ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often connected to problems at school, work or home. The psychiatric disorder may be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common name for this psychiatric condition. Mental health experts diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
Symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful and disorganized. The use of antidepressants and stimulants can help.
Limbic ADD
The most common form of ADD, also known as classic ADD or hyperactive-impulsive ADD, is characterized by inattention, a lack of organizational skills, difficulty staying on task, and trouble with memory. Brain scans show that those with this type of ADD have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex at rest and during concentration, but less activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia which help make dopamine, a neurotransmitter that promotes motivation, focus and calmness. This type has a short attention span, is easily distracted by sounds and other stimuli and is unable to switch focus. They are unable to fall asleep, and often wake up in the middle of the night feeling anxious. They can be easily annoyed and often get angry.
People suffering from Ring of Fire ADD have all the symptoms of classic ADD, but they also have trouble shifting their attention from one thought to another thought and from task to task. They have a sensitivity to light, noise, and touch; they talk too quickly and are impulsive, and easily triggered into mean behavior. They are prone to moodiness, low energy and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
Limbic ADD can be mistaken for depression, but it is different than depression because it causes increased activity in the limbic portion of the brain (the brain region that sets our emotional tone and controls the level of happiness or sadness we feel) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex both when we are at rest and while in concentration. It is a condition which can be treated with supplements such as L-tryptophan, 5-HTP, saffron, and inositol that improve alertness, focus and mood as well as mental clarity. They also use amino acid GABA to reduce neural activity and inhibit nerve cells from firing too much or irregularly and liver support.
It is crucial to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder that can cause frustration and irritability as well as low self-esteem. The main difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more consistent degree of irritability throughout the course of time. Bipolar Disorder tends to exhibit symptoms that appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD patients tend to get caught up in negative thoughts and behaviors which trigger excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behaviors similar to the ones of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is why it's often incorrectly diagnosed. People with OCD are often threatened emotionally when asked to shift their attention from one task to the next, and can respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
They are often irritable and their irritability can be due to a low-grade chronic sadness or negative mood. They may also experience difficulties learning, experience memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD are not flexible when it comes to changing tasks, and may be captivated by their hobbies or work. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work and forgetting appointments at home, and they might not finish homework or other school assignments. They could also be stubborn and resentful when they are reprimanded by their parents or teachers.
Children with overfocused ADD can be irritable and obstinate, and they may throw tantrums if their interests aren't accepted. They may be obsessed with specific toys, activities and video games. They are also unable to express their emotions, and can be extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This type of ADD is more common in children, and is difficult to recognize. The majority of children don't understand that their issue is caused by their inability to shift their attention from one thing to the next. This is why it's important to seek the help of an expert, since these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This type of ADD is typically treated with modifications to diet, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Sometimes, medications are prescribed, but this kind of ADD is difficult to treat with stimulant medications, as these can boost a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to differentiate between the seven types of ADD. It is especially useful in diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people who suffer from ADD have a high level of anxiety. Comorbidity, also known as having more than one disorder at the same time, is common and affects as much as half of those with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and the wrong diagnosis can lead to ineffective treatment and even more frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause issues at work, in school or with social situations. This type of ADD can cause under-performance and feelings of unworthiness. People with anxious ADD are hesitant to take on difficult tasks or activities because they are afraid they won't be successful.
They are also afraid of being judged or critiqued. They also hide their issues from others. In some cases, sufferers are so stressed and anxious that they experience panic attacks. These panic attacks can be extremely severe and life-threatening. They cause heart pounding sweating, breathing difficulties and difficulty. Anxious ADD is distinct from Classic ADD because it has an increased activity in the basal ganglia and the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on safety. This causes the brain to shut down the PFC and can make it difficult for those with this condition to concentrate.
When a person has ADD/ADHD and anxiety and anxiety, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to treat. This is because the treatment programs for ADD/ADHD which are designed to stimulate brain activity, can actually increase anxiety among people with anxious ADD.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scanning to discover where in the brain there are high and/or low levels of activity. This allows them to distinguish between the seven types and determine the most effective treatment.
A psychiatrist will collect the complete medical history of a patient and conduct a physical exam to diagnose ADHD or ADD. He or she might also inquire about mood and behavior in order to evaluate the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD however, most patients require other treatments too, including cognitive behavioral therapy as well as nutrition and exercise sleep strategies, desensitization, and other techniques to relax. This will help enhance their ability to control their emotions and improve their overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe of the brain which is responsible for mood and memory. People with this type of ADD struggle to retain and learn, experience mood instability, and have intense anger or aggression issues. They also often suffer from a variety of sensory issues, such as experiencing a sense of deja vu or seeing shadows or objects change shapes, and hearing sounds other people don't hear. They tend to be irritable and sensitive and are often overwhelmed by certain things, such as computer screens or crowds.
treating adhd in adults of this type of ADD are similar to those seen in Classic ADD, including short attention spans and disorganization, difficulties in following instructions or staying focused, and procrastinating. However, this type of ADD doesn't cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This type of ADD occurs more often in women. This type of ADD is characterised by low levels of dopamine in the brain, which can cause feelings of low motivation or poor self-regulation. Some of the symptoms include difficulty sleeping and feelings of irritability or anxiety.
In this instance, qEEG scans of the ADD brain show that those with over-focused ADD are having difficulty shifting gears. They show normal activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus (the brain's "gearshifter"). They aren't able to shift from one task or thought to another, and they get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors.
This is a form of ADD in which people are extremely motivated and hardworking but tend not to concentrate on their tasks. They may lose track of their schoolwork and their parents or teachers are often tired or ashamed of their behavior. They may have a hard relationship due to their tendency to be unpredictable or reactive and have difficulty managing multiple tasks or working with others. In certain situations, they could suffer from depression or anxiety. They may be susceptible to panic attacks and are susceptible to hallucinations. The use of medications for this kind of ADD are not usually recommended, as they do not address the underlying cause of symptoms.