ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often associated with problems at school, work, or home. The psychiatric disorder can be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is most often referred to as attention hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. Mental health professionals diagnose ADHD by using SPECT brain scans.
The signs of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Treatments such as stimulants and antidepressants can ease the symptoms.
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 are able to maintain normal activity while concentrating and rest in the prefrontal cortex, but they are less active in their cerebellum and basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, an important neurotransmitter that is that is responsible for motivation, calmness and focus. This type has a short attention span, is easily distracted by noises and other stimuli, and is unable to switch focus. They have difficulty falling asleep, and often awake in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They are easily frustrated and can be easily angry.
People suffering from Ring of Fire ADD have all the hallmarks of the classic ADD However, they also have trouble shifting their attention from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to light, noise, and touch. They talk too fast and are highly 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 region of the brain (the brain region that sets our emotional tone and regulates the level of happiness or sadness we are) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex at both rest and during concentration. It can be treated by supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) as well as saffron, inositol, which improve alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA is also helpful to reduce neural activity and prevent nerve cells from firing irregularly or too frequently.
It is important to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder which can also result in frustration and irritability, as well as low self-esteem. The distinction is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms has a more constant level of irritability and frustration over time, whereas Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to manifest in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD sufferers often get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors that cause excessive worrying. This is because they exhibit rigid behaviors that are similar to those suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They can become angry when requested to switch their focus 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 irritability stems from a constant depression or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome" and often feeling of despair and desperation. They might also have difficulty learning, have memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD are unable to adapt when they have to change tasks, and may be captivated by their hobbies or work. They may not remember appointments or deadlines at home or at work and may not complete their schoolwork or chores. They may also be stubborn and resentful when they are punished or reprimanded by their teacher or parents.
Children with hyper-focused ADD exhibit a high level of stubbornness and irritability, and may be likely to throw inconsolable tantrums when their interests are not respected. They can be obsessive about specific activities, toys, and video games. They are also unable to express their emotions, and can be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This type of ADD is more prevalent among children, and is difficult to diagnose. The majority of children don't understand that their problem is caused by their inability to switch their attention between different things. This is the reason it's crucial to seek out help from an expert, 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 diet modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some medications are prescribed, but this kind of ADD can be difficult to treat with stimulant medications because they can increase a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to differentiate the seven distinct kinds of ADD and is especially helpful for diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD have high levels of anxiety. This is a comorbidity (having more than one disorder simultaneously) is common, affecting the majority of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and misdiagnosis can lead to improper treatment and even more frustration.
Anxious ADD can lead to problems at work, school and social situations. This kind of ADD can lead to underachievement and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People with anxious ADD avoid difficult tasks or events because they fear they won't succeed.
They also fear being criticised or judged. Because of this, they often hide their troubles from others. People with anxiety can become so stressed and anxious that they suffer from panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They trigger heart pounding sweating, breathing difficulties and difficulty. In contrast to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD are more active in their basal ganglia as well as the amygdala, which operate on an instinctual basis, and are able to prioritize safety. This causes the brain to shut down the PFC, which can make it difficult for people with ADD to concentrate.
If a person suffers from anxiety and ADD/ADHD, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to treat. This is due to treatment strategies for ADD/ADHD, which are designed to stimulate the brain can actually increase anxiety among people who suffer from anxiety ADD due to a decrease in activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scans to identify which areas of the brain have high and/or lower levels of activity are present. This helps them distinguish between the seven types of brain and determine the best method of treatment.
A psychiatrist will take a complete medical record and perform a physical examination to diagnose ADHD or ADD. Additionally, he or she may ask questions about behavior and mood to determine the overall health of a patient. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD, but most patients need other therapies in addition, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or nutrition and exercise, sleep strategies, desensitization and other relaxation techniques. This can help improve their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD is a problem with the temporal lobe in the brain, which is responsible for mood and memory. People with this type of ADD struggle to learn and store information and experience mood swings and have intense anger or aggression issues. treating adult add might also experience sensory issues like feeling deja vu when objects or shadows change shape or hearing sounds that others don't hear. They can be irritable, sensitive and easily overstimulated.
This kind of ADD is characterized by similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include short attention spans and disorganization. It also has difficulties 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. This kind of ADD is characterised by low levels of dopamine in the brain which can cause feelings of depression or poor self-regulation. It is characterized by sleeplessness, anger and anxiety.
In this instance QEEG scans of ADD brain show that those with over-focused ADD are experiencing difficulties shifting gears. They show normal activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to move from one task or thought to the next, and they become stuck in negative thinking patterns and behavior.
This is a form of ADD which means that people are highly motivated and productive but they also tend to get distracted by mundane or insignificant tasks. They can get lost and feel embarrassed or exhausted by their behavior. They may be struggling in relationships due to their tendency be reactive and impulsive. They also have trouble multitasking and working with others. In some cases they may experience anxiety or depression. They may be susceptible to panic attacks and susceptible to hallucinations. The use of medications for this kind of ADD are not usually recommended, as they do not address the root causes of symptoms.