ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often associated with problems at work, school or home. how to treat adhd may be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most popular name used for this psychiatric condition. Mental health professionals diagnose ADHD by using SPECT brain scans.
Some of the symptoms are being easily distracted, forgetful, and unorganized. 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. Brain scans reveal that those suffering from this type of ADD are able to maintain normal levels of activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex, but they are less active in their cerebellum as well as the basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter responsible for motivation, calmness and focus. People with this type have a difficult to focus their attention, are easily distracted by noise and other stimuli, and have shorter attention spans. They have difficulty falling asleep and frequently wake up in the middle of the night feeling anxious. They are easily frustrated and can be easily angry.
People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the hallmarks of the classic ADD, but they also have difficulty shifting their attention from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to light, noise, and touch. They talk too quickly and are impulsive. They can experience periods of agitation and fatigue, are quick to anger, and get stuck on negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
Limbic ADD is often mistaken for depression, however it is distinct from depression in that it has increased activity in the limbic part of the brain (the brain region that sets our emotional tone and regulates how happy or sad we feel) and reduces 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 mental 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 differentiate between ADD and mood disorders, such as Bipolar Disorder, which can cause irritability and frustration and low self-esteem. The difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD is more consistent in its level of irritability over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to have symptoms that come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD patients are often stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors that trigger excessive worrying. This is due to rigid behaviors similar to people who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They are often frightened emotionally when they are required to shift their focus from one task to the next and may respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
These people tend to have a short fuse, with their irritability coming from a constant low-grade sadness or negativity "glass half-empty syndrome," and often feeling of despair and worthlessness. They may also be afflicted by memory issues, experience extreme anger, and may have a short fuse.
People with hyperfocused ADD may 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 may not complete homework or other school assignments. They can also be very resistant and angry when they are disciplined or punished 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 not respected. They may be obsessed with specific activities, toys, and video games. They may also have trouble expressing their feelings and be very sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This form of ADD is difficult to recognize, especially when it affects children. These children often don't understand that their problem is caused by their inability to shift their focus from one thing to another. This is why it's important to seek the help of an expert, as children with this kind of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This kind of ADD can be treated with nutritional modifications, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapies. This kind of ADD is extremely difficult to treat, even with stimulant medication as it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to differentiate the seven distinct types of ADD, and is particularly helpful for diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people who suffer from ADD have a high degree of anxiety. This comorbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common and affects about half of sufferers of ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and incorrect diagnosis can lead to inadequate treatment and even more frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause issues with work, school and social settings. This kind of ADD may cause low performance and feelings of inadequacy. People with anxious ADD avoid difficult tasks or events because they fear that they won't be successful.
They are also afraid of being judged and being criticized. They hide their problems to others. In some cases, people are so anxious and stressed that they suffer from panic attacks. These can be very severe and life-threatening, causing sweating, a pounding heart and breathing problems. Anxious ADD is different from Classic ADD because it has an increased activity in the basal ganglia, as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and place a high value on security. This causes the brain to shut down the PFC and can make it hard for these individuals to focus.
When a person has ADD/ADHD and anxiety, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to manage. This is because treatments for ADD/ADHD, which are designed to stimulate brain activity, can increase anxiety among those with anxious ADD.
The psychiatrists at Amen Clinics employ functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scanning, to learn where in the brain there are areas of low or high levels of activity. This helps them distinguish between the seven types of brain and determine the most effective treatment.
To determine if someone has ADD/ADHD psychiatrist takes a thorough medical history and performs a physical exam. He or she might also inquire about mood and behavior to assess the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are prescribed to treat the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. However, in the majority of cases, patients require other therapies, including cognitive behavior therapy and nutrition, exercise sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. This can improve their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe within the brain, which is responsible both for memory and mood. This kind of ADD is manifested by a lack of learning and keeping information in memory, mood instability and severe anger or aggression. They also suffer from various sensory issues, including experiencing a sense of déjà vu, seeing shadows or objects changing shapes and hearing sounds that other people can't hear. They tend to be sensitive and angry, and often become 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, disorganization, difficulty following directions or staying focused, and procrastinating. However, this type of ADD does not cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD is more common in females. This type of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain which can lead to feelings of low motivation or insufficient 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 reveal that people with Over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate region which is the brain's "gear shifter," but they are having trouble shifting gears. They can't move from one thought or task to another, and they get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a form of ADD where people are extremely motivated and productive but tend not to focus on important tasks. They may lose focus and feel embarrassed or exhausted because of their behavior. They may be struggling in relationships because of their tendency to be reactive and impulsive. They also have trouble managing multiple tasks and working with others. In certain situations, they could be depressed or anxious. They may be prone panic attacks and hallucinations. Treatments for this type of ADD are not advised, since they do not address the root cause of symptoms.