ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is usually related to issues at home, school or work. The psychiatric disorder can be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is most often referred to as attention hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Mental health professionals utilize the SPECT brain imaging method to diagnose ADHD.
The symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful and unorganized. 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. Brain scans reveal that those suffering from this type can maintain normal activity during concentration and rest in the prefrontal cortex, but have decreased activity in their cerebellum and basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, which is the neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness and concentration. People with this type have a hard time shifting their attention and are easily distracted by the noise or other stimuli and have a short attention span. They also have difficulty falling asleep and are often woken up at night with anxiety or nightmares. They are often overwhelmed by emotions and possess short tempers, and are quickly frustrated with tasks and easily annoyed.
Ring of Fire ADD is characterized by all the classic ADD symptoms however, it also has a difficulty in shifting their attention from one thought to another and from one task to another. They are sensitive to light, noise and touch; they talk too fast and are impulsive and easily provoked to a negative behaviour. They have periods of moodiness and low energy, are quick to get angry and are prone to relapse into negative thoughts and guilty feelings.
Limbic ADD can be mistaken for depression, however it is different than depression because it is associated with increased activity in the limbic portion of the brain (the brain region that sets our emotional tone and controls the level of happiness or sadness we feel) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex at both when we are at rest and while in concentration. It can be treated by supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) as well as saffron, inositol, which improve alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also be helpful to slow neural activity, preventing nerve cells from firing in a erratic manner or in excess.
It is essential to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders, such as Bipolar Disorder that can result in frustration and irritability, as well as low self-esteem. The difference is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms is more prone to constant anger and frustration over time, while Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD patients often get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior that result in excessive worry. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns similar to the ones of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and that is the reason it's often misdiagnosed. People with OCD are often threatened emotionally when they are required to shift their attention from one activity to another, and can respond with argumentative or oppositional behavior.
They are often angry and their irritability can be due to a low-grade chronic sadness or negative mood. They might also have memory issues, experience extreme anger, and have a short fuse.
People who suffer from over-focused ADD are inflexible when they have to change tasks, and may become highly captivated by their work or interests. They may forget appointments and deadlines at work or at home, and they may not finish their schoolwork or chores. They could also be stubborn and resentful when disapproved of by their parents or teachers.
Children with overfocused ADD can be angry and obstinate, and they can throw temper tantrums if their interests aren't recognized. They may be obsessed with specific activities, toys, and video games. They are also unable to express their emotions and may be extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This form of ADD is more prevalent in children and is often difficult to recognize. These children often don't understand that their problem is caused by their inability switch their focus from one thing to the next. This is why it's important to seek out help from a professional, as these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family physicians and even psychologists. This type of ADD is treatable with diet modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Medications are sometimes prescribed, but this kind of ADD is difficult to treat using stimulant drugs, since they can increase a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to differentiate between the seven different types of ADD. It is especially helpful in diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD have a high level of anxiety. Comorbidity, which is having multiple disorders at the same time, is common and affects up to half of those with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mirror the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Misdiagnosis may lead to inadequate treatment and anger.
Anxious ADD can cause issues with work, school, and social situations. This type of ADD can cause under-performance and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People with anxiety ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and events because they believe they won't do well.
They also fear being criticised or judged. This is why they often hide their problems from their peers. People with anxiety can become so stressed and anxious that they suffer from panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They trigger a pounding of the heart sweating, breathing difficulties and difficulty. Contrary 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 causes the brain to shut down the PFC, which can make it difficult for people with ADD to 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 treatment strategies for ADD/ADHD which are designed to stimulate the brain can increase anxiety in those with anxious ADD due to a decrease in the activity of their PFC.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging techniques, such as SPECT scanning to discover which areas of the brain are areas of low or high levels of activity. This allows them to distinguish between the seven kinds of ADD and determine the best treatment for each person.
To diagnose ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist takes a thorough medical history and conducts an examination. The doctor may also ask about mood and behavior to evaluate the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medication is used to treat ADD/ADHD. However, in many instances, patients also require other therapies, including cognitive behavior therapy and exercise, nutrition, sleep strategies and desensitization. This can help improve their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe of the brain which is responsible for memory and mood. This kind of ADD is manifested by a lack of learning and storage of information as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggression issues. They also often suffer from a variety of 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 can be irritable, sensitive and easily overwhelmed.
Symptoms of this type of ADD are similar to those in Classic ADD, including short attention spans, disorganization, difficulty following instructions or staying focused and procrastinating. However, this type of ADD doesn't cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more common in females. This type of ADD is characterized by low levels of dopamine in the brain, which can result in feelings of depression or a lack of self-regulation. Symptoms can include trouble sleeping and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this case QEEG scans of the ADD brain show that those with Overfocused ADD are having difficulties shifting gears. They show normal activity in inattentive adhd treatment adults the anterior cingulate gyrus (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to move from one thought or task to the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a form of ADD where individuals can be extremely motivated and hardworking, but they have a tendency to get distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They may lose track of their schoolwork and parents or teachers are often annoyed or ashamed of their behavior. They may have a hard time in relationships due to their tendency to be unpredictable or reactive and have difficulty dealing with multitasking or working with other people. In some instances, they can experience anxiety or depression. They might be susceptible to hallucinations and panic attacks. The use of medications for this kind of ADD are not advised, since they don't address the underlying causes of symptoms.