The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Treatments For ADD Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling

Treatment options for ADD include counselling and drugs. Both are essential to test to see which is more effective.


People suffering from classic ADD are disorganized, inattentional and are often hyperactive. They have a lack of blood flow to the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia. They also have low levels of dopamine. Dopamine levels are typically increased as part of treatment.

Stimulants

Stimulants speed up the body's systems. They are available in prescription medications such as amphetamines, methylphenidates and diet aids like Didrex, Bontril, and Fastin. They are also illegally abused and are often mixed with other substances like methcathinone and cocaine. They are available as pills, syrups or liquids, or patches which are placed on the skin.

They boost the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine within the brain's synapses. This improves concentration. They also reduce impulsivity, hyperactivity and enhance working memory. They are among the most commonly used medication prescribed to people suffering from ADHD. They can trigger side effects like a decrease in appetite or difficulties sleeping, as well as an increase in heart rate or bloodpressure. They can also interfere with certain medical treatments and medications, so it's important to discuss any concerns you have with your doctor.

Medicines can lessen ADHD symptoms in around 70% to 80% of people who use them. However, not all people respond to the same medication, and the effects don't always long-lasting.

Some people discover that stimulants aren't working well or they don't like the side effects. In this case doctors may prescribe nonstimulant medications. These drugs may not be as effective as stimulants, but they can improve attention and focus and control impulses. Doctors often prescribe these with stimulants to increase their effectiveness.

Nonstimulant medications are more difficult to use and don't perform as efficiently. They don't raise dopamine levels and have different effects on neurotransmitters. Examples include atomoxetine and guanfacine. Drowsiness is the most common side effect. However, drowsiness can be reduced by increasing the dosage or taking them at the time of sleep. The drowsiness should diminish within a few weeks of the beginning of treatment.

Antidepressants

Most antidepressants affect the chemical substances in the brain known as neurotransmitters. They are classified based on the way they affect these neurotransmitters with each class having a variety of 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).

Your health care provider might prescribe a medication belonging to one of these groups to alleviate anxiety or depression symptoms. These medications may not offer immediate relief. It can take several weeks to experience the full benefits. You and your doctor will decide which medication works best for you. They may combine two antidepressants, or add other medicines to boost the effects of your treatment. This is called an augmentation. The most common enhancement drugs are aripiprazole quetiapine and lithium.

Different antidepressants have different side effects. It's important to talk to your doctor about these side effects, since some of them could interfere with your daily activities. These effects can be mild or severe dependent on the type of antidepressant that you are 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 such as St. John's wort.

SSRIs are the most frequently prescribed antidepressants and are believed to have less adverse effects than other antidepressants. These include fluoxetine (Prozac) and paraxetine (Paxil and Pexeva) as well as sertraline (Zoloft).

SNRIs boost levels of serotonin as well as norepinephrine within the brain. This is the reason SNRIs are considered 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 primarily used to boost your energy levels, helping you to feel more awake. They can be beneficial for people suffering from insomnia or extremely severe anxiety. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin Zyban, Wellbutrin) and mirtazapine (Remeron). These drugs can cause jitteriness, insomnia or drowsiness, but 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 to aid in quitting smoking.

Cognitive behavioural therapy

Cognitive behavioural therapy is a proven treatment for mental disorders. It is based on the belief that emotions, thoughts and actions are interconnected and can be altered. CBT is a goal-oriented, short-term process that can teach you new strategies to deal with negative stressors and bad habits. It can be used to treat anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.

CBT seeks to transform unhelpful thoughts and feelings into positive feelings or behaviours. The technique is a mixture of two different therapies, cognitive therapy and behavior therapy. This type of psychotherapy is typically short-term and can be done in a group setting or on an individual basis. The therapist will instruct you on various techniques, and you'll be able to apply them in your daily life. These techniques include learning to recognize negative thoughts and meditative practices; and keeping a journal.

A therapist will also help you identify negative thoughts that cause ineffective behaviors, and then teach you strategies to change these beliefs. They will also teach you how to tackle issues in your daily routine. CBT therapists encourage you to set SMART goals to help you to monitor your progress.

While each kind of cognitive behavioral therapy takes a slightly different approach but they all are focused on identifying the underlying thoughts that cause emotional distress and then changing them. Therapists employ various methods but they all operate on the principles of operant and classic conditioning which involves associating stimuli to their effects. During the therapy the therapist will reward you for completing tasks and will punish you for not completing the tasks.

In the first few sessions, you and your therapist will be able to identify the problematic behavior and replace them by healthy ones. You might be assigned homework to help you master the skills. You may need between six and twenty one-onone 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). IamPsychiatry works in treating adult ADHD which affects people as young seven.

Counseling

Counselling is a type of psychotherapy that involves regular, scheduled meetings with a therapist to discuss your concerns. The typical session lasts around 50 minutes and can be face to face in groups, or via phone. Counselling can be utilized to treat a variety of mental health issues, including schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. It can also be used to talk about family, friendship, and relationship issues as well as issues related to work.

A counselor will listen to your issues and provide an objective view. They will be able identify patterns of behavior and suggest ways to alter them. They will be able to teach you coping strategies and techniques for managing depression, anxiety, or stress. They can assist you in adapting to major life changes, such as divorce or the loss of loved ones. They can also help you learn how to deal with addictions or a chronic illness.

Some counsellors charge fees for their services, whereas others may be covered by Medicare rebates when you have a mental health care plan from your doctor.