ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are usually related to issues at school, work or at home. The psychiatric disorder is difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is most often referred to as attention hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Mental health specialists diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
Some of the symptoms are being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Medications 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. Brain scans show that those suffering from this condition have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex at rest and during concentration, however they have decreased activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, which produce dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that helps to increase motivation, focus and calmness. People with this type have a difficult to focus their attention, are easily distracted by noise and other stimuli, and have short attention spans. They are unable to fall asleep and frequently awake in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They can be easily annoyed and can be easily angry.
People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the hallmarks of the classic ADD however, they also have trouble shifting their attention from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to light, noise, and touch. They talk too fast and are indecisive. They are susceptible to moodiness, low energy and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
Limbic ADD can be mistaken for depression, but it is distinct from depression because it is associated with increased activity in the limbic region of the brain (the area that sets our mood and determines how happy or sad we feel) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex 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 clarity. Amino acid GABA is also helpful to slow neural activity, preventing nerve cells from firing irregularly or too frequently.
It is essential to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders, such as Bipolar Disorder that 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 constant level of irritability over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to exhibit symptoms that appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers often get stuck in negative patterns of thoughts and behavior that cause excessive worrying. adult adhd treatments exhibit rigid behavior patterns that resemble those of people suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and that is the reason it's often mistakenly diagnosed. People with OCD are often threatened emotionally when they are required to shift their attention from one thing to another, and can respond with argumentative or oppositional behavior.
They are prone to having an inability to keep their cool, with their irritability coming from a constant negative or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome" and frequently feeling hopeless and worthlessness. They may also struggle with memory issues, experience extreme anger, and have a short fuse.
People who have hyper-focused ADD are inflexible when it comes to changing tasks, and may be captivated by their work or hobbies. They might forget appointments and deadlines at work or at home and may not complete their homework or chores. They can also be stubborn and resentful when they are punished by their teachers or parents.
Children with overfocused ADD exhibit a high level of irritability and stubbornness, and can be prone to throwing inconsolable tantrums when their interests are not respected. They can be obsessive about specific toys, activities and video games. They may also have trouble communicating their feelings and are very sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This kind of ADD is difficult to diagnose, especially for children. Children who exhibit this type of behavior may have difficulty understanding that their issues are caused due to the inability of them to shift their focus from one task to the next. 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 can be treated with nutritional modifications, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of ADD is hard to treat even with stimulant medication due to the fact that it can cause the intensity of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is a method to differentiate between the seven types of ADD. It is especially useful in diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have high levels of anxiety. Comorbidity, or having more than one disorder at the same time is a common problem and can affect up to half of people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mirror the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. A misdiagnosis can result in inappropriate treatment and anger.
Anxious ADD can cause issues with school, work, and social situations. This kind of ADD can lead to underachievement and feelings of unworthiness. People with anxious ADD avoid challenging tasks or events because they fear they won't succeed.
They also fear being criticized or judged. Because of this, they often hide their troubles from others. People with anxiety can become so stressed and anxious that they suffer from panic attacks. These can be very severe and life-threatening, causing a pounding heart, sweating and breathing difficulties. Anxious ADD is distinct from Classic ADD because it has an increased activity in the basal ganglia and the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on security. This can shut down the PFC which makes it difficult for those with this condition to concentrate.
If a person suffers from ADD/ADHD and anxiety their symptoms are more difficult to treat. This is due to the treatment programs for ADD/ADHD which are designed to stimulate brain activity, may actually increase anxiety among people with anxiety-related ADD.
The psychiatrists at Amen Clinics employ functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scanning, to determine which areas of the brain are high and/or low levels of activity. This allows them to distinguish between the seven types and determine the best treatment.
A psychiatrist will take the complete medical history of a patient and conduct a physical examination to diagnose ADD/ADHD. In addition, he or will ask questions about mood and behavior to assess the overall health of a patient. Sometimes, medications are used to treat the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. However, in many instances, patients also require other therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy, exercise, nutrition, sleep strategies and desensitization. This will help improve their ability to control their emotions and improve their overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD affects the temporal lobe of the brain, which is responsible both for mood and memory. This type of ADD is manifested by a lack of learning and storing information as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggression. They may also be suffering from sensory issues like feeling like they're in a dream, seeing shadows or objects change form or hearing sounds that others don't hear. They are often sensitive and irritable, and often become overstimulated by certain things, such as computer screens or crowds.
The symptoms of this type of ADD are similar to those seen in Classic ADD, including short attention spans, disorganization, difficulty following directions or staying focused and procrastinating. However, this kind of ADD does not cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD occurs more often in women. People suffering from this type of ADD may have low levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, which can cause feelings of low motivation and low self-regulation. The symptoms include insomnia, anxiety and irritability.
In this case QEEG scans of ADD brain reveal that individuals with Overfocused ADD are experiencing difficulties shifting gears. They show normal activity in the anterior cingulate region (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to move from one thought or task to another, and they get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
adult add treatments is a form of ADD where people are highly motivated and hardworking but tend not to pay attention to important tasks. They can get lost in their schoolwork and their parents or teachers are often exhausted or embarrassed by their behavior. They might have a difficult relationship because they can be unpredictable or reactive and have a hard time managing multiple tasks or working with other people. In some cases they may suffer from depression or anxiety. They may be prone panic attacks and hallucinations. Medications are not usually advised for this kind of ADD as it doesn't address the root cause of the symptoms.