ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often related to issues at school, work or at home. The psychiatric disorder may be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric condition is often referred to as attention hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Mental health professionals diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
The symptoms of typical ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful and unorganized. Treatments such as antidepressants and stimulants 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. Scans of the brain show people with this type have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration, however they have less activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, which produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that enhances focus, motivation and a sense of calm. This type has a limited attention span, and is easily distracted by sounds and other stimuli and is unable to switch attention. They have trouble falling asleep, and often awake in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They are often overwhelmed by emotions and possess an impulsive personality, getting easily frustrated and easily angered.
People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the core symptoms of the classic ADD However, they also have trouble shifting their focus from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to light, noise and even touch. They talk too fast and are impulsive. Get More have periods of moodiness and low energy levels, are easily angered, and get stuck on negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
Limbic ADD can be confused with depression, but it's distinct from depression because it has increased activity in the limbic region of the brain (the part that determines our emotional tone and controls how happy or sad 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 using supplements like L-tryptophan 5-HTP inositol, saffron, and saffron that increase focus, alertness and mood as well as mental clarity. Also, amino acid GABA to regulate neural activity and prevent nerve cells from firing too much or in a erratic manner and liver support.
It is important to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders, such as Bipolar Disorder, which can cause irritability and frustration and low self-esteem. The distinction between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more consistent degree of irritability throughout the course of time. Bipolar Disorder tends to have symptoms that come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers tend to get stuck in negative patterns of thoughts and behaviors that trigger excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behaviors that are similar to the ones of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) which is the reason it's often incorrectly diagnosed. They may become emotional when they are they are asked to shift their attention between activities and may respond with oppositional or argumentative behavior.
They are generally irritable, and their irritability is caused by a low-grade chronic sadness or negativity. They may also have trouble learning, experience memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD may be rigid when it comes to changing tasks and become engrossed in their hobbies or work. They may forget appointments and deadlines at home or at work and they might not complete their schoolwork or chores. They can also be stubborn and resentful when punished by their parents or teachers.
Children with hyperfocused ADD are often angry and obstinate, and they can throw temper tantrums if their interests aren't recognized. They may be obsessed with a particular activity such as toys and video games. They may also have difficulty in expressing their emotions and can be very sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This type of ADD is more prevalent in children, and is often difficult to diagnose. Children who exhibit this type of behavior are often unable to comprehend the cause of their problems. due to the inability of them to shift their attention from one task to another. This is why it's important to seek the help of an expert, as children with this kind of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This type of ADD can be treated with diet modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of ADD is extremely difficult to treat even with stimulant medication as it can cause the intensity of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to distinguish between the seven kinds of ADD. It is especially useful in diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD suffer from high levels of anxiety. Comorbidity, which is having multiple disorders simultaneously is a common occurrence and affects up to half of those with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Incorrect diagnosis can result in inadequate treatment and anger.
Anxious ADD can cause issues at work, at school or in social situations. This type of ADD can cause under-performance and feelings of unworthiness. People with anxiety ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and events because they believe they're not capable of completing the task.
They also fear being criticized or judged. Due to this, they often hide their problems from others. In some cases, sufferers are so stressed and anxious that they develop panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They trigger heart pounding sweating, difficulty breathing and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD is distinct from Classic ADD because it has an increased activity in the basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and prioritize security. This causes the brain to shut down the PFC and can make it hard for these individuals to focus.
If someone suffering from anxiety or ADD the symptoms are typically more difficult to manage than those of someone who does not suffer from anxiety. This is due to the treatment programs for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate brain activity, can increase anxiety among those with anxiety-related ADD.
The psychiatrists at Amen Clinics employ functional neuroimaging, like SPECT scanning, to learn which areas of the brain are low and/or high levels of activity. This allows them to distinguish between the seven kinds of ADD and determine the most effective treatment for each patient.
To determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist collects a full medical history and conducts an examination. He or she might also inquire about mood and behavior to assess the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD. However, in the majority of instances, patients also require other therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy and nutrition, exercise sleep strategies, and desensitization. This can improve their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe within the brain, which is responsible both for memory and mood. This type of ADD is characterised by a problem learning and keeping information in memory as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggression. They may also suffer from sensory issues like feeling like they're in a dream when objects or shadows change shape, or hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They are sensitive, irritable and easily overwhelmed.
The symptoms of this kind of ADD are similar to those of Classic ADD, including short attention spans disorganization, difficulty in staying focused and procrastinating. However, this kind of ADD doesn't cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more common in females. People suffering from this type of ADD might have low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine which contributes to their feelings of low motivation and poor self-regulation. The symptoms include insomnia, anxiety and irritability.
In this instance, qEEG scans of the ADD brain reveal that individuals with over-focused ADD are experiencing difficulties shifting gears. They show normal activity in the anterior cingulate region (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are not able to move from one thought or task to the next, and they are stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors.
This is a form of ADD that is characterized by people who are extremely motivated and hardworking but tend not to concentrate on their tasks. They can lose track of their school work and teachers or parents can become annoyed or ashamed of their behavior. They might have a difficult relationship with others because they are hyper-active or reactive, and have difficulty dealing with multitasking or working with other people. In certain situations they might experience anxiety or depression. They might be susceptible to panic attacks and hallucinations. Treatments for this type of ADD are not usually recommended since they do not address the underlying cause of symptoms.