ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often connected to problems at school, work, or at home. The psychiatric condition is often difficult to identify and treat.
The psychiatric condition is commonly known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Mental health professionals diagnose ADHD by using SPECT brain scans.
Symptoms of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful and unorganized. Medications such as stimulants and antidepressants may help.
I Am Psychiatry 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 levels of activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex, but have decreased activity in their cerebellum and basal ganglia. These areas help produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for motivation, calmness and focus. This type has a limited attention span, and is easily distracted by sounds or other stimuli and is unable to shift focus. They also have difficulty falling asleep and often wake up during the night with anxiety or nightmares. They often feel overwhelmed by their emotions and have a short fuse, becoming quickly annoyed by tasks and easily annoyed.
Ring of Fire ADD is characterized by all the classic ADD symptoms however, it also has a difficulty in shifting their focus from one thought to another and from one task to another. They are sensitive to light, noise and touch; they talk too quickly and are easily impulsive and easily triggered to a negative behavior. They are prone to moodiness, low energy and anger. They can also get caught up in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
Limbic ADD is often mistaken for depression, however it is distinct from depression because it has increased activity in the limbic portion 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 both at rest and during concentration. It is a condition which can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan, 5-HTP inositol, saffron, and saffron, which boost focus, alertness, mood, and mental clarity. They also use amino acid GABA to reduce neural activity and stop nerve cells from firing too much or irregularly and liver support.
It is important to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder that can cause irritability and frustration and low self-esteem. The difference is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms is more prone to constant irritability and frustration over time, while Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD sufferers often get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors that cause excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behaviors that are similar to the ones of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and that is the reason it's often misdiagnosed. These individuals often become threatened emotionally when they are asked to shift their attention from one activity to another and may respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
These people tend to have an inability to keep their cool, with their irritability coming from a chronic negative or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome," and frequently feeling hopeless and desperation. They may also be afflicted by memory problems, experience severe anger, and have a short fuse.
People who have hyper-focused ADD can be rigid when it comes to changing tasks and become engrossed in their work or hobby. They may forget appointments and deadlines at work or at home and they might not finish their homework or chores. They can also be stubborn and resentful when disapproved of by their parents or teachers.
Children who have overfocused ADD have a high degree of irritability and stubbornness and can be prone to throwing inconsolable tantrums when their interests are not respected. They might be obsessed with particular activities like video games, toys, and toys. They may also have difficulty in expressing their emotions and can be extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This type of ADD is difficult to identify, particularly for children. Children often don't realize that their problem is caused by their inability to switch their attention from one thing to the next. This is why it's important to seek help from an expert, as these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This type of ADD is treatable with dietary modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. This kind of ADD is difficult to treat, even with stimulant medication, because it can increase hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is a method to distinguish between the seven types of ADD. It is particularly useful in diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have high levels of anxiety. This co-morbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common, impacting 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 more frustration.
Anxious ADD may cause problems at work, in school, or with social situations. This type of ADD can cause under-performance and feelings of unworthiness. People who suffer from anxiety ADD are hesitant to take on difficult tasks or events because they fear that they won't be successful.
They also fear being criticised or considered a victim. They are afraid of being judged or criticised. others. In some cases, these people are so stressed and anxious that they experience panic attacks. They can be extremely dangerous and life-threatening, resulting in a pounding heart, sweating, and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD differs from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the basal ganglia and the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and prioritize safety. This shuts down PFC and makes it difficult for these individuals concentrate.
If a person suffers from ADD/ADHD and anxiety and anxiety, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to treat. This is due to the treatment programs for ADD/ADHD that are designed to increase brain activity, can increase anxiety among people with anxious ADD.
Psychiatrists at Amen Clinics use functional neuroimaging techniques, such as SPECT scanning, to learn where in the brain there are high and/or low levels of activity. This helps them distinguish between the seven types of brain and determine the best method of treatment.
To determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist collects a full medical history and conducts physical examination. They may also inquire about the patient's mood and behavior to evaluate the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD. However, in many instances, patients also require other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy, diet, exercise sleep strategies, and desensitization. This may improve their ability to control their emotions and improve their overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe within the brain, which is responsible both for memory and mood. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to process and store information and experience mood swings and are prone to extreme anger or aggression issues. They also often suffer from various sensory issues, such as experiencing a sense of deja vu or experiencing shadows or objects changing shapes and hearing sounds that other people can't hear. They are sensitive, irritable and easily overwhelmed.
This kind of ADD is characterized by similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include inattention spans that are short and disorganized. It also includes difficulty in staying focused or following instructions. However, this kind of ADD does not cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD is more common in females. People suffering from this kind of ADD may suffer from low levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, which contributes to their feelings of depression and low self-regulation. Symptoms include difficulty sleeping, anxiety and irritability.
In this case, qEEG brain mapping scans of the brain indicate that people suffering from over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate region which is the brain's "gear shifter," but they are experiencing difficulty shifting gears. They are unable to move from one task or thought to the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors.
This is a form of ADD where individuals can be highly motivated and hardworking, but they have a tendency to be easily distracted by unimportant or non-essential tasks. They can get lost and become embarrassed or tired by their behavior. They may have a difficult relationship with others because they can be hyper-active or reactive, and have difficulty managing multiple tasks or working with other people. In some instances, they might suffer from depression or anxiety. They might be susceptible to hallucinations and panic attacks. Medications are not usually recommended for this type of ADD, because it doesn't tackle the root cause of the symptoms.