ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is typically associated with problems at school, home or work. The psychiatric disorder is difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most popular name used for this psychiatric condition. Mental health professionals diagnose ADHD by using SPECT brain scans.
The symptoms 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. Brain scans reveal that people with this type can 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, which is the neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, tranquility, and focus. This type has a limited attention span, and is easily distracted by noises and other stimuli and is unable to switch attention. They also have difficulty sleeping and frequently wake up during the night with anxiety or nightmares. They are often overwhelmed by emotions and possess an impulsive personality, getting easily frustrated and easily annoyed.
Ring of Fire ADD is defined by all the standard ADD symptoms, but also by difficulties in shifting their attention between thoughts and from one task to another. They have a sensitivity to light, noise and touch; they talk too quickly and are impulsive, and easily provoked into a mean-spirited behaviors. They are prone to low energy, moodiness and anger. They can also get caught up in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
It is possible to confuse the symptoms of limbic ADD with depression. However, it is different because it increases activity in the limbic part of the brain when it is at the moment of rest and while concentrating. It can be treated by supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with saffron, inositol which increase alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA is also helpful to reduce neural activity and prevent nerve cells from firing erratically or excessively.
It is essential to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which can cause frustration, irritability, and poor self-esteem. The difference is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms has more consistent anger and frustration over time, while Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers often get stuck in negative thought patterns and behavior that cause excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns similar to the ones of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and that is the reason it's often incorrectly diagnosed. These individuals often become threatened emotionally when required to shift their focus from one task to the next, and can respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
adhd adults treatment are likely to have a short temper and their irritability stems from a persistent depression or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome," and frequently feeling hopeless and desperation. They may also experience difficulties learning, experience memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.
People with hyperfocused ADD might be rigid when it comes changing tasks and may become absorbed in their work or hobby. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work, and forgetting appointments at home and they might not finish homework or other school assignments. They can also be very stubborn and resentful when they are reprimanded or chastised by their teachers or parents.
Children with hyper-focused ADD have a high degree of irritability and stubbornness, and are prone to throwing inconsolable tantrums when their interests are trampled on. They might be obsessed with a particular activity such as toys and video games. They also have trouble expressing their emotions, and can be extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This form of ADD is more common among children, and is often difficult to recognize. Children who exhibit this type of behavior often have trouble understanding the cause of their problems. due to the inability of them to shift their attention from one task to another. It is important to speak with an expert as these children are more likely to be misdiagnosed for ADD. This type of ADD is typically treated with dietary changes, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This type of ADD is extremely difficult to treat even with stimulant medication as it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is often used to differentiate the seven distinct types of ADD and is especially useful in diagnosing over-focused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people who suffer from ADD suffer from a high level of anxiety. Comorbidity, which is having multiple disorders at the same time is a common problem and can affect up to half of those 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 lead to problems at school, work and social settings. This type of ADD can cause underperformance and feelings of unworthiness. People with anxiety ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and activities because they think they'll fail.
They also fear being criticized or judged. Because of this, they often hide their troubles from their peers. These people can be so stressed and anxious that they have panic attacks. They can be extremely life-threatening and cause a pounding heart, sweating and breathing difficulties. Anxious ADD is different from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the basal ganglia, as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on security. This can shut down PFC and can make it difficult for people with this disorder to focus.
If a person with ADD/ADHD has anxiety the symptoms are typically more difficult to manage than those of a person who isn't suffering from anxiety. This is due to treatment strategies for ADD/ADHD which are designed to stimulate the brain may increase anxiety in those who suffer from anxiety ADD by reducing the activity of their PFC.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists utilize functional neuroimaging techniques like SPECT scans to determine the areas of the brain where high and/or lower levels of activity are occurring. This helps them distinguish between the seven types and determine the most effective treatment.
A psychiatrist will collect the complete medical history of a patient and conduct a physical exam to determine if the patient suffers from ADD/ADHD. In addition, he / she may ask questions about 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 too, including cognitive behavioral therapy as well as nutrition and exercise strategies for sleep, desensitization and other relaxation techniques. This can aid in improving their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD affects the temporal lobe within the brain, which is responsible both for mood and memory. People suffering from this kind of ADD struggle to retain and learn, experience mood instability, and have extreme anger or aggression issues. They might also experience sensory issues like feeling deja vu and seeing shadows or objects change shape, or hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They can be irritable, sensitive and easily overwhelmed.
The symptoms of this kind of ADD are similar to those in Classic ADD, including short attention spans and disorganization, difficulties in staying on task, and procrastinating. However, this type of ADD does not cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD is more prevalent in women. People suffering from this type of ADD may suffer from low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which can lead to feelings of depression and low self-regulation. The symptoms include insomnia, anger and anxiety.
In this instance brain mapping scans using qEEG of the brain indicate that people suffering from Over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gland which is the brain's "gear shifter," but they are having trouble shifting gears. They are unable to move from one thought or task to another and get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors.
This is a form of ADD that is characterized by people who are highly motivated and hardworking but tend not to concentrate on their tasks. They can get lost and be embarrassed or exhausted because of their behavior. They may have difficulty in relationships due to their tendency to be impulsive and reactive. They also have issues multitasking and working in a group. In some instances, they can be depressed or anxious. They could be susceptible to hallucinations or panic attacks. The use of medication is not advised for this kind of ADD as they don't treat the root of the symptoms.