The most effective treatment for adult ADHD typically involves a combination of complementary approaches that work together to reduce symptoms. Comprehensive treatment can include medication, psychological counseling, and coaching. Regardless of the path that you take, treatment begins with a proper diagnosis.
In this article, we’ll cover the types of ADHD, when to seek treatment, and the ADHD treatment options at your disposal. With this information, you’ll be equipped to have an informed discussion with your healthcare provider about which ADHD treatment may be most effective for you.
Klarity is trusted by over 30,000 patients looking for psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. With Klarity, you can consult a licensed medical professional online who specializes in ADHD treatment. During your online visit, they’ll help create the most effective treatment plan to manage your ADHD symptoms.
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Do You Have ADHD?
Perhaps someone has asked you if you have ADHD, or maybe you’re wondering yourself. The only sure way to know is to consult a medical professional. This is because the disorder has many symptoms that can overlap with other conditions such as depression or anxiety. The type of treatment that will be most beneficial for you will depend on the type of ADHD you are diagnosed with.
Types of ADHD
The American Psychiatric Association has identified three primary types of ADHD, each with its own attendant symptoms and treatments based on those symptoms. The first type is the inattentive type, in which the patient has trouble paying attention, listening, remembering certain things, and keeping on task. The second is hyperactive-impulsive type, which is typified by fidgeting, trouble staying quiet, talking too much, interrupting, and a general sense of always being on the go. The combined type, which shows symptoms of both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive, is the most common type of ADHD.
When to Seek Treatment for ADHD
If you’ve been experiencing symptoms that you think might be ADHD, it’s never too late to seek treatment. Once you’ve received a proper diagnosis, a medical professional will help you choose the proper course of treatment.
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Types of ADHD Treatment
Treatment for ADHD ranges from prescription medication to therapy, sometimes combined with coaching. In many cases, medication alone is an effective treatment for ADHD.
Medications Used to Treat ADHD
There are multiple types of medications used to treat ADHD.
Finding the Right Medication
The right medication for treating your ADHD depends on a number of factors – especially the type of ADHD you have. Stimulant medications can help you pay attention longer by helping your brain send and receive signals so you can think more clearly. If stimulants aren’t right for you, there are alternatives, such as antidepressants.
Finding the Right Dosage
Beyond just choosing the right medication, effective ADHD treatment relies on receiving the proper dosage. Upon receiving your initial prescription, you will go through a process that determines whether or not your dosage should be increased or decreased. Your doctor also ascertains whether the particular medication is in fact the right one. With time, you and your doctor will find the best dosage that works for you.
Medication Misuse Warning
Many stimulant medications for ADHD, like Adderall, Ritalin, or Vyvanse, are controlled substances. Due to their potential for abuse and dependence, this classification ensures that they’re closely regulated to ensure safe and responsible use.
Misuse of these substances can increase the risk of dependence, such as taking more than the recommended dose or consuming through unapproved methods. This type of misuse can lead to dangerously high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and in severe cases, heart failure or seizures.
Additionally, when ADHD medications are used consistently over time and then abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms can occur. These can include fatigue, depression, sleep disturbances, and other physical and mental discomforts. Follow your doctor’s instructions in dosage and timing, and contact them when you have questions or notice any changes.
Therapy
While experts agree that ADHD medication is, in some circumstances, the most effective treatment for ADHD, there are different types of therapy that can help people manage their condition.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a type of talk therapy that can help with the challenges presented by ADHD. Originally a treatment for mood disorders, CBT is based on the recognition that cognitions can lead to emotional difficulties. The aim is to change irrational thought patterns that prevent individuals from staying on task or getting things done. Adults with ADHD often encounter frustration setbacks more frequently than others – whether it be on the job, in social interactions, or in everyday organization. This leads to self-criticism and pessimism. Learning to recognize these thoughts as distorted or untrue and changing harmful patterns is a huge part of what CBT helps achieve.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It is dialectical because it incorporates two opposed approaches to therapy: the ideas of acceptance and change. Unlike other forms of cognitive behavioral therapy, DBT emphasizes recognizing harmful patterns of thinking and behavior and ultimately finding ways to adjust them.
ADHD Coaching
An ADHD coach is essentially a life coach who is specifically trained to help adults who are struggling with ADHD. A good coach can help you achieve your goals by assisting with planning and management skills, healthier self-esteem and relationships, self-motivation, and time management skills.
How to Find Help for ADHD
Whether you are actively seeking help for managing your ADHD or you’re unsure if you even have it, the important thing to remember is how easy it is to find help – even from the comfort of your own home.
Telemedicine
In recent years telemedicine has become a valuable way to receive treatment for ADHD diagnosis and medication, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, along with ADHD coaching.
Schedule an Online Evaluation with a Medical Professional
The most effective treatment for ADHD in adults comes down to one thing: you. That’s why the providers on Klarity work with you to customize a treatment plan that best suits your symptoms and preferences.
The best part—with Klarity, you don’t need to wait to receive effective treatment. You’ll be seen by a licensed healthcare provider who can prescribe treatment in as little as 48 hours.
Schedule an appointment today to find the most effective treatment for your adult ADHD.
