ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is usually associated with problems at home, school or at work. The psychiatric disorder may be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common name for this psychiatric disorder. Mental health specialists diagnose ADHD using SPECT brain images.
Symptoms of typical ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Medications such as 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 show that people suffering from this type are able to maintain normal activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex but have decreased activity in their cerebellum as well as the basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, tranquility and concentration. This type has a limited attention span, and is easily distracted by sounds and other stimuli, and has a hard time shifting attention. They also have difficulty falling asleep and often wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety or nightmares. They are easily frustrated and are often angry.
People suffering from Ring of Fire ADD have all the core symptoms of the classic ADD, but they also have trouble shifting their attention from one thought to another thought and from task to task. They have a sensitivity to light, noise and touch; they talk too fast and are impulsive and easily triggered into mean behaviour. They are prone to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
It is possible to mix the condition of limbic ADD with depression. But it is distinct because it stimulates activity in the limbic area of the brain during time of rest and during concentration. It can be treated with supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with saffron, inositol which increase alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA is also helpful to reduce neural activity and prevent nerve cells from firing erratically or in excess.
It is important to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which also can trigger irritability, anger and low self-esteem. The difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more consistent level of irritability over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to have symptoms that come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD patients often get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors that trigger excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns that are similar to those of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and that is why it's frequently mistakenly diagnosed. These individuals often become threatened emotionally when they are asked to shift their attention from one thing to another and respond with argumentative or oppositional behavior.
These people are likely to have a short temper, with their irritability coming from a constant low-grade sadness or negativity "glass half-empty syndrome," and often feeling of despair and desperation. They might also have memory problems, experience severe anger, and may have a short fuse.
People who have hyper-focused ADD may 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 may not complete their schoolwork or chores. They could also be stubborn and resentful when disapproved of by their teachers or parents.
Children who have overfocused ADD exhibit a high level of stubbornness and irritability, and are likely to throw inconsolable tantrums when their interests are trampled on. They may be obsessed with particular activities such as toys and video games. They may also have difficulty expressing their feelings and be very sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This kind of ADD can be difficult to identify, particularly in children. Children who exhibit this type of behavior are often unable to comprehend that their problems are caused due to the inability of them to shift their focus from one task to another. This is the reason it's crucial to seek out help from 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 using nutritional modifications, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some medications are prescribed, however this kind of ADD is difficult to treat with stimulant drugs, since they can boost a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to differentiate between the seven different types of ADD. It is particularly helpful in diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD suffer from high levels of anxiety. This comorbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common, impacting up to half of all sufferers of ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mirror the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. A misdiagnosis can lead to unsuitable treatment and frustration.
Anxious ADD can lead to problems at school, work and social settings. This type of ADD can cause underperformance and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People with anxiety ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and events, believing they won't do well.
They also fear being judged or critiqued. Due to this, they often hide their problems from their peers. These people can be so anxious and stressed that they experience panic attacks. These panic attacks can be severe and life-threatening. They can cause an increase in heart rate, sweating and difficulty breathing. In contrast 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 causes the brain to shut down the PFC which makes it hard for these individuals to focus.
If someone suffers from ADD/ADHD and anxiety and anxiety, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to manage. This is because treatment plans for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate the brain can actually increase anxiety in people who suffer from anxiety ADD by decreasing the activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging techniques like SPECT scans in order to determine the areas of the brain where low and/or higher levels of activity are found. This helps them distinguish between the seven types of brain and determine the best treatment.
To diagnose ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist takes a thorough medical history and performs an examination. They may also ask about the patient's mood and behavior in order to assess the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are prescribed to treat ADD/ADHD. However, in the majority of cases patients also need other therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy, diet, exercise, sleep strategies and desensitization. This will help increase their ability to manage their emotions and their overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe of the brain, which is responsible both for mood and memory. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to learn and store information and experience mood swings and are prone to extreme anger or aggression issues. They might also experience sensory issues like feeling deja vu, seeing shadows or objects change shape or hearing sounds that others don't hear. They are irritable, sensitive and easily overstimulated.
The symptoms of this kind of ADD are similar to those in Classic ADD, including short attention spans disorganization, difficulty in staying focused, and procrastinating. This type of ADD does not cause excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity. adhd untreated in adults 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 depression or insufficient self-regulation. Symptoms can include trouble sleeping and feelings of irritability or anxiety.
In this case brain mapping scans qEEG of the brain reveal that individuals with over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate region, the brain's "gear shifter," but they are having trouble shifting gears. They are unable to move from one task or thought to the next, and they are stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors.
This is a kind of ADD where individuals can be highly motivated and productive but they also have a tendency to get easily distracted by mundane or insignificant tasks. They can get lost in their schoolwork and parents or teachers are often exhausted or embarrassed by their behavior. They might have a difficult time in relationships because they can be unpredictable or reactive and have a hard time with multitasking or working with other people. In some instances, they might experience anxiety or depression. They could be susceptible to hallucinations and panic attacks. Medications are typically not advised for this kind of ADD, because it doesn't tackle the root cause of the symptoms.