ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often connected to problems at work, school or home. The psychiatric disorder may be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is commonly known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD. Mental health professionals utilize the SPECT brain imaging method to diagnose ADHD.
Some of the symptoms are being easily distracted, forgetful and disorganized. Medications like stimulants and antidepressants 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 reveal that people with this type can maintain normal activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex but have decreased activity in their cerebellum and basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, tranquility and concentration. People with this type have a hard time shifting their attention and are easily distracted by the noise or other stimuli and have shorter attention spans. They have trouble falling asleep, and they often awake in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They are easily frustrated and often get angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is distinguished by all the typical ADD symptoms however, it also has a difficulty in shifting their focus from one thought to the next and shifting their focus from one task to the next. They are sensitive to noise, light and even touch. They talk too quickly and are impulsive. They have periods of moodiness and fatigue, are quick to get angry and are prone to relapse into negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
It is possible to mistake the condition of limbic ADD with depression. However, treatment of add is different because it increases activity in the limbic part of the brain during rest and when concentrating. It is a condition that can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan, 5-HTP as well as saffron and inositol that increase concentration, alertness and mood as well as mental clarity. They also use amino acid GABA to regulate neural activity and prevent nerve cells from firing too much or in a erratic manner; and liver support.
It is important to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder that can cause frustration and irritability as well as low self-esteem. The difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD is more consistent in its degree of irritability throughout the course of time. Bipolar Disorder tends to exhibit symptoms that appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers tend to get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior that cause excessive worry. They exhibit rigid behaviors that resemble the ones of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is why it's often incorrectly diagnosed. They can be angry when requested to switch their focus between different activities, and they may react with a resentful or argumentative behavior.
These people tend to have a short fuse and their anger stems from a persistent depression or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome," and frequently feeling hopeless and worthlessness. They may also experience difficulties learning, have memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD are not flexible when it comes to changing tasks, and can be captivated by their work or hobbies. They are at risk of missing deadlines at work, and not remembering appointments at home, and may not complete tasks or school assignments. They can also be stubborn and resentful when they are reprimanded or chastised by their teachers or parents.
Children with overfocused ADD are often angry and stubborn, and might throw temper tantrums when their interests aren't recognized. They may be obsessed with particular activities, toys and video games. They also have difficulty expressing their emotions and may be extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This type of ADD is more common in children, and can be difficult to recognize. The majority of children don't understand that their issue is caused by their inability to switch their focus from one thing to the next. This is why it's important to seek help from an expert, since these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family physicians and even psychologists. This type of ADD is treatable with nutritional modifications, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapies. This type of ADD is difficult to treat even with stimulant medication due to the fact that it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is often used to differentiate the seven distinct types of ADD, and is particularly useful in diagnosing over-focused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have a high level of anxiety. This is a comorbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common and affects the majority of 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 even more frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause problems at school, at work, or with social situations. This kind of ADD could lead to low achievement and feelings of being unsatisfactory. 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 critiqued. They also hide their issues from others. These people can be so anxious and stressed that they suffer from panic attacks. These panic attacks can be severe and life-threatening. They can cause an increase in heart rate sweating, difficulty breathing and difficulty breathing. Contrary to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD are more active in their basal ganglia and the amygdala. They operate on an instinctual basis and place a high priority on safety. This can shut down PFC and can make it difficult for people with this disorder to concentrate.
If someone suffers from anxiety and ADD/ADHD, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to manage. This is because treatments for ADD/ADHD, that are designed to stimulate brain activity, can actually increase anxiety among those with anxious ADD.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging techniques, such as SPECT scanning, to learn which areas of the brain are low and/or high levels of activity. This helps them differentiate between the seven different types of ADD and determine the most effective treatment for each person.
To diagnose ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist collects a full medical history and conducts an examination. In addition, he or might ask questions regarding the patient's mood and behavior to evaluate the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are prescribed to treat ADD/ADHD. However, in many cases patients also need other therapies, including cognitive behavior therapy and nutrition, exercise sleep strategies, and desensitization. This can aid in improving their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD involves the brain's temporal lobe which is responsible for memory and mood. This type of ADD is manifested by a lack of learning and storage of information as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggressive issues. They might also experience sensory issues like feeling like they're in a dream, seeing shadows or objects change shape or hearing sounds that others don't hear. They can be irritable, sensitive and easily overstimulated.
Symptoms of this type of ADD are similar to those in Classic ADD, including short attention spans and disorganization, difficulties in staying focused, and procrastinating. This kind of ADD is not associated with excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in women. People suffering from this type of ADD may suffer from low levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, which can cause feelings of low motivation and poor self-regulation. It is characterized by sleeplessness, anger and anxiety.
In this case, qEEG brain mapping scans of the brain reveal that individuals with Over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gland which is the brain's "gear shifter," but they are struggling to shift gears. They are unable to move from one thought or task to another, and they get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a form of ADD which means that people are extremely motivated and hardworking but they also have a tendency to be easily distracted by mundane or insignificant tasks. They can get lost and be embarrassed or exhausted due to their actions. 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 cases they may be depressed or anxious. They may be prone panic attacks and hallucinations. The use of medications for this kind of ADD are not advised, since they do not address the underlying causes of symptoms.