ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is usually related to issues at school, home or at work. The psychiatric disorder may be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most popular name used for this psychiatric condition. Mental health professionals use the SPECT brain imaging method to diagnose ADHD.
The signs of typical ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful and disorganized. Medications like stimulants and antidepressants can aid in overcoming.
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 show that people suffering from this type can maintain normal levels of activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex, but they are less active in their cerebellum and basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, an important neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness and concentration. This type has a shorter attention span, and is easily distracted by sounds and other stimuli, and has a hard time shifting attention. They also have difficulty sleeping and frequently wake up during the night with nightmares or anxiety. They can be easily annoyed and often get angry.
People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the core symptoms of the classic ADD however, they also have trouble shifting 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 a mean-spirited behaviour. They are prone to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
It is possible to mix the symptoms of limbic ADD with depression. But it is different in that it boosts activity in the limbic part of the brain during the moment of rest and while concentrating. It is a condition that can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan, 5-HTP, saffron, and inositol, which boost focus, alertness, mood, and mental clarity. They also use amino acid GABA to calm neural activity and stop nerve cells from over-firing or firing irregularly; and liver support.
It is important to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders, such as Bipolar Disorder that can cause irritability and frustration and low self-esteem. The distinction between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more consistent degree of irritability throughout the course of time. Bipolar Disorder tends to have symptoms that come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD sufferers often get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors that cause excessive worry. This is due to rigid behavior that is similar to those who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They may become emotionally upset when asked to switch their attention between different activities, and they may react by displaying a hostile or argumentative attitude.
They are generally angry and their irritability may be caused by a low-grade chronic depression or sadness. They may also be afflicted by memory issues, feel intense anger, and have a short fuse.
People with overfocused ADD are inflexible when it comes to changing tasks, and may become highly captivated by their work or hobbies. They are prone to missing deadlines at work and forgetting appointments at home and may not complete homework or other school assignments. They can also be stubborn and resentful if they are disciplined or punished by their parents or teacher.
Children who have overfocused ADD exhibit a high level of irritability and stubbornness and are prone to throwing inconsolable tantrums when their interests are not respected. They can be obsessive about specific activities, toys, and video games. They are also unable to express their emotions and may be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This form of ADD is more common in children, and can be difficult to recognize. Children often don't realize that their issue is caused by their inability to shift their attention from one thing to another. This is why it's essential to seek help from an expert, as children with this type of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family physicians and even psychologists. This type of ADD can be treated using nutritional modifications, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapies. Sometimes, medications are prescribed, however this kind of ADD can be difficult to treat using stimulant medications because they 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 experience high levels of anxiety. Comorbidity, which is having more than one disorder simultaneously, is common and can affect up to half of people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Incorrect diagnosis can cause inappropriate treatment and frustration.
Anxious ADD may cause problems at school, at work or in social situations. This type of ADD can result in low performance and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People who suffer from anxiety ADD avoid difficult tasks or activities because they fear that they won't be successful.
They are also afraid of being judged and criticised. Because of this, they tend to hide their issues from their peers. In some cases, these sufferers are so stressed and anxious that they suffer from panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They trigger heart pounding, sweating and difficulty breathing. Unlike Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD are more active in their basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. They operate on an instinctual basis and place a high priority on safety. This can shut down the PFC which makes it hard for these individuals to concentrate.
If someone suffers from anxiety and ADD/ADHD, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to treat. This is due to the treatment programs for ADD/ADHD that are designed to increase brain activity, may actually increase anxiety in people who have anxious ADD.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging techniques like SPECT scans to determine which areas of the brain have more or less activity are found. This allows them to distinguish between the seven kinds of ADD and determine the best treatment for each person.
A psychiatrist will gather a complete medical record and conduct a physical exam to determine if a patient has ADHD or ADD. He or she might also inquire about mood and behavior in order to evaluate the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD, however, most patients require other treatments as well, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or nutrition and exercise, strategies for sleep, desensitization and other techniques for relaxation. This can improve their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD is a problem with the temporal lobe in the brain which is responsible for mood and memory. People with this type of ADD struggle to learn and store information and experience mood swings and suffer from intense anger or aggression issues. They also are often affected by a variety of sensory issues, including experiencing a sense of deja vu, or seeing shadows or objects change shapes and hearing sounds that other people can't hear. They are sensitive, irritable and easily overwhelmed.
The symptoms of this type of ADD are similar to those in Classic ADD, including short attention spans, disorganization, difficulty following directions or staying focused, and procrastinating. However, this type of ADD does not cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD is more common in females. People suffering from this kind of ADD might have low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine which contributes to their feelings of low motivation and low self-regulation. The symptoms can include sleep problems and feelings of irritability or anxiety.
In this instance brain mapping scans qEEG of the brain show that people suffering from 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 the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors.
This is a type of ADD in which people are highly motivated and hardworking but are unable to concentrate on their tasks. They can adhd treatment for adults near me get lost in their schoolwork, and their teachers or parents can become exhausted or embarrassed by their behavior. They might have a difficult time in relationships because they can be hyper-active or reactive, and have difficulty with multitasking or working with others. In some cases, they can experience anxiety or depression. They may be susceptible to panic attacks and are susceptible to hallucinations. Medications for this type of ADD aren't usually recommended, as they do not address the underlying cause of symptoms.