ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is often associated with problems at home, school or at work. The psychiatric condition can be difficult 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.
Some of the symptoms are being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Medications 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 those suffering from this type can maintain normal activity while concentrating and at rest in the prefrontal cortex, but they are less active in their cerebellum as well as the basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, which is an important neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness, and focus. People with this type have a difficult time shifting their attention and are easily distracted by distractions and noises, and have shorter attention spans. They also have difficulty sleeping and frequently wake up at night with nightmares or anxiety. They often feel overwhelmed by emotions and have short tempers, and are quickly frustrated with tasks and easily annoyed.
Ring of Fire ADD is characterized by all the classic ADD symptoms, but also by difficulties in shifting their attention from one thought to the next and between tasks. They are sensitive to noise, light and even touch. They talk too fast and are highly impulsive. They are susceptible to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They can also get caught up in negative thoughts and guilt 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 area that sets our mood and determines the level of happiness or sadness we are) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration. It is a condition which can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan, 5-HTP inositol, saffron, and saffron that improve concentration, alertness and mood. They also improve mental clarity. They also use amino acid GABA to calm neural activity and inhibit nerve cells from over-firing or firing irregularly and liver support.
It is important to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder, which also can cause irritability, frustration and low self-esteem. The distinction between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD is more consistent in its level of irritability that lasts over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to suffer from symptoms that occur in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD patients tend to get caught up in negative thoughts and behaviors that cause excessive worry. This is because they exhibit rigid behavior that is similar to those who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They are often frightened emotionally when required to shift their focus from one task to the next and respond with argumentative or oppositional behavior.
They tend to be angry and their irritability may be due to a low-grade chronic depression or sadness. They may also have trouble learning, struggle with memory issues, or have extreme anger and aggression.
People who suffer from over-focused ADD are unable to adapt when it comes to changing tasks, and can be captivated by their hobbies or work. They are at risk of missing deadlines at work and forgetting appointments at home, and they may not finish tasks or school assignments. They could also be stubborn and resentful when punished by their teachers or parents.
Children with hyperfocused ADD can be irritable and stubborn, and they might throw temper tantrums when their interests aren't respected. They can be obsessive about particular toys, activities, and video games. They may also have difficulty in expressing their emotions and can be extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This type of ADD can be difficult to recognize, especially when it affects children. The majority of children don't understand that their problem is due to their inability to shift their attention from one thing to another. This is the reason it's crucial to seek help from a professional, as children with this kind of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This type of ADD is usually treated with modifications to diet, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This type of ADD is extremely difficult to treat even with stimulant medications as it can cause the intensity of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is often used to identify the seven distinct types of ADD and is especially useful in diagnosing over-focused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have a high level of anxiety. Comorbidity, which is having multiple disorders simultaneously, is common and can affect up to half of people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and incorrect diagnosis can lead to inadequate treatment and further frustration.
Anxious ADD can lead to problems at school, work, and social situations. This type of ADD can cause under-performance and feelings of unworthiness. People with anxious ADD avoid difficult tasks or events because they fear they won't succeed.
They are also afraid of being judged and being criticized. They also hide their issues from others. In some cases, these sufferers are so stressed and anxious that they suffer from panic attacks. These can be life-threatening and cause sweating, a pounding heart and breathing difficulties. Contrary to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD have increased activity in their basal ganglia and the amygdala, which operate on an instinctual basis, and are able to prioritize safety. This shuts down the PFC, which can make it hard for these individuals to concentrate.
If someone suffering from ADHD or ADD has anxiety the symptoms are typically more difficult to manage than those of someone who doesn't have anxiety. This is because treatment protocols for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate the brain could increase anxiety in those with anxious ADD by reducing activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists use functional neuroimaging techniques like SPECT scans to determine where in the brain more or less activity are found. This helps them distinguish between the seven types and determine the best treatment.
A psychiatrist will gather the complete adult adhd diagnostic assessment and treatment medical history of a patient and conduct a physical exam to determine if the patient suffers from the condition of ADD/ADHD. In addition, he or might ask questions regarding mood and behavior to assess the overall health of a patient. Some medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD however, most patients require other therapies in addition, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or nutrition and exercise, sleep strategies, desensitization and other techniques to relax. This can help improve their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD is a problem with the temporal lobe in the brain, which is responsible for mood and memory. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to retain and learn, experience mood instability, and are prone to intense anger or aggression issues. They may also be suffering from sensory issues such as feeling deja vu, seeing shadows or objects change shape, or hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They are irritable, sensitive and easily overstimulated.
This type of ADD is characterized by similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include short attention spans and disorganization. It also includes difficulty staying on task or following instructions. However, this type of ADD doesn't cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This type of ADD is more prevalent in females. This type of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain which can result in feelings of low motivation or insufficient self-regulation. The symptoms can include sleep problems and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this instance, qEEG scans of the ADD brain reveal that people with Overfocused ADD are having difficulties shifting gears. They show normal activity in the anterior cingulate region (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are not able to move from one task or thought to the next, and they get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviours.
This is a form of ADD where individuals can be highly motivated and hardworking however, they have a tendency to get distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They may lose focus and be embarrassed or exhausted because of their behavior. They may have a difficult relationship with others due to their tendency to be hyper-active or reactive, and have a hard time managing multiple tasks or working with other people. In certain situations they may suffer from depression or anxiety. They might be susceptible to panic attacks and hallucinations. The use of medications for this kind of ADD aren't usually advised, since they do not address the root cause of symptoms.