ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are usually associated with problems at school, work, or at home. The psychiatric disorder can be difficult to diagnose and manage.
The psychiatric disorder is most often referred to as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. Mental health specialists diagnose ADHD using SPECT brain images.
Symptoms of typical ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. 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 those suffering from this type are able to maintain normal activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex but they are less active in their cerebellum as well as the basal ganglia. These areas are responsible for the production of dopamine, which is an important neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness and concentration. People with this type have a hard time shifting their attention, are easily distracted by noise and other stimuli, and have shorter attention spans. They are unable to fall asleep and frequently wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety. They can be easily annoyed and are often angry.
People suffering from Ring of Fire ADD have all the hallmarks of the classic ADD However, they also have difficulty shifting their attention from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to light, noise and even touch. They talk too quickly and are indecisive. They are prone to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
Limbic ADD can be confused with depression, but it is different than depression because it causes increased activity in the limbic part of the brain (the part that determines our mood and determines how happy or sad we are) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex at both when we are at rest and while in concentration. It is a condition that can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan 5-HTP inositol, saffron, and saffron that improve focus, alertness and mood. They also improve mental clarity. They also use amino acid GABA to calm neural activity and inhibit nerve cells from firing too much or irregularly; and liver support.
It is crucial to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder, which also can cause frustration, irritability and low self-esteem. The difference is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms is more prone to constant irritability and frustration over time, whereas Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD sufferers often get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors that cause excessive worrying. This is due to rigid behaviors that are similar to those with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They are often frightened emotionally when they are required to shift their attention from one task to the next and respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
They are often irritable and their irritability may be caused by chronic low-grade depression or sadness. They may also have trouble learning, experience memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.
People with overfocused ADD are inflexible when it comes to changing tasks, and may become enthralled by their work or interests. They might forget appointments and deadlines at work or at home and they might not finish their chores or schoolwork. add natural treatment may also be extremely stubborn and resentful when they are disapproved of by their parents or teachers.
Children with hyperfocused ADD can be irritable and obstinate, and they might throw temper tantrums when their needs are not being respected. They may be obsessed with specific toys, activities and video games. They can also have difficulty expressing their feelings and be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This form of ADD is more common among children, and is often difficult to recognize. Children who show this behavior are often unable to comprehend that their issues are caused by a lack of ability to switch their attention from one task to the next. This is the reason it's crucial to seek help from a professional, as children with this type of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This type of ADD is typically treated with dietary changes, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Sometimes, medications are prescribed, but this type of ADD is difficult to treat with stimulant medications, as these can raise a person's levels of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is often used to identify the seven distinct kinds of ADD and is especially useful for diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have a high degree of anxiety. This is a comorbidity (having more than one disorder simultaneously) is common and affects up to half of all people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and incorrect diagnosis can lead to inadequate treatment and further frustration.
Anxious ADD may cause problems at work, at school or with social situations. This kind of ADD may lead to low achievement and feelings of inadequacy. People with anxiety ADD avoid challenging tasks or events because they fear they won't succeed.
They also fear being criticized or judged. They hide their problems to others. In some cases, these people are so anxious and stressed that they experience panic attacks. These panic attacks can be extremely severe and life-threatening. They trigger heart pounding, sweating and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD differs from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the basal ganglia and the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on safety. This causes a shutdown of PFC and can make it difficult for people with this disorder to concentrate.
If someone suffers from anxiety and ADD/ADHD and anxiety, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to manage. This is because treatment plans for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate the brain could actually increase anxiety among people who suffer from anxiety ADD by reducing the activity of their PFC.
Psychiatrists at Amen Clinics use functional neuroimaging, like SPECT scanning, to learn which areas of the brain are high and/or low levels of activity. This helps them differentiate between the seven types and determine the most effective treatment.
A psychiatrist will take an entire medical record and conduct a physical exam to determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD. The doctor may also ask about the patient's mood and behavior in order to assess the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD, but most patients require other therapies as well, such as cognitive behavioral therapy as well as nutrition and exercise sleep strategies, desensitization, and other techniques to relax. This can help improve their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe of the brain which is responsible for mood and memory. This kind of ADD is characterised by a problem learning and storing information, mood instability and severe anger or aggression. They also are often affected by various sensory issues, including feeling like they've experienced deja vu, or experiencing shadows or objects changing shapes, and hearing sounds other people don't hear. They can be extremely sensitive and angry and are often overwhelmed by certain activities, like computer screens or crowds.
The symptoms of this type of ADD are similar to those of Classic ADD, including short attention spans disorganization, difficulty in following instructions or staying on task and procrastinating. However, this kind of ADD doesn't cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD occurs more often in women. People with this type of ADD might have low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which contributes to their feelings of low motivation and poor self-regulation. The symptoms can include sleep problems and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this case QEEG scans of ADD brain show that those with Overfocused ADD are having difficulty shifting gears. They are experiencing normal activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus (the brain's "gearshifter"). They can't move from one task or thought to another, and they get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a kind of ADD which means that people are highly motivated and productive however, they tend to be easily distracted by mundane or insignificant tasks. They can get lost and be embarrassed or exhausted by their behavior. They may have a hard relationship with others because they are impulsive or reactive, and have a hard time with multitasking or working with others. In some instances, they can suffer from depression or anxiety. They may be susceptible to panic attacks and susceptible to hallucinations. Medications for this type of ADD aren't usually recommended, as they do not address the root reason for the symptoms.