ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are frequently connected to problems at work, school or home. The psychiatric disorder can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is often referred to as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. Mental health specialists diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
Some of the symptoms are being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Treatments such as stimulants and antidepressants can ease the symptoms.
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 are able to maintain normal levels of activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex, but have decreased activity in their cerebellum and 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 limited attention span, and is easily distracted by noises and other stimuli and is unable to switch attention. They have difficulty falling asleep, and often awake in the middle of the night feeling anxious. They are often overwhelmed by their emotions and have an impulsive personality, getting easily frustrated and easily angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is characterized by all the classic ADD symptoms as well as a difficulty in shifting their attention between thoughts and shifting their focus from one task to the next. They are sensitive to light, noise and touch; they talk too quickly and are easily impulsive and easily provoked to a negative behaviors. They experience periods of depression and fatigue, are quick to anger and are prone to relapse into negative thoughts and guilty feelings.
It is possible to confuse the symptoms of limbic ADD with depression. However, it's different because it increases activity in the limbic region of the brain at time of rest and during concentration. It is a condition that can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan, 5-HTP, saffron, and inositol, which boost alertness, focus and mood. They also improve mental clarity; amino acid GABA to calm neural activity and stop nerve cells from over-firing or firing in a erratic manner; and liver support.
It is crucial to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder which can also result in frustration and irritability, as well as low self-esteem. The main difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD is more consistent in its degree of irritability throughout the course of time. Bipolar Disorder tends to have symptoms that come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers often get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors that cause excessive worry. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns similar to those of people suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is why it's frequently misdiagnosed. People with OCD are often threatened emotionally when asked to shift their attention from one thing to another and react with a threatening or hostile behavior.
These people are likely to have a short temper, with their irritability coming from a persistent negative or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome" and frequent feelings of hopelessness and desperation. They may also experience difficulties learning, experience memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.
People with hyperfocused ADD may be rigid when it comes to switching tasks and can become absorbed in their work or hobby. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work, and forgetting appointments at home, and they may not finish homework or other school assignments. They can also be resistant and angry when they are reprimanded or chastised by their teachers or parents.
Children with hyperfocused ADD can be irritable and stubborn, and might throw temper tantrums when their interests are not respected. They might be obsessed with a particular activity such as toys and video games. They can also have difficulty communicating their feelings and are very sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This type of ADD is more prevalent in children, and is often difficult to diagnose. These children often don't understand the cause of their condition. It's caused by their inability to switch their focus from one thing to another. This is why it's essential to seek the help of a professional, as children with this type of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This kind of ADD is usually treated with modifications to diet, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of ADD is difficult to treat even with stimulant medication as it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is a method to distinguish between the seven types of ADD. It is particularly useful in diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have high levels of anxiety. This co-morbidity (having more than one disorder simultaneously) is common, affecting the majority of sufferers of ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. A misdiagnosis can result in inadequate treatment and anger.
Anxious ADD can cause problems with work, school and social situations. This kind of ADD can result in low performance and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People with anxiety ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and events, believing they won't do well.
They are also afraid of being judged and critiqued. This is why they often hide their troubles from others. In some cases, sufferers are so stressed and anxious that they suffer from panic attacks. These panic attacks can be extremely severe and life-threatening. They cause an increase in heart rate sweating, difficulty breathing and difficulty breathing. Contrary to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD are more active in their basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. They operate on an instinctual basis and prioritize safety. This can shut down PFC and makes it difficult for these individuals concentrate.
If a person suffers from anxiety and ADD/ADHD and anxiety, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to treat. This is due to treatments for ADD/ADHD, that are designed to increase brain activity, may actually increase anxiety in people who have anxious ADD.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists utilize functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scans in order to determine which areas of the brain have more or less activity are found. This helps them distinguish between the seven types and determine the best method of treatment.
To diagnose ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist gathers a complete medical history and performs a physical exam. In addition, he or will ask questions about the patient's mood and behavior to evaluate a patient's overall functioning. Some medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD but in most cases, patients require other treatments in addition, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, nutrition and exercise, strategies for sleep, desensitization and other techniques to relax. This will help improve their ability to control their emotions and their overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD is a problem with the temporal lobe of the brain which is responsible for mood and memory. treat adult add with this type of ADD struggle to learn and store information, experience mood instability, and have severe anger or aggression issues. They also suffer from various sensory issues, such as feeling like they have deja vu or seeing shadows or objects change shapes, and hearing sounds others don't. They are irritable, sensitive and easily overstimulated.
This kind of ADD has the same symptoms as Classic ADD. These include low attention spans and disorganization. It also has difficulties staying focused or following directions. However, this kind of ADD doesn't cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent 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 a lack of self-regulation. It is characterized by sleeplessness, anxiety and irritability.
In this case brain mapping scans using qEEG of the brain show that individuals with Over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate region which is the brain's "gear shifter," but they are struggling to shift gears. They aren't able to shift from one thought or task to the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a type of ADD that is characterized by people who are extremely motivated and productive but have a tendency not to concentrate on their tasks. They can get lost and feel embarrassed or exhausted by their behavior. They may have difficulty in relationships because of their tendency to be reactive and impulsive. They also have trouble multitasking and working in a group. In some cases they might suffer from depression or anxiety. They can be prone to panic attacks, and are susceptible to hallucinations. Medications are not usually recommended for this type of ADD, because it doesn't treat the root of the symptoms.