Lyda Brody asked 6 months ago
ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are frequently connected to problems at school, work or at home. The psychiatric disorder isn’t easy to identify and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common name for this psychiatric disorder. Mental health professionals employ SPECT brain imaging to determine ADHD.
The symptoms of typical ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful and unorganized. Treatments 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. Brain scans reveal that those suffering from this type can maintain normal activity during concentration and at 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, an important neurotransmitter that is that is responsible for motivation, calmness and focus. People with this type have a hard time shifting their attention, are easily distracted by the noise or other stimuli and have shorter attention spans. They have difficulty falling asleep, and often wake up in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They are easily frustrated and are often angry.
Those 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, noise, and touch; they talk too fast and are impulsive and easily provoked into mean behavior. They are susceptible to moodiness, low energy and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
It is possible to mistake the condition of limbic ADD with depression. But it is different in that it boosts activity in the limbic area of the brain at rest and when concentrating. It is a condition doctors that treat adhd in adults can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan 5-HTP, saffron, and inositol that increase alertness, focus and mood. They also improve mental clarity. Also, amino acid GABA to reduce neural activity and inhibit nerve cells from over-firing or firing in a erratic manner and liver support.
It is crucial to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder, which also can trigger irritability, anger and low self-esteem. The difference is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms has more consistent anger and frustration over time, whereas Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to manifest in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers often get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors that cause excessive worrying. This is because they exhibit rigid behavior that is similar to those who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They can be emotional when they are requested to switch their focus between activities and may respond with oppositional or argumentative behavior.
They are often angry and their irritability can be due to a low-grade chronic sadness or negative mood. They may also have trouble learning, experience memory issues, or feel intense anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD might be rigid when it comes to changing tasks and may become absorbed in their job or pastime. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work and forgetting appointments at home, and they may not finish chores or school assignments. They may also be resistant and angry when they are reprimanded or chastised by their teacher or parents.
Children with overfocused ADD are often angry and stubborn, and they may throw tantrums if their needs are not being recognized. They can be obsessive about specific toys, activities and video games. They are also unable to express their emotions and may be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This kind of ADD is difficult to diagnose, especially in children. Children who exhibit this type of behavior may have difficulty understanding that their problems are caused by an inability to change their attention from one task to the next. This is why it’s important to seek the help of an expert, as these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family physicians and even psychologists. This type of ADD is usually treated using diet changes, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some medications are prescribed, but this kind of ADD is difficult to treat using stimulant medications, as these can increase a person’s level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to identify the seven distinct types of ADD, and is particularly 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 common and affects as much as 50% of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and incorrect diagnosis can lead to inadequate treatment and further frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause issues at school, at work or in social situations. This type of ADD can lead to underachievement and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People with anxious ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and events because they believe they’ll fail.
They also fear being judged or judged. This is why they tend to hide their issues from their peers. People with anxiety can become so stressed and anxious that they experience panic attacks. These panic attacks can be severe and life-threatening. They trigger heart pounding sweating, breathing difficulties and difficulty. Unlike 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 the PFC, which can make it hard for these individuals to focus.
If someone suffering from ADHD or ADD has anxiety, their symptoms are usually more difficult to manage than those of someone who doesn’t have anxiety. This is because treatment programs for ADD/ADHD, that are designed to stimulate brain activity, can actually increase anxiety among those with anxious ADD.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging, like SPECT scanning, to learn which areas of the brain are areas of low or high levels of activity. This allows them to differentiate between the seven types of ADD and determine the most effective treatment for each patient.
To determine if someone has ADD/ADHD psychiatrist takes a thorough medical history and performs physical examination. Additionally, he or she may ask questions about mood and behavior to assess a patient’s overall functioning. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD. However, in the majority of cases, patients require other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy, diet, exercise sleep strategies, and desensitization. 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 of the brain which is responsible for memory and mood. This type of ADD is manifested by a lack of learning and keeping information in memory as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggression. They also are often affected by various sensory issues, including feeling like they’ve experienced deja vu or seeing shadows or objects change shapes, and hearing sounds other people don’t hear. They are sensitive, irritable and easily overwhelmed.
This kind of ADD has the same symptoms as Classic ADD. These include low attention spans and disorganization. It also has difficulties staying focused or following instructions. However, this type of ADD doesn’t cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in females. People suffering from this type of ADD might have low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine which can lead to feelings of depression and low self-regulation. Symptoms can include trouble sleeping and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this case QEEG scans of ADD brain reveal that people with Overfocused ADD are experiencing difficulties shifting gears. They are experiencing normal activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (the brain’s “gearshifter”). They are unable to shift from one thought or task to the next, and they become stuck in negative thinking patterns and behavior.
This is a kind of ADD where people can be highly motivated and productive however, they tend to get easily distracted by unimportant or non pharmacological treatment for adhd-essential tasks. They can lose track of their schoolwork, and their parents or teachers are often tired or embarrassed by their behavior. They may be struggling in relationships because of their tendency to be reactive and impulsive. They also have issues multitasking and working in a group. In some cases they may suffer from depression or anxiety. They could be susceptible to panic attacks and hallucinations. Medications are not usually recommended for this type of ADD as it doesn’t address the root cause of the symptoms.