Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Treatment options for ADD include counselling and drugs. It is crucial to test both to determine which is more effective.
People with classic ADD are inattentive, disorganized and are often hyperactive. They suffer from low blood flow in their prefrontal cortex, the basal Ganglia and the thalamus. They also have low levels of dopamine. Treatment usually involves increasing dopamine levels.
Stimulants
Stimulants boost the body's systems. They are available legally as prescription medications, such as amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine) as well as the methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids like Didrex, Bontril and Fastin and also used illegally, often mixed with other substances, like cocaine and methcathinone (crack). They are available as syrups, pills or liquids, or patches which are placed on the skin.
They boost concentration by increasing levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in brain synapses. They also reduce hyperactivity, impulsivity and improve working memory. They are the most frequently used medications prescribed to adults suffering from ADHD. They can cause adverse effects like a decrease in appetite, trouble sleeping and an increase in heart rate or blood pressure. adhd treatment for adults can interfere with some medications and medical conditions, so it's important to discuss any concerns with your doctor.
About 70-80 percent of those who use ADHD medication will experience a reduction in symptoms. Different people respond in a different way to the medication and the effects may not last for long.
Certain people find that stimulants don't work well or they don't like the adverse effects. In this case doctors may prescribe nonstimulant medications. These medications aren't as efficient as stimulants, but they can aid in improving attention, focus and control impulses. Doctors typically prescribe these drugs alongside stimulants to increase the effectiveness.
Nonstimulant drugs take longer to get started and they don't react as fast. They affect neurotransmitters differently than stimulants and don't increase dopamine levels in the brain. Examples include atomoxetine and the guanfacine. Drowsiness is the most frequent side effect. However, drowsiness can be reduced by increasing the dosage or taking them prior to the time of sleep. The drowsiness will subside within a few weeks after the beginning of treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants change chemicals in the brain, referred to as neurotransmitters. They are grouped according to the way they affect these neurotransmitters, with each group having drugs that work 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).
Your health care provider might prescribe a medication belonging to one of these groups to alleviate anxiety or depression symptoms. These medications may not offer immediate relief, as it could take several weeks before you feel the full benefits. Your doctor and you will determine the best treatment for you. They may add additional medications or combine two antidepressants in order to improve your treatment. This is called augmenting. The most popular augmentation medicines are aripiprazole (Abilify) and quetiapine (Seroquel) and lithium (Lithobid).
Antidepressants can have different side effects. It is important to speak with your doctor about these side effects because some could affect your daily activities. These side effects can be mild or extreme and depend on the type of antidepressant that you're taking. You should also tell your doctor about any other medications or herbal remedies you're using, including prescription drugs and herbal remedies like St. John's wort.
SSRIs have been found to have fewer adverse effects than other antidepressants. The SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac) and paraxetine (Paxil and Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
SNRIs increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine within the brain. This is the reason SNRIs are thought to be more effective than SSRIs. They also have a longer half-life than SSRIs and are less likely to interact with other drugs. SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Atypical antidepressants are used to boost your energy levels and help you feel more awake. They are beneficial for people suffering from anxiety or insomnia. Bupropion (Wellbutrin and Zyban) as well as mirtazapine are two of the most commonly used. These medications can cause insomnia, jitteriness or drowsiness, but they can be useful for many people with depression, ADHD and anxiety. They are also used for bulimia and for smoking cessation.
Cognitive therapy for behavioural issues
Cognitive behavioural therapy is a proven treatment for mental disorders. It is based upon the idea that feelings and thoughts are connected and can be altered. CBT is a short-term, goal-oriented process that helps you discover new methods to manage stressors and negative habits. It can also be used to treat anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
CBT is designed to transform negative thoughts and emotions into positive feelings or behaviours. The technique is a mixture of two different therapies which are cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. It's a kind of psychotherapy that's usually short-term, and it can be done in a group or an individual setting. You will be taught a variety of methods by a therapist and then you'll use them in daily life. These techniques include: understanding how to recognize negative automatic thoughts and meditative practices; and keeping journals.
A therapist can also help you identify negative thoughts that can lead you to take on a negative behavior and help you learn to change these thoughts. They'll also teach you problem solving skills so that you can handle challenges that come up in your day-to-day life. CBT therapists encourage you to set SMART goals to make it easier for you to keep track of your progress.
Although each type of CBT takes a different approach, all cognitive behavioral treatments focus on identifying and changing the thinking patterns that cause emotional distress. Therapists employ different methods but they are all based on the principles operant and classical conditioning, which involves associating stimuli to their effects. During the treatment, the trainer will give you a reward for completing tasks and penalize you for not completing the tasks.
During your first few sessions with your therapist, you and the therapist will be able to identify the problematic behavior and replace them with healthy ones. You may be given homework to help you build the skills. It is possible that you will require anywhere from six to twenty one-onone sessions, based on the degree and nature of your condition.
CBT can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It also works in treating adult ADHD which is prevalent in children as young as seven.
Counselling
Counselling is a type of psychotherapy that involves regular, scheduled sessions with a therapist to discuss your issues. The typical session lasts approximately 50 minutes and can be face to face or in groups. They can also be conducted over the phone. Counselling can be used to treat a variety of mental health problems such as depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Counselling can be used to talk about friendship, family, and relationship issues as well as work-related problems.
A counselor will listen attentively to your issues and provide an objective viewpoint. They can spot patterns of behavior and suggest ways to change them. They can teach you coping strategies and techniques for managing stress, anxiety or depression. They can assist you in dealing with major life changes, such as divorce or the loss of a loved one. They can also help you learn how to manage addictions or chronic illnesses.
Some counsellors charge a fee for their services, while others are covered by Medicare rebates if you have a mental health care plan from your doctor.