ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often connected to problems at work, school or home. The psychiatric disorder is often difficult to identify and manage.
The psychiatric disorder is most often referred to as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. Mental health specialists diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
Symptoms of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful and unorganized. The use of 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 reveal that people with this type have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration, but less activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, which help make dopamine, a neurotransmitter which helps to increase motivation, focus, and calmness. People with this type have a difficult to focus their attention and are easily distracted by noise and other stimuli, and have a short attention span. This Internet site are unable to fall asleep and frequently awake in the middle of the night feeling anxious. They are easily frustrated and are often angry.
Those with Ring of Fire ADD have all the symptoms of the classic ADD however, they also have difficulty shifting their focus from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to light, noise and touch and talk too fast and are impulsive and easily triggered into a mean-spirited behavior. They are susceptible to moodiness, low energy and anger. They also tend to get stuck in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
Limbic ADD can be confused with depression, but it is different than depression because it is associated with increased activity in the limbic part of the brain (the part that determines our emotional tone and regulates the level of happiness or sadness we feel) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex at both at rest and during concentration. It can be treated by supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with saffron, inositol, which improve alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA can also be helpful to calm neural activity, inhibiting nerve cells from firing in a erratic manner or in excess.
It is important to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders, such as Bipolar Disorder, which can result in frustration and irritability, as well as low self-esteem. The main difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD is more consistent in its level of irritability that lasts over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to suffer from symptoms that occur in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD patients often get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors that trigger excessive worrying. This is because they exhibit rigid behavior that is similar to those with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). People with OCD are often threatened emotionally when required to shift their attention from one task to the next and may respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
They are often angry and their irritability may be caused by a low-grade chronic depression or sadness. They may also struggle with memory issues, experience extreme anger, and may have a short fuse.
People who suffer from over-focused ADD are inflexible when they have to change tasks, and can be captivated by their work or hobbies. They may not remember appointments or deadlines at home or at work, and they may not complete their homework or chores. They could also be stubborn and resentful when they are reprimanded by their parents or teachers.
Children with hyper-focused ADD have a high degree of irritability and stubbornness, and can be susceptible to throwing a rage when their interests are not respected. They may be obsessed with specific activities, toys, and video games. They also have difficulty expressing their feelings, and can be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This form of ADD is more common in children and is often difficult to diagnose. Children who show this behavior may have difficulty understanding that their problems are caused by an inability to change their focus between tasks. This is why it's important to seek out help from an expert, as children with this kind of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family physicians and even psychologists. This type of ADD is typically treated with diet changes, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of ADD is difficult to treat even with stimulant medication, because it can increase the intensity of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to distinguish between the seven kinds of ADD. It is especially useful in diagnosing overfocused 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 the majority of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Incorrect diagnosis can result in inadequate treatment and frustration.
Anxious ADD can lead to problems at work, school, and social situations. This type of ADD can cause underperformance and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People with anxious ADD avoid difficult tasks or activities because they fear that they won't be successful.
They also fear being judged or criticised. Due to this, they often hide their problems from their peers. In some instances, sufferers are so stressed and anxious that they suffer from panic attacks. They can be extremely life-threatening and cause sweating, a pounding heart and breathing problems. Anxious ADD is different from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on safety. This can shut down the PFC, which can make it hard for these individuals to concentrate.
If someone suffers from anxiety and ADD/ADHD, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to manage. This is because treatment programs for ADD/ADHD, which are designed to stimulate brain activity, can actually increase anxiety in people who have anxiety-related ADD.
The psychiatrists at Amen Clinics employ functional neuroimaging techniques, such as SPECT scanning, to determine which areas of the brain are low and/or high levels of activity. This helps them differentiate between the seven types of brain and determine the best treatment.
To determine if someone has ADD/ADHD psychiatrist collects a full medical history and performs a physical exam. They may also ask about mood and behavior to evaluate the patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medication is used to treat the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. However, in most cases patients also need other therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy and diet, exercise sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. 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 memory and mood. People suffering from this kind of ADD struggle to process and store information and experience mood swings and suffer from intense anger or aggression issues. They also suffer from a variety of sensory issues, like experiencing a sense of déjà vu, seeing shadows or objects change forms and hearing sounds that others don't. their website tend to be irritable and sensitive, and often become overstimulated by certain activities, such as computer screens or crowds.
Symptoms of this type of ADD are similar to those in Classic ADD, including short attention spans, disorganization, difficulty following directions or staying on task, and procrastinating. However, this type of ADD doesn't cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD occurs more often in women. People suffering from this type of ADD may have low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine which can cause feelings of low motivation and poor self-regulation. Symptoms can include trouble sleeping and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this case, qEEG brain mapping scans of the brain show that people suffering from Over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gyrus which is the brain's "gear shifter," but they are experiencing difficulty shifting gears. They are not able to move from one thought or task to the next, and they are stuck in negative thought patterns and behavior.
This is a kind of ADD which means that people are extremely motivated and hardworking however, they have a tendency to be easily distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They can lose track and become embarrassed or tired because of their behavior. They may have a hard relationship due to their tendency to be impulsive or reactive, and have difficulty with multitasking or working with other people. In certain situations, they can experience anxiety or depression. They are susceptible to panic attacks and are susceptible to hallucinations. Treatments for this type of ADD are not usually recommended, as they do not address the root reason for the symptoms.