Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Treatment options for ADD include drugs and counselling. Both are important to test to determine which is more efficient.
People suffering from classic ADD are disorganized, inattentional and are often hyperactive. They lack blood flow in the prefrontal cortex and basal Ganglia. They also have low levels of dopamine. Treatment usually involves increasing dopamine levels.
Stimulants
Stimulants speed up the body's systems. They are available in the form of prescription drugs like amphetamines, methylphenidates, as well as diet aids such as Didrex, Bontril, and Fastin. They are also illegally abused and often mixed with other substances, such as methcathinone and cocaine. They are available in the form of liquids, pills, syrups or patches.
They improve concentration by increasing levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain synapses. They also reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity and enhance working memory. They are the most commonly prescribed medication for people suffering from ADHD. They can cause side-effects like a decrease in appetite or difficulty sleeping, and an increase in heart rate or bloodpressure. They can interact with certain medications and medical conditions. It is important to speak to your doctor about any concerns.
Around 70 to 80 percent of people who take ADHD medications will notice a reduction in symptoms. However, not everyone responds to the same medication, and the effects aren't always long-lasting.
Some people aren't a fan of stimulants or can't tolerate their adverse effects. If this is the case, doctors might prescribe non-stimulant medications. These drugs aren't as effective as stimulants, but they do help improve attention, focus and control impulses. Doctors may prescribe them along with stimulants to boost their effectiveness.
Nonstimulant drugs take longer to begin working and don't work as fast. They affect neurotransmitters differently than stimulants, and they don't increase dopamine levels in the brain. Examples include atomoxetine and the guanfacine. The most common adverse effect of these drugs is sleepiness. However it is possible to reduce drowsiness by increasing the dose or taking them before bedtime. The drowsiness will subside in several weeks after starting treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants alter chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters. They are classified according to the way they affect these neurotransmitters, with each group having medications that perform 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 may start you on a medication from one of these groups to help relieve depression and anxiety symptoms. These medications might not provide immediate relief, since it can take weeks before you experience the full benefits. Your doctor and you will determine which medication is best for you. They can also add other medications or combine two antidepressants to improve your treatment. This is called augmenting. how you can help are aripiprazole (Abilify), quetiapine (Seroquel) and lithium (Lithobid).
Antidepressants can cause a variety of adverse effects. You should discuss these side effects with your doctor because they could interfere in your daily activities. These side effects could be severe or mild dependent on the type of antidepressant that you are taking. You should also tell 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 are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants, and are known to have less side-effects than other antidepressants. These include fluoxetine (Prozac) as well as paraxetine (Paxil and Pexeva) as well as sertraline (Zoloft).
The SNRIs increase the levels of both 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 drugs. SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Atypical antidepressants are used to boost your energy levels which help you feel more alert. They can be beneficial for people suffering from anxiety or insomnia. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin Zyban, Wellbutrin) and mirtazapine (Remeron). These drugs can cause jitteriness or insomnia however they can be beneficial for many people who suffer from depression, ADHD, and anxiety. They are also used for bulimia and as a smoking cessation aid.
Cognitive therapy for behavioural problems
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a research-based treatment for mental health disorders. It is based on the notion that emotions, thoughts, and behaviors are connected and can be changed. CBT is a measurable, short-term process that can teach you new methods to deal with problems and bad habits. It can be used to treat depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.
The goal of CBT is to reframe unhelpful thoughts into positive emotions and behaviours. The method is a combination of two therapies which are cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. This kind of psychotherapy is usually short-term and can be performed either in a group setting or individually. You will be taught different techniques by a therapist and then you'll apply them in your daily life. Some of these techniques include being able to recognize your negative thoughts, practicing mindfulness meditation and keeping a thought journal.
A therapist can also help you identify negative thoughts that cause you to adopting maladaptive behavior and teach you how to change these thoughts. They'll also help you develop problem-solving skills so that you can face challenges in your day-to-day life. CBT therapists will encourage you to set SMART goals in order to make it easier for you to monitor your progress.
While each kind of cognitive behavior therapy has a slightly different approach, they all focus on identifying the fundamental mental thoughts that contribute to emotional distress and then changing them. The therapists use different techniques but they all operate on the principle of operant and classical conditioning, which involves the association of stimuli with their effects. In treatment, you will be rewarded for completing tasks. You will also be punished if you fail to complete them.
In the initial few sessions your therapist will help you identify problematic behaviors and replace them with healthier ones. You might be given homework to help you build the abilities. You could require anywhere between six and twenty one-on-one sessions, based on the nature and severity of your condition.
CBT is effective in treating a variety of disorders, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic disorders (PTSD). It can also be effective in treating adult ADHD which is prevalent in children as young as seven.
Counseling
Counselling is a type of psychotherapy that consists of regular, scheduled meetings with an therapist (counsellor) to discuss your problems. The sessions can last from 30 minutes to 50 minutes, and they can be conducted face-to-face, in groups, or by phone. 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 talk about relationships, friendships and family issues, as well as work-related difficulties.
A counsellor will pay attention to your problems and provide an objective view. They can identify patterns of behavior and suggest ways to alter them. They will be able to teach you coping skills and techniques to manage depression, anxiety, or stress. They can help you cope with major life events, like divorce or the loss of a loved one. They can also teach you how to manage addictions or a chronic illness.
Some counsellors charge fees for their services while others are covered by Medicare rebates when you have mental health care plans from your doctor.