ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is usually related to issues at school, home or at work. The psychiatric disorder is difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is most commonly known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Mental health professionals use SPECT brain imaging to diagnose ADHD.
The signs 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. adult add treatments of the brain reveal that those suffering from this type can maintain normal activity while concentrating and rest in the prefrontal cortex but have decreased activity in their cerebellum and basal ganglia. These areas help produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for motivation, calmness and concentration. This type has a shorter attention span, and is easily distracted by noises and other stimuli and is unable to switch attention. They are unable to fall asleep, and they often wake up in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They can be easily annoyed and are often angry.
Those with Ring of Fire ADD have all the hallmarks of the classic ADD, but they also have difficulty shifting their focus from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to light, noise, and touch and they talk too fast and are impulsive and easily provoked to a negative behaviors. They experience periods of depression and low energy, are easily angered and can get stuck in negative thoughts and guilty feelings.
It is possible to confuse the symptoms of limbic ADD with depression. But it is different because it increases activity in the limbic area of the brain at rest and when concentrating. It can be treated by supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP) as well as saffron, inositol which increase alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA is also helpful to slow neural activity, preventing nerve cells from firing erratically or too frequently.
It is crucial to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder that can cause frustration and irritability as well as low self-esteem. The difference is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms is more prone to constant anger and frustration over time, while Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD patients tend to get caught up in negative thoughts and behaviors that trigger excessive worrying. This is due to rigid behavior that is similar to those with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They can become emotional when they are asked to switch their attention between activities and may respond with oppositional or argumentative behavior.
These people tend to have an inability to keep their cool and their anger stems from a chronic negative or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome" and frequently feeling hopeless and desperation. They may also be afflicted by memory problems, experience severe anger, and may have a short fuse.
People who suffer from over-focused ADD are not flexible when it comes to changing tasks, and may become highly captivated by their hobbies or work. They are at risk of missing deadlines at work, and forgetting appointments at home and may not complete tasks or school assignments. They may also be extremely stubborn and resentful when they are reprimanded by their parents or teachers.
Children with overfocused ADD have a high degree of irritability and stubbornness, and can be prone to throwing inconsolable tantrums when their interests are trampled on. They may be obsessed with a particular activity, toys and video games. They may also have trouble communicating their feelings and are extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This type of ADD is difficult to recognize, especially in children. Children who exhibit this behavior are often unable to comprehend that their problems are caused due to the inability of them to shift their attention from one task to the next. It's important to consult an expert since these children are more likely to be misdiagnosed for ADD. This type of ADD is usually treated using modifications to diet, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some medications are prescribed, but this type of ADD is difficult to treat using stimulant medications because they can increase a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to differentiate 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. This comorbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common and affects up to half of all people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mirror the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Incorrect diagnosis can lead to unsuitable treatment and frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause problems at work, at school or in social situations. This kind of ADD may result in low performance and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People who suffer from anxiety ADD are hesitant to take on difficult tasks or events because they fear they won't succeed.
They also fear being criticised or judged. Due to this, they often hide their troubles from their peers. They can become so stressed and anxious that they have panic attacks. They can be extremely severe and life-threatening, causing sweating, a pounding heart, and difficulty breathing. In contrast to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD are more active in their basal ganglia and the amygdala, which operate on an instinctual basis and place a high priority on safety. This shuts down the PFC which makes it difficult for people with ADD to focus.
If someone suffering from anxiety or ADD the symptoms are typically more difficult to treat than those of someone who isn't suffering from anxiety. This is due to treatment strategies for ADD/ADHD, which are designed to stimulate the brain could actually increase anxiety in people who suffer from anxiety ADD due to a decrease in the activity of their PFC.
Psychiatrists at Amen Clinics use functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scanning, to learn where in the brain there are high and/or low levels of activity. This helps them distinguish between the seven types and determine the best treatment.
To determine if someone has ADD/ADHD psychiatrist takes a thorough medical history and performs physical examination. In addition, he / might ask questions regarding behavior and mood to determine a patient's overall functioning. Medications are sometimes used to treat ADD/ADHD, but most patients need other therapies as well, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, nutrition and exercise, sleep strategies, desensitization, and other relaxation techniques. This can improve their ability to control their emotions and improve their overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe in the brain which is responsible for mood and memory. This type of ADD is manifested by a lack of learning and keeping information in memory, mood instability and severe anger or aggression issues. They also often suffer from a variety of sensory issues, such as feeling like they've experienced déjà vu, seeing shadows or objects changing forms and hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They are sensitive, irritable and easily overstimulated.
This type of ADD is characterized by similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include low attention spans and disorganization. It also has difficulty staying on task or following instructions. This kind of ADD does not cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in females. This kind of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain which can lead to feelings of low motivation or poor self-regulation. The symptoms can include sleep problems and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this case, qEEG scans of the ADD brain show that those with Overfocused ADD are having difficulty shifting gears. They have normal activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to shift from one task or thought to another, and they become stuck in negative thinking patterns and behavior.
This is a kind of ADD where individuals can be highly motivated and productive but they also have a tendency to be easily distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They may lose track of their school work and teachers or parents are often tired or ashamed of their behavior. They may experience difficulties in relationships due to their tendency to be reactive and impulsive. They also have trouble multitasking and working with others. In some cases they may suffer from depression or anxiety. They may be prone hallucinations or panic attacks. Medications are not usually advised for this kind of ADD as it doesn't address the root cause of the symptoms.