Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Treatment options for ADD include counselling and drugs. It is essential to try both to determine which one is more effective.
People with classic ADD are irritable, disorganized and often hyperactive. They suffer from low blood flow in their prefrontal cortex, the basal ganglia, and thalamus. They also have low levels of dopamine. Treatment typically involves increasing dopamine levels.
Stimulants
Stimulants speed up the body's systems. They are available in the form of prescription drugs like amphetamines, methylphenidates and diet aids like Didrex, Bontril, and Fastin. They can also be illegally used and are often mixed with other substances like methcathinone and cocaine. They are available in the form of syrups, pills, liquids or patches that are placed on the skin.
They boost concentration by increasing levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in brain synapses. They also reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and enhance working memory. They are among the most commonly used medications prescribed to adults suffering from ADHD. They can cause adverse effects like a decrease in appetite, sleep disturbances and an increase in blood pressure or heart rate. They may interact with certain medications and medical conditions. It's important to talk with your physician about any concerns.
About 70-80 percent of those who are taking ADHD medication will experience a reduction in symptoms. Not all people respond the same way to the medication and the effects may not last for long.
Some people aren't fond of stimulants or aren't able to tolerate their adverse effects. If this is the case, doctors might prescribe non-stimulant medications. These medications aren't as efficient as stimulants, but they do help improve attention, focus and control impulses. Doctors may prescribe them along with stimulants to increase their effectiveness.
Nonstimulant drugs take longer to work and don't work as quickly. They affect neurotransmitters in a different way than stimulants and do not increase the levels of dopamine in the brain. Examples include Atomoxetine (clonidine), guanfacine, and the clonidine. The most frequent side effect of these medications is drowsiness. The drowsiness can be reduced by increasing the dosage or taking the medication prior to the time of sleep. The drowsiness should subside within a few weeks after starting treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants change chemicals in the brain, which are known as neurotransmitters. The drugs are classified based on how they act on neurotransmitters. Each group contains 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 doctor may prescribe a medication belonging to one of these groups to ease anxiety or depression symptoms. These medications may not offer immediate relief, since it can take weeks before you experience the full benefits. Your doctor and you will decide the best medication for you. They can also add additional medications or combine two antidepressants to enhance your treatment. This is referred to as an augmentation. The most popular augmentation drugs are aripiprazole, quetiapine, and lithium.
Different antidepressants can have different side effects. It is essential to talk with your doctor about these side effects because some could affect your daily activities. These side effects may be severe or mild, depending on the type antidepressant you're taking. Inform your doctor if taking any other medications, such as herbal remedies and over-the-counter drugs such as St. John's Wort.
SSRIs have been known to cause fewer side effects than other antidepressants. SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
SNRIs increase the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. This is the reason SNRIs are thought to be more effective 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 and make you feel more awake. They can be beneficial for those suffering from insomnia or severe anxiety. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban) and mirtazapine (Remeron). These medications can cause jitteriness, insomnia or drowsiness, but they are beneficial to many people suffering from depression, ADHD and anxiety. These drugs are also used to treat bulimia and to assist smokers in quitting.
Cognitive therapy for behavioural issues
Cognitive therapy for behavioural problems is a well-established treatment for mental disorders. It is based on the belief that emotions and thoughts are interconnected and can be changed. CBT is an approach that is short-term and goal-oriented that helps you discover new ways to deal with stressors and negative habits. It can be used to treat depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety.
CBT aims to transform unhelpful thoughts and emotions into positive feelings or behaviours. It is a combination of two therapies, cognitive therapy and behavior therapy. This kind of psychotherapy is typically short-term, and can be carried out in a group or on an individual basis. A therapist will teach you different methods, and you'll apply them in your daily routine. Some of these techniques include: the ability to recognize negative automatic thoughts, practicing mindfulness meditation, and keeping a thought journal.
A therapist will also help you identify negative thoughts that can lead to ineffective behaviors, and then teach you strategies for changing these assumptions. They'll also teach you problem solving techniques to help you face challenges in your daily life. Therapists in CBT will also help you to develop SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable relevant, time-based, and relevant) to help you track your progress.
While each form of CBT takes a different approach, all cognitive behavior treatments focus on identifying and modifying the underlying thoughts that contribute to emotional distress. Continued employ various methods but they all operate on the principles operant and classical conditioning, which involves relating stimuli to their effects. While you are in treatment you will be awarded for completing tasks. You will also be penalized if you fail to complete the task.
During the first few sessions, your therapist will work with you to identify problem behaviors and replace them with healthy ones. You may be given homework to help you master the abilities. You could require anywhere from six to twenty one-on-one sessions, depending on the severity and nature of your condition.
CBT can be utilized to treat a variety of ailments, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). It also works in treating adult ADHD, a condition that affects people as young seven.
Counseling
Counselling is a type of psychotherapy that uses regular, scheduled sessions with a therapist in order to discuss your concerns. Typically, these sessions last around 50 minutes and can be face to face in groups, or over the phone. Counselling can be used to treat a range of mental health problems, including schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. Counselling can be used to talk about friendship, family and relationship issues, as well as workplace-related issues.
A counselor will listen attentively to your concerns and provide an objective view. They will be able to identify patterns of behaviour and suggest ways you can modify them. They can teach you coping strategies and strategies for managing stress, anxiety or depression. They can assist you in dealing with major life events, such as divorce or the loss of a loved. They can teach you how to manage chronic illnesses and addictions.
Some counsellors charge a fee for their services, whereas others are covered by Medicare rebates if you have a mental health care plan from your doctor.