Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Treatment options for ADD include counseling and medication. Both are crucial to determine which is more effective.
People with classic ADD tend to be irritable and disorganized, as well being hyperactive. They suffer from low blood flow in their prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia and thalamus. They also have low levels of dopamine. Treatment typically involves increasing the levels of dopamine.
Stimulants
Stimulants boost the body's systems. They are available legally as prescription drugs, such as amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine), methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids like Didrex, Bontril and Fastin and are also illegally used often in combination with other substances, like cocaine and methcathinone (crack). They are available as pills, liquids, syrups or patches.
They enhance concentration by increasing the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the 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 side-effects like a decrease in appetite or difficulties sleeping, as well as an increase in blood pressure or heart rate. They can interact with certain medicines and medical conditions. It is essential to talk with your physician about any concerns.
About 70% to 80% people who take ADHD medications will notice reduced symptoms. However, not everyone responds to the same medications, and the effects don't always long-lasting.
Some people aren't a fan of stimulants or don't like their negative effects. In this instance doctors may prescribe nonstimulant drugs. They aren't as effective as stimulants, but they do help improve focus, attention and control of impulses. Doctors sometimes prescribe these along with stimulants to boost their effectiveness.
Nonstimulant medicines are more difficult to use and don't work as quickly. They affect neurotransmitters differently from stimulants, and they don't raise dopamine levels in the brain. Examples include atomoxetine and clonidine and the guanfacine. Drowsiness is the most frequent side consequence. The drowsiness can be reduced by increasing the dosage or taking the medication at the time of bed. The drowsiness should subside within a few weeks after starting treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants affect the chemical substances in the brain known as neurotransmitters. The medications are classified according to the way they affect neurotransmitters. Each group contains slightly different medications. These include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), atypical antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
Your health care provider might prescribe a medicine that belongs to one of these groups in order to ease anxiety or depression symptoms. These medications might not provide immediate relief. It can take several weeks before you feel the full benefits. Your doctor and you will determine the most effective medication for you. They may add additional medications or combine two antidepressants to improve your treatment. This is referred to as an augmentation. The most popular augmentation medicines are aripiprazole (Abilify) and quetiapine (Seroquel) and lithium (Lithobid).
Antidepressants can cause a variety of side effects. It is essential to talk with your doctor about these side effects since some of them could interfere with your daily activities. These side effects can range from mild to severe and can depend on the type of antidepressant you're taking. Tell your doctor if you're taking any other medication, including herbal remedies and prescription drugs such as St. John's Wort.
SSRIs are the most frequently prescribed antidepressants and are believed to have less side-effects than other types of antidepressants. The SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
SNRIs boost levels of serotonin as well as norepinephrine in the brain. This is the reason SNRIs are thought 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 are duloxetine, (Cymbalta), and venlafaxine, (Effexor).
Atypical antidepressants are utilized for their energizing effects and help you feel more awake. medication for adhd and odd can be helpful for people with anxiety or insomnia. Bupropion (Wellbutrin and Zyban) as well as mirtazapine are two of most popular. These medications 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 bulimia and as a smoking cessation aid.
Cognitive therapy for behavioural issues
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for mental health disorders. It is based upon the belief that feelings and thoughts are connected and can be altered. CBT is a measurable, short-term procedure that can teach you new methods to deal with negative stressors and bad 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 method is the combination of two therapies: cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. It's a form of psychotherapy which is usually short-term, and can be done in a group or an individual setting. A therapist will guide you through various methods, and you'll apply them in your everyday life. These techniques include: understanding how to recognize negative thoughts; practicing mindfulness meditation; and keeping an account of your thoughts.
A Therapist can also help you identify negative thoughts that can lead you to engage in maladaptive behavior, and show you how to change these beliefs. They'll also help you develop problem-solving skills so that you can face challenges in your day-to-day life. Therapists in CBT will also help you to establish SMART goals (specific goals that are measurable, achievable relevant, time-based, and relevant) to aid in tracking your progress.
Although each type of CBT employs a distinct approach, all cognitive behavioral treatments focus on identifying and changing underlying thoughts that contribute to emotional distress. The therapists use different techniques but they all operate on the principle of operant and classic conditioning which involves associating stimuli to their effects. During the treatment, the trainer will be rewarded for your accomplishments and penalize you for not completing them.
In your first few sessions, you and your therapist will identify problematic behaviors and replace them by healthy ones. You might be assigned homework to help you build the skills. It is possible that you will require anywhere from six to twenty one-on-one sessions, based on the degree and nature of your condition.
CBT is effective in treating a variety of conditions, including anxiety depression and post-traumatic disorder (PTSD). It also works for adults suffering from ADHD, which affects people as young as seven.
Counseling
Counselling is a form of psychotherapy that involves regular, scheduled meetings with a therapist to discuss your concerns. Typically, these sessions last about 50 minutes. They can be conducted face-to-face or in groups. They can also be conducted via the phone. Counselling can be used to treat a variety of mental health problems such as depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Counselling can be used to talk about friendship, family and relationship issues as well as work-related issues.
A counsellor will carefully listen to your issues and provide an objective view. They will be able to identify patterns of behaviour and suggest ways you can modify them. They will be able to teach you strategies for coping and techniques for managing depression, anxiety, or stress. They can assist you in adapting to major life changes like divorce or the loss of loved ones. They can help you learn to deal with chronic illnesses and addictions.
Some counsellors charge fees for their services, while others are covered by Medicare rebates in the event that you have a mental health plan from your doctor.