ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is often related to issues at home, school or work. 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 disorder. Mental health professionals employ SPECT brain imaging to diagnose ADHD.
Some of the symptoms are being easily distracted, forgetful and disorganized. Treatments such as 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 can maintain normal activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex, but have decreased activity in their cerebellum and basal ganglia. These areas help produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness and concentration. This type has a limited attention span, is easily distracted by sounds or other stimuli and is unable to shift attention. They are unable to fall asleep, and they often wake up in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They often feel overwhelmed by their emotions and have an impulsive personality, getting easily frustrated and easily angered.
People suffering from Ring of Fire ADD have all the hallmarks of the classic ADD, but they also have difficulty shifting their attention from one thought to another thought and from task to task. They have a sensitivity to light, noise and touch and talk too quickly and are impulsive, and easily triggered to a negative behavior. They can experience periods of agitation and low energy levels, are quick to get angry, and get stuck on negative thoughts and guilty feelings.
Limbic ADD is often mistaken for depression, but it's distinct from depression because it is associated with 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 both at rest and during concentration. It is a condition that can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan, 5-HTP as well as saffron and inositol that improve alertness, focus and mood as well as mental clarity. They also use amino acid GABA to calm neural activity and stop nerve cells from over-firing or firing erratically; and liver support.
It is essential to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which can cause frustration, irritability and low self-esteem. The difference is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms has a more constant level of anger and frustration over time, whereas Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD patients are often stuck in negative thoughts and behavior that result in excessive worry. This is because they exhibit rigid behaviors that are similar to those with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). These individuals often become threatened emotionally when asked to shift their attention from one task to the next, and can respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
They tend to be angry and their irritability may be due to a low-grade chronic sadness or negative mood. They may also struggle with memory issues, feel intense anger, and have a short fuse.
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 forgetting appointments at home and may not complete homework or other school assignments. They may also be extremely stubborn and resentful when they are disapproved of by their parents or teachers.
Children with hyperfocused ADD are often angry and stubborn, and may throw tantrums if their needs are not being recognized. They may be obsessed with a particular activity like video games, toys, and toys. They may also have trouble communicating their feelings and are extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This kind of ADD can be difficult to identify, particularly for children. These children often don't understand that their issue is due to their inability to switch their focus between different things. This is the reason it's crucial to seek out help from an expert, as children with this kind of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This kind of ADD can be treated using diet modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. This type of ADD is hard to treat even with stimulant medications as it can cause the intensity of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is sometimes used to differentiate the seven distinct types of ADD, and is particularly helpful for diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have high levels of anxiety. This is a comorbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common, impacting the majority of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mirror the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Incorrect diagnosis can cause unsuitable treatment and frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause problems with school, work, and social situations. This type of ADD can cause under-performance and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People who suffer from anxiety ADD are hesitant to take on difficult tasks or activities because they fear that they won't be successful.
They also fear being judged or being judged. Due to this, they tend to hide their issues from their peers. They can become so stressed and anxious that they suffer from panic attacks. These can be very dangerous and life-threatening, resulting in sweating, a pounding heart and breathing problems. Unlike Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD have increased activity in their basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These organs operate on an instinctual basis and place a high priority on safety. This causes a shutdown of PFC and makes it difficult for these individuals focus.
If someone with anxiety or ADD their symptoms are generally more difficult to manage than those of someone who doesn't have anxiety. This is because treatment programs for ADD/ADHD, which are designed to stimulate brain activity, may actually increase anxiety among those with anxious ADD.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists utilize functional neuroimaging such as SPECT scans to identify which areas of the brain have more or less activity are found. This helps them differentiate between the seven types and determine the most effective treatment.
A psychiatrist will gather the complete medical history of a patient and conduct a physical examination to determine if the patient suffers from the condition of ADD/ADHD. The doctor may also ask about the patient's mood and behavior in order to evaluate the patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD however, most patients require other treatments as well, such as cognitive behavioral therapy as well as nutrition and exercise sleep strategies, desensitization and other techniques to relax. This can improve their ability to control their moods and overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD involves the temporal lobe of the brain, which is responsible for memory and mood. People suffering from this kind of ADD struggle to retain and learn, experience mood instability, and suffer from severe anger or aggression issues. They may also suffer from sensory issues such as feeling deja vu and seeing shadows or objects change shape or hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They are often sensitive and angry and are often overstimulated by certain activities, such as computer screens or crowds.
This type of ADD is characterized by similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include short attention spans and disorganization. add adult treatment has difficulty in staying focused or following directions. However, this kind of ADD does not cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD is more prevalent in females. People with this type of ADD might have low levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, which can lead to feelings of depression and poor self-regulation. Some of the symptoms include difficulty sleeping and feelings of irritability or anxiety.
In this case, qEEG scans of the ADD brain show that those with Overfocused ADD have difficulty shifting gears. They show normal activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to shift from one task or thought to the next, and they are stuck in negative thought patterns and behavior.
This is a form of ADD where people are extremely motivated and productive but have a tendency not to pay attention to important tasks. They may lose focus and become embarrassed or tired because of their behavior. They may have a hard relationship with others because they are unpredictable or reactive and struggle dealing with multitasking or working with other people. In certain situations, they could experience anxiety or depression. They may be susceptible to panic attacks and susceptible to hallucinations. Medications are typically not advised for this kind of ADD as it doesn't tackle the root cause of the symptoms.