ADHD and Anxiety Medication
As high as 80% suffer from another mental illness, such as anxiety. Certain ADHD medications, such as stimulants, can help alleviate anxiety symptoms.
Talk to a psychiatrist for an assessment and treatment plan. It will take some time and some experimentation to find out which medication and dosage is the best for you.
Stimulants
Stimulants are a drug that boosts the levels of chemicals in the brain referred to as neurotransmitters. They help regulate the executive and attention functions. These drugs are often the first treatment prescribed for people with ADHD and can also be used to treat coexisting anxiety symptoms. The medications can cause a variety of adverse effects that range from mild stimulation to euphoria, based on the dose and the drug.
Many people suffering from ADHD report anxiety as a side effect of stimulant medication. Anxiety can make it difficult to focus and may hinder sleep. It can also trigger physical symptoms, such as sweating and muscle tension, and can affect the mood of a person. treating adhd without medication I Am Psychiatry can also increase blood pressure and heart rate. If the side effects of a stimulant are causing discomfort doctors may choose to decrease the dosage or switch to another medicine.
It's important that you talk to your doctor about the effects of anxiety and ADHD medications on one another. There are ways to minimize the effects of both conditions, for instance cognitive behavior therapy and exercise. In certain instances doctors may suggest nonstimulant medication or a combination of treatments. This includes therapy, non-stimulants and non-stimulants.
ADHD is not treated as well by medications that are used to treat anxiety disorders. This is because attention and anxiety problems can have different root causes. In certain instances mental health professionals can utilize antidepressants to treat anxiety or an ADHD combination medication, such as atomoxetine (Strattera) or viloxazine (Qelbree), to address ADHD. In general, a physician will focus on the disorder which has a greater impact on a person's day-to-day functioning according to Streeter.
A change in lifestyle can improve the internal environment of the person, which may reduce anxiety and other symptoms. For example, a diet that includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables can reduce anxiety and depression. Regular exercise, healthy sleep habits, and avoiding sugar and caffeine can help. Mindfulness training and reducing stress are also helpful. Some people with anxiety can benefit tapping techniques, like the Emotional Freedom Technique (or EFT. You place your fingertips on specific points on your body to ease stress and anxiety. Other methods that are natural include meditation, yoga and deep breathing exercises.