It's True That The Most Common ADD And Treatment Debate Isn't As Black And White As You Might Think
ADD and TreatmentADD and treatment is often connected to problems at school, home or work. The psychiatric disorder is difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most popular name used for this psychiatric disorder. Mental health professionals diagnose ADHD using SPECT brain images.
Symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Medications 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 people with this type have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex at rest and during concentration, but reduced activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, which produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that enhances focus, motivation and a sense of calm. People with this type have a hard in shifting their focus, are easily distracted by noise and other stimuli, and have a short attention span. They are unable to fall asleep, and they often wake up in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They can be easily annoyed and are often angry.
People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the hallmarks of classic ADD, but they also have difficulty shifting their attention from one thought to another thought and from task to task. They have a sensitivity to noise, light, and touch; they talk too quickly and are easily impulsive and easily provoked to a negative behaviour. They are susceptible to moodiness, low energy and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
Limbic ADD is often mistaken for depression, however it is distinct from depression in that it causes increased activity in the limbic region of the brain (the area that sets our mood and determines the level of happiness or sadness we are) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex at both when we are at rest and while in concentration. It can be treated by supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with saffron, inositol, which improve alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA can also help calm neural activity, inhibiting nerve cells from firing irregularly or excessively.
It is essential to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which also can cause frustration, irritability and low self-esteem. The difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more constant level of irritability that lasts over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to exhibit symptoms that appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD sufferers often get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors that cause excessive worry. This is because they exhibit rigid behaviors similar to people who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They are often frightened emotionally when they are asked to shift their attention from one activity to another, and can react with a threatening or hostile behavior.
They are often unhappy and their irritability can be caused by a low-grade chronic sadness or negativity. They may also be afflicted by memory problems, experience severe anger, and have a short fuse.
People with hyperfocused ADD may be rigid when it comes to changing tasks and become engrossed in their hobbies or work. They are at risk of missing deadlines at work and forgetting appointments at home, and may not complete homework or other school assignments. They may also be stubborn and resentful if they are reprimanded or chastised by their parents or teacher.
Children who have overfocused ADD exhibit a high level of irritability and stubbornness and are likely to throw inconsolable tantrums when their interests are trampled on. They may be obsessed with a particular activity such as toys and video games. They can also have difficulty communicating their feelings and are very sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This type of ADD is more prevalent among children, and is often difficult to identify. These children often don't understand that their issue is due to their inability to switch their attention from one thing to another. This is why it's important to seek out help from an expert, as children with this type of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family physicians and even psychologists. This type of ADD can be treated using diet modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of ADD is hard to treat, even with stimulant medication, because it can increase the intensity of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to distinguish between the seven kinds 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 multiple disorders simultaneously, is common and can affect up to half of those with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and the wrong diagnosis can lead to ineffective more info treatment and further frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause issues with work, school and social settings. This type of ADD can cause underperformance and feelings of unworthiness. 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 or being criticized. They are afraid of being judged or criticised. others. These people can be so anxious and stressed that they have panic attacks. They can be extremely dangerous and life-threatening, resulting in sweating, a heart that is pounding and breathing difficulties. Anxious ADD is distinct from Classic ADD because it has an increased activity in the basal ganglia and the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and place a high value on security. This causes the brain to shut down the PFC which makes 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 due to treatment programs for ADD/ADHD, that are designed to increase brain activity, may actually increase anxiety among people with anxiety-related ADD.
Psychiatrists at Amen Clinics use functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scanning, to determine where in the brain there are high and/or low levels of activity. This helps them differentiate between the seven types of brain and determine the most effective treatment.
To determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist collects a full medical history and conducts a physical exam. They may also ask about the patient's mood and behavior to assess the patient's overall functioning. Medications are sometimes used to treat ADD/ADHD, however, most patients need other therapies too, including cognitive behavioral therapy or nutrition and exercise, strategies for sleep, desensitization and other techniques for relaxation. This may increase their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD is a problem with the brain's temporal lobe which is responsible for mood and memory. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to retain and learn and experience mood swings and suffer from intense anger or aggression issues. They may also suffer from sensory issues such as feeling like they're in a dream, seeing shadows or objects change shape or hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They are often sensitive and irritable, and often become overstimulated by certain activities, such as computer screens or crowds.
This type of ADD has similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include short attention spans and disorganization. It also presents with difficulty staying on task or following directions. However, this kind of ADD doesn't cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD is more common in females. People suffering from this kind of ADD may have low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine which contributes to their feelings of depression and low self-regulation. Symptoms include difficulty sleeping, anxiety and irritability.
In this case QEEG scans of the ADD brain reveal that people with Overfocused ADD have difficulty shifting gears. They have normal activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to move from one task or thought to another, and are stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviours.
This is a type of ADD which means that people are highly motivated and productive but they also have a tendency to be easily distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They can get lost and feel embarrassed or exhausted because of their behavior. They may have a difficult relationship with others due to their tendency to be unpredictable or reactive and have a hard time managing multiple tasks or working with other people. In some cases they may experience anxiety or depression. They may be prone hallucinations and panic attacks. Medications for this type of ADD are not usually recommended, as they don't address the underlying causes of symptoms.