheduled sessions with a therapist to talk about your concerns. These sessions can last up to 50 minutes and can be conducted face-to-face in groups, or via the phone. Counselling can aid people suffering from various mental health issues, including schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. Counselling can be used to discuss friendship, family and relationship issues as well as work-related issues.
A counselor will listen to your issues and provide an objective perspective. They will be able identify patterns of behavior and suggest ways to alter them. They can teach you techniques and coping techniques to manage anxiety, stress or depression. They can help you deal with major life changes, such as divorce or the loss of a loved one. They can help you learn to manage chronic illnesses and addictions.
Some counsellors charge a fee for their services, and others may be covered by Medicare rebates in the event that you have a mental health plan from your doctor.