ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often associated with problems at school, work, or home. The psychiatric condition can be difficult to diagnose and manage.
The psychiatric condition is often referred to as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. Mental health professionals employ brain imaging using SPECT to diagnose ADHD.
Some of the symptoms are being easily distracted, forgetful, and unorganized. Medications like stimulants and antidepressants 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 condition have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration, but less activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia which produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps to increase motivation, focus and a sense of calm. This type has a shorter attention span, and is easily distracted by sounds and other stimuli and is unable to shift focus. They have difficulty falling asleep, and often awake in the middle of the night with anxiety. They are easily frustrated and can be easily angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is distinguished by all the typical ADD symptoms as well as the difficulty of shifting their focus from one thought to the next and between tasks. They have a sensitivity to light, noise and touch; they talk too quickly and are impulsive, and easily triggered into a mean-spirited behaviors. They have periods of moodiness and fatigue, are quick to get angry and are prone to relapse into negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
Limbic ADD can be mistaken for depression, but it is different than depression because it has increased activity in the limbic portion 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 at rest and during concentration. It can be treated with supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with saffron, inositol that increase alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA is also helpful to reduce neural activity and prevent nerve cells from firing irregularly or excessively.
It is crucial to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder, which can result in frustration and irritability, as well as low self-esteem. The distinction is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms is more prone to constant anger and frustration over time, while Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers are often caught in negative thought patterns and behaviors that trigger excessive worrying. This is because they exhibit rigid behaviors similar to people suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They can become emotional when they are they are asked to shift their attention between tasks and can respond by displaying a hostile or argumentative attitude.
They are often angry, and their irritability is caused by chronic low-grade sadness or negativity. They may also have trouble learning, experience memory issues, or feel intense anger and aggression.
People with hyperfocused ADD may be rigid when it comes to switching tasks and can become absorbed in their job or pastime. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work and not remembering appointments at home, and may not complete tasks or school assignments. They can also be stubborn and resentful if they are disciplined or punished by their teacher 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 may be obsessed with a particular activity, toys and video games. They are also unable to express their emotions, and can be extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This form of ADD is more common among children, and can be difficult to recognize. These children often don't understand the cause of their condition. It's caused by their inability to switch their attention from one thing to another. This is why it's important to seek out help from a professional, as these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This kind of ADD is treatable with dietary modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Sometimes, medications are prescribed, but this kind of ADD can be difficult to treat using stimulant medications because they can raise a person's levels of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is a method to differentiate between the seven different types of ADD. It is especially helpful in diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have high levels of anxiety. Comorbidity, which is having more than one disorder simultaneously is a common occurrence and can affect up to half of those with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mirror the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Incorrect diagnosis can cause inappropriate treatment and anger.
Anxious ADD may cause problems at school, at work or with social situations. This type of ADD can cause underperformance and feelings of inadequacy. People with anxiety ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and activities because they think they won't do well.
They are also afraid of being judged and criticised. Because of this, they tend to hide their issues from others. In some instances, people are so stressed and anxious that they experience panic attacks. These panic attacks can be severe and life-threatening. IamPsychiatry cause a pounding of the heart, sweating and difficulty breathing. In contrast to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD have increased activity in their basal ganglia and the amygdala. These organs operate on an instinctual basis, and are able to prioritize safety. This causes a shutdown of PFC and can make it difficult for those with this condition to concentrate.
If someone suffers from anxiety and ADD/ADHD and anxiety, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to treat. This is because treatment protocols for ADD/ADHD, which are designed to stimulate the brain could actually increase anxiety in people who suffer from anxiety ADD by decreasing the activity of their PFC.
Psychiatrists at Amen Clinics use functional neuroimaging techniques, such as SPECT scanning to discover which areas of the brain are low and/or high levels of activity. This allows them to distinguish between the seven types and determine the best method of treatment.
A psychiatrist will take the complete medical history of a patient and conduct a physical examination to determine if a patient has the condition of ADD/ADHD. Additionally, he or will ask questions about the patient's mood and behavior to evaluate the overall health of a patient. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD, but most patients need other therapies in addition, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or 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 type of ADD affects the temporal lobe in the brain, which is responsible for mood and memory. This kind of ADD is manifested by a lack of learning and keeping information in memory and mood swings, as well as severe anger or aggression. They also are often affected by a variety of sensory issues, such as feeling like they have deja vu or seeing shadows or objects changing shapes, and hearing sounds others don't. They can be extremely sensitive and irritable and are often overstimulated by certain activities, such as computer screens or crowds.
This kind of ADD has the same symptoms as Classic ADD. These include short attention spans and disorganization. It also presents with difficulties staying focused or following directions. This kind of ADD is not associated with an excessive amount of 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 cause feelings of low motivation or poor self-regulation. Symptoms include difficulty sleeping, anger and anxiety.
In this case, qEEG scans of the ADD brain reveal that people with Overfocused ADD are experiencing difficulty shifting gears. They have normal activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (the brain's "gearshifter"). They aren't able to shift from one thought or task to the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a kind of ADD where people can be extremely motivated and hardworking however, they tend to get distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They can lose track of their schoolwork and teachers or parents are often annoyed or ashamed of their behavior. They may be struggling in relationships due to their tendency be impulsive and reactive. They also have trouble multitasking and working in a group. In some cases, they can experience anxiety or depression. They may be prone panic attacks and hallucinations. Medications are not usually advised for this kind of ADD as they don't address the root cause of the symptoms.