ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often related to issues at school, work or home. The psychiatric disorder is often difficult to identify and manage.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly used term for this psychiatric condition. Mental health specialists diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
The signs of typical ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful and disorganized. 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. The scans of the brain reveal that people with this type can maintain normal activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex, but they are less active in their cerebellum and basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for motivation, calmness, and focus. This type has a short attention span, is easily distracted by noises and other stimuli and has a hard time shifting focus. They are unable to fall asleep, and often wake up in the middle of the night feeling anxious. They are often overwhelmed by emotions and possess short tempers, and are quickly annoyed by tasks and easily angry.
People suffering from Ring of Fire ADD have all the symptoms of 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 quickly and are impulsive, and easily triggered into mean behaviors. They are susceptible to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They can also get caught up in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
Limbic ADD can be confused with depression, but it's distinct from depression because it is associated with increased activity in the limbic region of the brain (the brain region that sets our emotional tone and controls the level of happiness or sadness we are) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex at both rest and during concentration. It can be treated with supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) as well as saffron, inositol which increase alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also be helpful to calm neural activity, inhibiting nerve cells from firing irregularly or in excess.
It is crucial to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder which can also cause irritability and frustration and low self-esteem. The distinction is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms has more consistent anger and frustration over time, while Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to manifest in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD patients often get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior that cause excessive worry. This is due to rigid behaviors similar to people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They can be angry when requested to switch their focus between different activities, and they may react with oppositional or argumentative behavior.
They are prone to having a short temper and their anger stems from a chronic negative or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome" and frequent feelings of hopelessness and desperation. They may also be afflicted by memory issues, experience extreme anger, and are prone to having a short fuse.
People who suffer from over-focused ADD are not flexible when they have to change tasks, and may become enthralled by their hobbies or work. They may forget appointments and deadlines at home or at work, and they may not finish their schoolwork or chores. They can also be stubborn and resentful when they are disapproved of by their parents or teachers.
Children with overfocused ADD are often angry and stubborn, and they may throw tantrums if their interests are not respected. They may be obsessed with specific activities, toys, and video games. They may also have difficulty expressing their feelings and be extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This form of ADD is more common in children and is often difficult to recognize. Children who exhibit this type of behavior are often unable to comprehend that their issues are caused by an inability to change their focus from one task to another. This is the reason it's crucial to seek out help from an expert, as children with this type of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This type of ADD is treatable with diet modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. This type of ADD is difficult to treat even with stimulant medication as it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is a method to differentiate between the seven different types of ADD. It is especially useful in diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD suffer from high levels of anxiety. This is a comorbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common and affects about half of people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and misdiagnosis can lead to improper treatment and even more frustration.
Anxious ADD can lead to problems at school, work, and social situations. This type of ADD may cause low performance and feelings of inadequacy. People with anxious ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and events, believing they'll fail.
They also fear being criticised or being judged. They also hide their issues from others. In some instances, people are so stressed and anxious that they experience panic attacks. These can be severe and life-threatening, causing sweating, a pounding heart, and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD is distinct 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 PFC and makes it difficult for those with this condition to concentrate.
When a person has anxiety and ADD/ADHD their symptoms are more difficult to treat. This is because treatment protocols for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate the brain could increase anxiety in those who suffer from anxiety ADD due to a decrease in the activity of their PFC.
Psychiatrists at Amen Clinics use functional neuroimaging techniques, such as SPECT scanning, to determine where in the brain there are low and/or high levels of activity. This helps them distinguish between the seven types and determine the best treatment.
To determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist takes a thorough medical history and performs a physical exam. Additionally, he or she may ask questions about the patient's mood and behavior to evaluate the overall health of a patient. Sometimes, medications are prescribed to treat the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. However, in most cases patients also need other therapies, including cognitive behavior therapy and nutrition, exercise sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. This will help enhance their ability to control their emotions and improve their overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the brain's temporal lobe, which is responsible for memory and mood. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to retain and learn and experience mood swings and are prone to severe anger or aggression issues. They also are often affected by various sensory issues, like feeling like they have deja vu or experiencing shadows or objects changing forms and hearing sounds that other people can't hear. They are sensitive, irritable and easily overwhelmed.
This kind of ADD has similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include low attention spans and disorganization. It also has difficulties staying focused or following instructions. However, this kind of ADD doesn't cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD occurs more often in women. People with this type of ADD might have low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine which contributes to their feelings of low motivation and low self-regulation. The symptoms include insomnia, anger and anxiety.
In this instance, qEEG scans of the ADD brain reveal that individuals with Overfocused ADD have difficulties shifting gears. They show normal activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to move from one task or thought to the next, and they are stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors.
This is a type of ADD in which people are extremely motivated and productive but are unable to concentrate on their tasks. They can get lost in their school work and their teachers or parents are often tired or ashamed of their behavior. They may experience difficulties in relationships due to their tendency to be impulsive and reactive. They also have issues multitasking and working with others. In certain situations they may suffer from depression or anxiety. They could be susceptible to panic attacks and hallucinations. add and treatment for this type of ADD are not recommended since they don't address the underlying causes of symptoms.