ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is often related to issues at home, school or at work. The psychiatric disorder can be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is most often referred to as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD. Mental health professionals employ brain imaging using SPECT to determine ADHD.
Symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful and disorganized. The use of 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 reveal that those suffering from this condition have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex at rest and during concentration, but less activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, which are responsible for the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter which helps to increase motivation, focus and a sense of calm. People with this type have a difficult time shifting their attention and are easily distracted by noise and other stimuli, and have a short attention span. They also have trouble falling asleep and are often woken up in the middle of the night with anxiety or nightmares. They often feel overwhelmed by their emotions and have an impulsive personality, getting quickly annoyed by tasks and easily angry.
People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the symptoms of classic ADD, but they also struggle to shift their attention from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to light, sound and even touch. They talk too fast and are indecisive. They have periods of moodiness and fatigue, are quick to anger and can get stuck in negative thoughts and guilt.
Limbic ADD is often mistaken for depression, but it is distinct from depression because it has increased activity in the limbic portion of the brain (the part that determines our emotional tone and regulates how happy or sad we are) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex both rest and during concentration. It can be treated with supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with saffron, inositol, which improve alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also be helpful to slow neural activity, preventing nerve cells from firing irregularly or excessively.
It is essential to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which also can cause irritability, frustration, and poor self-esteem. The distinction is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms is more prone to constant anger and frustration over time, whereas Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD patients tend to get caught up in negative thoughts and behaviors that trigger excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns that resemble those of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is why it's frequently mistakenly diagnosed. They are often frightened emotionally when they are required to shift their focus from one task to the next and may respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
These people are likely to have an inability to keep their cool and their anger stems from a persistent low-grade sadness or negativity "glass half-empty syndrome" and frequent feelings of hopelessness and a sense of worthlessness. They may also be afflicted by memory issues, experience extreme anger, and have a short fuse.
People with hyperfocused ADD can be rigid when it comes to switching tasks and can become absorbed in their work or hobby. They may not remember appointments or deadlines at work or at home and they might not finish their schoolwork or chores. They may also be resistant and angry when they are reprimanded or chastised by their teacher or parents.
Children with overfocused ADD have a high degree of irritability and stubbornness and may be susceptible to throwing a rage when their interests are violated. They may be obsessed with particular activities such as toys and video games. They can also have difficulty communicating their feelings and are extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This type of ADD is more prevalent among children, and is difficult to recognize. Children who show this behavior may have difficulty understanding that their issues are caused due to the inability of them to shift their attention from one task to another. This is why it's important to seek out help from an expert, since children with this kind of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This type of ADD is treatable with nutritional modifications, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some medications are prescribed, however this kind of ADD can be difficult to treat with stimulant drugs, since they can boost a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to distinguish the seven distinct kinds of ADD and is especially useful in diagnosing over-focused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD experience high levels of anxiety. Comorbidity, or having more than one disorder simultaneously is a common occurrence and affects as much as half of those with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and misdiagnosis can lead to improper treatment and even more frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause problems at school, at work, or with social situations. This type of ADD could result in low performance and feelings of inadequateness. People with anxiety ADD avoid difficult tasks or activities because they fear they won't succeed.
They also fear being judged or judged. Due to this, they tend to hide their issues from others. In some cases, people are so stressed and anxious that they develop panic attacks. These can be very life-threatening and cause a pounding heart, sweating, and difficulty breathing. Contrary to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD are more active in their basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These organs operate on an instinctual basis and prioritize safety. This shuts down PFC and makes it difficult for these individuals concentrate.
If a person suffers from ADD/ADHD and anxiety their symptoms are more difficult to treat. This is because treatments for ADD/ADHD, that are designed to stimulate brain activity, can increase anxiety among people with anxious ADD.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging techniques like SPECT scans to identify which areas of the brain have more or less activity are found. This allows them to differentiate between the seven kinds of ADD and determine the most effective treatment for each person.
A psychiatrist will take an entire medical record and conduct a physical examination to determine if a patient has ADHD or ADD. The doctor may also inquire about the patient's mood and behavior to assess the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADHD and ADD. However, in the majority of cases patients also need other therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy, nutrition, exercise, sleep strategies and desensitization. This can increase their ability to manage their moods and overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD involves the temporal lobe in the brain which is responsible for mood and memory. People suffering from this kind of ADD struggle to process and store information and experience mood swings and have severe anger or aggression issues. They also suffer from various sensory issues, including feeling like they've experienced deja vu, or seeing shadows or objects change shapes, and hearing sounds others don't. They tend to be sensitive and irritable and are often overstimulated by certain things, such as computer screens or crowds.
This type of ADD has the same symptoms as Classic ADD. These include inattention spans that are short and disorganized. It also has difficulties staying focused or following instructions. However, this type of ADD doesn't cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in women. This kind of ADD is characterised by low levels of dopamine in the brain which can result in feelings of depression or poor self-regulation. It is characterized by sleeplessness, anxiety and irritability.
In this instance, qEEG scans of the ADD brain reveal that people with over-focused ADD have difficulties treating adhd naturally shifting gears. They show normal activity in the anterior cingulate region (the brain's "gearshifter"). They aren't able to shift from one thought or task to another and get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors.
This is a kind of ADD which means that people are highly motivated and productive but they also tend to get easily distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They can lose track and feel embarrassed or exhausted by their behavior. They may have a hard relationship with others because they can be hyper-active or reactive, and have a hard time dealing with multitasking or working with others. In some cases they may experience anxiety or depression. They may be susceptible to panic attacks, and are susceptible to hallucinations. Medications are typically not recommended for this type of ADD, because it doesn't tackle the root cause of the symptoms.