ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often associated with problems at school, work, or home. The psychiatric disorder isn't easy to identify and manage.
The psychiatric condition is commonly known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD. Mental health professionals employ brain imaging using SPECT to determine ADHD.
The symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful and disorganized. The use of medications such as stimulants and antidepressants can aid in overcoming.
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 those with this type of ADD have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration, however they have decreased activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, which are responsible for the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps to increase motivation, focus, and calmness. People with this type have a difficult in shifting their focus, are easily distracted by distractions and noises, and have short attention spans. They are unable to fall asleep, and often awake in the middle of the night feeling anxious. They are easily frustrated and often get angry.
Those with Ring of Fire ADD have all the core symptoms of 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 noise, light, and touch and talk too fast and are impulsive and easily triggered into mean behavior. They are susceptible to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
Limbic ADD can be mistaken for depression, but it's distinct from depression because it is associated with increased activity in the limbic portion of the brain (the brain region that sets our emotional tone and regulates how happy or sad we are) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex both rest and during concentration. It is a condition that can be treated using supplements like L-tryptophan 5-HTP, saffron, and inositol, which boost alertness, focus, mood, and mental clarity. They also use amino acid GABA to calm neural activity and prevent nerve cells from firing too much or erratically and liver support.
It is crucial to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which can cause frustration, irritability, and poor self-esteem. The main 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 suffer from symptoms that occur in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD patients are often stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors that result in excessive worry. They exhibit rigid behaviors that resemble those of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is why it's often mistakenly diagnosed. People with OCD are often threatened emotionally when they are required to shift their focus from one task to the next and react with a threatening or hostile behavior.
These people tend to have an inability to keep their cool and their irritability stems from a chronic low-grade sadness or negativity "glass half-empty syndrome," and frequent feelings of hopelessness and desperation. They might also have difficulty learning, experience memory issues, or have extreme anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD may be rigid when it comes switching tasks and can become absorbed in their job or pastime. They might forget appointments and deadlines at home or at work and they might not finish their chores or schoolwork. They may also be extremely stubborn and resentful when reprimanded by their teachers or parents.
Children with hyperfocused ADD can be angry and stubborn, and they can throw temper tantrums if their interests are not accepted. They may be obsessed with particular toys, activities, and video games. They also have difficulty expressing their feelings, and can be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This form of ADD is difficult to identify, particularly for children. Children often don't realize the cause of their condition. It's caused by their inability to switch their attention from one thing to the next. This is why it's important to seek help from an expert, since children with this type of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family physicians and even psychologists. This kind of ADD can be treated using diet modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of ADD is difficult to treat even with stimulant medications due to the fact that it can cause the intensity of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to distinguish between the seven kinds of ADD. It is particularly useful in diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD have high levels of anxiety. Comorbidity, which is having more than one disorder simultaneously is a common occurrence and affects up to 50% of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and incorrect diagnosis can lead to inadequate treatment and even more frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause issues at school, at work or with social situations. This kind of ADD can cause under-performance and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People suffering from anxious ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and activities because they think they won't do well.
They also fear being judged or being judged. This is why they often hide their troubles from their peers. People with anxiety can become so anxious and stressed that they suffer from panic attacks. They can be extremely life-threatening and cause a pounding heart, sweating and breathing problems. Anxious ADD is distinct from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the basal get more info ganglia and the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and place a high value on security. This shuts down the PFC which makes it difficult for those with this condition to concentrate.
If a person suffers from anxiety and ADD/ADHD and anxiety, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to manage. This is due to the treatment programs for ADD/ADHD that are designed to increase brain activity, can increase anxiety among people with anxious ADD.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scans in order to determine where in the brain low and/or higher levels of activity are found. This helps them differentiate between the seven types of brain and determine the most effective treatment.
A psychiatrist will gather an entire medical record and perform a physical examination to diagnose ADHD or ADD. He or she might also inquire about mood and behavior in order to evaluate the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are prescribed to treat ADHD and ADD. However, in many cases, patients require other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy, nutrition, exercise sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. This can help improve their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe in the brain which is responsible for memory and mood. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to learn and store information they experience mood instability and are prone to extreme anger or aggression issues. They also are often affected by a variety of sensory issues, like experiencing a sense of deja vu, or seeing shadows or objects changing shapes, and hearing sounds other people can't hear. They are irritable, sensitive and easily overstimulated.
The symptoms of this type of ADD are similar to those in Classic ADD, including short attention spans and disorganization, difficulties in following directions or staying focused and procrastinating. This type of ADD does not cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in women. This kind of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain which can cause feelings of low motivation or poor self-regulation. The symptoms include insomnia, anger and anxiety.
In this case, qEEG brain mapping scans of the brain show that individuals with over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gland which is the brain's "gear shifter," but they are having trouble shifting gears. They are not able to move from one task or thought to another, and they get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviours.
This is a type of ADD where people can be extremely motivated and hardworking however, they tend to get easily distracted by mundane or insignificant tasks. They can lose track and feel embarrassed or exhausted by their behavior. They may have a hard time in relationships because they are hyper-active or reactive, and have a hard time dealing with multitasking or working with others. In some instances, they might suffer from depression or anxiety. They may be susceptible to panic attacks and susceptible to hallucinations. The use of medications for this kind of ADD are not advised, since they do not address the root causes of symptoms.