ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is usually connected to problems at school, home or at work. The psychiatric disorder can be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is most commonly known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Mental health professionals utilize SPECT brain imaging to diagnose ADHD.
The symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Medications like stimulants and antidepressants can aid in overcoming.
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 people with this type can maintain normal activity during concentration and rest in the prefrontal cortex but have decreased activity in their cerebellum and basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness, and focus. People with this type have a difficult to focus their attention and are easily distracted by distractions and noises, and have a short attention span. They are unable to fall asleep, and they often wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety. They often feel overwhelmed by emotions and have short tempers, and are quickly frustrated with tasks and easily angered.
Ring of Fire ADD is characterized by all the classic ADD symptoms however, it also has a difficulty in shifting their attention between thoughts and between tasks. They are sensitive to noise, light, and touch. They talk too fast and are indecisive. They are susceptible to moodiness, low energy and anger. They also tend to get stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
It is possible to confuse the condition of limbic ADD with depression. But it is different because it increases activity in the limbic part of the brain when it is at rest and when concentrating. It can be treated with supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with 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 excessively.
It is essential to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder that can cause irritability and frustration and low self-esteem. The difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD is more consistent in its level of irritability over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to exhibit symptoms that appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers tend to get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors that trigger excessive worrying. adhd treatment adults exhibit rigid behaviors that resemble those of people suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is why it's frequently misdiagnosed. They may become angry when requested to switch their focus between different activities, and they may react with a resentful or argumentative behavior.
They are generally irritable and their irritability may be due to a low-grade chronic sadness or negativity. They may also experience difficulties learning, experience memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.
People with overfocused ADD are not flexible 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 may not complete their chores or schoolwork. They may also be stubborn and resentful when they are punished or reprimanded by their parents or teacher.
Children with overfocused ADD exhibit a high level of stubbornness and irritability, and may be likely to throw inconsolable tantrums when their interests are not respected. They might be obsessed with a particular activity such as toys and video games. They also have difficulty expressing their emotions, and can be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This form of ADD is more common among children, and can be difficult to diagnose. Children often don't realize that their issue is due to their inability to shift their attention from one thing to the next. It's important to consult a professional as these children are more likely to be misdiagnosed for ADD. This type of ADD is usually treated using diet changes, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of ADD is extremely difficult to treat even with stimulant medications, because it can increase the intensity of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is a method to distinguish between the seven kinds of ADD. It is especially useful in diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD have a high level of anxiety. This comorbidity (having more than one disorder simultaneously) is common, impacting about half of sufferers of ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can be similar to the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and the wrong diagnosis can lead to ineffective treatment and more frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause issues at work, at school, or with social situations. This type of ADD can cause low performance and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People with anxious ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and events, believing they're not capable of completing the task.
They also fear being criticised or being judged. Due to this, they often hide their problems from others. In some cases, these people are so anxious and stressed that they develop panic attacks. These panic attacks can be extremely severe and life-threatening. They can cause heart pounding sweating, difficulty breathing and difficulty breathing. Unlike Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD are more active in their basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. They operate on an instinctual basis and place a high priority on safety. This causes a shutdown of PFC and can make it difficult for those with this condition to concentrate.
If a person suffers from ADD/ADHD and anxiety their symptoms are more difficult to treat. This is due to the treatment programs for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate brain activity, may actually increase anxiety in people who have anxious ADD.
Psychiatrists at Amen Clinics use functional neuroimaging techniques, such as SPECT scanning, to learn which areas of the brain are areas of low or high levels of activity. This helps them differentiate between the seven types of brain and determine the most effective treatment.
A psychiatrist will gather the complete medical history of a patient and perform a physical examination to diagnose the condition of ADD/ADHD. He or she may also inquire about the patient's mood and behavior in order to assess the patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD. However, in many instances, patients also require other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy, diet, exercise sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. This will help enhance their ability to control their moods and overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD affects the temporal lobe of the brain which is responsible for mood and memory. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to process and store information they experience mood instability and are prone to intense anger or aggression issues. They also are often affected by various sensory issues, like experiencing a sense of déjà vu, seeing shadows or objects changing shapes, and hearing sounds other people don't hear. They can be extremely sensitive and angry and are often overstimulated by certain activities, like computer screens or crowds.
The symptoms of this kind of ADD are similar to those seen in Classic ADD, including short attention spans and disorganization, difficulties in staying on task, and procrastinating. This kind of ADD is not associated with hyperactivity or impulsivity. This type of ADD is more prevalent in females. This kind of ADD is characterised by low levels of dopamine in the brain which can lead to feelings of depression or insufficient self-regulation. Symptoms include difficulty sleeping, anger and anxiety.
In this case QEEG scans of ADD brain reveal that people with over-focused ADD are experiencing difficulties shifting gears. They are experiencing normal activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus (the brain's "gearshifter"). They aren't able to shift from one thought or task to another and get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a type of ADD where people are extremely motivated and hardworking but tend not to pay attention to important tasks. They can lose track and feel embarrassed or exhausted due to their actions. They may have a difficult relationship with others because they can be hyper-active or reactive, and struggle dealing with multitasking or working with other people. In certain situations, they could suffer from depression or anxiety. They may be prone panic attacks and hallucinations. Medications are typically not recommended for this type of ADD as they don't tackle the root cause of the symptoms.