ADD/ADHD
What is ADD?
ADD, or Attention Deficit Disorder, is essentially when someone has a hard time focusing or gets easily distracted. If you have ADD, you might struggle with things like finishing tasks, staying organized, or misplacing your stuff. ADD is very similar to ADHD. The difference is the hyperactive element that individuals with ADHD deal with.
What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can affect anyone, including you and me. We commonly diagnose it in childhood, but it often persists into adulthood, causing symptoms that interfere with daily life.
What Causes ADHD?
- Genetics: ADHD tends to run in families, which suggests a genetic component. Genetics doesn’t guarantee it, though. You could have ADHD and not pass it on to your children. Or, one of your parents could have ADHD but not pass it on to you.
- Neurobiology: Brain imaging studies have taught us that the prefrontal cortex differs for people with ADHD. This was a significant finding for us since the prefrontal cortex plays a crucial role in attention and impulse control.
- Neurotransmitters: If the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain aren’t properly regulated, they might contribute to ADHD symptoms since these neurotransmitters are involved in attention, motivation, and impulse control.
- Environmental factors: Factors like prenatal exposure to toxins (e.g., smoking or alcohol), low birth weight, and premature birth may increase your risk of ADHD.
What Are the Symptoms of ADHD?
ADHD is typically characterized by two main categories of symptoms: inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. There are three subtypes of ADHD recognized in the DSM-5, and all have similar symptoms:
- Frequent mistakes.
- Forgetfulness and losing items.
- Avoiding tasks that require sustained effort.
- Inability to stay organized.
- Restlessness or constant fidgeting.
- Interrupting others in conversations or activities.
- Difficulty waiting your turn.
- Impulsivity that leads to hasty decisions or actions.
What Is the Treatment for ADHD?
While it’s possible for one treatment option to work, it’s more common to use a couple of treatment options together. Behavioral therapy, medication, education and support, TMS therapy, and lifestyle changes are some of the ways to treat ADHD. It’s possible to thrive with ADHD when you take the approach that’s right for you.
Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you feel better by teaching you coping strategies, organizational skills, and ways to manage impulsive behaviors.
Medication
We often use medications to manage ADHD symptoms effectively. Medications help relieve your symptoms and make day-to-day life easier. The most common medications include stimulants like methylphenidate and non-stimulants like atomoxetine or guanfacine.
Education and Support
Learning about ADHD is also super helpful because you learn to better understand and cope with your condition in ways you might not otherwise know how to.
TMS Therapy
Did you know that TMS therapy can help? TMS can help alleviate ADHD symptoms. We target the specific brain regions associated with ADHD symptoms, like attention and impulse control. We need more research to fully understand how it works, but TMS is a promising treatment for ADHD.
Try TMS Therapy With Brain Health Center
Are you ready to start on a TMS therapy journey to find relief from your ADHD symptoms? TMS therapy often works well in conjunction with other treatments or as a second-line option when traditional treatments haven’t provided lasting effects.
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