ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are frequently associated with problems at work, school or home. The psychiatric condition can be difficult to diagnose and manage.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most popular name used for this psychiatric condition. Mental health professionals diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
The symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful and unorganized. The use of 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 show that people with this type have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration, but reduced activity in the cerebellum and the basal ganglia which help make dopamine, a neurotransmitter which helps to increase motivation, focus and a sense of calm. People with this type have a hard in shifting their focus and are easily distracted by distractions and noises, and have short attention spans. They also have trouble falling asleep and are often woken up during the night with anxiety or nightmares. They are easily frustrated and are often angry.
Those with Ring of Fire ADD have all the symptoms of the classic ADD However, they also struggle to shift their attention from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to noise, light, and touch. They talk too quickly and are indecisive. They are prone to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They also tend to get stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
It is possible to mix the condition of limbic ADD with depression. However, it's different because it increases activity in the limbic region of the brain during the moment of rest and while concentrating. It can be treated by supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with saffron, inositol which increase alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA is also helpful to reduce neural activity and prevent nerve cells from firing in a erratic manner or excessively.
It is crucial to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which also can trigger irritability, anger, and poor self-esteem. The difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD is more consistent in its level of irritability that lasts over 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 behaviors that result in excessive worry. They exhibit rigid behaviors that resemble the ones of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) which is why it's often misdiagnosed. People with OCD are often threatened emotionally when they are required to shift their focus from one activity to another and respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
These people are likely to have a short fuse and their anger stems from a constant negative or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome," and frequently feeling hopeless and desperation. They may also have trouble learning, have memory issues, or feel intense anger and aggression.
People with overfocused ADD are unable to adapt when they have to change tasks, and could be captivated by their work or hobbies. They are prone to missing deadlines at work and not remembering appointments at home, and they might not finish chores or school assignments. They could also be stubborn and resentful when disapproved of by their parents or teachers.
Children with overfocused ADD can be angry and obstinate, and they may throw tantrums if their needs are not being recognized. They may be obsessed with specific activities, toys, and video games. They may also have trouble in expressing their emotions and can be very sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This kind of ADD is difficult to recognize, especially in children. The majority of children don't understand that their problem is caused by their inability shift their attention between different things. This is why it's important to seek help from a professional, as children with this kind of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This kind of ADD is usually treated with modifications to diet, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of ADD is hard to treat, even with stimulant medication due to the fact that it can cause the intensity of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is a method to differentiate between the seven kinds of ADD. It is especially useful in diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD have high levels of anxiety. This co-morbidity (having more than one disorder simultaneously) is common, impacting up to half of all people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can be similar to the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and the wrong diagnosis can lead to ineffective treatment and further frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause problems with school, work, and social situations. This type of ADD could result in low performance and feelings of inadequacy. People with anxiety ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and events because they believe they're not capable of completing the task.
They also fear being judged treating adhd without medication or being criticized. This is why they tend to hide their issues from their peers. In some cases, sufferers are so stressed and anxious that they develop panic attacks. They can be extremely dangerous and life-threatening, resulting in sweating, a heart that is pounding and breathing problems. 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 place a high value on security. This can shut down the PFC and can make it difficult for people with ADD to concentrate.
If a person with ADD/ADHD has anxiety the symptoms are typically more difficult to manage than those of a person who isn't suffering from anxiety. This is because treatment plans for ADD/ADHD which are designed to stimulate the brain could increase anxiety in those with anxiety ADD by decreasing the activity of their PFC.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists utilize functional neuroimaging techniques like SPECT scans to determine where in the brain high and/or lower levels of activity are present. This allows them to differentiate between the seven different types of ADD and determine the most effective treatment for each patient.
To determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist collects a full medical history and performs physical examination. In addition, he or she may ask questions about behavior and mood to determine the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD. However, in most cases, patients require other therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy, exercise, nutrition sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. This can increase their ability to manage 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 characterised by a problem learning and storage of information and mood swings, as well as severe anger or aggressive issues. They also are often affected by various sensory issues, such as feeling like they've experienced deja vu, or seeing shadows or objects changing shapes, and hearing sounds other people can't hear. They are irritable, sensitive and easily overwhelmed.
The symptoms of this kind of ADD are similar to those in Classic ADD, including short attention spans and disorganization, difficulties in following instructions or staying focused and procrastinating. This kind of ADD is not associated with hyperactivity or impulsivity. This type of ADD is more common in females. This type of ADD is characterised by low levels of dopamine in the brain, which can lead to feelings of low motivation or a lack of self-regulation. The symptoms can include sleep problems and feelings of irritability or anxiety.
In this case brain mapping scans qEEG of the brain indicate that individuals with Over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gland, the brain's "gear shifter," but they are struggling to shift gears. They can't move from one task or thought to the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a kind of ADD which means that people are highly motivated and hardworking however, they have a tendency to get easily distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They can lose track and become embarrassed or tired due to their actions. They may have a hard time in relationships because they are unpredictable or reactive and struggle dealing with multitasking or working with others. In certain situations, they could suffer from depression or anxiety. They may be susceptible to panic attacks and are susceptible to hallucinations. Medications for this type of ADD are not recommended since they don't address the underlying causes of symptoms.