ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is often associated with problems at home, school or work. The psychiatric disorder is often difficult to identify and manage.
The psychiatric disorder is most commonly known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. Mental health professionals utilize SPECT brain imaging to determine ADHD.
Some of the symptoms are being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Treatments such as 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. The scans of the brain reveal that people with this type are able to maintain normal activity while concentrating and rest in the prefrontal cortex but have decreased activity in their cerebellum as well as the basal ganglia. These areas are responsible for the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for motivation, calmness, and focus. This type has a shorter attention span, is easily distracted by sounds and other stimuli, and has a hard time shifting attention. They have difficulty falling asleep, and often wake up in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They often feel overwhelmed by emotions and possess a short fuse, becoming quickly frustrated with tasks and easily angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is defined by all the standard ADD symptoms however, it also has a difficulty in shifting their focus between thoughts and from one task to another. They have a sensitivity to noise, light, and touch; they talk too quickly and are easily impulsive and easily provoked into mean behavior. They are susceptible to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
Limbic ADD can be confused with depression, but it is different than depression because it has increased activity in the limbic portion of the brain (the part that determines our emotional tone and controls how happy or sad we are) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex both rest and during concentration. It is a condition that can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan, 5-HTP as well as saffron and inositol that increase concentration, alertness and mood as well as mental clarity. They also use amino acid GABA to reduce neural activity and inhibit nerve cells from over-firing or firing irregularly and liver support.
It is essential to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which can trigger irritability, anger, and poor self-esteem. The main difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more constant degree of irritability throughout the course of time. Bipolar Disorder tends to suffer from symptoms that occur in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD patients are often stuck in negative thoughts and behavior that cause excessive worry. This is because they exhibit rigid behaviors similar to people suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). These individuals often become threatened emotionally when required to shift their attention from one task to the next and may react with a threatening or hostile behavior.
These people are likely to have a short temper and their irritability stems from a constant negative or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome" and frequent feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. They might also have difficulty learning, have memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD are unable to adapt when it comes to changing tasks, and may become highly captivated by their work or interests. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work, and forgetting appointments at home and they might not finish homework or other school assignments. They can also be resistant and angry when they are disciplined or punished by their parents or teacher.
Children with overfocused ADD can be irritable and obstinate, and they might throw temper tantrums when their needs are not being respected. They may be obsessed with particular activities such as toys and video games. They also have trouble expressing their emotions and may be extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This type of ADD is more prevalent in children and is difficult to recognize. Children who show this behavior often have trouble understanding that their problems are caused due to the inability of them to shift their attention from one task to the next. This is why it's important to seek help from a professional, as these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family physicians and even psychologists. This kind of ADD can be treated with nutritional modifications, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapies. This type of ADD is extremely difficult to treat, even with stimulant medication as it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is often used to distinguish the seven distinct types of ADD natural ways to treat adhd and is especially helpful for diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have high levels of anxiety. Comorbidity, which is having more than one disorder at the same time is a common problem and can affect up to half of those with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and misdiagnosis can lead to improper treatment and further frustration.
Anxious ADD can lead to problems at work, school and social settings. This type of ADD can lead to underachievement and feelings of unworthiness. People suffering from anxious ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and activities because they think they're not capable of completing the task.
They also fear being judged or considered a victim. This is why they often hide their problems from others. In some cases, these sufferers are so anxious and stressed that they experience panic attacks. They can be extremely dangerous and life-threatening, resulting in a pounding heart, sweating, and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD differs from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the Basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on security. This shuts down the PFC which makes it difficult for those with this condition to focus.
If a person suffers from ADD/ADHD and anxiety their symptoms are more difficult to treat. This is because treatment protocols for ADD/ADHD which are designed to stimulate the brain can actually increase anxiety in people with anxiety ADD due to a decrease in the activity of their PFC.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists use functional neuroimaging techniques like SPECT scans to determine which areas of the brain have high and/or lower levels of activity are present. This helps them differentiate between the seven types and determine the best method of treatment.
To diagnose ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist takes a thorough medical history and performs an examination. Additionally, he or will ask questions about mood and behavior to assess the overall health of a patient. Sometimes, medications are prescribed to treat the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. However, in most cases, patients require other therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy and diet, exercise sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. This will help improve their ability to control their moods and overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe of the brain which is responsible for memory and mood. This kind of ADD is characterized by a difficulty in learning and storing information as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggression issues. They may also suffer from sensory issues, such as experiencing like they're in a dream, seeing shadows or objects change form or hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They are often sensitive and irritable and are often overstimulated by certain activities, like computer screens or crowds.
This type of ADD is characterized by similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include short attention spans and disorganization. It also has difficulties staying focused or following instructions. This type of ADD does not cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more common in women. This kind of ADD is characterized by low levels of dopamine in the brain, which can lead to feelings of low motivation or poor self-regulation. Some of the symptoms include difficulty sleeping and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this instance brain mapping scans qEEG of the brain indicate that people suffering from over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate region, the brain's "gear shifter," but they are struggling to shift gears. They are unable to shift from one task or thought to another, and get stuck in negative thought patterns and behavior.
This is a type of ADD that is characterized by people who are extremely motivated and productive but are unable to concentrate on their tasks. They may lose track of their school work and their teachers or parents can become annoyed or ashamed of their behavior. They may have a difficult relationship with others because they are hyper-active or reactive, and have difficulty dealing with multitasking or working with other people. In some cases they may experience anxiety or depression. They may be susceptible to panic attacks, and are susceptible to hallucinations. Medications are typically not recommended for this type of ADD as they don't tackle the root cause of the symptoms.