ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is often connected to problems at school, home or work. The psychiatric disorder can be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly used term for this psychiatric condition. Mental health experts diagnose ADHD using SPECT brain images.
Symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful, and unorganized. The use of medications such as stimulants and antidepressants can 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 those suffering from this condition have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration, but reduced activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, which are responsible for the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that enhances focus, motivation, and calmness. This type has a limited attention span, and is easily distracted by noises and other stimuli, and is unable to switch focus. They have difficulty falling asleep and frequently wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety. They are easily frustrated and can be easily angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is defined by all the standard ADD symptoms, but also by a difficulty in shifting their attention between thoughts and shifting their focus from one task to the next. They have a sensitivity to light, noise, and touch and they talk too quickly and are impulsive, and easily triggered into mean behavior. They are prone to moodiness, low energy and anger. They also tend to get stuck in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
Limbic ADD can be mistaken for depression, but it is distinct from depression in that it causes increased activity in the limbic part of the brain (the part that determines our emotional tone and regulates the level of happiness or sadness we are) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex at both when we are at rest and while in concentration. It is a condition that can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan, 5-HTP, saffron, and inositol, which boost concentration, alertness, mood, and mental clarity; amino acid GABA to calm neural activity and inhibit nerve cells from over-firing or firing irregularly; and liver support.
It is essential to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which can cause irritability, frustration and low self-esteem. The difference is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms is more prone to constant irritability and frustration over time, whereas Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to manifest in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD patients are often stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors which trigger excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns similar to the ones of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) which is the reason it's often mistakenly diagnosed. They can be angry when they are asked to shift their attention between activities and may respond with a resentful or argumentative behavior.
They are often unhappy and their irritability can be caused by a low-grade chronic sadness or negativity. They may also struggle with memory problems, experience severe anger, and may have a short fuse.
People with overfocused ADD are inflexible when it comes to changing tasks, and could become enthralled by their work or hobbies. They might forget appointments and deadlines at home or at work and may not complete their homework or chores. They could also be stubborn and resentful when punished by their teachers or parents.
Children who have overfocused ADD have a high degree of irritability and stubbornness, and are susceptible to throwing a rage when their interests are violated. They may be obsessed with particular toys, activities, and video games. They may also have trouble in expressing their emotions and can be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This form of ADD is difficult to get more info identify, particularly for children. Children often don't realize that their problem is caused by their inability to shift their focus from one thing to the next. This is the reason it's crucial to seek help from an expert, as 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 diet modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. Sometimes, medications are prescribed, but this type of ADD can be difficult to treat using stimulant medications, as these can increase a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to distinguish the seven distinct kinds of ADD, and is particularly helpful for diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD have a high degree of anxiety. Comorbidity, also known as having multiple disorders simultaneously is a common occurrence and affects as much as half of those with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. A misdiagnosis can lead to inadequate treatment and anger.
Anxious ADD can cause issues with work, school and social settings. This type of ADD may result in low performance and feelings of inadequateness. People with anxious ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and events, believing they won't do well.
They also fear being judged or being judged. They also hide their issues from others. They can become so stressed and anxious that they have panic attacks. These panic attacks can be severe and life-threatening. They trigger a pounding of the heart sweating, difficulty breathing and difficulty breathing. Contrary to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD have increased activity in their basal ganglia and the amygdala. They operate on an instinctual basis, and are able to prioritize safety. This causes the brain to shut down the PFC, which can make it hard for these individuals to concentrate.
If a person with ADD/ADHD has anxiety their symptoms are generally more difficult to treat than those of someone who doesn't have anxiety. This is due to the treatment programs for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate brain activity, can actually increase anxiety among people with anxiety-related ADD.
The psychiatrists at Amen Clinics employ functional neuroimaging techniques, such as SPECT scanning, to learn where in the brain there are areas of low or high levels of activity. This helps them distinguish between the seven types of brain and determine the most effective treatment.
To determine if someone has ADD/ADHD psychiatrist gathers a complete medical history and performs an examination. Additionally, he or will ask questions about mood and behavior to assess a patient's overall functioning. Some medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD, however, most patients need other therapies in addition, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or nutrition and exercise, sleep strategies, desensitization, and other techniques for relaxation. This can improve their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe of the brain, which is responsible for mood and memory. People suffering from this kind of ADD struggle to learn and store information and experience mood swings and have extreme anger or aggression issues. They also suffer from various sensory issues, including feeling like they have deja vu or seeing shadows or objects changing shapes and hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They can be extremely irritable and sensitive and are often overstimulated by certain activities, like computer screens or crowds.
This kind of ADD is characterized by similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include inattention spans that are short and disorganized. It also presents with difficulty in staying focused or following directions. This type of ADD does not cause an excessive amount of impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD is more prevalent in women. This type of ADD is characterized by low levels of dopamine in the brain which can result in feelings of depression or insufficient self-regulation. Symptoms can include trouble sleeping and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this case QEEG scans of ADD brain reveal that individuals with Overfocused ADD are having difficulty shifting gears. They show normal activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus (the brain's "gearshifter"). They can't move from one task or thought to another, and they get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors.
This is a form of ADD where people can be extremely motivated and hardworking however, they tend to get distracted by unimportant or non-essential tasks. They may lose track of their school work and their teachers or parents can become exhausted or ashamed of their behavior. They may have a hard relationship due to their tendency to be impulsive or reactive, and have difficulty dealing with multitasking or working with other people. In some cases they may suffer from depression or anxiety. They may be susceptible to panic attacks, and are susceptible to hallucinations. Medications are typically not advised for this kind of ADD, because it doesn't treat the root of the symptoms.