ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are frequently related to issues at work, school or at home. The psychiatric disorder may be 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 diagnose ADHD using SPECT brain images.
The symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful and disorganized. Treatments such as stimulants and antidepressants may 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 reveal that people with this type are able to maintain normal activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex, but have decreased activity in their cerebellum as well as the 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 or other stimuli and has a hard time shifting focus. They also have difficulty falling asleep and often wake up during the night with anxiety or nightmares. They can be easily annoyed and are often angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is characterized by all the classic ADD symptoms, but also by the difficulty of shifting their attention from one thought to another and shifting their focus from one task to the next. They have a sensitivity to light, noise and touch; they talk too quickly and are impulsive, and easily triggered to a negative behaviors. They are susceptible to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They can also get caught up in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
It is possible to mix the condition of limbic ADD with depression. But it is distinct because it stimulates activity in the limbic part of the brain at the moment of rest and while concentrating. It can be treated with supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with saffron, inositol that increase alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA can also be helpful to slow neural activity, preventing nerve cells from firing erratically or in excess.
It is essential to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders, such as Bipolar Disorder, which can cause frustration and irritability as well as low self-esteem. The distinction is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms has more consistent irritability and frustration over time, whereas Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to manifest in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD sufferers often get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior that cause excessive worry. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns that are similar to the ones of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is the reason it's often incorrectly diagnosed. They can become angry when they are asked to shift their attention between tasks and can respond with a resentful or argumentative behavior.
These people tend to have a short temper and their irritability stems from a constant negative or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome," and frequent feelings of hopelessness and a sense of worthlessness. They may also have trouble learning, have memory issues, or feel intense anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD might be rigid when it comes to changing tasks and may become absorbed in their work or hobby. They are prone to missing deadlines at work and not remembering appointments at home, and they might not finish chores or school assignments. They can also be stubborn and resentful if they are reprimanded or chastised by their parents or teacher.
Children with overfocused ADD can be angry and stubborn, and they may throw tantrums if their interests are not recognized. They can be obsessive about specific activities, toys, and video games. They may also have trouble communicating their feelings and are extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This type of ADD is more prevalent among children, and can be difficult to diagnose. Children who show this behavior often have trouble understanding the cause of their problems. due to the inability of them to shift their focus between tasks. It is important to speak with an expert as these children are more likely to be misdiagnosed with ADD. This kind of ADD is usually treated using modifications to diet, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of ADD is extremely difficult to treat even with stimulant medications as it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is sometimes used to distinguish the seven distinct types of ADD, and is particularly helpful for diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have a high degree of anxiety. This is a comorbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common and affects about half of people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mirror the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Incorrect diagnosis can result in inappropriate treatment and frustration.
Anxious ADD may cause problems at work, at school or with social situations. This type of ADD can lead to underachievement and feelings of unworthiness. People with anxiety ADD avoid challenging tasks or activities because they fear that they won't be successful.
They also fear being judged or considered a victim. They also hide their issues from others. People with anxiety can become so anxious and stressed that they experience panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They can cause heart pounding, sweating and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD is different from Classic ADD because it has an increased activity in the basal ganglia, as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on security. This causes untreated adhd in adults test a shutdown of PFC and can make it difficult for people with this disorder to concentrate.
When a person has anxiety and ADD/ADHD their symptoms are more difficult to manage. This is due to the treatment programs for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate brain activity, may actually increase anxiety among people with anxiety-related ADD.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging such as SPECT scans in order to determine where in the brain high and/or lower levels of activity are found. This helps them differentiate between the seven types of brain and determine the best treatment.
To determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist collects a full medical history and conducts a physical exam. They might also inquire about the patient's mood and behavior to assess the patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medications are used to treat the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. However, in the majority of cases, patients require other therapies, including cognitive behavior therapy, diet, exercise sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. This can improve their ability to control their emotions and improve their overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD is a problem with the brain's temporal lobe, which is responsible for mood and memory. This kind of ADD is characterised by a problem learning and keeping information in memory as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggression. They might also experience sensory issues like feeling like they're in a dream, seeing shadows or objects change shape or hearing sounds that others can't hear. They are often sensitive and irritable and are often overstimulated by certain things, such as computer screens or crowds.
This type of ADD is characterized by similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include inattention spans that are short and disorganized. It also has difficulties staying focused or following instructions. However, this type of ADD does not cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD is more common in females. This type of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain, which can cause feelings of depression or a lack of self-regulation. Symptoms can include trouble sleeping and feelings of irritability or anxiety.
In this instance, qEEG brain mapping scans of the brain reveal that individuals with over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate region which is the brain's "gear shifter," but they are experiencing difficulty shifting gears. They are unable to shift from one task or thought to another, and they become stuck in negative thinking patterns and behaviors.
This is a type of ADD in which people are extremely motivated and productive but are unable to pay attention to important tasks. They can get lost and be embarrassed or exhausted by their behavior. They may have a difficult relationship because they are impulsive or reactive, and have a hard time with multitasking or working with others. In some instances, they can 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.