ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is often related to issues at home, school or work. The psychiatric disorder can be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is commonly known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Mental health specialists diagnose ADHD by using SPECT brain scans.
The symptoms of classic ADD 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. The scans of the brain show that people suffering from this type are able to maintain normal levels of activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex, however, they have less activity in their cerebellum as well as the basal ganglia. These areas are responsible for the production of dopamine, which is an important neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness, and focus. This type has a short attention span, and is easily distracted by sounds and other stimuli, and is unable to switch attention. They also have difficulty falling asleep and often wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety or nightmares. They can be easily annoyed and can be easily angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is defined by all the standard ADD symptoms as well as difficulties in shifting their attention from one thought to another and shifting their focus from one task to the next. They are sensitive to light, noise and even touch. They talk too fast and are impulsive. They can experience periods of agitation and low energy levels, are quick to anger, and get stuck on negative thoughts and guilt.
It is possible to mix the symptoms of limbic ADD with depression. But it is different because it increases activity in the limbic region of the brain when it is at rest and when concentrating. It can be treated by supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) as well as saffron, inositol that increase alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA can also help calm neural activity, inhibiting nerve cells from firing erratically or in excess.
It is crucial to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder that can cause frustration and irritability as well as low self-esteem. The distinction is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms has more consistent irritability and frustration over time, whereas Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to manifest in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers often get stuck in negative patterns of thoughts and behaviors that cause excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns that resemble those of people suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) which is the reason it's often mistakenly diagnosed. They may become emotional when they are requested to switch their focus between different activities, and they may react by displaying a hostile or argumentative attitude.
They are generally unhappy and their irritability may be due to a low-grade chronic depression or sadness. They might also have memory problems, experience severe anger, and may have a short fuse.
People with overfocused ADD might be rigid when it comes switching tasks and can become absorbed in their hobbies or work. They might forget appointments and deadlines at work or at home and may not finish their chores or schoolwork. They may also be stubborn and resentful when they are reprimanded or chastised by their teacher or parents.
Children with overfocused ADD are often angry and obstinate, and they might throw temper tantrums when their needs are not being respected. They can be obsessive about specific activities, toys, and video games. They can also have difficulty communicating their feelings and are very sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This type of ADD is more common in children and can be difficult to recognize. Children who show this behavior may have difficulty understanding the cause of their problems. by an inability to change their focus from one task to the next. It's important to consult a professional as these children are more likely to have their ADD misdiagnosed. This type of ADD is typically treated with diet changes, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of ADD is hard to treat even with stimulant medications as it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is often used to identify the seven distinct kinds of ADD, and is particularly useful for diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD experience high levels of anxiety. Comorbidity, or having more than one disorder simultaneously is a common problem and affects as much as half of people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can be similar to the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and the wrong diagnosis can lead to ineffective treatment and further frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause issues at school, at work or in social situations. This type of ADD can cause low performance and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People with anxiety ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and events because they believe they're not capable of completing the task.
They also fear being criticised or judged. They hide their problems to others. In some instances, people are so stressed and anxious that they experience panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They can cause a pounding of the heart sweating, breathing difficulties and difficulty. 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 focus on safety. treatment of adhd in adults causes a shutdown of PFC and can make it difficult for these individuals focus.
If a person suffers from anxiety and ADD/ADHD and anxiety, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to manage. This is due to treatment programs for ADD/ADHD, that are designed to increase brain activity, can actually increase anxiety among people with anxious ADD.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scanning to discover which areas of the brain are areas of low or high levels of activity. This allows them to differentiate between the seven types of ADD and determine the most effective treatment for each individual.
A psychiatrist will gather an entire medical record and perform a physical examination to determine if a patient has the condition of ADD/ADHD. He or she might also inquire about mood and behavior to evaluate the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD, but most patients require other therapies as well, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, nutrition and exercise, sleep strategies, desensitization, and other techniques to relax. This can aid in improving their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe in the brain, which is responsible for memory and mood. People suffering from this kind of ADD struggle to process and store information they experience mood instability and are prone to extreme anger or aggression issues. They may also be suffering from sensory issues such as feeling like they're in a dream, seeing shadows or objects change form or hearing sounds that others don't hear. They can be irritable, sensitive and easily overstimulated.
This type of ADD has similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include low attention spans and disorganization. It also has difficulty in staying focused or following instructions. This type of ADD does not cause excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in females. People with this type of ADD might have low levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, which contributes to their feelings of low motivation and low self-regulation. It is characterized by sleeplessness, anger and anxiety.
In this instance QEEG scans of ADD brain reveal that people with Overfocused ADD have difficulty 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 another and get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a form of ADD in which people are extremely motivated and hardworking but are unable to focus on important tasks. They may lose focus and be embarrassed or exhausted because of their behavior. They might have a difficult relationship because they can be impulsive or reactive, and struggle with multitasking or working with others. In some cases they may 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 aren't usually recommended, as they do not address the underlying reason for the symptoms.