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 effective.
People suffering from classic ADD tend to be inattentive and unorganized, as well being hyperactive. They lack blood flow to the prefrontal cortex as well as the basal ganglia. They also have low dopamine levels. Treatment typically involves increasing dopamine levels.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase the efficiency of the body's systems. They are available in prescription medications such as 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 applied to the skin.
They enhance concentration by increasing levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in brain synapses. They also reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity, and improve working memory. They are the most commonly prescribed medication for people suffering from ADHD. They can cause adverse effects like a decrease in appetite or difficulty sleeping, and an increase in blood pressure or heart rate. They can interact with certain medicines and medical conditions. It is important to speak with your physician about any concerns.
Medications can reduce ADHD symptoms in around 70 percent to 80% of those who are taking them. However, not everyone responds to the same medication, and the effects don't always lasting.
Some people aren't a fan of stimulants or aren't able to tolerate their adverse effects. In this case doctors may prescribe nonstimulant drugs. These drugs may not be as efficient as stimulants, however they can help improve concentration and focus as well as control impulses. Doctors typically prescribe these drugs alongside stimulants to increase the effectiveness.
treatment of add take longer to work and don't perform as efficiently. They don't increase dopamine levels and they have a different impact on neurotransmitters. Examples include Atomoxetine (clonidine), guanfacine, and Clonidine. Drowsiness is the most frequent side result. However, drowsiness can be reduced by increasing the dosage or taking them at the time of bed. The drowsiness will subside in several weeks after starting treatment.
Antidepressants
The majority of antidepressants alter the brain's chemical makeup, known as neurotransmitters. The medications are classified according to how they interact with neurotransmitters. Each group has slightly different medications. 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 reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. These medications may not offer immediate relief. It may take several weeks before you feel the full benefit. Your doctor and you will decide on the most effective medication for you. They can also add other medications or mix two antidepressants to improve your treatment. This is referred to as augmentation. The most common augmentation medications are aripiprazole (Abilify), quetiapine (Seroquel) and lithium (Lithobid).
Antidepressants may have a variety of side effects. It's important to talk to your doctor about these side effects because some could affect your daily activities. These adverse effects may be mild or severe and can depend on the type of antidepressant you're taking. You should also 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 found to have fewer adverse effects than other antidepressants. These include fluoxetine (Prozac) as well as paraxetine (Paxil and Pexeva) as well as sertraline (Zoloft).
SNRIs boost levels of serotonin as well as norepinephrine levels in the brain. This is the reason they're believed to be more efficient than SSRIs. They also have a shorter half-life, and are less likely than SSRIs to interact with other medications. The SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Atypical antidepressants are utilized to boost your energy levels which help you feel more awake. They can be beneficial for people with insomnia or severe anxiety. Bupropion (Wellbutrin and Zyban) as well as mirtazapine are two of most common. These medications can cause jitteriness, insomnia or drowsiness. However, they can be useful for many people with depression, ADHD and anxiety. They are also used for the treatment of bulimia as well as for smoking cessation.
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a scientifically-based treatment for mental health disorders. It is based on the idea that feelings, thoughts and actions are interconnected and can be changed. CBT is a goal-oriented short-term program that teaches you new strategies to deal with stressors and bad habits. It can also be used to treat depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
CBT is designed to transform negative thoughts and feelings into positive feelings or behaviours. The method is an amalgamation of two treatments which are cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. This kind of psychotherapy is typically short-term, and can be carried out in a group setting or on an individual basis. A therapist will teach you various methods, and you'll apply them in your everyday life. Some of these techniques include: learning to recognize your negative automatic thoughts, implementing mindfulness meditation and keeping a mental journal.
A Therapist can also help you identify negative thoughts that lead you to take on a negative behavior and help you learn to change these thoughts. They will also help you learn how to solve problems that arise in your daily life. CBT therapists will also guide you to develop SMART goals (specific achievable, measurable, relevant, and time-based) to make it easier to track your progress.
While each kind of cognitive behavior therapy has an entirely different approach but they all are focused on identifying the underlying thoughts which contribute to emotional distress and then changing them. The therapists use a variety of techniques, but most are built on the principles of operant and classical conditioning, which involve associating events with their effects. During the treatment, the therapist will reward you for completing tasks and punish you for not completing the tasks.
During the first few sessions the therapist will help you identify problematic behaviors and replace them with healthy ones. You may be given homework to help you build the abilities. Based on the severity of your condition it could take between 6 and 20 one-on-one sessions.
CBT is effective in treating a variety of conditions, including anxiety depression, and post-traumatic disorder (PTSD). It also works in treating adult ADHD, a condition that is prevalent in children as young as seven.
Counseling
Counselling is a type of psychotherapy which uses regular, scheduled sessions with a therapy (counsellor) to discuss your issues. Usually these sessions last for around 50 minutes and can be face to face in groups, or over the phone. Counselling can aid people suffering from many mental health issues like schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder. Counselling can be used to discuss friendship, family and relationship issues as well as work-related problems.
A counsellor will carefully listen to your concerns and offer an objective viewpoint. They can spot patterns of behavior and suggest ways to change them. They can teach you strategies for coping and techniques for managing depression, anxiety, or stress. They can assist you in dealing with major life events, like divorce or the loss of a loved one. They can teach you how to manage chronic illnesses and addictions.
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.