ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is typically connected to problems at school, home or at work. The psychiatric disorder is often difficult to identify and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is most commonly known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Mental health professionals diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
The symptoms of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Treatments such as antidepressants and stimulants can 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. The scans of the brain show that people suffering from this type can maintain normal activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex, but have decreased activity in their cerebellum and the basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness and focus. People with this type have a difficult in shifting their focus, are easily distracted by the noise or other stimuli and have shorter attention spans. They also have trouble sleeping and frequently wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety or nightmares. They are easily frustrated and are often angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is characterized by all the classic ADD symptoms, but also by a difficulty in shifting their attention between thoughts and shifting their focus from one task to the next. They are sensitive to light, noise, and touch. They talk too quickly and are indecisive. They are susceptible to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They also tend to get stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
Limbic ADD is often mistaken for depression, but it's different than depression because it has increased activity in the limbic region 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 at both rest and during concentration. It is a condition that can be treated using supplements like L-tryptophan 5-HTP as well as saffron and inositol, which boost concentration, alertness, mood, and mental clarity. Also, amino acid GABA to reduce neural activity and prevent nerve cells from firing too much or in a erratic manner; and liver support.
It is crucial 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 has more consistent frustration and irritability over time, while Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers tend to get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors that trigger excessive worry. They exhibit rigid behaviors that resemble those of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and that is the reason it's often incorrectly diagnosed. They may become emotionally upset when asked to switch their attention between activities and may respond by displaying a hostile or argumentative attitude.
They are prone to having an inability to keep their cool, with their irritability coming from a chronic depression or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome" and frequent feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. They might also have memory problems, experience severe anger, and have a short fuse.
People with overfocused ADD are inflexible when they have to change tasks, and can become highly captivated by their hobbies or work. They may forget appointments and deadlines at work or at home and may not finish their chores or schoolwork. They can also be stubborn and resentful when disapproved of by their teachers or parents.
Children with hyper-focused ADD have a high degree of stubbornness and irritability, and are prone to throwing inconsolable tantrums when their interests are not respected. They may be obsessed with specific toys, activities and video games. They may also have difficulty communicating their feelings and are extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This form of ADD is more common among children, and is difficult to identify. treatment of add in adults don't realize the cause of their condition. It's due to their inability to shift their attention between different things. This is the reason it's crucial to seek the help of an expert, as these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This kind of ADD is typically treated with dietary changes, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of ADD is difficult to treat even with stimulant medications, because it can increase hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is often used to distinguish the seven distinct kinds of ADD, and is particularly useful for diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD experience high levels of anxiety. Comorbidity, also known as having multiple disorders at the same time is a common occurrence and affects as much as 50% of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and incorrect diagnosis can lead to inadequate treatment and even more frustration.
Anxious ADD may cause problems at work, in school or with social situations. This type of ADD can cause underperformance and feelings of unworthiness. People with anxious ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and events, believing they won't do well.
They also fear being criticized or being judged. They are afraid of being judged or criticised. others. In some instances, sufferers are so stressed and anxious that they suffer from panic attacks. These can be very life-threatening and cause sweating, a heart that is pounding and breathing difficulties. Anxious ADD is different from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on security. This causes a shutdown of PFC and makes it difficult for these individuals focus.
If someone suffering from ADD/ADHD has anxiety their symptoms are generally more difficult to treat than those of someone who does not suffer from anxiety. This is because treatment plans for ADD/ADHD, which are designed to stimulate the brain can actually increase anxiety in people who suffer from anxiety ADD by reducing the activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging such as SPECT scans to identify which areas of the brain have low and/or higher levels of activity are found. This allows them to distinguish between the seven different types of ADD and determine the best treatment for each patient.
To determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist gathers a complete medical history and performs a physical exam. He or she may also ask about the patient's mood and behavior to assess the patient's overall performance. Medications are sometimes used to treat ADD/ADHD, but in most cases, patients need other therapies in addition, such as cognitive behavioral therapy as well as nutrition and exercise sleep strategies, desensitization, and other techniques for relaxation. This may increase their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe of the brain which is responsible for mood and memory. This type of ADD is manifested by a lack of learning and storage of information as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggression. They might also experience sensory issues like feeling like they're in a dream and seeing shadows or objects change shape, or hearing sounds that others don't hear. They can be extremely sensitive and angry and are often overstimulated by certain activities, such as computer screens or crowds.
This type of ADD has similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include short attention spans and disorganization. It also presents with difficulties staying focused or following instructions. This kind of ADD is not associated with excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD occurs more often in women. People suffering from this type of ADD may have low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which can lead to feelings of low motivation and poor self-regulation. Symptoms can include trouble sleeping and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this instance brain mapping scans qEEG of the brain reveal that people 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 unable to move from one thought or task to another, and are stuck in negative thought patterns and behavior.
This is a type of ADD where individuals can be highly motivated and hardworking, but they tend to be easily distracted by unimportant or non-essential tasks. They may lose track of their schoolwork and teachers or parents are often exhausted or embarrassed by their behavior. They may be struggling in relationships due to their tendency to be impulsive and reactive. They also have trouble multitasking and working in a group. In some instances, they can be depressed or anxious. They could be susceptible to panic attacks and hallucinations. The use of medication is not recommended for this type of ADD as they don't address the root cause of the symptoms.
