Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling

Counseling and drugs are both effective treatment options for ADD. Both are essential to determine which is more effective.

People with classic ADD are inattentive, disorganized and often hyperactive. They have a lack of blood flow to the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia. They also have low dopamine levels. Treatment typically involves increasing dopamine levels.

Stimulants

Stimulants boost the body's systems. They are legal as prescription medications, such as amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine) and methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids such as Didrex, Bontril and Fastin and are also illegally used frequently mixed with other substances, like cocaine and methcathinone (crack). They are available as pills, liquids, syrups or patches.

They increase the levels dopamine and norepinephrine within the brain's synapses. This improves concentration. They also reduce hyperactivity, impulsivity and help improve working memory. They are among the most commonly used medications prescribed to adults suffering from ADHD. They can trigger side effects like a decrease in appetite or difficulty sleeping, and an increase in heart rate or bloodpressure. They may interfere with certain medications and medical conditions, so it's important to discuss any concerns with your doctor.

The use of medications can help reduce ADHD symptoms in 70% to 80% of those who take them. However, not everyone responds to the same medication, and the effects don't always long-lasting.

Some people don't like stimulants or aren't able to tolerate their negative effects. If this is the case, doctors may prescribe non-stimulant drugs. These drugs aren't as effective as stimulants, but they do help improve attention, focus and control impulses. Doctors typically prescribe these drugs alongside stimulants to increase the effectiveness.

Nonstimulant drugs take longer to effect and don't work as quickly. They affect neurotransmitters in a different way than stimulants and don't increase dopamine levels in the brain. Examples include atomoxetine and clonidine and Guanfacine. Drowsiness is the most frequent side consequence. The drowsiness can be reduced by increasing the dose or taking the medication at the time of sleep. The drowsiness should diminish within a few weeks of starting treatment.

Antidepressants

Most antidepressants change chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters. They are classified based on how they affect these neurotransmitters, with each class having a variety of medications that work 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 health care provider may start you on one of these groups to help alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms. These medications may not provide immediate relief. It can take several weeks before you feel the full benefit. You and your doctor will decide which medication works best treatment for adhd in adults for you. You may also take other medications or mix two antidepressants to improve your treatment. This is known as an augmentation. The most common augmentation medications are Aripiprazole (Abilify) and quetiapine (Seroquel) and lithium (Lithobid).

Different antidepressants can have different side effects. You should discuss these adverse effects with your doctor because they could interfere with your daily activities. These side effects may be mild or serious dependent on the type of antidepressant that you are taking. Inform your doctor if you're taking any other medication, including herbal remedies and prescription drugs like St. John's Wort.

SSRIs have been found to cause less side effects than other antidepressants. SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).

SNRIs increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. This is why they are 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 are used to boost your energy levels and help you feel more awake. They can be beneficial for people suffering from insomnia or extremely severe anxiety. Bupropion (Wellbutrin and Zyban) and mirtazapine are among the 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 for smoking cessation.

Cognitive therapy for behavioural problems

Cognitive therapy for behavioural problems is a well-established treatment for mental disorders. It is based on the idea that emotions and thoughts are connected and what can untreated adhd lead to be altered. CBT is a short-term, goal-oriented procedure that helps you discover new ways to deal with anxiety and negative habits. It can be used to treat depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety.

CBT seeks to transform unhelpful thoughts and feelings into positive emotions or behaviors. The method is an amalgamation of two treatments that include cognitive therapy and behavior therapy. It's a type 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 various methods by a therapist and then you'll use them in daily life. These techniques include: learning to recognize negative thoughts as well as practicing mindfulness meditation and keeping a journal.

A therapist can also help you identify the negative thoughts that can lead to behavior that is not optimal and provide strategies to change these assumptions. They will also teach you how to solve problems that arise in your daily life. Therapists in CBT will also help you to establish goals that are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based) to aid in tracking your progress.

Although each type of CBT employs a distinct approach, all cognitive behavioral therapies are focused on identifying and changing the fundamental thoughts that cause emotional distress. The therapists use different techniques but they are all based on the principles operant and classical conditioning, which involves the association of stimuli with their effects. In treatment adhd you will be awarded for the accomplishment of tasks. Additionally, you will be punished if you fail to complete them.

In your initial sessions with your therapist, you and the therapist will look for problematic behaviors and replace them with healthy ones. You may be given homework to help you build the skills. It is possible that you will require between six and twenty one-onone sessions, based on the severity and nature of your condition.

CBT can be used to treat a number of ailments such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is also effective in treating inattentive adhd adult ADHD, a condition that affects people as young seven.

Counselling

Counselling is a kind of psychotherapy that consists of regular, scheduled sessions with an therapy (counsellor) to discuss your concerns. Typically, these sessions last around 50 minutes and can be conducted face-to-face, in groups or via the telephone. Counselling can be used to treat a variety of mental health problems that include depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It can also be used to discuss family, friendship, and relationship issues - as well as issues related to work.

A counselor will listen attentively to your issues and provide an objective viewpoint. They can identify patterns of behaviour and suggest ways you can modify them. They will be able to teach you strategies for coping and strategies for managing stress, anxiety or depression. They can help you cope with major life changes, like divorce or the loss of a loved. They can help you learn to manage addictions and chronic illnesses.

Some counsellors charge fees for their services, while others are covered by Medicare rebates in the event that you have a mental health care plan from your doctor.