Notes

The Most Pervasive Problems With Treatments For ADD
Treatments For ADD - Drugs and Counselling

Drugs and counseling are both effective treatment options for ADD. It is essential to try both to determine which one is more effective.

People suffering from classic ADD tend to be inattentive and unorganized, aswell being hyperactive. They lack blood flow in the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia. They also have low levels of dopamine. Dopamine levels are typically increased as part of treatment.

Stimulants

Stimulants boost the body's systems. They are legal as prescription drugs, such as amphetamines (Adder-all and Dexedrine) as well as methylphenidates (Concerta and Ritalin) and diet aids like Didrex, Bontril and Fastin and also used illegally, often mixed with other substances, such as methcathinone and cocaine (crack). They are available as liquids, pills, syrups or patches.

They boost the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine within the brain's synapses. This improves concentration. They also reduce impulsivity, hyperactivity and help improve working memory. They are among the most commonly used medications prescribed to adults suffering from ADHD. They can trigger negative side effects, such as a decreased appetite, sleep disturbances and a rise in heart rate or blood pressure. They can interact with certain medications and medical conditions. It's important to talk with your doctor regarding any concerns.

About 70-80 percent of people who take ADHD medications will experience reduced symptoms. However, not all people respond to the same medications, and the effects may not be long-lasting.

Some people aren't fond of stimulants or don't like their adverse effects. If this is the case, doctors could prescribe non-stimulant drugs. These drugs aren't as effective as stimulants, but they do help improve attention, focus and control impulses. Doctors typically prescribe these drugs alongside stimulants to increase the effectiveness.

Nonstimulant medicines take longer to get started, 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), guanfacine, and clonidine. Drowsiness is the most frequent side effect. The drowsiness is reduced by increasing the dosage or taking the medication at bedtime. The drowsiness will subside in the following weeks after beginning treatment.

Antidepressants

Most antidepressants change chemicals in the brain, referred to as neurotransmitters. They are classified based on how they affect these neurotransmitters with each group having 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).

A medical professional might recommend one of these groups to help relieve depression and anxiety symptoms. These medications may not offer immediate relief. It could take a few weeks to experience the full benefits. Your doctor and you will decide which medication works best for you. They may combine two antidepressants or other medicines to improve the effectiveness of your treatment. This is called augmentation. The most popular augmenting drugs are aripiprazole quetiapine, and lithium.

Antidepressants can have different adverse effects. It is important to discuss these side effects with your doctor since they could cause problems in your daily activities. These side effects may vary from mild to severe and can depend on the type of antidepressant you're taking. Tell Iam Psychiatry 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 antidepressants. These include fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) and sertraline (Zoloft).

The SNRIs boost levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. This is the reason they're believed to be more effective than SSRIs. They also have longer half-lifes than SSRIs and are less likely to interact with other medications. SNRIs are duloxetine, (Cymbalta), and venlafaxine (Effexor).

Atypical antidepressants are used for their energizing effects which help you feel more awake. They can be helpful for people suffering from anxiety or insomnia. Bupropion (Wellbutrin and Zyban) and mirtazapine are two of most commonly used. These medications can cause insomnia or jitteriness, but can be helpful for people suffering from depression, ADHD, and anxiety. They can also be 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 on the idea that emotions and thoughts are interconnected and can be altered. CBT is an approach that is short-term and goal-oriented that helps you discover new methods to manage stressors and negative habits. It can be used to treat anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder.

The purpose of CBT is to reframe unhelpful thoughts into positive emotions and behaviors. The method is an amalgamation of two treatments which are cognitive therapy and behaviour therapy. It's a kind of psychotherapy that's usually short-term, and it can be done in a group or individual setting. You will be taught a variety of techniques by a therapist, and then you'll use them in your daily life. Some of these techniques include: being able to recognize your negative automatic thoughts, practicing mindfulness meditation and keeping a mental journal.

A therapist can also help you identify negative thoughts that cause you to engage in maladaptive behavior and help you learn to change these thoughts. They'll also help you develop problem-solving skills so that you can handle challenges that come up in your everyday life. CBT therapists encourage you to set SMART goals to aid you to monitor your progress.

Although each type of cognitive behavior therapy has an entirely different approach but they all are focused on identifying the thoughts which contribute to emotional distress and then changing them. Therapists employ different methods however they all are based on the principles operant and classical conditioning, which involves the association of stimuli with their effects. While you are in treatment you will be rewarded for completing tasks. You'll also be punished if you fail to complete them.

During your first few sessions together, your therapist and you will identify problematic behaviors and replace them with healthy ones. You might be assigned homework to help you develop the skills. Based on the severity of your condition, you may require anywhere from 6-20 one-on-one sessions.


CBT is effective in treating a variety of conditions, including anxiety depression, and post-traumatic disorder (PTSD). It also works for adult ADHD that affects people as young as seven.

Counseling

Counselling is a form of psychotherapy that involves regular, scheduled sessions with a therapist to talk about your concerns. The typical session lasts around 50 minutes and can be conducted face-to-face in groups, or via the telephone. Counselling can assist people suffering from various mental health issues like depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Counselling can be used to talk about friendship, family and relationship issues, as well as workplace-related problems.

A counselor will listen to your problems and provide an objective perspective. They will be able to discern patterns of behavior and suggest ways you can alter them. They will be able to teach you strategies for coping and strategies for managing depression, anxiety, or stress. They can assist you in adapting to major life changes like divorce or the loss of a loved one. They can help you learn to deal with addictions and chronic illnesses.

Some counsellors charge fees for their services, and others are covered by Medicare rebates if you have a mental health plan from your doctor.

Here's my website: https://www.iampsychiatry.uk/adhd-treatment-for-adults/