ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is often associated with 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 specialists diagnose ADHD using SPECT brain images.
Symptoms 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. The scans of the brain show that people suffering from this type can maintain normal activity while concentrating and rest in the prefrontal cortex, however, they have less activity in their cerebellum and the basal ganglia. These areas help produce dopamine, which is an important neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness, and focus. People with this type have a hard time shifting their attention and are easily distracted by the noise or other stimuli and have short attention spans. 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 quickly frustrated with tasks and easily angered.
People suffering from Ring of Fire ADD have all the core symptoms of classic ADD, but they also have difficulty shifting their focus from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to light, sound and even touch. They talk too quickly and are impulsive. 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's distinct from depression because it causes increased activity in the limbic region of the brain (the brain region that sets our emotional tone and regulates the level of happiness or sadness we are) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex at both at rest and during concentration. It can be treated by supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with saffron, inositol, which improve alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA is also helpful to slow neural activity, preventing nerve cells from firing erratically or excessively.
It is important to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder which can also result in frustration and irritability, as well as low self-esteem. The difference is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms is more prone to constant frustration and irritability over time, whereas Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to manifest in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD patients are often stuck in negative thoughts and behavior that trigger excessive worrying. This is due to rigid behaviors similar to people who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They may become angry when asked to switch their attention between activities and may respond with a resentful or argumentative behavior.
These people are likely to have a short fuse and their irritability stems from a constant depression or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome," and frequent feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. They may also experience difficulties learning, experience memory issues, or have extreme anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD can be rigid when it comes to changing tasks and may become absorbed in their work or hobby. They may not remember appointments or deadlines at home or at work, and they may not complete their schoolwork or chores. They may also be stubborn and resentful if they are reprimanded or chastised by their teachers or parents.
Children with hyperfocused ADD can be irritable and obstinate, and they might throw temper tantrums when their interests aren't recognized. 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 can be difficult to identify, particularly in children. These children often don't understand that their issue is caused by their inability shift their attention between different things. It's important to consult an expert since these children are more likely to have their ADD misdiagnosed. This type of ADD can be treated using nutritional modifications, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This type of ADD is extremely difficult to treat, even with stimulant medication as it can cause the intensity of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is a method to distinguish between the seven different types of ADD. It is especially helpful in diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD experience high levels of anxiety. This comorbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common and affects about half of sufferers of ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can be similar to the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and incorrect diagnosis can lead to inadequate treatment and more frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause problems with work, school and social settings. This type of ADD can lead to underachievement and feelings of inadequacy. People with anxious ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and activities because they think they'll fail.
treatment for add fear being judged or being criticized. They are afraid of being judged or criticised. others. In some cases, these sufferers are so anxious and stressed that they suffer from panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They can cause heart pounding sweating, difficulty breathing and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD is different from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the Basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on security. This can shut down PFC and can make it difficult for these individuals focus.
When a person has anxiety and ADD/ADHD their symptoms are more difficult to manage. This is because the treatment programs for ADD/ADHD which are designed to stimulate brain activity, may actually increase anxiety among those with anxiety-related ADD.
Psychiatrists at Amen Clinics use functional neuroimaging, like SPECT scanning, to learn which areas of the brain are low and/or high levels of activity. This helps them differentiate between the seven types and determine the best method of treatment.
To determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist takes a thorough medical history and performs physical examination. In addition, he or she may ask questions about mood and behavior to assess the patient's overall performance. Medications are sometimes used to treat ADD/ADHD but most patients require other therapies as well, 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 kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe within the brain, which is responsible both for mood and memory. People with this type of ADD struggle to retain and learn they experience mood instability and suffer from extreme anger or aggression issues. They may also be suffering from sensory issues like feeling deja vu when objects or shadows change shape, or hearing sounds that others don't hear. They are sensitive, irritable and easily overstimulated.
This type of ADD has the same symptoms as Classic ADD. These include short attention spans and disorganization. It also has difficulty in staying focused or following instructions. This kind of ADD is not associated with excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD is more common in females. People suffering from this type of ADD may suffer from low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine which can lead to feelings of low motivation and low self-regulation. Some of the symptoms include difficulty sleeping and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this case brain mapping scans qEEG of the brain reveal that individuals with over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gyrus which is the brain's "gear shifter," but they are experiencing difficulty shifting gears. They are unable to move from one task or thought to the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors.
This is a type of ADD which means that people are extremely motivated and hardworking however, they tend to be easily distracted by mundane or insignificant tasks. They may lose track of their schoolwork and their teachers or parents can become annoyed or ashamed of their behavior. They may be struggling in relationships due to their tendency be reactive and impulsive. They also have difficulty multitasking and working with others. In certain situations, they could be depressed or anxious. They may be prone hallucinations and panic attacks. The use of medications for this kind of ADD are not recommended since they do not address the underlying reason for the symptoms.