Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Drugs and counseling are both effective treatments for ADD. Both are essential to test to determine which is more efficient.
People suffering from classic ADD tend to be irritable and disorganized, as well as hyperactive. They lack blood flow in the prefrontal cortex and basal Ganglia. They also have low levels of dopamine. Treatment usually involves increasing the levels of dopamine.
Stimulants
Stimulants accelerate the body's systems. They are available as prescription drugs such as amphetamines, methylphenidates, and diet aids such as Didrex, Bontril, and Fastin. They can also be illegally used and often mixed with other substances, such as cocaine and methcathinone. They are available in the form of pills, liquids, syrups or patches.
They improve concentration by increasing the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in brain synapses. They also reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity and enhance working memory. They are the most frequently prescribed drug for adults with ADHD. They can cause adverse effects such as decreased appetite or difficulties sleeping, as well as an increase in heart rate or bloodpressure. They can interact with certain medicines and medical conditions. It's important to talk to your doctor about any concerns.
Medications can reduce ADHD symptoms in around 70 percent to 80% of the people who take them. Different people respond in a different way to the medication and the effects may not last long.
Some people aren't a fan of stimulants or can't tolerate their negative effects. If this is the case, doctors might prescribe nonstimulant drugs. These medications may not be as effective as stimulants, but they can boost focus and attention as well as control impulses. Doctors sometimes prescribe these along with stimulants to boost their effectiveness.
Nonstimulant medicines take longer to effect and don't work as quickly. They affect neurotransmitters in a different way than stimulants, and they don't raise dopamine levels in the brain. Examples include atomoxetine, clonidine and Guanfacine. Drowsiness is the most commonly reported side result. The drowsiness can be decreased by increasing the dose or taking the medication before the time of bed. The drowsiness should diminish within a few weeks of the beginning of treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants change chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters. They are classified according to how they affect neurotransmitters, with each group having drugs 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).
Your health care provider might prescribe a medication belonging to one of these groups to alleviate anxiety or depression symptoms. add treatment for adults may not offer immediate relief. It can take several weeks before you feel the full benefit. Your doctor and you will decide the most effective medication for you. They can also add other medications or mix two antidepressants to improve your treatment. This is known as augmenting. The most popular augmenting drugs are aripiprazole quetiapine and lithium.
Different antidepressants can have different adverse effects. It is important to discuss these side effects with your physician, as they may interfere with your daily activities. These side effects may be severe or mild, depending on the type antidepressant that you are taking. It is also important to inform your doctor about any other medicines or herbal remedies you're using, including herbal remedies and over-the-counter medications like St. John's wort.
SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants and are believed to have less adverse effects than other types of antidepressants. These include fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
The SNRIs increase levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine within the brain. This is why SNRIs are thought 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 your energy levels and make you feel more alert. They are beneficial for people with insomnia or severe anxiety. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban) and mirtazapine (Remeron). These drugs can cause insomnia or jitteriness, but can be helpful for those suffering from depression, ADHD, and anxiety. They are also used to treat the treatment of bulimia as well as for smoking cessation.
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a tried and true treatment for mental disorders. It is based upon the notion that emotions and thoughts are interconnected and can be changed. CBT is a goal-oriented short-term process that can teach you new strategies to deal with stressors and bad habits. It can be used to treat depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
CBT is designed to transform negative thoughts and emotions into positive feelings or behaviours. It is a combination of two treatments 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 private or group setting. A therapist will guide you through different methods, and you'll apply them in your daily routine. Some of these techniques include learning to recognize your negative thoughts, practicing mindfulness meditation and keeping a mental journal.
A Therapist can also assist you in identifying negative thoughts that cause you to adopting maladaptive behavior and help you learn to change your beliefs. They will also help you learn how to solve problems in your daily routine. CBT therapists will also encourage you to develop SMART goals (specific goals that are measurable, achievable relevant, and time-based) to help you track your progress.
While each kind of cognitive behavior therapy has an entirely different approach but they all are focused on identifying the fundamental thoughts that cause emotional distress and changing them. Therapists employ various methods but they all operate on the principles operant and classical conditioning, which involves relating stimuli to their effects. In treatment you will be awarded for working through tasks. You will also be punished for failing to complete the task.
In your initial sessions, you and your therapist will identify problematic behaviors and replace them with healthier ones. They may also assign homework to help you develop the techniques. It is possible that you will require anywhere between six and twenty one-on-one sessions, based on the degree and nature of your illness.
CBT is effective in treating a variety of disorders, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic disorders (PTSD). It can also be effective for adult ADHD that affects people as young as seven.
Counselling
Counselling is a form of psychotherapy which uses planned, regular meetings with a therapist (counsellor) to discuss your problems. Usually these sessions last for around 50 minutes and can be conducted face-to-face or in groups. They can also be conducted via phone. Counselling can aid people suffering from various mental health issues like schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. It can also be used to discuss relationship, friendship and family issues as well as work-related difficulties.
A counselor will listen to your issues and provide an objective view. They will be able to detect patterns of behavior and suggest ways to alter them. They can help you learn techniques and coping techniques to manage anxiety, stress, or depression. They can assist you in adjusting to major life changes such as divorce or the loss of loved ones. They can teach you how to deal with chronic illnesses and addictions.
Some counsellors charge fees for their services while others are covered by Medicare rebates when you have mental health care plans from your doctor.