ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often related to issues at school, work, or home. The psychiatric disorder is difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly used term for this psychiatric disorder. Mental health professionals utilize SPECT brain imaging to diagnose ADHD.
The symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. The use of medications such as 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 those suffering from this type can maintain normal activity during concentration and rest in the prefrontal cortex, however, they have less activity in their cerebellum as well as the basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness, and focus. People with this type have a hard time shifting their attention, 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 are often overwhelmed by emotions and have a short fuse, becoming quickly annoyed by tasks and easily angry.
People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the symptoms of the classic ADD, but they also have difficulty shifting their focus from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to noise, light and even touch. They talk too fast and are highly impulsive. They have periods of moodiness and fatigue, are easily angered and are prone to relapse into negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
Limbic ADD is often mistaken for depression, but it's distinct from depression in that it has increased activity in the limbic part of the brain (the area that sets our mood and determines the level of happiness or sadness we feel) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex at both when we are at rest and while in concentration. It can be treated by supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP), saffron and inositol which increase alertness, mood and clarity. add natural treatment can also be helpful to reduce neural activity and prevent nerve cells from firing in a erratic manner or in excess.
It is important to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder, which can cause frustration, irritability, and poor self-esteem. The difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more consistent level of irritability over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to suffer from symptoms that occur in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD patients are often stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors that result in excessive worry. They exhibit rigid behaviors that resemble the ones of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is the reason it's often mistakenly diagnosed. They are often frightened emotionally when required to shift their attention from one activity to another and respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
These people tend to have a short fuse and their anger stems from a constant low-grade sadness or negativity "glass half-empty syndrome" and frequent feelings of hopelessness and desperation. They may also be afflicted by memory problems, experience severe anger, and may have a short fuse.
People with overfocused ADD are inflexible when it comes to changing tasks, and may become highly captivated by their work or hobbies. They may forget appointments and deadlines at home or at work and they might not complete their schoolwork or chores. They can also be stubborn and resentful when they are punished by their parents or teachers.
Children with hyper-focused ADD have a high degree of stubbornness and irritability, and may be susceptible to throwing a rage when their interests are violated. They may be obsessed with particular toys, activities, and video games. They are also unable to express their emotions, and can be extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This form of ADD is more prevalent among children, and is difficult to identify. Children who exhibit this type of behavior may have difficulty understanding that their problems are caused by a lack of ability to switch their focus from one task to another. It's important to consult a professional as these children are more likely to be misdiagnosed for ADD. This type of ADD can be treated using dietary modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Full Posting are sometimes prescribed, but this type of ADD is difficult to treat with stimulant medications because they can raise a person's levels of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is a method to distinguish between the seven different types of ADD. It is particularly helpful in diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD suffer from a high level of anxiety. Comorbidity, also known as having multiple disorders at the same time, is common and can affect up to 50% of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and misdiagnosis can lead to improper treatment and further frustration.
Anxious ADD may cause problems at work, in school or with social situations. This type of ADD may lead to low achievement and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People suffering from anxious ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and events, believing they'll fail.
They are also afraid of being judged or being criticized. This is why they often hide their troubles from others. These people can be so anxious and stressed that they suffer from panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They can cause an increase in heart rate, sweating and difficulty breathing. In contrast to 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 prioritize safety. This shuts down PFC and can make it difficult for these individuals concentrate.
If a person with anxiety or ADD their symptoms are generally more difficult to manage than those of someone who does not suffer from anxiety. This is because treatment plans for ADD/ADHD which are designed to stimulate the brain could increase anxiety in those who suffer from anxiety ADD by reducing the activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging techniques, such as SPECT scanning, to determine which areas of the brain are high and/or low levels of activity. 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 perform a physical examination to diagnose the condition of ADD/ADHD. Additionally, he or she may ask questions about mood and behavior to assess the overall health of a patient. Sometimes, medications are prescribed to treat ADD/ADHD. However, in the majority of cases, patients require other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy and nutrition, exercise sleep strategies, and desensitization. This can improve their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD affects the temporal lobe of the brain which is responsible for mood and memory. This type of ADD is manifested by a lack of learning and keeping information in memory, mood instability and severe anger or aggressive issues. They also often suffer from various sensory issues, like feeling like they've experienced déjà vu, seeing shadows or objects change forms and hearing sounds that other people can't hear. They are often sensitive and irritable, and often become overstimulated by certain activities, like computer screens or crowds.
This kind of ADD has the same symptoms as Classic ADD. These include low attention spans and disorganization. It also includes difficulties staying focused or following instructions. However, this kind of ADD does not cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD is more prevalent in females. This kind of ADD is characterized by low levels of dopamine in the brain, which can cause feelings of depression or a lack of self-regulation. It is characterized by sleeplessness, anxiety and irritability.
In this case QEEG scans of ADD brain show that those with over-focused ADD have difficulty shifting gears. They show normal activity in the anterior cingulate region (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to move from one thought or task to another, and become stuck in negative thinking patterns and behavior.
This is a form of ADD where people are extremely motivated and hardworking but are unable to concentrate on their tasks. They can lose track of their schoolwork, and their teachers or parents can become tired or ashamed of their behavior. They may have a hard relationship with others because they can be unpredictable or reactive and struggle dealing with multitasking or working with other people. In some cases they may suffer from depression or anxiety. They might be susceptible to hallucinations or panic attacks. Medications are not usually recommended for this type of ADD, because it doesn't tackle the root cause of the symptoms.