ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often related to issues at school, work or at home. The psychiatric disorder is difficult for doctors who treat adhd in adults to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most popular name used for this psychiatric disorder. Mental health professionals diagnose ADHD by using SPECT brain scans.
The signs of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful and unorganized. 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. Brain scans reveal that those suffering from this condition have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration, however they have decreased activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, which are responsible for the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter doctors that treat adhd in adults enhances focus, motivation, and calmness. This type has a short attention span, and is easily distracted by sounds and other stimuli and is unable to shift focus. They are unable to fall asleep, and they often wake up in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They often feel overwhelmed by emotions and possess a short fuse, becoming easily frustrated and easily angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is characterized by all the classic ADD symptoms however, it also has difficulties in shifting their focus from one thought to the next and between tasks. They are sensitive to noise, light and even 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.
It is possible to confuse the condition of limbic ADD with depression. But it is different because it increases activity in the limbic part of the brain at rest and when concentrating. It can be treated by supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with saffron, inositol, which improve alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA can also be helpful to slow neural activity, preventing nerve cells from firing erratically or too frequently.
It is important to differentiate 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 frustration and irritability over time, while Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to manifest in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD sufferers tend to get stuck in negative patterns of thoughts and behaviors that trigger excessive worry. This is due to rigid behaviors similar to people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They can be angry when asked to switch their attention between activities and may respond with a resentful or argumentative behavior.
They are generally irritable and their irritability can be due to a low-grade chronic depression or sadness. They may also struggle with memory problems, experience severe anger, and have a short fuse.
People who have hyper-focused ADD might be rigid when it comes switching tasks and can become absorbed in their hobbies or work. They are at risk of missing deadlines at work and forgetting appointments at home, and may not complete chores or school assignments. They can also be stubborn and resentful when punished by their parents or teachers.
Children with overfocused ADD exhibit a high level of stubbornness and irritability, and can be likely to throw inconsolable tantrums when their interests are violated. They can be obsessive about specific toys, activities and video games. They can also have difficulty communicating their feelings and are very sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This type of ADD is difficult to recognize, especially when it affects 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 focus between tasks. 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 kind of ADD is usually treated using modifications to diet, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Sometimes, medications are prescribed, but this kind of ADD can be difficult to treat with stimulant medications because they can raise a person’s levels of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to differentiate between the seven kinds of ADD. It is particularly helpful in diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people who suffer from ADD suffer from a high level of anxiety. Comorbidity, also known as having more than one disorder at the same time is a common problem and can affect up to 50% of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can be similar to the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and misdiagnosis can lead to improper treatment and even more frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause problems with school, work and social settings. This kind of ADD can cause under-performance and feelings of inadequacy. People suffering from anxious ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and activities because they think they won’t do well.
They also fear being judged or criticised. Because of this, they often hide their problems from others. People with anxiety can become so stressed and anxious that they have panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They can cause a pounding of the heart, sweating and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD is distinct from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and place a high value on security. This can shut down the PFC and can make it hard for these individuals to focus.
If a person suffers from anxiety and ADD/ADHD and anxiety, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to manage. This is because treatment plans for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate the brain can actually increase anxiety among people with anxious ADD by decreasing activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists use functional neuroimaging such as SPECT scans in order to determine which areas of the brain have more or less activity are occurring. This helps them differentiate between the seven different types of ADD and determine the best Treatment Adhd for each individual.
To determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist takes a thorough medical history and performs physical examination. They may also inquire about mood and behavior to evaluate the patient’s overall performance. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD but in most cases, patients require other therapies too, including cognitive behavioral therapy as well as nutrition and exercise sleep strategies, desensitization, and other techniques for relaxation. This may enhance their ability to control their emotions and their overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe within the brain, which is responsible both for mood and memory. People with this type of ADD struggle to process and store information, experience mood instability, and have severe anger or aggression issues. They also are often affected by a variety of sensory issues, such as feeling like they’ve experienced deja vu, or seeing shadows or objects change shapes and hearing sounds that other people can’t hear. They can be extremely sensitive and irritable and are often overstimulated by certain activities, like computer screens or crowds.
This kind of ADD has similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include short attention spans and disorganization. It also has difficulty staying on task or following directions. This kind of ADD does not cause an excessive amount of impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD is more common in females. 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. It is characterized by sleeplessness, anger and anxiety.
In this case QEEG scans of the ADD brain reveal that people with over-focused ADD have difficulties shifting gears. They are experiencing normal activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus (the brain’s “gearshifter”). They are unable to shift from one task or thought to the next, and they become stuck in negative thinking patterns and behaviors.
This is a kind of ADD where people can be extremely motivated and hardworking, but they tend to get distracted by mundane or insignificant tasks. They may lose track of their schoolwork and parents or teachers are often annoyed or embarrassed by their behavior. They may experience difficulties in relationships due to their tendency be impulsive and reactive. They also have issues multitasking and working with others. In certain situations, they could be depressed or anxious. They may be prone hallucinations or panic attacks. Medications for this type of ADD are not recommended since they don’t address the underlying causes of symptoms.
