ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often connected to problems at work, school or at home. The psychiatric illness is often difficult to identify and manage.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common name for this psychiatric disorder. Mental health experts diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
The symptoms of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. The use of 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. Scans of the brain show those with this type of ADD have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex at rest and during concentration, but reduced activity in the cerebellum and the basal ganglia which produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter which enhances focus, motivation, and calmness. This type has a short attention span, and is easily distracted by noises or other stimuli and has a hard time shifting focus. They also have difficulty falling asleep and are often woken up in the middle of the night with nightmares or anxiety. They can be easily annoyed and are often angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is defined by all the standard ADD symptoms as well as difficulties in shifting their focus between thoughts and shifting their focus from one task to the next. They have a sensitivity to noise, light, and touch and talk too fast and are impulsive and easily provoked into mean behaviour. They are susceptible to moodiness, low energy and anger. They can also get caught up in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
Limbic ADD can be mistaken for depression, but it's distinct from depression because it has increased activity in the limbic part of the brain (the brain region that sets our mood and determines the level of happiness or sadness we feel) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex both when we are at rest and while in concentration. It can be treated with supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP) as well as saffron, inositol, which improve alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA can also help calm neural activity, inhibiting nerve cells from firing irregularly or in excess.
It is crucial to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which also can cause irritability, frustration, and poor self-esteem. treat adhd in adults is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms has more consistent irritability and frustration over time, while Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers are often caught in negative thought patterns and behaviors that cause excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behaviors similar to those of people suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is why it's frequently incorrectly diagnosed. They may become angry when requested to switch their focus between activities and may respond with oppositional or argumentative behavior.
These people tend to have an inability to keep their cool and their irritability stems from a persistent low-grade sadness or negativity "glass half-empty syndrome" and frequently feeling hopeless and desperation. They might also have difficulty learning, struggle with memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.
People with hyperfocused ADD might be rigid when it comes to changing tasks and become engrossed in their work or hobby. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work and not remembering appointments at home, and may not complete homework or other school assignments. They may also be stubborn and resentful if they are punished or reprimanded by their teacher or parents.
Children with overfocused ADD have a high degree of irritability and stubbornness and can be prone to throwing inconsolable tantrums when their interests are violated. They can be obsessive about specific toys, activities and video games. They also have trouble expressing their feelings, and can be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This type of ADD is more prevalent among children, and is often difficult to diagnose. The majority of children don't understand that their problem is due to their inability to shift their focus from one thing to the next. This is why it's important to seek out help from a professional, as these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family physicians and even psychologists. This kind of ADD is typically treated with diet changes, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some medications are prescribed, however this kind of ADD can be difficult to treat using stimulant medications because they can increase a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to identify the seven distinct kinds of ADD and is especially useful in diagnosing over-focused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD have a high degree of anxiety. This co-morbidity (having more than one disorder simultaneously) is common, affecting up to half of all people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and misdiagnosis can lead to improper treatment and further frustration.
Anxious ADD can lead to problems at school, work and social situations. This kind of ADD can cause under-performance and feelings of inadequacy. People with anxious ADD avoid challenging tasks or events because they fear they won't succeed.
They also fear being criticised or considered a victim. Due to this, they often hide their troubles from others. In some cases, people are so anxious and stressed that they develop panic attacks. They can be extremely dangerous and life-threatening, resulting in sweating, a heart that is pounding and breathing problems. Contrary to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD have increased activity in their basal ganglia and the amygdala, which operate on an instinctual basis and place a high priority on safety. This can shut down PFC and makes it difficult for people with this disorder to focus.
If someone with ADHD or ADD has anxiety, their symptoms are usually more difficult to treat than those of someone who does not suffer from anxiety. This is because treatment protocols for ADD/ADHD, which are designed to stimulate the brain can increase anxiety in those who suffer from anxiety ADD by decreasing the activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists use functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scans to determine which areas of the brain have high and/or lower levels of activity are occurring. This helps them differentiate between the seven types of brain and determine the best treatment.
To determine if someone has ADD/ADHD psychiatrist collects a full medical history and performs physical examination. He or she may also ask about mood and behavior in order to evaluate the patient's overall functioning. Some medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD but in most cases, patients require other therapies as well, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, nutrition and exercise, strategies for sleep, desensitization and other techniques to relax. This can help improve their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD is a problem with the brain's temporal lobe which is responsible for mood and memory. This type of ADD is characterised by a problem learning and storage of information and mood swings, as well as severe anger or aggression. They also often suffer from a variety of sensory issues, including feeling like they have deja vu, or seeing shadows or objects change shapes, and hearing sounds others don't. They can be irritable, sensitive and easily overwhelmed.
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 on task and procrastinating. This kind of ADD is not associated with excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD occurs more often 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, anxiety and irritability.
In this instance, qEEG brain mapping scans of the brain show that people suffering from over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gland, the brain's "gear shifter," but they are struggling to shift gears. They are unable to shift from one thought or task to another, and they get stuck in negative thought patterns and behavior.
This is a type of ADD where people are highly motivated and hardworking but have a tendency not to focus on important tasks. They can lose track and feel embarrassed or exhausted because of their behavior. natural add treatment may experience difficulties in relationships due to their tendency to be reactive and impulsive. They also have difficulty multitasking and working in a group. In some instances, they can suffer from depression or anxiety. They might be susceptible to hallucinations or panic attacks. The use of medications for this kind of ADD aren't usually recommended since they do not address the underlying causes of symptoms.