ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is usually connected to problems at home, school or work. The psychiatric disorder is difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is most often referred to as attention hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Mental health specialists diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
The symptoms of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful and disorganized. Medications such as 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. The scans of the brain reveal that people with this type can maintain normal activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex, however, they have less activity in their cerebellum as well as the basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, which is the neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness, and focus. People with this type have a hard in shifting their focus and are easily distracted by distractions and noises, and have short attention spans. They have trouble falling asleep, and they often wake up in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They are easily frustrated and are often angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is distinguished by all the typical ADD symptoms however, it also has difficulties in shifting their focus between thoughts and between tasks. They are sensitive to light, noise and touch; they talk too quickly and are impulsive, and easily triggered into a mean-spirited behaviour. They can experience periods of agitation and fatigue, are quick to get angry and are prone to relapse into negative thoughts and guilt.
It is possible to confuse the condition of limbic ADD with depression. But it is different in that it boosts activity in the limbic region of the brain during time of rest and during concentration. It can be treated by supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP), saffron and inositol that increase alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA can also be helpful to calm neural activity, inhibiting nerve cells from firing irregularly or excessively.
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 degree of irritability throughout the course of time. Bipolar Disorder tends to have symptoms that come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers tend to get stuck in negative patterns of thoughts and behavior that cause excessive worrying. This is due to rigid behaviors similar to people suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They can be angry when asked to switch their attention between different activities, and they may react with oppositional or argumentative behavior.
They are generally angry and their irritability can be due to a low-grade chronic sadness or negativity. They may also be afflicted by memory problems, experience severe anger, and are prone to having a short fuse.
People who have hyper-focused ADD may be rigid when it comes switching tasks and can become absorbed in their job or pastime. They are prone to missing deadlines at work, and not remembering appointments at home, and they may not finish tasks or school assignments. They can also be stubborn and resentful when they are reprimanded by their parents or teachers.
Children who have overfocused ADD show a high degree of stubbornness and irritability, and may be prone to throwing inconsolable tantrums when their interests are trampled on. They may be obsessed with particular toys, activities, and video games. They can also have difficulty in expressing their emotions and can be extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This kind of ADD can be difficult to diagnose, especially in children. Children who exhibit this type of behavior may have difficulty understanding that their issues are caused by an inability to change their attention between tasks. This is why it's important to seek help from an expert, as these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This kind of ADD is typically treated with diet changes, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This type of ADD is hard to treat even with stimulant medications as it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is often used to distinguish the seven distinct types of ADD and is especially useful in diagnosing over-focused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD have a high degree of anxiety. This is a comorbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common, affecting the majority of sufferers of ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Misdiagnosis may lead to inadequate treatment and anger.
Anxious ADD can lead to problems at school, work and social situations. This kind of ADD can result in low performance and feelings of inadequacy. People with anxiety ADD are hesitant to take on difficult tasks or activities because they fear they won't succeed.
They also fear being judged or criticised. They also hide their issues from others. In some cases, sufferers are so stressed and anxious that they develop panic attacks. These panic attacks can be severe and life-threatening. They can cause heart pounding, sweating and difficulty breathing. 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 place a high value on safety. This shuts down PFC and makes it difficult for those with this condition to focus.
If someone with ADD/ADHD has anxiety the symptoms are typically more difficult to treat than those of someone who does not suffer from anxiety. This is due to the treatment programs for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate brain activity, can actually increase anxiety among people with anxiety-related ADD.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists use functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scans to determine where in the brain low and/or higher levels of activity are found. her explanation helps them differentiate between the seven kinds of ADD and determine the best treatment for each patient.
A psychiatrist will collect an entire medical record and conduct a physical exam to determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD. They might also inquire about mood and behavior to assess the patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medication is used to treat ADD/ADHD. However, in many instances, patients also require other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy, nutrition, exercise sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. This will help enhance their ability to control their emotions and their overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD is a problem with the brain's temporal lobe, which is responsible for mood and memory. This type of ADD is characterized by a difficulty in learning and storage of information as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggression. They also are often affected by various sensory issues, like feeling like they've experienced deja vu, or seeing shadows or objects change shapes, and hearing sounds others don't. They can be extremely irritable and sensitive and are often overwhelmed by certain things, such as computer screens or crowds.
The symptoms of this kind of ADD are similar to those of Classic ADD, including short attention spans, disorganization, difficulty following directions or staying on task, and procrastinating. This kind of ADD is not associated with an excessive amount of impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD occurs more often in women. This kind of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain, which can result in feelings of depression or poor self-regulation. The symptoms can include sleep problems and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this case, qEEG brain mapping scans of the brain reveal that people suffering from over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gyrus, the brain's "gear shifter," but they are having trouble shifting gears. They are unable to shift from one thought or task to the next, and they get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors.
This is a form of ADD where people can be highly motivated and hardworking but they also tend to get distracted by mundane or insignificant tasks. They can lose track of their schoolwork, and their teachers or parents can become tired or embarrassed by their behavior. They may have a difficult relationship with others due to their tendency to be impulsive or reactive, and have difficulty managing multiple tasks or working with others. In some instances, they can suffer from depression or anxiety. They are susceptible to panic attacks and susceptible to hallucinations. Treatments for this type of ADD are not usually recommended, as they do not address the underlying causes of symptoms.