ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are usually associated with problems at work, school or home. The psychiatric disorder is difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric condition is often referred to as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. Mental health professionals use brain imaging using SPECT to diagnose ADHD.
Symptoms of typical ADD 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. Brain scans show that those with this type of ADD have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex at rest and during concentration, but decreased activity in the cerebellum and the basal ganglia which are responsible for the production of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that helps to increase motivation, focus, and calmness. 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 difficulty falling asleep and are often woken up during the night with nightmares or anxiety. They are often overwhelmed by emotions and possess a short fuse, becoming quickly annoyed by tasks and easily angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is distinguished by all the typical ADD symptoms as well as the difficulty of shifting their focus from one thought to the next and shifting their focus from one task to the next. They are sensitive to light, noise, and touch and talk too fast and are impulsive and easily provoked into a mean-spirited behavior. They can experience periods of agitation and fatigue, are easily angered and are prone to relapse into negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
Limbic ADD is often mistaken for depression, but it's distinct from depression because it is associated with increased activity in the limbic region of the brain (the brain region that sets our emotional tone and controls how happy or sad we feel) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration. It is a condition that can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan 5-HTP inositol, saffron, and saffron, which boost focus, alertness, mood, and mental clarity; amino acid GABA to calm neural activity and prevent nerve cells from over-firing or firing erratically; and liver support.
It is important to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder which can also cause frustration and irritability as well as low self-esteem. adult add treatments is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms is more prone to constant anger and frustration over time, while Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD patients tend to get caught up in negative thoughts and behaviors that trigger excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns that resemble those of people suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and that is why it's often incorrectly diagnosed. They can be emotionally upset when asked to switch their attention between activities and may respond with oppositional or argumentative behavior.
They are often angry and their irritability can be caused by chronic low-grade depression or sadness. They might also have difficulty learning, experience memory issues, or feel intense anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD are not flexible when it comes to changing tasks, and could be captivated by their hobbies or work. They may not remember appointments or deadlines at home or at work and they might not finish their homework or chores. They may also be resistant and angry when they are reprimanded or chastised by their teacher or parents.
Children with hyperfocused ADD are often angry and stubborn, and might throw temper tantrums when their needs are not being respected. They may be obsessed with specific activities, toys, and video games. They also have trouble expressing their emotions, and can be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This type of ADD can be difficult to identify, particularly for children. Children who show this behavior are often unable to comprehend the cause of their problems. by an inability to change their attention between tasks. This is why it's important to seek help from an expert, since children with this kind of behavior 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. Some medications are prescribed, but this type of ADD is difficult to treat using stimulant medications, as these can boost a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is a method to distinguish between the seven types of ADD. It is especially useful in diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have high levels of anxiety. Comorbidity, which is having multiple disorders at the same time is a common occurrence and affects up to 50% of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and the wrong diagnosis can lead to ineffective treatment and even more frustration.
Anxious ADD may cause problems at work, at school or with social situations. This type of ADD can lead to underachievement and feelings of inadequacy. People with anxiety ADD avoid difficult tasks or events because they fear that they won't be successful.
They also fear being judged or being judged. They also hide their issues from others. They can become so stressed and anxious that they have panic attacks. These panic attacks can be severe and life-threatening. They cause an increase in heart rate, sweating and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD is different from Classic ADD because it has an increased activity in the basal ganglia, as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and place a high value on safety. This causes the brain to shut down the PFC and can make it difficult for people with ADD to focus.
If a person with ADD/ADHD has anxiety, their symptoms are usually more difficult to treat than those of someone who does not suffer from anxiety. This is due to treatment programs for ADD/ADHD, that are designed to stimulate brain activity, may actually increase anxiety among people with anxiety-related ADD.
The psychiatrists at Amen Clinics employ functional neuroimaging techniques, such as SPECT scanning to discover where in the brain there are areas of low or high levels of activity. This helps them differentiate between the seven kinds of ADD and determine the most effective treatment for each person.
To determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist collects a full medical history and conducts an examination. The doctor may also inquire about the patient's mood and behavior in order to evaluate the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD, however, most patients need other therapies too, including cognitive behavioral therapy or nutrition and exercise, sleep strategies, desensitization, and other relaxation techniques. 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 within the brain which is responsible for mood and memory. This type of ADD is manifested by a lack of learning and storing information as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggressive issues. They also are often affected by various sensory issues, like feeling like they've experienced deja vu or experiencing shadows or objects changing forms and hearing sounds that others don't. They tend to be sensitive and irritable, and often become overstimulated by certain things, such as computer screens or crowds.
This kind of ADD has similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include low attention spans and disorganization. It also has difficulties staying focused or following directions. However, this type of ADD doesn't cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in women. This kind of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain, which can cause feelings of depression or a lack of self-regulation. The symptoms can include sleep problems and feelings of irritability or anxiety.
In this instance, qEEG brain mapping scans of the brain show that individuals with Over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gland, the brain's "gear shifter," but they are struggling to shift gears. They are unable to shift from one thought or task to another, and they are stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviours.
This is a kind of ADD where people can be extremely motivated and hardworking however, they have a tendency to be easily distracted by unimportant or non-essential tasks. They can get lost in their school work, and their teachers or parents are often annoyed or embarrassed by their behavior. They may have a hard time in relationships because they can be unpredictable or reactive and have a hard time dealing with multitasking or working with other people. In certain situations they may suffer from depression or anxiety. They can be prone to panic attacks and are susceptible to hallucinations. Medications are not usually advised for this kind of ADD as they don't address the root cause of the symptoms.