ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is often connected to problems at school, home or at work. The psychiatric disorder can be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common name for this psychiatric disorder. Mental health specialists diagnose ADHD by using SPECT brain scans.
The symptoms of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful and unorganized. treat adult adhd of medications such as stimulants and antidepressants 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 show that those with this type of ADD have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex at rest and during concentration, but reduced activity in the cerebellum and the basal ganglia which help make dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps to increase motivation, focus, and calmness. People with this type have a difficult to focus their attention and are easily distracted by distractions and noises, and have short attention spans. They also have trouble sleeping and frequently wake up during the night with anxiety or nightmares. They often feel overwhelmed by emotions and have an impulsive personality, getting quickly annoyed by tasks and easily angry.
People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the hallmarks of the classic ADD, but they also have trouble shifting their attention from one thought to another thought and from task to task. They have a sensitivity to noise, light, and touch and talk too quickly and are easily impulsive and easily triggered into a mean-spirited behaviour. They are prone to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They can also get caught up in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
Limbic ADD can be mistaken for depression, but it's different than depression because it causes increased activity in the limbic part of the brain (the area that sets our mood and determines the level of happiness or sadness we are) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex both when we are at rest and while in concentration. It is a condition that can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan, 5-HTP, saffron, and inositol that increase alertness, focus, mood, and mental clarity; amino acid GABA to calm neural activity and inhibit nerve cells from firing too much or irregularly and liver support.
It is essential to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder that can cause irritability and frustration and low self-esteem. The difference is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms is more prone to constant irritability and frustration over time, whereas Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to manifest in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD patients tend to get caught up in negative thoughts and behaviors which result in excessive worry. This is due to rigid behaviors that are similar to those who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). People with OCD are often threatened emotionally when asked to shift their attention from one thing to another, and can respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
They are generally irritable and their irritability may be caused by chronic low-grade sadness or negative mood. They may also have trouble learning, have memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.
People with hyperfocused ADD may be rigid when it comes to changing tasks and may become absorbed in their work or hobby. They may forget appointments and deadlines at home or at work, and they may not complete their chores or schoolwork. They could also be stubborn and resentful when disapproved of by their teachers or parents.
Children with overfocused ADD can be angry and stubborn, and they might throw temper tantrums when their interests aren't recognized. They may be obsessed with specific activities, toys, and video games. They may also have difficulty communicating their feelings and are extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This type of ADD can be difficult to diagnose, especially in children. Children who show this behavior may have difficulty understanding the cause of their problems. by a lack of ability to switch their attention between tasks. This is why it's important to seek out help from an expert, as these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This type of ADD is typically treated with diet changes, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This type of ADD is hard to treat, even with stimulant medication, because it can increase the intensity of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is often used to differentiate the seven distinct kinds of ADD, and is particularly useful for diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD suffer from high levels of anxiety. This comorbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common and affects the majority of sufferers of ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mirror the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Misdiagnosis may cause unsuitable treatment and anger.
Anxious ADD may cause problems at school, at work or with social situations. This type of ADD can cause under-performance and feelings of unworthiness. People with anxiety ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and events, believing they won't do well.
They are also afraid of being judged and being criticized. This is why they tend to hide their issues from their peers. They can become so stressed and anxious that they have panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They can cause a pounding of the heart, sweating and difficulty breathing. Contrary to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD have increased activity in their basal ganglia and the amygdala, which operate on an instinctual basis, and are able to prioritize safety. This can shut down the PFC which makes it hard for these individuals to focus.
If someone suffering from anxiety or ADD the symptoms are typically more difficult to treat than those of someone who does not suffer from anxiety. This is because treatment protocols for ADD/ADHD which are designed to stimulate the brain may actually increase anxiety among people who suffer from anxiety ADD due to a decrease in the activity of their PFC.
Psychiatrists at Amen Clinics use functional neuroimaging, 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 different types of ADD and determine the best treatment for each individual.
To determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist gathers a complete medical history and performs an examination. In addition, he / she may ask questions about mood and behavior to assess the overall health of a patient. Sometimes, medications are prescribed to treat the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. However, in many cases, patients require other therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy as well as exercise, nutrition sleep strategies, and desensitization. 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 of the brain, which is responsible both for memory and mood. People with this type of ADD struggle to retain and learn and experience mood swings and suffer from extreme anger or aggression issues. They might also experience sensory issues, such as experiencing like they're in a dream and seeing shadows or objects change shape or hearing sounds that others don't hear. They tend to be sensitive and angry, and often become overstimulated by certain things, 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. It also includes difficulty staying on task or following instructions. However, this type of ADD doesn't cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD occurs more often in women. This kind of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain, which can lead to feelings of depression or poor self-regulation. Symptoms can include trouble sleeping and feelings of irritability or anxiety.
In this instance, qEEG scans of the ADD brain reveal that individuals with Overfocused ADD are experiencing difficulty shifting gears. They are experiencing normal activity in the anterior cingulate region (the brain's "gearshifter"). They aren't able to shift from one task or thought to another, and they get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a form of ADD where individuals can be highly motivated and hardworking but they also tend to be easily distracted by mundane or insignificant tasks. They can get lost and be embarrassed or exhausted due to their actions. They may have difficulty in relationships due to their tendency be reactive and impulsive. They also have trouble managing multiple tasks and working with others. In certain situations, they can be depressed or anxious. They might be susceptible to hallucinations or panic attacks. Medications are not usually advised for this kind of ADD as it doesn't address the root cause of the symptoms.