ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are frequently associated with problems at school, work, or home. The psychiatric condition isn't easy to identify and manage.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly used term for this psychiatric condition. Mental health specialists diagnose ADHD using SPECT brain images.
Symptoms of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful and unorganized. The use of medications such as 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. Brain scans reveal that people with this type have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration, but decreased activity in the cerebellum and the basal ganglia which produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps to increase motivation, focus, and calmness. People with this type have a hard time shifting their attention and are easily distracted by noise and other stimuli, and have shorter attention spans. They also have trouble falling asleep and are often woken up at night with anxiety or nightmares. They often feel overwhelmed by their emotions and have a short fuse, becoming quickly frustrated with tasks and easily angered.
People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the core symptoms of classic ADD, but they also struggle to shift their attention from thought to 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 behaviour. They can experience periods of agitation and low energy, are quick to anger and are prone to relapse into negative thoughts and guilty feelings.
It is possible to mistake limbic ADD with depression. However, it is different in that it boosts activity in the limbic area of the brain when it is at time of rest and during concentration. It is a condition that can be treated with supplements such as L-tryptophan, 5-HTP inositol, saffron, and saffron, which boost concentration, alertness, mood, and mental clarity; amino acid GABA to reduce neural activity and stop nerve cells from over-firing or firing in a erratic manner and liver support.
It is important to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder, which can cause irritability, frustration, and poor self-esteem. The main difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more consistent level of irritability over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to exhibit symptoms that appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers often get stuck in negative patterns of thoughts and behaviors that cause excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behaviors similar to those of people suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and that is the reason it's often incorrectly diagnosed. They can become angry when they are asked to shift their attention between different activities, and they may react with oppositional or argumentative behavior.
They are often unhappy and their irritability may be due to a low-grade chronic sadness or negativity. They may also be afflicted by memory issues, experience extreme anger, and may have a short fuse.
People with overfocused ADD might be rigid when it comes to changing tasks and become engrossed in their job or pastime. They are at risk of missing deadlines at work, and forgetting appointments at home and they might not finish tasks or school assignments. They may also be resistant and angry when they are punished or reprimanded by their parents or teacher.
Children with hyperfocused ADD can be angry and obstinate, and they may throw tantrums if their interests are not accepted. They may be obsessed with specific toys, activities and video games. They may also have trouble communicating their feelings and are extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This kind of ADD treat adhd without medication adults can be difficult to identify, particularly for children. Children often don't realize that their problem is due to their inability to shift their focus between different things. This is why it's important to seek the help of a professional, as these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This type of ADD is typically treated with diet changes, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Medications are sometimes prescribed, however this kind of ADD is difficult to treat using stimulant medications, as these can raise a person's levels of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is often used to differentiate the seven distinct types of ADD, and is particularly useful for diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD experience high levels of anxiety. This co-morbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common and affects about half of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. A misdiagnosis can cause inappropriate treatment and anger.
Anxious ADD can cause issues at work, at school or with social situations. This kind of ADD can lead to underachievement and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People with anxious ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and activities because they think they're not capable of completing the task.
They also fear being criticised or judged. This is why they tend to hide their issues from their peers. In some cases, these sufferers are so anxious and stressed that they suffer from panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They trigger heart pounding, sweating and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD is distinct from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the basal ganglia and the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on security. This causes the brain to shut down the PFC and can make it hard for these individuals to focus.
If someone suffering from ADD/ADHD has anxiety their symptoms are generally more difficult to manage than those of someone who does not suffer from anxiety. This is because treatment plans for ADD/ADHD which are designed to stimulate the brain may increase anxiety in those with anxious ADD by reducing activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scanning to discover where in the brain there are high and/or low levels of activity. This allows them to distinguish between the seven types of brain and determine the best method of treatment.
A psychiatrist will take an entire medical record and conduct a physical examination to determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD. In addition, he or she may ask questions about behavior and mood to determine a patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD but in most cases, patients need other therapies too, including cognitive behavioral therapy, nutrition and exercise, sleep strategies, desensitization, and other techniques for relaxation. This can improve their ability to control their emotions and their overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the brain's temporal lobe which is responsible for mood and memory. People suffering from this kind of ADD struggle to process and store information and experience mood swings and suffer from extreme anger or aggression issues. They might also experience sensory issues such as feeling like they're in a dream and seeing shadows or objects change form or hearing sounds that others can't hear. They can be extremely irritable and sensitive and are often overstimulated by certain things, such as computer screens or crowds.
This kind of ADD is characterized by similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include short attention spans and disorganization. It also includes difficulties staying focused or following instructions. This kind of ADD does not cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in women. This type of ADD is characterized by low levels of dopamine in the brain, which can cause feelings of low motivation or poor self-regulation. Symptoms include difficulty sleeping, anger and anxiety.
In this instance QEEG scans of ADD brain show that those with Overfocused ADD have difficulty shifting gears. They are experiencing normal activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to move from one thought or task to another, and they get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors.
This is a form of ADD which means that people are highly motivated and productive, but they tend to get easily distracted by mundane or insignificant tasks. They can lose track of their schoolwork and their teachers or parents are often annoyed or ashamed of 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 some cases they might be depressed or anxious. They are susceptible to panic attacks and are susceptible to hallucinations. Medications for this type of ADD are not usually advised, since they don't address the underlying reason for the symptoms.