ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are frequently connected to problems at school, work, or at home. The psychiatric illness can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is most commonly known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD. Mental health professionals utilize SPECT brain imaging to diagnose ADHD.
Symptoms of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. The use of medications such as stimulants and antidepressants can 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. add treatment for adults www.iampsychiatry.uk of the brain reveal that those suffering from this type are able to maintain normal levels of activity during concentration and rest in the prefrontal cortex, but have decreased activity in their cerebellum as well as the basal ganglia. These areas help produce dopamine, which is an important neurotransmitter that is that is responsible for motivation, calmness and focus. This type has a shorter attention span, is easily distracted by sounds and other stimuli and is unable to switch focus. They also have difficulty sleeping and frequently wake up in the middle of the night with nightmares or anxiety. They can be easily annoyed and can be easily angry.
Those with Ring of Fire ADD have all the hallmarks of classic ADD, but they also struggle to shift their focus 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 are susceptible to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They also tend to get stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
Limbic ADD can be mistaken for depression, but it's different than depression because it causes increased activity in the limbic part of the brain (the area that sets our emotional tone and regulates how happy or sad we are) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex both rest and during concentration. It is a condition which can be treated with supplements such as L-tryptophan, 5-HTP inositol, saffron, and saffron that improve concentration, alertness, mood, and mental clarity. Also, amino acid GABA to regulate neural activity and stop nerve cells from firing too much or erratically and liver support.
It is crucial to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which can result in frustration and irritability, as well as low self-esteem. The 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
Overfocused ADD sufferers tend to get stuck in negative patterns of thoughts and behaviors that trigger excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns that are similar to those of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and that is the reason it's often incorrectly diagnosed. They may become angry when they are asked to shift their attention between different activities, and they may react by displaying a hostile or argumentative attitude.
These people are likely to have a short fuse, with their irritability coming from a constant negative or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome," and often feeling of despair and worthlessness. They might also have difficulty learning, experience memory issues, or feel intense anger and aggression.
People with overfocused ADD are inflexible when they have to change tasks, and may become highly captivated by their work or hobbies. They may not remember appointments or deadlines at work or at home, and they may not complete their homework or chores. They may also be extremely stubborn and resentful when disapproved of by their teachers or parents.
Children with overfocused ADD can be irritable and stubborn, and can throw temper tantrums if their needs are not being accepted. They may be obsessed with specific toys, activities and video games. They are also unable to express their emotions, and can be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This form of ADD is more prevalent in children and is difficult to diagnose. Children who exhibit this type of behavior are often unable to comprehend the cause of their problems. due to the inability of them to shift their attention from one task to another. It is important to speak with an expert as these children are more likely to be misdiagnosed for ADD. This kind of ADD is typically treated with diet changes, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This type of ADD is difficult to treat, even with stimulant medication, because it can increase the intensity of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is a method to differentiate between the seven different types of ADD. It is especially useful in diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD experience high levels of anxiety. This comorbidity (having more than one disorder simultaneously) is common, affecting up to half of all people suffering from 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 problems at school, at work or in social situations. This type of ADD can cause under-performance and feelings of inadequacy. People with anxious ADD avoid difficult tasks or activities because they fear they won't succeed.
They also fear being judged or critiqued. This is why they often hide their problems from others. In some cases, sufferers are so anxious and stressed that they develop panic attacks. These panic attacks can be severe and life-threatening. They cause heart pounding sweating, breathing difficulties and difficulty. Anxious ADD differs 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 shuts down PFC and makes it difficult for people with this disorder to concentrate.
If someone suffering from ADHD or ADD has anxiety the symptoms are typically more difficult to manage than those of someone who does not suffer from anxiety. This is due to treatments for ADD/ADHD, that are designed to stimulate brain activity, can actually increase anxiety among people with anxiety-related ADD.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging such as SPECT scans in order to determine the areas of the brain where more or less activity are present. This helps them differentiate between the seven types of ADD and determine the best treatment for each individual.
A psychiatrist will gather an entire medical record and conduct a physical exam to determine if a patient has the condition of ADD/ADHD. In addition, he or she may ask questions about the patient's mood and behavior to evaluate the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are prescribed to treat the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. However, in many cases, patients require other therapies, including cognitive behavior therapy, diet, exercise sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. This may increase their ability to manage their emotions and their overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD affects the temporal lobe of the brain, which is responsible both for memory and mood. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to process and store information, experience mood instability, and have severe anger or aggression issues. They may also suffer from sensory issues like feeling like they're in a dream when objects or shadows change form or hearing sounds that others don't hear. They are often sensitive and angry and are often overwhelmed by certain things, 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 includes difficulty staying on task or following directions. This type of ADD does not cause excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD is more common in females. This type of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain which can cause feelings of low motivation or a lack of self-regulation. Symptoms can include trouble sleeping and feelings of irritability or anxiety.
In this case, qEEG scans of the ADD brain reveal that people with Overfocused ADD are experiencing difficulty shifting gears. They have normal activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to shift from one thought or task to the next, and they are stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors.
This is a kind of ADD where people can be highly motivated and productive however, they tend to get distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They can get lost in their school work and their teachers or parents can become exhausted or ashamed of their behavior. They may have a difficult relationship because they can be hyper-active or reactive, and struggle with multitasking or working with others. In some instances they may experience anxiety or depression. They may be susceptible to panic attacks, and are susceptible to hallucinations. Medications for this type of ADD are not advised, since they don't address the underlying causes of symptoms.