Adult ADHD Treatment
Most adults with ADHD get better by combining medication and behavior strategies, lifestyle changes and counseling. Doctors will review the medical history of a patient and determine if any other conditions such as depression or an anxiety disorder may be contributing symptoms.
The stimulants are often the first medications tried. Other treatments include the non-stimulant Atomoxetine (Strattera) and antidepressants in certain forms.
Medication
Adults with ADHD are usually treated first with stimulant drugs. These medications alter the levels of chemical messengers that regulate your focus in your brain. These are norepinephrine and dopamine. The effects of stimulants increase the amount norepinephrine in your body, which improves your concentration. treating adult add slow down the brain's natural response to taking dopamine, which decreases the impulsivity and hyperactivity.
Medications can improve your symptoms and enable you to perform better at work, school or in other aspects of your life. They won't solve all your issues. There are a few negative effects like weight loss, irritability, or sleep problems. Discuss with your doctor the potential side effects of any medication that you are prescribed.
Both stimulants and nonstimulants can be used to treat ADHD in adults. Your doctor will decide the most effective dosage and medication for you based upon your symptoms and health history as well as your particular situation. Some people aren't able to respond to stimulant medications in any way and others may experience no reaction at all.
There are three types of medications: immediate-release, extended-release medication and atomoxetine. Instant-release medications are used in the course of need and typically peak within 30 to 60 minutes after taking them and then fade away quickly. Extended-release medicines can last for up to 16 hours and are administered once a day. They aid in managing symptoms. People who take extended release ADHD medications often supplement them with a dose that is instant-release late in the evening or afternoon.
Atomoxetine is the first non-stimulant approved to treat ADHD in adults. It is a drug that blocks certain chemicals that control mood and attention in the brain. It is a more long-lasting, sustained-release medication than other ADHD medications, like bupropion (Wellbutrin) that works by increasing the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in your brain.
Your doctor may also prescribe guanfacine or clonidine which regulate the brain part that is responsible for controlling your attention. These drugs can be beneficial for those suffering from ADHD and tics or anxiety. These medications are known as cholinergic drugs and are available only on prescription from your physician or psychiatrist.
Therapy
Therapy is often part of the treatment of ADHD in conjunction with medication. Talk therapy can help your family and you learn how ADHD affects your relationships and life. It can also help you learn strategies for coping and how to manage your ADHD symptoms.
For example, a therapist may teach you organizational techniques to help you stay on top of tasks and keep control of your environment. A therapist can help you learn the art of problem-solving and conflict resolution, as well techniques to improve focus and concentration. You can learn yoga, breathing exercises, meditation or other techniques for relaxation in order to calm yourself down and improve your mood. It is also referred to as biofeedback and hypnotherapy.
A Therapist can also help you develop coping strategies to deal with the emotional and behavioral issues that are common in adults with ADHD. A therapist can offer, for instance, cognitive behavioral therapy, which is a talking therapy that teaches how your thoughts and beliefs influence your behavior and feelings. CBT is particularly effective in dealing with executive functioning issues that are related to ADHD which include difficulty in organizing, planning and managing time.
Another alternative is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) which assists you to change the way you react to difficult emotions. DBT includes mindfulness, which teaches how to observe your thoughts without judgment and emotion regulation that helps you manage emotional distress, as well as training in interpersonal skills. It is designed for those with multiple conditions, such as anxiety and depression.
It's important to remember that even when you start taking medicine, it takes a while for your body to adjust to the new medication. You might continue to have issues at work and at home until you've gained enough experience to cope with your symptoms. In the meantime, you can make small lifestyle adjustments to help cope.
Ask your professor or boss to make accommodations if you're forgetful and impulsive. This will allow you to get through your classes. Similarly, you can request family members and friends to accommodate your ADHD. You might also want to look into family therapy or marriage counseling, which can help you and your loved ones to communicate better and comprehend the challenges of each other.
Education
Psychosocial therapy for adults can ease symptoms and improve performance. The treatments comprise a range of therapies and can be offered in person or via the internet. These treatments may be combined with medication to achieve the best results.
A diagnosis is the first step in treating ADHD. A trained mental health professional will utilize scales and semi-structured clinical interviews to discover the details of the person's issues. They can then identify the issue and provide an effective treatment plan.
Talk therapy can help people with ADHD deal with their issues and develop the skills needed to deal with these issues. Some of these treatments include psychoeducation, which helps to educate patients about their condition and how it affects their work, school and relationships. Other therapies focus on managing emotions and enhancing the organization skills of individuals. Cognitive therapy for behavioral issues, for instance helps people to identify and change negative beliefs and behaviors that may hinder their progress.
Counseling for families and marriage can help with the issues that ADHD can bring to personal and professional relationships. It can help families and couples how to communicate more effectively and identify patterns that lead to conflict. It can also assist in identifying ways to improve communication and help create optimism for the future.
Behavioral therapy can help adults with ADHD improve their self-esteem and build a more realistic view about their capabilities. It can help them learn to manage their money, time and self-organization and also control their impulsive behaviors and learn how to manage stress and anger. These skills can be taught either in a group setting or individually by a therapist.
Meditation, also known as mindfulness can be an effective form of therapy for adult ADHD. It can help people gain more control over their lives, by teaching them to focus on the present and be more aware. It can be practiced in a group or with a therapist, and is combined with other treatment methods such as CBT and mindfulness based cognitive therapy.
Other treatments for adult ADHD include cognitive-behavioral therapies and interpersonal therapy, which focuses on building interpersonal skills. Some people with ADHD use complementary health approaches to manage their symptoms, such as diet changes and supplements. While these methods aren't scientifically proven to improve ADHD, some people consider them beneficial.
Support
As a mature adult with ADHD, you might be overwhelmed by the challenges you face. Everything from paying your bills to working to meet deadlines at work, managing relationships and maintaining your home can be a challenge when your ADHD symptoms get worse. The symptoms can also affect your self-esteem and make it difficult to know why you are acting the way you do. It's crucial to seek treatment to help you overcome your issues and lead a more productively.
The use of medication is effective for a lot of adults suffering from ADHD however, they don't treat all of the symptoms or enhance your quality of life. It's important that you get a combination treatment plan for adults with adhd that includes both medication and therapy.
Therapy can help you learn to control your ADHD symptoms and build the ability to cope. It can also teach you ways to manage your emotions and relationships. Relaxation techniques can aid in reducing stress and improve your concentration. You should also seek out support from your family and friends. Talk therapy can help you learn how to communicate better and how to deal with anger and the impulsive behavior.
There are a variety of talk therapy. These include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) metacognitive, metacognitive, and interpersonal therapy. CBT is a tried and tested method that assists you in developing better strategies for coping and alter negative thought patterns. Metacognitive therapy assists you in improving your organizational skills as well as time management and planning. It can also help you overcome mental distortions that can lead to an unhappy mood and a feeling of a lack of options.
A recent study of an adult cognitive rehabilitation program revealed that the program offered small group therapy sessions, coaching, in addition to exercise. This improved the quality of life, and decreased symptoms (Stevenson and co. 2002). This type of therapy is usually cheaper than individual psychotherapy. This type of therapy allows you to share sessions with others who are experiencing similar issues and can be a great source of support.
There are many online resources that can help you find an adult adhd therapist as well as support groups. Some of these providers offer virtual sessions through video chat or chat rooms and others provide face-to-face sessions in your local area. These services are growing in popularity, and research is being conducted to evaluate their effectiveness.