ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is often 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 diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
The symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. The use of 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. Scans of the brain show those with this type of ADD have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex at rest and during concentration, however they have reduced activity in the cerebellum and the basal ganglia which help make dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that promotes motivation, focus and a sense of calm. People with this type have a difficult to focus their attention, are easily distracted by the noise or other stimuli and have a short attention span. They also have trouble sleeping and frequently wake up during the night with nightmares or anxiety. They are easily frustrated and often get angry.
People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the core symptoms of 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 light, noise, and touch; they talk too quickly and are easily impulsive and easily provoked into mean behaviour. They are susceptible to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They also tend to get stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
Limbic ADD is often mistaken for depression, but it's distinct from depression in that it is associated with increased activity in the limbic region of the brain (the brain region that sets our emotional tone and controls how happy or sad we are) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex both rest and during concentration. It can be treated with supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP) as well as saffron, inositol which increase alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA is also helpful to slow neural activity, preventing nerve cells from firing irregularly or in excess.
It is essential to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which can cause irritability and frustration and low self-esteem. The main difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD is more consistent in its level of irritability over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to exhibit symptoms that appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD patients tend to get caught up in negative thoughts and behavior that trigger excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns that are similar to those of people suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and that is the reason it's often mistakenly diagnosed. These individuals often become threatened emotionally when they are required to shift their focus from one activity to another and may react with a threatening or hostile behavior.
These people are likely to have a short temper and their anger stems from a persistent negative or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome," and often feeling of despair and a sense of worthlessness. They may also struggle with memory issues, feel intense anger, and are prone to having a short fuse.
medication for adhd and odd who have hyper-focused ADD are unable to adapt when they have to change tasks, and could become enthralled by their work or interests. They are prone to missing deadlines at work, and not remembering appointments at home, and they may not finish tasks or school assignments. They can also be stubborn and resentful if they are reprimanded or chastised by their teacher or parents.
Children who have overfocused ADD show a high degree of irritability and stubbornness and can be susceptible to throwing a rage when their interests are not respected. They might be obsessed with particular activities, toys and video games. They are also unable to express their emotions, and can be extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This kind of ADD is difficult to identify, particularly for children. Children who exhibit this behavior may have difficulty understanding the cause of their problems. by an inability to change their attention between tasks. This is why it's essential to seek the help of an expert, since children with this kind of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family physicians and even psychologists. This kind of ADD is treatable with dietary modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. Sometimes, medications are prescribed, but this type of ADD can be difficult to treat using stimulant drugs, since they can increase a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is sometimes used to identify the seven distinct types of ADD, and is particularly useful in diagnosing over-focused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have a high level of anxiety. Comorbidity, which is having more than one disorder simultaneously, is common and can affect up to 50% of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. A misdiagnosis can result in inappropriate treatment and anger.
Anxious ADD can cause issues at work, in school or in social situations. This type of ADD can lead to underachievement and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People suffering from anxious ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and events, believing they're not capable of completing the task.
They also fear being criticized or judged. They hide their problems to others. People with anxiety can become so stressed and anxious that they experience panic attacks. These panic attacks can be severe and life-threatening. They cause heart pounding sweating, difficulty breathing and difficulty breathing. Contrary to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD have increased activity in their basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. They operate on an instinctual basis, and are able to prioritize safety. This shuts down PFC and can make it difficult for these individuals focus.
If someone suffering from anxiety or ADD their symptoms are generally more difficult to manage than those of someone who does not suffer from anxiety. This is due to treatments for ADD/ADHD, which are designed to stimulate brain activity, can increase anxiety among people with anxiety-related ADD.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging, like SPECT scanning to discover which areas of the brain are high and/or low levels of activity. This helps them differentiate between the seven types of ADD and determine the best treatment for each individual.
A psychiatrist will take an entire medical record and perform a physical examination to diagnose ADHD or ADD. In addition, he / might ask questions regarding mood and behavior to assess a patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD. However, in most instances, patients also require other therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy and exercise, nutrition, sleep strategies and desensitization. This may improve their ability to control their moods and overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD is a problem with the brain's temporal lobe which is responsible for memory and mood. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to retain and learn and experience mood swings and are prone to severe anger or aggression issues. They also often suffer from a variety of sensory issues, including experiencing a sense of deja vu or experiencing shadows or objects changing forms and hearing sounds that others don't. They are sensitive, irritable and easily overwhelmed.
Symptoms of this type of ADD are similar to those of Classic ADD, including short attention spans and disorganization, difficulties in staying on task, and procrastinating. However, this kind of ADD does not cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD is more prevalent in women. People with this type of ADD may have low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which can lead to feelings of low motivation and poor self-regulation. It is characterized by sleeplessness, anger and anxiety.
In this case QEEG scans of ADD brain reveal that people with over-focused ADD are experiencing difficulties shifting gears. They are experiencing normal activity in the anterior cingulate region (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to shift from one thought or task to another, and they are stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors.
This is a type of ADD that is characterized by people who are extremely motivated and productive but tend not to concentrate on their tasks. They can get lost and feel embarrassed or exhausted by their behavior. They may have difficulty in relationships due to their tendency to be reactive and impulsive. They also have issues managing multiple tasks and working with others. In some cases they may suffer from depression or anxiety. They could be susceptible to hallucinations or panic attacks. Medications are typically not advised for this kind of ADD as they don't address the root cause of the symptoms.