Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Counseling and medication are both effective treatment options for ADD. It is essential to try both to determine which is more efficient.
People suffering from classic ADD tend to be inattentional and disorganized, as well being hyperactive. They suffer from low blood flow in their prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia and thalamus.
treating adults with adhd have low levels of dopamine. Dopamine levels tend to increase in response to treatment.
Stimulants
Stimulants accelerate the body's systems. They are available as prescription drugs such as amphetamines, methylphenidates and diet aids such as Didrex, Bontril, and Fastin. They can also be illegally used and often mixed with other substances, such as cocaine and methcathinone. They are available in the form of liquids, pills, syrups or patches.
They boost the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine within the brain's synapses, improving concentration. They also reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and enhance working memory. They are the most commonly prescribed medication for adults suffering from ADHD. They can trigger side effects such as decreased appetite or trouble sleeping, as well as an increase in heart rate or bloodpressure. They may interfere with certain medical and pharmaceutical treatments It is important to discuss any concerns with your doctor.
Around 70 to 80 percent of people who are taking ADHD medication will experience reduced symptoms. However, not all people respond to the same medications, and the effects don't always long-lasting.
Some people aren't fond of stimulants or don't like their adverse effects. If this is the case, doctors could prescribe nonstimulant drugs. These medications may not be as efficient as stimulants, however they can improve focus and attention and control impulses. Doctors often prescribe these drugs along with stimulants to boost the effectiveness.
Nonstimulant medicines are more difficult to use and aren't as effective. They affect neurotransmitters differently from stimulants, and they do not increase the levels of dopamine in the brain. Examples include atomoxetine, clonidine and Guanfacine. The most frequently reported side effect of these medicines is the feeling of drowsiness. However it is possible to reduce drowsiness by increasing the dose or taking them before bedtime. The drowsiness will subside within a few weeks of starting treatment.
Antidepressants
Most antidepressants affect the chemical substances in the brain known as neurotransmitters. They are grouped according to the way they affect these neurotransmitters with each group having drugs 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).

Your health care provider might prescribe a medication that belongs to one of these groups to relieve depression or anxiety symptoms. These medications may not offer immediate relief. It can take several weeks before you feel the full benefits. Your doctor and you will determine the best medication for you. You may also take other medications or combine two antidepressants to enhance your treatment. This is called augmentation. The most popular augmentation medicines are aripiprazole (Abilify) and quetiapine (Seroquel) and lithium (Lithobid).
Different antidepressants have different side effects. It's important to talk to your doctor about these side effects, as some may interfere with your daily activities. These effects can be mild or extreme and depend on the type of antidepressant you're taking. It is also important to inform your doctor about any other medications or herbal remedies you're using, including prescription drugs and herbal remedies like St. John's wort.
SSRIs have been proven to cause less side effects than other antidepressants. SSRIs are fluoxetine (Prozac) as well as paraxetine (Paxil and Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
The SNRIs increase the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. This is why they're considered to be more effective 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 are used to boost energy and make you feel more alert. They can be beneficial for people suffering from insomnia or severe anxiety. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin Zyban, Wellbutrin) and mirtazapine (Remeron).
treating add in adults can cause jitteriness, insomnia or drowsiness, however they are beneficial to many people with depression, ADHD and anxiety. They can also be used to treat the treatment of bulimia as well as for smoking cessation.
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a research-based treatment for mental health disorders. It is based on the notion that feelings, thoughts and behaviours are all connected and can be changed. CBT is a goal-oriented short-term procedure that can teach you new strategies to deal with negative stressors and bad habits. It can also be used to treat anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
CBT aims to transform unhelpful thoughts and feelings into positive feelings or behaviours. It is a combination of two different therapies that are cognitive therapy and behavior therapy. This kind of psychotherapy is usually short-term, and can be carried out in a group setting or in a private setting. You will be taught a variety of methods by a therapist and then you'll use them in daily life. Some of these techniques include: learning to recognize your negative automatic thoughts, implementing mindfulness meditation and keeping a thought journal.
A therapist can also help you identify negative thoughts that cause you to engage in maladaptive behavior, and show you how to change these thoughts. They will also show you how to deal with problems in your daily life. CBT therapists will encourage you to set SMART goals in order to aid you to monitor your progress.
Although each type of cognitive behavior therapy has an approach that is slightly different, they all focus on identifying the fundamental thoughts that cause emotional distress and changing them. The therapists use a variety of techniques, but the majority are built on the principles of classical and operant conditioning, which involves associating stimuli with their effects. During the therapy, the trainer will reward you for completing tasks and penalize you for not completing the tasks.
In your first few sessions together, your therapist and you will identify problematic behaviors and replace them with healthy ones. You might be given homework to help you develop the skills. Based on the degree of your illness it could take up to 6-20 one-onone sessions.
CBT can be used to treat a variety of ailments, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can also be effective in treating adult ADHD which can affect people as young as seven.
Counseling
Counselling is a kind of psychotherapy that involves regular, scheduled meetings with a therapist to discuss your concerns. Usually these sessions last for around 50 minutes and can be face to face in groups, or via telephone. Counselling can aid people suffering from various mental health issues, including schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. Counselling can be used to talk about friendship, family, and relationship issues, as well as work-related problems.
A counselor will listen attentively to your concerns and provide an objective viewpoint. They will be able to identify patterns of behaviour and suggest ways you can alter them. They can teach you coping skills and techniques for managing depression, anxiety, or stress. They can help you cope with major life changes, such as divorce or the loss of a loved. They can also show you how to manage addictions or a chronic illness.
Some counsellors charge fees for their services, while others may be covered by Medicare rebates when you have a mental health plan from your doctor.