Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Counseling and medication are both effective treatments for ADD. Both are crucial to test to determine which is more effective.
People suffering from classic ADD are irritable, disorganized and are often hyperactive. They lack blood flow to the prefrontal cortex and the basal Ganglia. They also have low levels of dopamine. Dopamine levels tend to increase in the course of treatment.
Stimulants
Stimulants stimulate the body's systems. They are legal as prescription drugs, including amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine) and the methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids such as Didrex, Bontril and Fastin and also used illegally, often mixed with other substances, including cocaine and methcathinone (crack). They can be consumed in the form of syrups, pills or liquids, or patches that are applied to the skin.
They increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine that are present in the brain's synapses. This improves concentration. They also reduce impulsivity, hyperactivity and improve working memory. They are among the most commonly used medication prescribed to people suffering from ADHD. They can trigger adverse effects like a decrease in appetite, trouble sleeping and increased heart rate or blood pressure. They can interfere with some medical treatments and medications It is important to discuss any concerns with your doctor.
Medications can reduce ADHD symptoms in around 70% to 80% of those who use them. However, not all people respond to the same medications, and the effects don't always long-lasting.
Some people don't like stimulants or can't tolerate their side effects. If this is the case, doctors might prescribe non-stimulant drugs. These medications aren't as efficient as stimulants, but they do help improve focus, attention and control of impulses. Doctors typically prescribe these drugs along with stimulants to boost the effectiveness.
Nonstimulant medications are more difficult to use and don't work as quickly. They do not raise dopamine levels and they have different effects on neurotransmitters. Examples include atomoxetine (clonidine) as well as guanfacine and the clonidine. Drowsiness is the most common side effect. However, drowsiness can be reduced by increasing the dose or taking them before the time of sleep. The drowsiness will subside within a few weeks of beginning treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants alter chemicals in the brain, which are known as neurotransmitters. They are grouped according to the way they affect these neurotransmitters with each class having a variety of medications 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).
A doctor might recommend one of these groups in order to alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms. These medicines may not provide immediate relief, as it could take a few weeks before you experience 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 referred to as augmentation. The most common augmenting drugs are aripiprazole quetiapine and lithium.
Antidepressants may have a variety of adverse effects. It is important to discuss these side effects with your physician, as they may interfere in your daily activities. These side effects could be severe or mild, depending on the type antidepressant you're taking. Inform your doctor if you're taking any other medication, including herbal remedies or over-the-counter medications 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) and 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 drugs. SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Atypical antidepressants can be utilized to boost energy levels and help you feel more awake. They may be useful for people who have anxiety or insomnia that is very severe. Bupropion (Wellbutrin and Zyban) and mirtazapine are two of most commonly used. These medications can cause insomnia or jitteriness, but can be helpful for those suffering from depression, ADHD, and anxiety. These drugs are also used to treat bulimia, and to help smokers quit.
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for mental health issues. It is based on the idea that emotions, thoughts and actions are interconnected and can be altered. CBT is a short-term, goal-oriented procedure that helps you discover new ways to deal with stressors and negative habits. It can be used to treat anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
CBT seeks to transform unhelpful thoughts and emotions into positive thoughts or behaviours. The technique is a combination of two therapies which are cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. It's a kind of psychotherapy that's usually short-term, and it is able to be carried out in a private or group setting. You will be taught different techniques by a therapist, and then you'll use them in daily life. These techniques include learning how to recognize negative automatic thoughts as well as practicing mindfulness meditation and keeping journals.
A therapist can also help you identify negative thoughts that cause behavior that is not optimal and teach you strategies to change these beliefs. They will also show you how to tackle issues in your daily life. CBT therapists will also encourage you to develop SMART goals (specific achievable, measurable, relevant, and time-based) to make it easier to track your progress.
Although each type of CBT takes a different approach, all cognitive behavior therapies focus on identifying and changing the underlying thoughts that contribute to emotional distress. The therapists use a variety of techniques, but the majority are based on the principles of operant and classical conditioning, which involves associating stimuli with their effects. During the treatment, the therapist will reward you for completing tasks and punish you for not completing them.
In your initial sessions, you and your therapist will identify problematic behaviors and replace them with healthy ones. treatment of add might also assign homework to help you learn the skills. You could require between six and twenty one-onone sessions, based on the degree and nature of your condition.
CBT can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can also be effective for adults with ADHD which affects individuals as young as seven.
Counselling
Counselling is a form of psychotherapy that involves regular, scheduled sessions with an counselor (counsellor) to discuss your problems. The sessions can last up to 50 minutes, and they can be conducted face-to-face, in groups, or via the phone. Counselling can aid people suffering from many mental health issues including depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Counselling can be used to discuss friendship, family and relationship issues, as well as work-related issues.
A counsellor will carefully listen to your problems and provide an objective perspective. They can detect patterns of behavior and suggest ways to change them. They can teach you coping skills and techniques to manage stress, anxiety or depression. They can assist you in adapting to major life changes, such as divorce or loss of a loved one. They can help you learn to deal with addictions and chronic illnesses.
Some counsellors charge fees for their services, while others are covered by Medicare rebates in the event that you have mental health care plans from your doctor.