ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is often associated with problems 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 deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. Mental health experts diagnose ADHD by using SPECT brain scans.
Symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful, and unorganized. The use of 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 show that people with this type have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex at rest and during concentration, however they have reduced activity in the cerebellum and the basal ganglia which are responsible for the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that enhances focus, motivation and calmness. People with this type have a hard to focus their attention, are easily distracted by the noise or other stimuli and have short attention spans. They also have difficulty falling asleep and often wake up during the night with nightmares or anxiety. They often feel overwhelmed by emotions and have short tempers, and are quickly annoyed by tasks and easily angered.
Ring of Fire ADD is distinguished by all the typical ADD symptoms, but also by difficulties in shifting their focus from one thought to another and from one task to another. They are sensitive to light, noise, and touch; they talk too quickly and are easily impulsive and easily provoked into a mean-spirited behaviour. They can experience periods of agitation and fatigue, are quick to get angry, and get stuck on negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
It is possible to confuse the condition of limbic ADD with depression. However, it is different in that it boosts activity in the limbic region of the brain during rest and when concentrating. It is a condition that can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan 5-HTP, saffron, and inositol, which boost concentration, alertness and mood. They also improve mental clarity; amino acid GABA to calm neural activity and inhibit nerve cells from over-firing or firing erratically; and liver support.
It is crucial to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder that can result in frustration and irritability, as well as low self-esteem. The distinction is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms is more prone to constant anger and frustration over time, while Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD patients tend to get caught up in negative thoughts and behaviors that result in excessive worry. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns similar to the ones of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is why it's frequently misdiagnosed. They may become emotionally upset when they are asked to shift their attention between tasks and can respond with a resentful or argumentative behavior.
They tend to be angry and their irritability can be due to a low-grade chronic sadness or negative mood. They may also be afflicted by memory issues, experience extreme anger, and have a short fuse.
People with hyperfocused ADD might be rigid when it comes switching tasks and can become absorbed in their job or pastime. They may forget appointments and deadlines at home or at work, and they may not complete their homework or chores. They could also be stubborn and resentful when they are reprimanded by their teachers or parents.
Children who have overfocused ADD have a high degree of stubbornness and irritability, and are prone to throwing inconsolable tantrums when their interests are violated. They can be obsessive about specific toys, activities and video games. They are also unable to express their feelings, and can be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This form of ADD is more prevalent among children, and can be difficult to diagnose. The majority of children don't understand that their problem is due to their inability to shift their focus between different things. This is the reason it's crucial to seek help from an expert, as children with this type of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This kind of ADD is treatable with nutritional modifications, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapies. Some medications are prescribed, but this kind of ADD is difficult to treat with stimulant medications, as these can raise a person's levels of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is sometimes used to identify the seven distinct kinds of ADD, and is particularly helpful for diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people who suffer from ADD suffer from a high level of anxiety. Comorbidity, which is having multiple disorders at the same time is a common problem and affects up to 50% of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. A misdiagnosis can result in inadequate treatment and frustration.
Anxious ADD may cause problems at work, at school, or with social situations. This kind of ADD may cause low performance and feelings of inadequateness. People with anxious ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and events because they believe they're not capable of completing the task.
They are also afraid of being judged and critiqued. They hide their problems to others. These people can be so anxious and stressed that they have panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They trigger an increase in heart rate sweating, breathing difficulties and difficulty. In contrast to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD have increased activity in their basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. They operate on an instinctual basis, and are able to prioritize safety. This causes a shutdown of PFC and makes it difficult for these individuals focus.
When a person has anxiety and ADD/ADHD, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to treat. This is due to treatment programs for ADD/ADHD, that are designed to increase brain activity, may actually increase anxiety among people with anxiety-related ADD.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scans to identify which areas of the brain have more or less activity are found. This allows them to distinguish between the seven types of brain and determine the best treatment.
To determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist takes a thorough medical history and conducts physical examination. In addition, he or might ask questions regarding behavior and mood to determine the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are used to treat the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. However, in the majority of instances, patients also require other therapies, including cognitive behavior therapy and exercise, nutrition sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. This can aid in improving their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD is a problem with the temporal lobe in the brain which is responsible for mood and memory. This kind of ADD is characterised by a problem learning and keeping information in memory, mood instability and severe anger or aggressive issues. They might also experience sensory issues like feeling deja vu, seeing shadows or objects change shape or hearing sounds that others can't hear. They are often sensitive and angry and are often overstimulated by certain activities, such as computer screens or crowds.
The symptoms of this kind of ADD are similar to those in Classic ADD, including short attention spans, disorganization, difficulty staying focused, and procrastinating. This kind of ADD is not associated with hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in females. People with this type of ADD may suffer from low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which contributes to their feelings of low motivation and low self-regulation. The symptoms can include sleep problems and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this instance QEEG scans of the ADD brain reveal that people with over-focused ADD have difficulties shifting gears. They are experiencing normal activity in the anterior cingulate region (the brain's "gearshifter"). They can't move from one thought or task to another and get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a form of ADD where people are highly motivated and hardworking but are unable to concentrate on their tasks. They can lose track of their school work and their parents or teachers are often exhausted or ashamed of their behavior. They may have difficulty in relationships due to their tendency be impulsive and reactive. They also have difficulty multitasking and working in a group. In some cases they may suffer from depression or anxiety. treatment for add in adults may be susceptible to panic attacks and are susceptible to hallucinations. The use of medications for this kind of ADD aren't usually recommended, as they don't address the underlying causes of symptoms.