1. Start with Stimulants
Stimulants are the fastest way to treat ADHD medically. The Food and Drug Administration has approved five types of stimulants for treating the disorder, all of which contain either amphetamine or methylphenidate. The medications containing amphetamines are Dexedrine, Desoxyn and Adderall. The medications containing methylphenidate are Ritalin and Focalin. Your therapist also may prescribe atomoxetine (sold as Strattera), but it has been proven less effective than stimulants and carries a higher risk of side effects. The FDA has given atomoxetine its "black-box warning" due to the seriousness of these effects, which include weight loss, loss of appetite and increased heart rate.
The use of stimulants to treat ADHD has generated some controversy. However, their effects have been clinically proven. Questions still exist as to whether to start children on stimulants before they are 5 years old and whether stimulants are over-prescribed. Children without ADHD show the same benefits after taking Ritalin as children with ADHD, which has led psychiatrists to question how many children actually require the medication.
2. Use Therapy to Solve Problem Behaviors
While stimulants can treat the physical effects of ADHD, behavioral therapy is generally used to counter the root of the disorder by revealing the behaviors caused by ADHD and finding the means to work around them. Your therapist can help you to target what you want to change. Both of you can formulate a way to alter your behavior and create counter-behaviors you can use to overcome an obstacle. Therapy also can strengthen your short-term memory and help you to maintain mental focus longer.
You may also want to hire a coach to help you with your ADHD. While this is not a substitute for traditional therapy, an ADHD coach can demonstrate how to take the disorder into account when setting goals, how to counter the problems ADHD causes and how to finish projects once they've begun. Coaches can provide constant one-on-one training and emotional support.
3. Get Others Involved
Others can play an important role in helping you come to terms with your ADHD. Many people with ADHD feel isolated. Joining a support group allows you to meet others with the condition, which may make you feel less alone. A group may give you the opportunity to learn how others cope with ADHD. Family therapy can teach your loved ones and you how to tackle the condition together. The therapist will teach participants about ADHD and show how it affects the people who have it. Then she will work with participants to create methods for coping with symptoms. The therapist also can help participants to understand each other's issues and concerns and to apply new coping skills.
