ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is often associated with problems at home, school or work. The psychiatric condition isn't easy to identify and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is often referred to as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Mental health specialists diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
Symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful, and unorganized. 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 reveal that those suffering from this type can maintain normal levels of activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex, but have decreased activity in their cerebellum as well as the basal ganglia. These areas are responsible for the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness, and focus. People with this type have a hard time shifting their attention, are easily distracted by noise and other stimuli, and have short attention spans. They have difficulty falling asleep, and they often wake up in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They are often overwhelmed by emotions and possess a short fuse, becoming easily frustrated and easily angered.
People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the hallmarks of classic ADD, but they also struggle to shift their attention from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to light, noise and even touch. They talk too fast and are highly impulsive. They are susceptible to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
It is possible to mistake the symptoms of limbic ADD with depression. However, it is distinct because it stimulates activity in the limbic part of the brain when it is at the moment of rest and while concentrating. It can be treated by supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) as well as saffron, inositol which increase alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA is also helpful to reduce neural activity and prevent nerve cells from firing irregularly or excessively.
It is essential to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder, which can trigger irritability, anger, and poor self-esteem. The distinction is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms is more prone to constant irritability and frustration over time, while Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD patients often get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors that cause excessive worry. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns similar to the ones of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and that is why it's frequently incorrectly diagnosed. They can become emotional when they are they are asked to shift their attention between activities and may respond by displaying a hostile or argumentative attitude.
These people tend to have an inability to keep their cool and their anger stems from a persistent depression or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome" and often feeling of despair and a sense of worthlessness. They may also experience difficulties learning, experience memory issues, or have extreme anger and aggression.
People with overfocused ADD are unable to adapt when it comes to changing tasks, and can become highly captivated by their hobbies or work. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work and not remembering appointments at home, and they might not finish chores or school assignments. They may also be stubborn and resentful when they are disciplined or punished by their teachers or parents.
Children with hyper-focused ADD have a high degree of irritability and stubbornness, and are susceptible to throwing a rage when their interests are violated. 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 rejection or criticism.
This kind of ADD can be difficult to recognize, especially in children. Children who exhibit this type of behavior are often unable to comprehend the cause of their problems. due to the inability of them to shift their focus between tasks. This is why it's important to seek out help from a professional, as children with this type of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family physicians and even psychologists. This type of ADD is treatable with dietary modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some medications are prescribed, but this kind of ADD is difficult to treat with stimulant medications because they can raise a person's levels of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to distinguish the seven distinct types of ADD and is especially useful for diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD suffer from high levels of anxiety. Comorbidity, or having multiple disorders at the same time, is common and can affect up to 50% of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and the wrong diagnosis can lead to ineffective treatment and further frustration.
Anxious ADD can lead to problems at work, school, and social situations. This type of ADD can lead to underachievement and feelings of inadequacy. People suffering from anxious ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and events, believing they'll fail.
They also fear being judged or being criticized. Due to this, they tend to hide their issues from others. People with anxiety can become so anxious and stressed that they suffer from panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They trigger heart pounding sweating, difficulty breathing and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD is distinct from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the Basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and place a high value on security. This shuts down PFC and can make it difficult for these individuals concentrate.
If someone with anxiety or ADD, their symptoms are usually more difficult to manage than those of someone who does not suffer from anxiety. This is because treatment plans for ADD/ADHD which are designed to stimulate the brain can increase anxiety in those with anxiety ADD by decreasing the activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists use functional neuroimaging such as SPECT scans to determine which areas of the brain have high and/or lower levels of activity are occurring. This helps them differentiate between the seven kinds of ADD and determine the most effective treatment for each person.
A psychiatrist will take a complete medical record and conduct a physical exam to determine if a patient has ADHD or ADD. In addition, he or might ask questions regarding behavior and mood to determine a patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD. However, in the majority of cases patients also need other therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy as well as nutrition, exercise sleep strategies, and desensitization. This may increase their ability to manage their emotions and their overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe within the brain which is responsible for memory and mood. This kind of ADD is manifested by a lack of learning and storing information and mood swings, as well as severe anger or aggression issues. They may also suffer from sensory issues such as feeling like they're in a dream when objects or shadows change form or hearing sounds that others can't hear. add treatments for adults can be extremely sensitive and irritable and are often overstimulated by certain activities, like computer screens or crowds.
The symptoms of this type of ADD are similar to those seen in Classic ADD, including short attention spans, disorganization, difficulty following directions or staying focused, and procrastinating. This kind of ADD does not cause excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in females. This type of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain, which can result in feelings of low motivation or a lack of self-regulation. Some of the symptoms include difficulty sleeping and feelings of irritability or anxiety.
In this case QEEG scans of ADD brain show that those with over-focused ADD are having difficulties shifting gears. They show normal activity in the anterior cingulate region (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to move from one thought or task to the next, and they get stuck in negative thought patterns and behavior.
adhd treatment in adults is a form of ADD where individuals can be extremely motivated and hardworking, but they have a tendency to get distracted by unimportant or non-essential tasks. They may lose track of their school work and teachers or parents can become annoyed or embarrassed by their behavior. They may have a difficult relationship with others because they can be hyper-active or reactive, and struggle dealing with multitasking or working with others. In some instances, they can experience anxiety or depression. They may be susceptible to panic attacks and are susceptible to hallucinations. Treatments for this type of ADD aren't usually recommended since they don't address the underlying reason for the symptoms.