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.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly used term for this psychiatric condition. Mental health professionals diagnose ADHD using SPECT brain images.
Symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Medications such as 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. The scans of the brain reveal that people with this type can maintain normal activity while concentrating and rest in the prefrontal cortex however, they have less activity in their cerebellum as well as the basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, which is the neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness and concentration. People with this type have a difficult time shifting their attention, are easily distracted by distractions and noises, and have short attention spans. They also have difficulty falling asleep and are often woken up in the middle of the night with nightmares or anxiety. They are easily frustrated and are often angry.
People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the hallmarks of classic ADD However, they also struggle to shift their attention from one thought to another thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to light, noise, and touch; they talk too fast and are impulsive and easily provoked into mean behaviors. They are susceptible to low energy, moodiness and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
It is possible to mix the symptoms of limbic ADD with depression. However, it is different because it increases activity in the limbic region of the brain at time of rest and during concentration. It can be treated by supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP), saffron and inositol that increase alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also be helpful to slow neural activity, preventing nerve cells from firing in a erratic manner or too frequently.
It is crucial to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder, which can cause irritability, frustration and low self-esteem. The distinction is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms has a more constant level of anger and frustration over time, whereas Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to manifest in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD sufferers tend to get stuck in negative thought patterns and behavior that cause excessive worry. This is due to rigid behaviors similar to people who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They can become emotional when they are requested to switch their focus between different activities, and they may react by displaying a hostile or argumentative attitude.
They are generally unhappy and their irritability may be due to a low-grade chronic sadness or negativity. They may also have trouble learning, have memory issues, or feel intense anger and aggression.
People with overfocused ADD can be rigid when it comes to changing tasks and become engrossed in their job or pastime. They may forget appointments and deadlines at home or at work and may not complete their schoolwork or chores. They could also be stubborn and resentful when disapproved of by their parents or teachers.
Children with hyper-focused ADD show a high degree of stubbornness and irritability, and are susceptible to throwing a rage when their interests are violated. They can be obsessive about specific toys, activities and video games. They may also have trouble in expressing their emotions and can be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This form of ADD is more prevalent in children and is difficult to diagnose. The majority of children don’t understand that their issue is due to their inability to switch their attention from one thing to another. It is important to speak with an expert since these children are more likely to be misdiagnosed with ADD. This type of ADD is typically treated with modifications to diet, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This type of ADD is difficult to treat even with stimulant medication due to the fact that it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to distinguish the seven distinct types of ADD, and is particularly useful for diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD suffer from high levels of anxiety. This is a comorbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common, affecting up to half of all sufferers of ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can be similar to the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and the wrong diagnosis can lead to ineffective treatment and further frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause problems with work, school and social settings. This kind of ADD could lead to low achievement and feelings of inadequacy. People with anxious ADD are hesitant to take on difficult tasks or events because they fear they won’t succeed.
They also fear being judged or considered a victim. This is why they often hide their problems from others. People with anxiety can become so anxious and stressed that they experience panic attacks. These can be dangerous and life-threatening, resulting in sweating, a pounding heart 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 are able to prioritize safety. This shuts down the PFC, which can make it hard for these individuals to concentrate.
If someone suffering from anxiety or ADD, their symptoms are usually more difficult to manage than those of someone who doesn’t have anxiety. This is due to treatment programs for ADD/ADHD, which are designed to stimulate brain activity, can actually increase anxiety among people with anxious ADD.
Psychiatrists at Amen Clinics use functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scanning, to determine which areas of the brain are high and/or low levels of activity. This helps them distinguish between the seven types and determine the most effective treatment Adhd (butcher-bunn-4.blogbright.net).
To determine if a patient has ADD/adhd treatment options, a psychiatrist takes a thorough medical history and conducts an examination. The doctor might also inquire about mood and behavior to assess the patient’s overall performance. Sometimes, medication is used to treat the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. However, in the majority of cases, patients require other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy, exercise, nutrition sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. This can improve their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe of the brain which is responsible for memory and mood. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to process and store information and experience mood swings and have extreme anger or aggression issues. They might also experience sensory issues, such as experiencing deja vu, seeing shadows or objects change form or hearing sounds that other people don’t hear. They can be irritable, sensitive and easily overwhelmed.
The symptoms of this kind of ADD are similar to those seen in Classic ADD, including short attention spans disorganization, difficulty in following instructions or staying focused and procrastinating. However, this kind of ADD does not cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD is more prevalent in women. People suffering from this type of ADD might have low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine which contributes to their feelings of depression and low self-regulation. Symptoms include difficulty sleeping, anger and anxiety.
In this case QEEG scans of the ADD brain reveal that people with over-focused ADD are having difficulty shifting gears. They are experiencing normal activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (the brain’s “gearshifter”). They aren’t able to shift from one task or thought to another, and they get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors.
This is a kind of ADD which means that people are highly motivated and hardworking however, they have a tendency to be easily distracted by unimportant or non-essential tasks. They can lose track of their school work, and their teachers or parents can become exhausted or embarrassed by their behavior. They might have a difficult time in relationships because they are hyper-active or reactive, and have difficulty managing multiple tasks or working with others. In some instances, they might suffer from depression or anxiety. They can be prone to panic attacks, and are susceptible to hallucinations. Treatments for this type of ADD are not usually recommended since they do not address the underlying cause of symptoms.
