ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are frequently associated with problems 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 specialists diagnose ADHD using SPECT brain images.
The symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful and unorganized. The use of stimulants and antidepressants can ease the symptoms.
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 type can maintain normal activity while concentrating and at rest in the prefrontal cortex however, they have less activity in their cerebellum as well as the basal ganglia. These areas help produce dopamine, which is the neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, tranquility and concentration. This type has a limited attention span, and is easily distracted by noises and other stimuli, and is unable to switch attention. They have trouble falling asleep, and they often awake in the middle of the night with anxiety. They often feel overwhelmed by emotions and possess a short fuse, becoming quickly frustrated with tasks and easily annoyed.
People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the symptoms of the classic ADD, but they also struggle to shift their focus from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to noise, light, and touch. They talk too quickly and are indecisive. They are prone to moodiness, low energy and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
Limbic ADD can be confused with depression, but it's different than depression because 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 feel) and decreases 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, saffron, and inositol that increase alertness, focus and mood as well as mental clarity. Also, amino acid GABA to reduce 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 like Bipolar Disorder, which can cause frustration, irritability, and poor self-esteem. The difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more constant degree of irritability throughout the course of time. Bipolar Disorder tends to suffer from symptoms that occur in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD patients are often stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors which trigger excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns that are similar to those of people suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is why it's frequently incorrectly diagnosed. People with OCD are often threatened emotionally when required to shift their attention from one task to the next and react with a threatening or hostile behavior.
They are often unhappy and their irritability can be caused by chronic low-grade depression or sadness. They may also have trouble learning, experience memory issues, or feel intense anger and aggression.
People who suffer from over-focused ADD are not flexible when they have to change tasks, and can become enthralled by their hobbies or work. They are prone to missing deadlines at work and forgetting appointments at home and may not complete homework or other school assignments. They may also be stubborn and resentful if they are disciplined or punished by their parents or teacher.
Children with hyper-focused ADD show a high degree of stubbornness and irritability, and can be susceptible to throwing a rage when their interests are trampled on. They might be obsessed with certain activities like video games, toys, and toys. They can also have difficulty expressing their feelings and be very sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This type of ADD can be difficult to identify, particularly when it affects children. Children often don't realize that their problem is caused by their inability to switch their attention between different things. This is why it's important to seek the help of an expert, since children with this type of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family physicians and even psychologists. This type of ADD is treatable with nutritional modifications, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapies. This kind of ADD is hard to treat even with stimulant medications due to the fact that it can cause the intensity of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is a method to distinguish between the seven kinds of ADD. It is especially helpful in diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD have a high degree of anxiety. Comorbidity, or having multiple disorders simultaneously, is common and affects up to half of people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Misdiagnosis may result in unsuitable treatment and frustration.
Anxious ADD can lead to problems at work, school and social settings. This type of ADD can cause under-performance and feelings of being unsatisfactory. treating adhd in adults with anxiety ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and activities because they think they won't do well.
They also fear being criticised or being judged. Because of this, they often hide their problems from their peers. 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, breathing difficulties and difficulty. Contrary to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD are more active in their basal ganglia as well as the amygdala, which operate on an instinctual basis, and are able to prioritize safety. This causes a shutdown of PFC and makes it difficult for people with this disorder to concentrate.
If someone suffers from anxiety and ADD/ADHD, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to manage. This is due to the treatment programs for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate brain activity, may actually increase anxiety in people who have anxiety-related ADD.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging techniques, such as 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 best treatment for each person.
A psychiatrist will collect the complete medical history of a patient and conduct a physical examination to determine if the patient suffers from ADHD or ADD. Additionally, he or will ask questions about behavior and mood to determine the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD, but most patients require other treatments in addition, such as cognitive behavioral therapy as well as nutrition and exercise strategies for sleep, desensitization and other techniques to relax. This will help increase their ability to manage their moods and overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe within the brain, which is responsible both for memory and mood. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to learn and store information they experience mood instability and suffer from intense anger or aggression issues. They might also experience sensory issues, such as experiencing deja vu when objects or shadows change shape or hearing sounds that others don't hear. They can be irritable, sensitive and easily overstimulated.
Symptoms of this type of ADD are similar to those of Classic ADD, including short attention spans, disorganization, difficulty following directions or staying on task and procrastinating. However, this kind of ADD doesn't cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD is more prevalent in women. This type of ADD is characterised by low levels of dopamine in the brain, which can lead to feelings of low motivation or poor self-regulation. Symptoms can include trouble sleeping and feelings of irritability or anxiety.
In this instance QEEG scans of the ADD brain show that those with over-focused ADD have difficulties shifting gears. They are experiencing normal activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to move from one task or thought to another and get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors.
This is a kind of ADD where individuals can be extremely motivated and hardworking, but they tend to be easily distracted by mundane or insignificant tasks. They can get lost and become embarrassed or tired because of their behavior. They may be struggling in relationships due to their tendency be impulsive and reactive. They also have issues managing multiple tasks and working with others. In some cases they may experience anxiety or depression. They are susceptible to panic attacks and susceptible to hallucinations. Medications for this type of ADD are not usually recommended since they do not address the underlying reason for the symptoms.