Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Treatment options for ADD include drugs and counselling. Both are crucial to test to see which is more efficient.
People suffering from classic ADD are inattentive, disorganized and often hyperactive. They have a lack of blood flow to the prefrontal cortex and the basal Ganglia. They also have low levels of dopamine. Dopamine levels are typically increased in response to treatment.
Stimulants
Stimulants accelerate the body's systems. They are legal as prescription drugs, including amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine) as well as methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids such as Didrex, Bontril and Fastin and also used illegally often in combination with other substances, like cocaine and methcathinone (crack). They are available as pills, syrups or liquids, or patches that are applied to the skin.
They increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine within the brain's synapses, thereby improving concentration. They also reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and help improve working memory. They are the most commonly prescribed medication for people suffering from ADHD. They can trigger negative side effects, such as a decreased appetite, sleep disturbances and a rise in blood pressure or heart rate. They may interact with certain medications and medical conditions. It is essential to talk with your physician about any concerns.
About 70% to 80 percent of people who take ADHD medication will experience reduced symptoms. However, not all people respond to the same medications, and the effects aren't always long-lasting.
Some people aren't a fan of stimulants or don't like their negative effects. If this is the case, doctors may prescribe non-stimulant medications. These drugs aren't as effective as stimulants but they can help improve focus, attention and control impulses. Doctors sometimes prescribe these along with stimulants to increase their effectiveness.
Nonstimulant medications take longer to get started, and they don't act as fast. They affect neurotransmitters differently from stimulants and don't increase dopamine levels in the brain. how to treat adhd include the atomoxetine (clonidine), guanfacine, and clonidine. The most frequent side effect of these medications is drowsiness. However, drowsiness can be reduced by increasing the dosage or taking them prior to the time of bed. The drowsiness should diminish within a few weeks of the beginning of treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants alter chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters. The medications are classified according to how they act on neurotransmitters. Each group is comprised of distinct 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 one of these groups in order to alleviate anxiety and 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 decide on the best medication for you. They can also add other medications or combine two antidepressants in order to improve your treatment. This is called augmenting. The most commonly used augmentation drugs are aripiprazole (Abilify) as well as quetiapine (Seroquel) and lithium (Lithobid).
Antidepressants can cause a variety of adverse effects. It is important to discuss these side effects with your physician because they could interfere with your daily activities. These side effects may be severe or mild depending on the kind of antidepressant you're taking. It is also important to inform your doctor about any other medications 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 known to have less side-effects than other antidepressants. The SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), paraxetine (Paxil and 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 a longer half-life than SSRIs and are less likely to interact with other drugs. SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta), and venlafaxine, (Effexor).
Atypical antidepressants can be utilized to boost your energy levels and help you feel more awake. They can be helpful for those suffering from insomnia or severe anxiety. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban) and mirtazapine (Remeron). These drugs can cause jitteriness, insomnia or drowsiness. However, they can be useful for many people with depression, ADHD and anxiety. They are also used to treat bulimia and as a smoking cessation aid.
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy is a proven treatment for mental disorders. It is based on the idea that emotions, thoughts and actions are interconnected and can be altered. CBT is an approach that is short-term and goal-oriented that can help you learn new methods to manage stressors and negative habits. It can be used to treat depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
CBT is designed to transform negative thoughts and emotions into positive thoughts or behaviours. The technique is the combination of two therapies which are cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. This type of psychotherapy is typically short-term, and can be carried out in a group or in a private setting. You will be taught various techniques by a therapist and then you will practice them in your everyday life. Some of these techniques include: being able to recognize your negative automatic thoughts, practicing mindfulness meditation and keeping a thought journal.
A therapist can also help you identify negative thoughts that lead you to engage in maladaptive behavior and help you learn to change your beliefs. They will also teach you how to deal with problems that arise in your daily life. CBT therapists will also guide you to develop goals that are SMART (specific achievable, measurable relevant, time-based, and relevant) to aid in tracking your progress.
While each kind of cognitive behavioral therapy employs an entirely different approach however, they all concentrate on identifying the mental thoughts that contribute to emotional distress and transforming them. The therapists use different techniques however they all are based on the principles operant and classical conditioning, which involves the association of stimuli with their effects. While you are in treatment you will be rewarded for the accomplishment of tasks. Additionally, you will be penalized for failing to complete the task.
During the first few sessions the therapist will help you identify the problem behaviors and replace them with healthier ones. You might be assigned homework to help you master the skills. Based on the severity of your condition it could take between 6 and 20 one-on-one sessions.
CBT can be used to treat a number of ailments that include depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can also be effective in treating adult ADHD, a condition that can affect people as young as seven.
Counseling
Counselling is a form of psychotherapy that consists of regular, scheduled meetings with an counselor (counsellor) to discuss your problems. These sessions can last up to 50 minutes and can be conducted face-toface, in groups, or via the phone. Counselling can assist people suffering from many mental health issues like schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. Counselling can be used to discuss relationship, family and friendship issues as well as work-related problems.
A counselor will listen attentively to your problems and offer an objective view. They will be able to discern patterns of behavior and suggest ways to change them. They can teach you coping skills and techniques to manage depression, anxiety, or stress. They can help you cope with major life changes, like divorce or the loss of a beloved. They can teach you how to deal with addictions and chronic illnesses.
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.