ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is often associated with problems at home, school or at work. The psychiatric disorder may be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most popular name used for this psychiatric disorder. Mental health professionals use brain imaging using SPECT to diagnose ADHD.
Symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful and unorganized. The use of medications such as stimulants and antidepressants 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 reveal that people with this type can maintain normal activity while concentrating and at rest in the prefrontal cortex but they are less active in their cerebellum as well as the basal ganglia. These areas are responsible for the production of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, tranquility, and focus. People with this type have a hard to focus their attention and are easily distracted by noise and other stimuli, and have a short attention span. They have trouble falling asleep and frequently awake in the middle of the night feeling anxious. They are often overwhelmed by emotions and have a short fuse, becoming easily frustrated and easily angry.
People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the hallmarks of classic ADD however, they also struggle to shift their focus from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to light, noise and touch and they talk too quickly and are easily impulsive and easily triggered to a negative behavior. They are prone to low energy, moodiness and anger. They can also get caught up in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
It is possible to mix limbic ADD with depression. However, it's different because it increases activity in the limbic part of the brain during rest and when concentrating. It can be treated by supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with saffron, inositol, which improve alertness, mood and clarity. adhd treatment adults can also help calm neural activity, inhibiting nerve cells from firing erratically or too frequently.
It is crucial to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder, which can cause irritability, frustration, and poor self-esteem. The distinction between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more consistent level of irritability that lasts over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to suffer from symptoms that occur in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers often get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors that trigger excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns similar to those of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is why it's often mistakenly diagnosed. They are often frightened emotionally when asked to shift their attention from one thing to another and respond with argumentative or oppositional behavior.
They tend to be angry and their irritability can be caused by chronic low-grade sadness or negative mood. They might also have memory problems, experience severe anger, and have a short fuse.
People who have hyper-focused ADD are inflexible when they have to change tasks, and can become enthralled by their work or interests. They might forget appointments and deadlines at work or at home and may not finish their schoolwork or chores. They can also be stubborn and resentful if they are disciplined or punished by their teachers or parents.
Children with hyperfocused ADD are often angry and obstinate, and they may throw tantrums if their interests aren't accepted. They can be obsessive about specific activities, toys, and video games. They can also have difficulty in expressing their emotions and can be very sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This form of ADD is more common among children, and can be difficult to diagnose. Children often don't realize the cause of their condition. It's caused by their inability to switch their attention from one thing to another. This is the reason it's crucial to seek out help from a professional, as these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This kind of ADD can be treated with dietary modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. Medications are sometimes prescribed, but this kind of ADD can be difficult to treat using stimulant medications because they can increase a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is often used to differentiate the seven distinct kinds of ADD and is especially useful in diagnosing over-focused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD experience high levels of anxiety. Comorbidity, or having more than one disorder simultaneously is a common occurrence and affects as much as half of people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and misdiagnosis can lead to improper treatment and more frustration.
Anxious ADD can lead to problems at school, work and social settings. This type of ADD can cause underperformance and feelings of unworthiness. People with anxious ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and events because they believe they'll fail.
They also fear being criticized or judged. Due to this, they tend to hide their issues from others. In some cases, these sufferers are so anxious and stressed that they develop panic attacks. These can be severe and life-threatening, causing a pounding heart, sweating, and difficulty breathing. In contrast to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD are more active in their basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These organs operate on an instinctual basis, and are able to prioritize safety. This can shut down the PFC which makes it difficult for those with this condition to focus.
When a person has ADD/ADHD and anxiety, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to treat. This is due to treatment strategies for ADD/ADHD, which are designed to stimulate the brain could actually increase anxiety among people with anxious ADD by reducing activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging techniques, such as SPECT scanning to discover which areas of the brain are high and/or low levels of activity. This helps them differentiate between the seven different types of ADD and determine the most effective treatment for each patient.
To determine if someone has ADD/ADHD psychiatrist collects a full medical history and conducts an examination. Additionally, he or she may ask questions about mood and behavior to assess the overall health of a patient. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD however, most patients need other therapies in addition, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or nutrition and exercise, strategies for sleep, desensitization and other techniques to relax. This can help improve their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD affects the temporal lobe in the brain which is responsible for memory and mood. This type of ADD is characterized by a difficulty in learning and keeping information in memory as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggression issues. They may also be suffering from sensory issues such as feeling deja vu when objects or shadows change shape or hearing sounds that others can't hear. They tend to be sensitive and irritable and are often overstimulated by certain things, such as computer screens or crowds.
This type of ADD has the same symptoms as Classic ADD. These include inattention spans that are short and disorganized. It also includes difficulties staying focused or following directions. However, this kind of ADD does not cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This type of ADD occurs more often in women. This kind of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain which can result in feelings of low motivation or poor self-regulation. It is characterized by sleeplessness, anger and anxiety.
In this case brain mapping scans using qEEG of the brain indicate that people with over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gland which is the brain's "gear shifter," but they are struggling to shift gears. They can't move from one task or thought to another, and they get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors.
This is a form of ADD where people are highly motivated and hardworking but tend not to concentrate on their tasks. They may lose track of their school work and their parents or teachers are often tired or ashamed of their behavior. They may experience difficulties in relationships due to their tendency be impulsive and reactive. They also have issues multitasking and working in a group. In some instances they may suffer from depression or anxiety. They might be susceptible to hallucinations and panic attacks. The use of medications for this kind of ADD aren't usually advised, since they don't address the underlying causes of symptoms.