ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is usually related to issues at home, school or at work. treating add can be difficult to diagnose and manage.
The psychiatric condition is commonly known 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 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 reduced activity in the cerebellum and the basal ganglia which are responsible for the production of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that promotes motivation, focus and calmness. This type has a shorter attention span, is easily distracted by noises or other stimuli and has a hard time shifting attention. They have difficulty falling asleep, and they often wake up in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They often feel overwhelmed by their emotions and have a short fuse, becoming easily frustrated and easily angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is characterized by all the classic ADD symptoms however, it also has the difficulty of shifting their focus from one thought to another and from one task to another. They are sensitive to light, sound, and touch. They talk too fast and are indecisive. They are susceptible to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They can also get caught up in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
Limbic ADD can be confused with depression, however it is distinct from depression in that it is associated with increased activity in the limbic portion of the brain (the part that determines our emotional tone and controls how happy or sad we feel) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration. It can be treated by supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP), saffron and inositol that increase alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also be helpful to reduce neural activity and prevent nerve cells from firing erratically or too frequently.
It is crucial to distinguish 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 constant level of irritability over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to have symptoms that come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD patients often get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior that trigger excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behaviors similar to those of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and that is why it's frequently incorrectly diagnosed. They can be emotional when they are requested to switch their focus between tasks and can respond with oppositional or argumentative behavior.
These people are likely to have an inability to keep their cool and their anger stems from a chronic negative or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome" and often feeling of despair and a sense of worthlessness. They might also have difficulty learning, have memory issues, or feel intense anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD may be rigid when it comes to changing tasks and become engrossed in their hobbies or work. They are prone to missing deadlines at work and forgetting appointments at home, and they may not finish tasks or school assignments. They can also be stubborn and resentful when reprimanded by their teachers or parents.
Children with hyper-focused ADD exhibit a high level of irritability and stubbornness and are susceptible to throwing a rage when their interests are violated. They can be obsessive about particular toys, activities, and video games. They can also have difficulty expressing their feelings and be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This type of ADD is difficult to identify, particularly when it affects children. Children often don't realize the cause of their condition. It's caused by their inability shift their attention from one thing to the next. It is important to speak with an expert since these children are more likely to be misdiagnosed with ADD. This type of ADD is usually treated with modifications to diet, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of ADD is hard to treat even with stimulant medication due to the fact that it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to distinguish the seven distinct kinds of ADD and is especially useful in diagnosing over-focused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have a high level of anxiety. This is a comorbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common and affects the majority of people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Misdiagnosis may result in inadequate treatment and frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause issues with work, school and social settings. This kind of ADD can cause under-performance and feelings of unworthiness. natural add treatment suffering from anxious ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and events because they believe they'll fail.
They are also afraid of being judged or being criticized. This is why they tend to hide their issues from others. In some cases, sufferers are so stressed and anxious that they suffer from panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They cause a pounding of the heart sweating, difficulty breathing and difficulty breathing. Contrary to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD have increased activity in their basal ganglia as well as the amygdala, which operate on an instinctual basis and prioritize safety. This shuts down PFC and makes it difficult for these individuals focus.
If someone suffering from ADD/ADHD has anxiety, their symptoms are usually more difficult to manage than those of a person who doesn't have anxiety. This is due to treatment programs for ADD/ADHD, that are designed to stimulate brain activity, can actually increase anxiety among people with anxious ADD.
Psychiatrists at Amen Clinics use functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scanning, to learn which areas of the brain are low and/or high levels of activity. This allows them to differentiate between the seven different types of ADD and determine the best treatment for each patient.
A psychiatrist will collect the complete medical history of a patient and conduct a physical examination to determine if the patient suffers from the condition of ADD/ADHD. He or she might also inquire about mood and behavior in order to evaluate the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are prescribed to treat ADD/ADHD. However, in the majority of cases, patients require other therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy as well as exercise, nutrition sleep strategies, and desensitization. This can improve their ability to control their moods and overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe within the brain, which is responsible both for mood and memory. This type of ADD is characterised by a problem learning and storing information as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggression issues. They also are often affected by various sensory issues, including feeling like they have deja vu or experiencing shadows or objects changing forms and hearing sounds that other people can't hear. They can be extremely irritable and sensitive and are often overstimulated by certain things, such as computer screens or crowds.
Symptoms of this type of ADD are similar to those seen in Classic ADD, including short attention spans and disorganization, difficulties in following instructions or staying focused, and procrastinating. However, this type of ADD doesn't cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD is more common in females. This type of ADD is characterised by low levels of dopamine in the brain which can lead to feelings of low motivation or a lack of self-regulation. Some of the symptoms include difficulty sleeping and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this instance, qEEG brain mapping scans of the brain show that individuals with 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 unable to move from one task or thought to the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors.
This is a type of ADD where people can be highly motivated and productive, but they tend to be easily distracted by mundane or insignificant tasks. They can get lost and become embarrassed or tired by their behavior. They may be struggling in relationships because of their tendency to be impulsive and reactive. They also have issues managing multiple tasks and working with others. In some instances they might experience anxiety or depression. They may be prone hallucinations or panic attacks. Medications for this type of ADD are not recommended since they don't address the underlying reason for the symptoms.