ADD and Treatment

ADD and treatment is usually associated with problems at home, school or at work. The psychiatric disorder can be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly used term for this psychiatric disorder. Mental health specialists diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.

Symptoms of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Medications like stimulants and antidepressants can aid in overcoming.

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 those suffering from this condition have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex at rest and during concentration, but decreased activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, which are responsible for the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps to increase motivation, focus and a sense of calm. People with this type have a difficult in shifting their focus, are easily distracted by the noise or other stimuli and have shorter attention spans. They are unable to fall asleep, and often awake in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They are easily frustrated and often get angry.

People suffering from Ring of Fire ADD have all the symptoms of classic ADD, but they also struggle to shift their attention from one thought to another thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to noise, light, and touch; they talk too quickly and are easily impulsive and easily provoked into mean behaviour. They can experience periods of agitation and fatigue, are easily angered and can get stuck in negative thoughts and guilty feelings.

Limbic ADD can be confused with depression, but it's distinct from depression in that it has 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 reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex at both when we are at rest and while in concentration. It is a condition which can be treated with supplements such as L-tryptophan, 5-HTP, saffron, and inositol that increase concentration, alertness and mood. They also improve mental clarity. Also, amino acid GABA to regulate neural activity and inhibit 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 also cause irritability and frustration and low self-esteem. The distinction between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more consistent degree of irritability throughout the course of time. Bipolar Disorder tends to exhibit symptoms that appear in waves.

Overfocused ADD

Overfocused ADD patients often get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors which trigger excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behaviors similar to those of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) which is why it's often mistakenly diagnosed. People with OCD are often threatened emotionally when asked to shift their attention from one thing to another, and can respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.

They are prone to having an inability to keep their cool and their irritability stems from a persistent negative or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome," and often feeling of despair and a sense of worthlessness. They might also have difficulty learning, experience memory issues, or have extreme anger and aggression.

People who suffer from over-focused ADD are not flexible when they have natural ways to treat adhd change tasks, and can become enthralled by their work or interests. They might forget appointments and deadlines at work or at home and may not complete their chores or schoolwork. They may also be stubborn and resentful when they are reprimanded or chastised by their teachers or parents.

Children with hyperfocused ADD can be irritable and stubborn, and might throw temper tantrums when their interests are not recognized. They may be obsessed with a particular activity, toys and video games. They can also have difficulty in expressing their emotions and can be very sensitive to criticism or rejection.

This type of ADD is more prevalent among children, and is difficult to identify. Children who show this behavior may have difficulty understanding that their issues are caused by an inability to change their attention from one task to another. This is the reason it's crucial to seek the help of an expert, since these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family physicians and even psychologists. This kind of ADD is typically treated with dietary changes, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Medications are sometimes prescribed, but this kind of ADD is difficult to treat with stimulant medications, as these can increase a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is sometimes used to differentiate the seven distinct kinds of ADD, and is particularly helpful for diagnosing overfocused ADD.

Anxious ADD

Many people with ADD have a high degree of anxiety. This is a comorbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common, impacting about half of sufferers of ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and the wrong diagnosis can lead to ineffective treatment and more frustration.

Anxious ADD can cause issues at work, at school, or with social situations. This type of ADD could result in low performance and feelings of inadequacy. People suffering from anxious ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and activities because they think they're not capable of completing the task.

They also fear being judged or critiqued. This is why they tend to hide their issues from their peers. In some cases, these sufferers are so stressed and anxious that they experience panic attacks. These panic attacks can be extremely severe and life-threatening. They trigger heart pounding, sweating and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD is different from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the Basal ganglia and the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on safety. This can shut down PFC and can make it difficult for these individuals focus.

If a person suffers from anxiety and ADD/adhd treatment for older adults their symptoms are more difficult to treat. This is due to treatment strategies for ADD/adhd symptoms and Treatment which are designed to stimulate the brain could actually increase anxiety among people who suffer from anxiety ADD by decreasing activity in their PFC.

Amen Clinics psychiatrists use functional neuroimaging techniques like SPECT scans in order to determine the areas of the brain where high and/or lower levels of activity are occurring. This allows them to differentiate between the seven types of ADD and determine the most effective treatment for each individual.

A psychiatrist will gather the complete medical history of a patient and conduct a physical examination to determine if a patient has the condition of ADD/ADHD. In addition, he or might ask questions regarding behavior and mood to determine a patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medications used to treat adhd are prescribed to treat ADD/adult adhd diagnostic assessment and treatment. However, in many cases, patients require other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy, diet, exercise sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. This may improve their ability to control their emotions and their overall performance.

Temporal Lobe ADD

This type of ADD affects the temporal lobe within the brain which is responsible for mood and memory. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to learn and store information and experience mood swings and are prone to extreme anger or aggression issues. They may also be suffering from sensory issues, such as experiencing deja vu and seeing shadows or objects change form or hearing sounds that others can't hear. They are irritable, sensitive and easily overwhelmed.

The symptoms of this kind of ADD are similar to those of Classic ADD, including short attention spans and disorganization, difficulties in staying on task and procrastinating. This kind of ADD is not associated with excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD is more common in females. This type of ADD is characterised by low levels of dopamine in the brain, which can result in feelings of depression or a lack of self-regulation. Symptoms include difficulty sleeping, anger and 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 gyrus, the brain's "gear shifter," but they are struggling to shift gears. They are unable to move from one thought or task to another, and they are stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviours.

This is a type of ADD that is characterized by people who are extremely motivated and productive but have a tendency not to pay attention to important tasks. They can get lost and become embarrassed or tired because of their behavior. They may be struggling in relationships because of their tendency to be reactive and impulsive. They also have issues managing multiple tasks and working with others. In some instances they might suffer from depression or anxiety. They might be susceptible to panic attacks and hallucinations. Medications are not usually advised for this kind of ADD, because it doesn't tackle the root cause of the symptoms.