Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Counseling and medication are both effective treatments for ADD. It is important to try both to determine which is more efficient.
People with classic ADD tend to be irritable and unorganized, aswell as hyperactive. They suffer from low blood flow in their prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia and thalamus. They also have low dopamine levels. Dopamine levels tend to increase in response to treatment.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase the efficiency of the body's systems. They are available legally as prescription medications, such as amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine) as well as methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids such as Didrex, Bontril and Fastin and are also illegally used, often mixed with other substances, such as methcathinone and cocaine (crack). They can be consumed as pills, syrups or liquids, or patches which are applied to the skin.
They increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine within the brain's synapses, improving concentration. They also reduce hyperactivity, impulsivity and enhance working memory. They are the most frequently used medications prescribed to adults suffering from ADHD. They can cause negative side effects, such as a decreased appetite, trouble sleeping and an increase in heart rate or blood pressure. They can interact with certain medications and medical conditions. It is important to speak with your physician about any concerns.
Around 70 to 80 percent of people who are taking ADHD medications will experience a reduction in symptoms. However, not all people respond to the same medication, and the effects may not be lasting.
Some people discover that stimulants don't work well, or they can't tolerate the adverse effects. If this is the case, doctors might prescribe non-stimulant medications. These drugs may not be as effective as stimulants, but they can boost concentration and focus as well as control impulses. Doctors typically prescribe these drugs together with stimulants to increase the effectiveness.
Nonstimulant medicines take longer to get started, and they don't act as quickly. They do not raise dopamine levels, and they have a different effect on neurotransmitters. Examples include atomoxetine and the guanfacine. The most common adverse effect of these drugs is drowsiness. The drowsiness can be decreased by increasing the dose or taking the medication prior to the time of sleep. The drowsiness should diminish within the following weeks after beginning treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants change chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters. The medications are classified according to the way they affect neurotransmitters. Each group has somewhat different medications. These include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), atypical antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
Your physician may prescribe a medication belonging to one of these groups to ease anxiety or depression symptoms. These medications might not provide immediate relief, as it could take a few weeks before you can feel the full benefits. Your doctor and you will decide the most effective medication for you. They may combine two antidepressants, or add other medicines to improve the effectiveness of your treatment. This is referred to as an augmentation. The most popular enhancement drugs are aripiprazole quetiapine and lithium.
Different antidepressants can have different adverse effects. It is important to discuss these adverse effects with your doctor, as they may interfere with your daily activities. These adverse effects may be mild or severe and can depend on the type of antidepressant that you're taking. Inform your doctor if taking any other medication, including herbal remedies and prescription drugs such as St. John's Wort.
SSRIs are the most frequently prescribed antidepressants, and are known to have less side-effects than other antidepressants. The SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
SNRIs increase levels of serotonin as well as norepinephrine levels in the brain. This is why they're considered to be more efficient than SSRIs. They also have longer half-lifes than SSRIs and are less likely to interact with other medications. SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Atypical antidepressants can be utilized to boost energy levels and help you feel more awake. They can be helpful for people with insomnia or severe anxiety. Bupropion (Wellbutrin and Zyban) as well as mirtazapine are two of most popular. These drugs can cause insomnia, jitteriness or drowsiness, however they can be useful for many people with depression, ADHD and anxiety. They are also used to treat the treatment of bulimia as well as to aid in quitting smoking.
Cognitive therapy for behavioural problems
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for mental health disorders. It is based on the notion that emotions, thoughts and actions are interconnected and can be altered. CBT is a goal-oriented, short-term procedure that can teach you new strategies to deal with problems and bad habits. It can be used to treat anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
CBT seeks to transform unhelpful thoughts and emotions into positive feelings or behaviours. The technique is a mixture of two therapies which are cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. It's a kind of psychotherapy that is often short-term, and it can be done in a group or an individual setting. You will be taught different techniques by a therapist and then you'll apply them in your everyday life. These techniques include: learning how to recognize negative automatic thoughts; practicing mindfulness meditation; and keeping an account of your thoughts.
A therapist can assist you in identifying negative thoughts that can lead you to adopting maladaptive behavior, and show you how to change your beliefs. They will also show you how to deal with problems in your daily life. CBT therapists will also encourage you to establish goals that are SMART (specific goals that are measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based) to make it easier to track your progress.
Although each type of CBT employs a distinct approach, all cognitive behavior therapies focus on identifying and modifying the underlying thoughts that contribute to emotional distress. adhd untreated in adults employ various methods but they all operate on the principles operant and classic conditioning which involves relating stimuli to their effects. During the therapy the therapist will reward you for completing tasks and punish you for failing to complete them.
During the first few sessions your therapist will assist you to identify problem behaviors and replace them with healthy ones. They might also assign homework to help you develop the abilities. Based on the degree of your illness you could require up to 6-20 one-onone sessions.
CBT can be used to treat a number of conditions that include depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It also works for adults suffering from ADHD that affects people as young as seven.
Counseling
Counselling is a form of psychotherapy that involves regular, scheduled sessions with the therapist (counsellor) to discuss your problems. These sessions can last up to 50 minutes and can be conducted face-to-face in groups, or via the phone. Counselling can be used to treat a range of mental health problems, including schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. It can also be used to talk about family, friendship, and relationship issues - as well as work-related difficulties.
A counselor will listen attentively to your problems and offer an objective view. They can spot patterns of behavior and suggest ways to alter them. They can teach you techniques and coping skills 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. They can also teach you how to manage addictions and chronic illnesses.
Some counsellors charge for their services while others are covered by Medicare rebates in the event that you have mental health care plans from your doctor.