ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often connected to problems at school, work or at home. The psychiatric condition can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most popular name used for this psychiatric condition. Mental health professionals utilize SPECT brain imaging to diagnose ADHD.
The symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful and unorganized. 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. Brain scans reveal that people with this type have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex at rest and during concentration, but decreased activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, which help make dopamine, a neurotransmitter that promotes motivation, focus and a sense of calm. People with this type have a hard in shifting their focus and are easily distracted by noise and other stimuli, and have a short attention span. They also have trouble falling asleep and often wake up during the night with nightmares or anxiety. They are easily frustrated and can be easily angry.
Those with Ring of Fire ADD have all the core symptoms of classic ADD However, they also have trouble shifting their attention from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to noise, light, and touch. They talk too fast and are highly impulsive. 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 limbic ADD with depression. But it is different in that it boosts activity in the limbic part of the brain when it is at the moment of rest and while concentrating. It can be treated with supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP), saffron and inositol that increase alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA can also help calm neural activity, inhibiting nerve cells from firing erratically or too frequently.
It is essential to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder, which also can cause irritability, frustration, and poor self-esteem. The distinction is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms has a more constant level of anger and frustration over time, while Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD patients often get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors that result in excessive worry. They exhibit rigid behaviors that are similar to those of people suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and that is why it's often mistakenly diagnosed. They are often frightened emotionally when required to shift their focus from one thing to another and respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
They are generally unhappy and their irritability can be caused by a low-grade chronic sadness or negative mood. They may also struggle with memory problems, experience severe anger, and may have a short fuse.
People who suffer from over-focused ADD are inflexible when it comes to changing tasks, and may become enthralled by their hobbies or work. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work and not remembering appointments at home, and they might not finish tasks or school assignments. They could also be stubborn and resentful when disapproved of by their teachers or parents.
Children with hyper-focused ADD exhibit a high level of irritability and stubbornness and can be susceptible to throwing a rage when their interests are trampled on. They can be obsessive about particular toys, activities, and video games. They are also unable to express their feelings, and can be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This form of ADD is more prevalent in children and can be difficult to diagnose. Children who exhibit this type of behavior often have trouble understanding the cause of their problems. by an inability to change their attention from one task to another. It's important to consult an expert as these children are more likely to be misdiagnosed with ADD. This type of ADD can be treated using dietary modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. Sometimes, medications are prescribed, but this kind of ADD is difficult to treat using stimulant medications because they can increase a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is often used to differentiate the seven distinct types of ADD, and is particularly helpful for diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have high levels of anxiety. This co-morbidity (having more than one disorder simultaneously) is common and affects the majority of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can be similar to the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and incorrect diagnosis can lead to inadequate treatment and further frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause issues at school, at work or with social situations. This type of ADD can result in low performance and feelings of inadequateness. People with anxiety ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and activities because they think they're not capable of completing the task.
They are also afraid of being judged and being criticized. This is why they tend to hide their issues from others. They can become so stressed and anxious that they suffer from panic attacks. They can be extremely severe and life-threatening, causing sweating, a pounding heart and breathing difficulties. In contrast to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD have increased activity in their basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These organs operate on an instinctual basis and prioritize safety. This causes a shutdown of PFC and can make it difficult for these individuals focus.
When a person has anxiety and ADD/ADHD their symptoms are more difficult to treat. This is due to treatment strategies for ADD/ADHD which are designed to stimulate the brain could actually increase anxiety in people with anxiety ADD by reducing activity in their PFC.
The psychiatrists at Amen Clinics employ functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scanning to discover where in the brain there are low and/or high levels of activity. This helps them distinguish between the seven types and determine the best method of treatment.
A psychiatrist will take a complete medical record and conduct a physical exam to determine if the patient suffers from ADHD or ADD. In addition, he / will ask questions about the patient's mood and behavior to evaluate the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are prescribed to treat ADHD and ADD. However, in many cases, patients require other therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy as well as exercise, nutrition sleep strategies, and desensitization. Info can enhance their ability to control their moods and overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe in the brain, which is responsible both for mood and memory. This type of ADD is characterised by a problem learning and storing information and mood swings, as well as severe anger or aggressive issues. They might also experience sensory issues, such as experiencing like they're in a dream when objects or shadows change shape or hearing sounds that others don't hear. They are often sensitive and irritable and are often overstimulated by certain activities, such as computer screens or crowds.
This type of ADD has the same symptoms as Classic ADD. These include short attention spans and disorganization. It also presents with difficulty staying on task or following directions. This type of ADD is not associated with hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD occurs more often in women. People suffering from this type of ADD might have low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which can lead to feelings of depression and low self-regulation. Symptoms can include trouble sleeping and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this case, qEEG scans of the ADD brain reveal that individuals with Overfocused ADD have difficulty shifting gears. They have normal activity in the anterior cingulate region (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to move from one task or thought to another, and they get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a type of ADD which means that people are highly motivated and hardworking however, they tend to get easily distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They can lose track of their schoolwork and teachers or parents can become tired or embarrassed by their behavior. They may be struggling in relationships due to their tendency to be reactive and impulsive. They also have issues multitasking and working in a group. In some cases they may experience anxiety or depression. They may be susceptible to panic attacks and are susceptible to hallucinations. Medications are not usually advised for this kind of ADD as it doesn't treat the root of the symptoms.