ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is typically associated with problems at school, home or at work. The psychiatric disorder is difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most popular name used for this psychiatric disorder. Mental health experts diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
The symptoms of typical ADD 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. Brain scans reveal that people with this type have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration, however they have decreased activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, which help make dopamine, a neurotransmitter which promotes motivation, focus, and calmness. This type has a shorter attention span, is easily distracted by noises and other stimuli, and is unable to switch focus. They also have difficulty falling asleep and often wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety or nightmares. They often feel overwhelmed by emotions and have a short fuse, becoming quickly annoyed by tasks and easily annoyed.
People suffering from Ring of Fire ADD have all the hallmarks of the classic ADD, but they also have difficulty shifting their attention from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to light, noise and touch and talk too quickly and are impulsive, and easily triggered to a negative behavior. adults adhd treatment are prone to low energy, moodiness and anger. They also tend to get stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
Limbic ADD can be mistaken for depression, however it is different than depression because it is associated with increased activity in the limbic part of the brain (the part that determines our emotional tone and controls the level of happiness or sadness we feel) 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 using supplements like L-tryptophan, 5-HTP as well as saffron and inositol that improve focus, alertness, mood, and mental clarity. Also, amino acid GABA to calm neural activity and prevent nerve cells from over-firing or firing erratically; and liver support.
It is crucial 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 frustration and irritability over time, while Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to manifest in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD sufferers are often caught in negative thoughts and behaviors that trigger excessive worry. They exhibit rigid behaviors similar to those of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) which is the reason it's often incorrectly diagnosed. They can become angry when requested to switch their focus between different activities, and they may react with a resentful or argumentative behavior.
They tend to be angry and their irritability may be due to a low-grade chronic sadness or negativity. They may also be afflicted by memory issues, feel intense anger, and are prone to having a short fuse.
People with hyperfocused ADD may be rigid when it comes to changing tasks and become engrossed in their job or pastime. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work, and forgetting appointments at home, and they might not finish chores or school assignments. They can also be stubborn and resentful when disapproved of by their teachers or parents.
Children with overfocused ADD can be angry and stubborn, and might throw temper tantrums when their needs are not being accepted. They can be obsessive about specific activities, toys, and video games. They also have trouble expressing their feelings, and can be extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This form of ADD is difficult to identify, particularly in children. These children often don't understand that their problem is caused by their inability shift their focus from one thing to the next. This is why it's important to seek the help of an expert, as these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. adult treatment for adhd of ADD is usually treated using diet changes, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Medications are sometimes prescribed, however this kind of ADD can be difficult to treat using stimulant medications because they can boost a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to differentiate between the seven different types of ADD. It is especially useful in diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD suffer from high levels of anxiety. This co-morbidity (having more than one disorder simultaneously) is common, impacting the majority of people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and incorrect diagnosis can lead to inadequate treatment and more frustration.
Anxious ADD can lead to problems at work, school and social settings. This type of ADD can cause low performance and feelings of inadequateness. People with anxiety ADD avoid difficult tasks or events because they fear that they won't be successful.
They also fear being judged or critiqued. They are afraid of being judged or criticised. others. They can become so anxious and stressed that they suffer from panic attacks. These panic attacks can be extremely severe and life-threatening. They trigger a pounding of the heart, sweating and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD is distinct from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on safety. This shuts down PFC and makes it difficult for these individuals concentrate.
If a person with ADD/ADHD has anxiety the symptoms are typically more difficult to manage than those of someone who isn't suffering from anxiety. This is because treatment protocols for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate the brain could actually increase anxiety in people who suffer from anxiety ADD due to a decrease in the activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging, like SPECT scanning, to learn where in the brain there are areas of low or high levels of activity. 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 takes a thorough medical history and performs a physical exam. In addition, he / she may ask questions about mood and behavior to assess a patient's overall functioning. Medications are sometimes used to treat ADD/ADHD, but most patients require other treatments too, including cognitive behavioral therapy as well as nutrition and exercise strategies for sleep, desensitization and other relaxation techniques. This can improve their ability to control their moods and overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe of the brain, which is responsible both for memory and mood. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to process and store information they experience mood instability and suffer from extreme anger or aggression issues. They also suffer from a variety of sensory issues, like feeling like they have deja vu or experiencing shadows or objects changing shapes, and hearing sounds other people can't hear. They are sensitive, irritable and easily overstimulated.
Symptoms of this type of ADD are similar to those seen in Classic ADD, including short attention spans, disorganization, difficulty staying focused and procrastinating. This type of ADD does not cause excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in females. People with this type of ADD may suffer from low levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, which can cause feelings of low motivation and poor self-regulation. The symptoms can include sleep problems and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this instance QEEG scans of the ADD brain show that those with Overfocused ADD have difficulty shifting gears. They are experiencing normal activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are not able to move from one task or thought to another, and they get stuck in negative thought patterns and behavior.
This is a form of ADD where individuals can be highly motivated and hardworking but they also have a tendency to be easily distracted by unimportant or non-essential tasks. They can lose track of their schoolwork and their parents or teachers are often tired or embarrassed by their behavior. They may have difficulty in relationships because of their tendency to be reactive and impulsive. They also have issues multitasking and working with others. In adult treatment for adhd may experience anxiety or depression. They may be susceptible to panic attacks, and are susceptible to hallucinations. Medications are not usually recommended for this type of ADD, because it doesn't tackle the root cause of the symptoms.