ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are usually related to issues at school, work, or home. The psychiatric disorder may be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common name for this psychiatric condition. Mental health professionals diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
The signs of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Medications 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 show that people suffering from this type can maintain normal activity while concentrating and 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, an important neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness and focus. People with this type have a difficult in shifting their focus and are easily distracted by noise and other stimuli, and have a short attention span. They have trouble falling asleep, and often awake in the middle of the night with anxiety. They often feel overwhelmed by emotions and have short tempers, and are quickly annoyed by tasks and easily annoyed.
Ring of Fire ADD is defined by all the standard ADD symptoms however, it also has difficulties in shifting their focus from one thought to another and between tasks. They are sensitive to light, noise, and touch. adhd treatment in adults talk too quickly and are impulsive. They are susceptible to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They also tend to get stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
Limbic ADD is often mistaken for depression, but it's distinct from depression because it causes increased activity in the limbic part of the brain (the part that determines our emotional tone and regulates the level of happiness or sadness we feel) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex at both at rest and during concentration. It is a condition which can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan, 5-HTP, saffron, and inositol that increase concentration, alertness and mood as well as mental clarity; amino acid GABA to calm neural activity and prevent nerve cells from firing too much or in a erratic manner; and liver support.
It is essential to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder which can also cause frustration and irritability as well as low self-esteem. The distinction between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more consistent level of irritability over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to have symptoms that come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD patients tend to get caught up in negative thoughts and behaviors which result in excessive worry. This is due to rigid behavior that is similar to those suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). People with OCD are often threatened emotionally when required to shift their focus from one activity to another and may respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
They are often angry and their irritability may be caused by a low-grade chronic depression or sadness. They may also have trouble learning, struggle with memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.
People with overfocused ADD may be rigid when it comes to changing tasks and may become absorbed in their hobbies or work. They are prone to missing deadlines at work, and not remembering appointments at home, and they might not finish homework or other school assignments. They could also be stubborn and resentful when they are punished by their teachers or parents.
Children who have overfocused ADD have a high degree of irritability and stubbornness, and can be susceptible to throwing a rage when their interests are violated. They might be obsessed with certain activities like video games, toys, and toys. They may also have difficulty expressing their feelings and be very sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This type of ADD can be difficult to recognize, especially in children. These children often don't understand that their issue is caused by their inability to shift their attention from one thing to another. This is why it's essential to seek the help of an expert, since children with this kind of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family physicians and even psychologists. This type of ADD is usually treated using dietary changes, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Medications are sometimes prescribed, but this kind of ADD is difficult to treat using stimulant medications because they can raise a person's levels of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is a method to differentiate between the seven types of ADD. It is particularly useful in diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD experience high levels of anxiety. This comorbidity (having more than one disorder simultaneously) is common, affecting about half of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. A misdiagnosis can result in unsuitable treatment and anger.
Anxious ADD can cause problems at work, at school or in social situations. This kind of ADD can result in low performance and feelings of inadequateness. People with anxious ADD avoid difficult tasks or events because they fear that they won't be successful.
They also fear being criticized or considered a victim. They hide their problems to others. These people can be so stressed and anxious that they have panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They can cause an increase in heart rate, sweating 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 focus on safety. This can shut down PFC and can make it difficult for these individuals focus.
If someone suffers from anxiety and ADD/ADHD, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to treat. This is because treatment protocols for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate the brain may actually increase anxiety in people with anxious ADD by decreasing the activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scans in order to determine the areas of the brain where low and/or higher levels of activity are occurring. This helps them differentiate between the seven types of ADD and determine the most effective treatment for each patient.
A psychiatrist will collect a complete medical record and conduct a physical exam to determine if the patient suffers from ADD/ADHD. In addition, he / might ask questions regarding behavior and mood to determine a patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD but in most cases, patients require other treatments in addition, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or nutrition and exercise, strategies for sleep, desensitization and other techniques for relaxation. This may improve their ability to control their emotions and their overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe of the brain which is responsible for memory and mood. This type of ADD is characterised by a problem learning and keeping information in memory as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggression. They may also suffer from sensory issues like feeling like they're in a dream and seeing shadows or objects change shape, or hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They are sensitive, irritable and easily overstimulated.
The symptoms of this kind of ADD are similar to those in Classic ADD, including short attention spans, disorganization, difficulty following directions or staying focused, and procrastinating. This kind of ADD is not associated with hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more common in females. This kind of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain which can lead to feelings of depression or poor self-regulation. It is characterized by sleeplessness, anger and anxiety.
In this instance, qEEG brain mapping scans of the brain reveal that people suffering from Over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gyrus which is the brain's "gear shifter," but they are having trouble shifting gears. They can't move from one thought or task to the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a kind of ADD which means that people are highly motivated and hardworking however, they tend to get easily distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They can lose track and feel embarrassed or exhausted because of their behavior. They may have a difficult relationship with others because they are impulsive or reactive, and struggle managing multiple tasks or working with others. In certain situations, they could experience anxiety or depression. They are susceptible to panic attacks and are susceptible to hallucinations. The use of medication is not recommended for this type of ADD as it doesn't treat the root of the symptoms.