ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is often associated with problems at home, school or work. The psychiatric disorder can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is most often referred to as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. Mental health experts diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
The symptoms of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful and disorganized. Antidepressants and stimulants can 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 those suffering from this type of ADD are able to maintain normal activity while concentrating and at rest in the prefrontal cortex but they are less active in their cerebellum and the basal ganglia. These areas are responsible for the production of dopamine, an important neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness, and focus. People with this type have a hard to focus their attention and are easily distracted by noise and other stimuli, and have a short attention span. They also have trouble falling asleep and are often woken up in the middle of the night with nightmares or anxiety. They are easily frustrated and can be easily angry.
People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the core symptoms of the classic ADD However, they also struggle to shift their attention from one thought to another thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to light, sound, and touch. They talk too quickly and are indecisive. They are prone to low energy, moodiness and anger. They can also get caught up in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
Limbic ADD is often mistaken for depression, but it's distinct from depression because it has increased activity in the limbic region 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 can be treated with supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP), saffron and inositol that increase alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also help calm neural activity, inhibiting nerve cells from firing in a erratic manner or in excess.
It is important to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder, which can trigger irritability, anger and low self-esteem. The difference is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms has a more constant level of irritability and frustration over time, whereas Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to manifest in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers are often caught in negative thought patterns and behavior that cause excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behaviors that resemble those of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) which is why it's frequently incorrectly diagnosed. They are often frightened emotionally when required to shift their focus from one thing to another, and can respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
They tend to be irritable, and their irritability is due to a low-grade chronic depression or sadness. They may also experience difficulties learning, have memory issues, or have extreme anger and aggression.
People with hyperfocused ADD can be rigid when it comes to changing tasks and become engrossed in their job or pastime. They are prone to missing deadlines at work and not remembering appointments at home, and may not complete tasks or school assignments. They can also be very resistant and angry when they are punished or reprimanded by their teachers or parents.
Children who have overfocused ADD have a high degree of irritability and stubbornness, and are prone to throwing inconsolable tantrums when their interests are not respected. They may be obsessed with a particular activity, toys and video games. They may also have difficulty expressing their feelings and be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This type of ADD is more common among children, and can be difficult to diagnose. The majority of children don't understand that their problem is caused by their inability shift their focus from one thing to the next. It is important to speak with an expert as these children are more likely to have their ADD misdiagnosed. This kind of ADD is typically treated with modifications to diet, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This type of ADD is hard to treat even with stimulant medication as it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is sometimes used to distinguish the seven distinct types of ADD, and is particularly helpful for diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD suffer from a high level of anxiety. This is a comorbidity (having more than one disorder simultaneously) is common, impacting 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 more frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause issues with work, school and social situations. This type of ADD can cause underperformance and feelings of inadequacy. People suffering from anxious ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and events, believing they're not capable of completing the task.
treatment of add in adults are also afraid of being judged and critiqued. Due to this, they tend to hide their issues from their peers. People with anxiety can become so anxious and stressed that they suffer from panic attacks. These panic attacks can be extremely severe and life-threatening. They cause a pounding of the heart sweating, breathing difficulties and difficulty. Anxious ADD is different from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the Basal ganglia and the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and prioritize security. This shuts down the PFC, which can make it hard for these individuals to focus.
If someone with ADHD or ADD has anxiety, their symptoms are usually more difficult to manage than those of someone who isn't suffering from anxiety. This is because treatment protocols for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate the brain can increase anxiety in those with anxiety ADD by reducing the activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scans to determine where in the brain high and/or lower levels of activity are found. This helps them differentiate between the seven types of ADD and determine the most effective treatment for each individual.
A psychiatrist will take an entire medical record and perform a physical examination to determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD. Additionally, he or she may ask questions about the patient's mood and behavior to evaluate the patient's overall performance. Some medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD however, most patients require other therapies in addition, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or nutrition and exercise, strategies for sleep, desensitization and other techniques to relax. This may enhance their ability to control their emotions and their overall performance.
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 manifested by a lack of learning and storage of information as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggression. They might also experience sensory issues such as feeling like they're in a dream and seeing shadows or objects change form or hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They are often sensitive and angry and are often overwhelmed by certain things, such as computer screens or crowds.
This type of ADD has similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include inattention spans that are short and disorganized. It also has difficulty in staying focused or following directions. However, this kind of ADD doesn't cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD is more common in females. This kind of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain which can result in feelings of low motivation or a lack of self-regulation. The symptoms can include sleep problems and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this case, qEEG brain mapping scans of the brain indicate 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 task or thought to the next, and they get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviours.
This is a form of ADD which means that people are highly motivated and hardworking but they also tend to be easily distracted by mundane or insignificant tasks. They can get lost and feel embarrassed or exhausted because of their behavior. They may have a difficult relationship due to their tendency to be unpredictable or reactive and have difficulty managing multiple tasks or working with other people. In some instances, they can suffer from depression or anxiety. They are susceptible to panic attacks, and are susceptible to hallucinations. Medications are typically not recommended for this type of ADD, because it doesn't address the root cause of the symptoms.