Why Nobody Cares About Treatments For ADD
Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling
Drugs and counseling are both effective treatment options for ADD. Both are important to determine which is more effective.
People with classic ADD are inattentive, disorganized and often hyperactive. They suffer from low blood flow in their prefrontal cortex, the basal ganglia, and the thalamus. They also have low levels of dopamine. Dopamine levels are typically increased in response to treatment.
Stimulants
Stimulants speed up the body's systems. They are available in prescription medications 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 as pills, liquids, syrups or patches.
They boost concentration by increasing the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in brain synapses. They also reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity and help improve working memory. They are the most commonly prescribed medication for adults suffering from ADHD. They can cause adverse effects like a decrease in appetite, trouble sleeping and increased heart rate or blood pressure. They can also interfere with certain medical treatments and medications, so it's important to discuss any concerns you have with your doctor.
Around 70 to 80% people who take ADHD medications will experience reduced symptoms. However, not everyone responds to the same medication and the effects aren't always long-lasting.
Some people find that stimulants don't work well, or they can't tolerate the adverse effects. In this case doctors will prescribe non-stimulant medications. These drugs aren't as effective as stimulants, but they can aid in improving attention, focus and control of impulses. Doctors may prescribe them along with stimulants to boost their effectiveness.
Nonstimulant medicines take longer to start working, and they don't act as fast. They affect neurotransmitters in a different way than stimulants and do not increase the levels of dopamine in the brain. Examples include atomoxetine (clonidine) and guanfacine and the clonidine. Drowsiness is the most common side effect. However the drowsiness can be decreased by increasing the dose or taking them before bedtime. The drowsiness should diminish within several weeks after 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).
Your physician may prescribe a medicine that belongs to one of these groups in order to relieve depression or anxiety symptoms. These medications may not offer immediate relief, as it could take several weeks before you can feel the full benefits. Your doctor and you will decide which medication works best for you. They can mix two antidepressants, or add other medications to enhance the effects of your treatment. This is called an augmentation. The most commonly used augmenting drugs are aripiprazole quetiapine and lithium.
Different antidepressants can have different adverse effects. You should discuss these side effects with your doctor since they could cause problems in your daily activities. These effects can be mild or serious dependent on the type of antidepressant that you are taking. Tell your doctor if you're taking any other medications, including herbal remedies and prescription drugs such as St. John's Wort.
SSRIs have been known to cause less side effects than other antidepressants. These include fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).
The SNRIs boost levels of serotonin as well as norepinephrine within the brain. This is why SNRIs are considered more effective than SSRIs. They also have longer half-lifes than SSRIs and are less likely to interact with other medications. I Am Psychiatry are duloxetine, (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor).
Atypical antidepressants are utilized to boost your energy levels and help you feel more alert. They may be useful for those suffering from anxiety or insomnia that is very severe. They include bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban) and mirtazapine (Remeron). These medications can cause insomnia, jitteriness or drowsiness. However, they can be useful for many people with depression, ADHD and anxiety. These drugs are also used to treat bulimia and to assist smokers in quitting.
Cognitive therapy for behavioural problems
Cognitive behavioural therapy is a proven treatment for mental disorders. It is based upon the belief that thoughts and feelings are connected and can be altered. CBT is a goal-oriented, short-term process that can teach you new ways to cope with problems and bad habits. It can also be used to treat anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
CBT is designed to transform negative thoughts and feelings into positive emotions or behaviors. It is a combination of two therapies, cognitive therapy and behavior therapy. It's a kind of psychotherapy that is often short-term, and it is able to be carried out in a private or group setting. The therapist will instruct you on different techniques, and you'll practice them in your daily life. These techniques include: learning how to recognize negative automatic thoughts and meditative practices; and keeping journals.
A therapist will also assist you in identifying the negative thoughts that lead to behavior that is not optimal and teach you strategies for changing these beliefs. They will also show you how to tackle issues in your daily routine. Therapists in CBT will also help you to develop SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based) to aid in tracking your progress.
Although each type of cognitive behavioral therapy employs an entirely different approach, they all focus on identifying the thoughts that cause emotional distress and changing them. Therapists employ different methods however they all are based on the principle of operant and classical conditioning, which involves relating stimuli to their effects. While you are in treatment, you will be rewarded for the accomplishment of tasks. Additionally, you will be penalized when you fail to complete them.
During your initial sessions with your therapist, you and the therapist will look for problematic behaviors and replace them with healthier ones. They might also assign homework to help you develop the abilities. Depending on the degree of your illness it could take anywhere from 6-20 one-on-one sessions.
CBT can be used to treat a variety of ailments that include depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can also be effective in treating adult ADHD which affects people as young seven.
Counselling
Counselling is a kind of psychotherapy that involves regular, planned meetings with a therapist in order to discuss your concerns. Usually these sessions last for around 50 minutes and can be conducted face-to-face, in groups or via the phone. Counselling can be used to treat a range of mental health issues that include depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Counselling can be used to discuss relationship, family and friendship issues, as well as workplace-related problems.
A counsellor will listen carefully to your concerns and provide an objective perspective. They can spot patterns of behavior and suggest ways to alter them. They will be able to teach you coping skills and techniques for managing stress, anxiety or depression. They can help you deal with major life changes such as divorce or the loss of a loved. They can also teach you how to deal with addictions and chronic illnesses.
Some counsellors charge fees for their services while others are covered by Medicare rebates, if you have mental health plans from your doctor.