ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is typically related to issues at school, home or work. The psychiatric disorder can be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is most often referred to as attention hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD. Mental health professionals employ SPECT brain imaging to diagnose ADHD.
Some of the symptoms are being easily distracted, forgetful, and unorganized. Treatments such as stimulants and antidepressants may 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 those suffering from this type can maintain normal activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex, but have decreased activity in their cerebellum and basal ganglia. These areas are responsible for the production of dopamine, which is the neurotransmitter responsible for motivation, calmness and focus. This type has a short attention span, is easily distracted by noises and other stimuli and is unable to switch attention. They are unable to fall asleep, and they often wake up in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They often feel overwhelmed by emotions and have short tempers, and are easily frustrated and easily annoyed.
People suffering from Ring of Fire ADD have all the symptoms of the classic ADD, but they also struggle to shift their attention from one thought to another thought and from task to task. They have a sensitivity to noise, light, and touch; they talk too quickly and are easily impulsive and easily triggered into a mean-spirited behaviors. They are prone to low energy, moodiness and anger. They can also get caught up in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
Limbic ADD is often mistaken for depression, however it is distinct from depression because it is associated with increased activity in the limbic region of the brain (the area that sets our emotional tone and regulates how happy or sad we are) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration. It can be treated by supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP), saffron and inositol which increase alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA can also be helpful to calm neural activity, inhibiting nerve cells from firing irregularly or excessively.
It is essential to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which also can cause irritability, frustration and low self-esteem. The difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more constant level of irritability over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to suffer from symptoms that occur in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD patients tend to get caught up in negative thoughts and behavior that trigger excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behaviors that resemble those of people suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) which is the reason it's often incorrectly diagnosed. They are often frightened emotionally when asked to shift their attention from one task to the next and may respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
They are generally irritable and their irritability may be caused by chronic low-grade depression or sadness. They may also be afflicted by memory problems, experience severe anger, and have a short fuse.
People with overfocused ADD are inflexible when they have to change tasks, and could be captivated by their work or hobbies. They might forget appointments and deadlines at home or at work and they might not finish their chores or schoolwork. They may also be extremely stubborn and resentful when punished by their parents or teachers.
Children with hyperfocused ADD can be angry and obstinate, and they can throw temper tantrums if their needs are not being recognized. They may be obsessed with specific toys, activities and video games. They also have trouble expressing their feelings, and can be extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This kind of ADD is difficult to recognize, especially when it affects children. Children often don't realize the cause of their condition. It's caused by their inability switch their attention from one thing to the next. It is important to speak with an expert since these children are more likely to be misdiagnosed for ADD. This kind of ADD is typically treated with diet changes, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of ADD is difficult to treat, even with stimulant medication due to the fact that it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is often used to differentiate the seven distinct types of ADD, and is particularly useful for diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people who suffer from ADD suffer from a high level of anxiety. Comorbidity, or having more than one disorder at the same time is a common occurrence and can affect up to 50% of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and incorrect diagnosis can lead to inadequate treatment and more frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause problems at school, at work, or with social situations. This kind of ADD can cause under-performance and feelings of inadequacy. adult adhd treatment suffering from anxious ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and events because they believe they'll fail.
They also fear being judged or critiqued. They are afraid of being judged or criticised. others. These people can be so stressed and anxious that they experience panic attacks. These panic attacks can be extremely severe and life-threatening. They cause an increase in heart rate, sweating and difficulty breathing. In contrast to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD have increased activity in their basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These organs operate on an instinctual basis and place a high priority on safety. This shuts down the PFC, which can make it difficult for those with this condition to concentrate.
If a person with ADD/ADHD has anxiety, their symptoms are usually more difficult to manage than those of a person who doesn't have anxiety. This is due to treatment strategies for ADD/ADHD, which are designed to stimulate the brain can actually increase anxiety in people who suffer from anxiety ADD by reducing activity in their PFC.
Psychiatrists at Amen Clinics use functional neuroimaging, like SPECT scanning, to determine which areas of the brain are low and/or high levels of activity. This helps them distinguish between the seven types of brain and determine the best treatment.
A psychiatrist will gather an entire medical record and conduct a physical exam to diagnose ADD/ADHD. He or she might also inquire about the patient's mood and behavior to evaluate the patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medications are prescribed to treat the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. However, in the majority of instances, patients also require other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy as well as exercise, nutrition sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. This can aid in improving their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD is a problem with the temporal lobe of the brain, which is responsible for memory and mood. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to learn and store information and experience mood swings and suffer from severe anger or aggression issues. They may also be suffering from sensory issues like feeling like they're in a dream and seeing shadows or objects change shape, or hearing sounds that others don't hear. They tend to be sensitive and irritable, and often become overstimulated by certain things, such as computer screens or crowds.
This type of ADD is characterized by similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include low attention spans and disorganization. It also has difficulties staying focused or following instructions. 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 characterised by low levels of dopamine in the brain which can result in feelings of depression or poor self-regulation. The symptoms include insomnia, 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 gyrus, the brain's "gear shifter," but they are struggling to shift gears. They are not able to move from one thought or task to the next, and they get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors.
This is a type of ADD where people are highly motivated and hardworking but are unable to focus on important tasks. They may lose focus and feel embarrassed or exhausted by their behavior. They may have a hard relationship with others because they are impulsive or reactive, and have difficulty dealing with multitasking or working with others. In certain situations, they can experience anxiety or depression. They may be susceptible to panic attacks and are susceptible to hallucinations. Medications are not usually recommended for this type of ADD, because it doesn't tackle the root cause of the symptoms.