10 Factors To Know About ADD And Treatment You Didn't Learn In School
10 Factors To Know About ADD And Treatment You Didn't Learn In School
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ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is usually connected to problems at home, school or work. The psychiatric disorder can be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most popular name used for this psychiatric condition. Mental health experts diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
Some of the symptoms are being easily distracted, forgetful and disorganized. The use of medications such as 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. The scans of the brain show that people suffering from this type of ADD are able to maintain normal activity during concentration and rest in the prefrontal cortex, but they are less active in their cerebellum and basal ganglia. These areas help produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness and focus. This type has a short attention span, and is easily distracted by noises and other stimuli, and has a hard time shifting attention. They also have difficulty falling asleep and are often woken up in the middle of the night with anxiety or nightmares. They can be easily annoyed and can be easily angry.
People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the symptoms of the classic ADD however, they also struggle to shift their attention from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to light, noise and even touch. They talk too fast and are highly impulsive. They are prone to moodiness, low energy and anger. They can also get caught up in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
Limbic ADD can be confused with depression, but it's distinct from depression in that it is associated with increased activity in the limbic part of the brain (the part that determines our emotional tone and regulates how happy or sad we feel) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex both when we are at rest and while in concentration. It is a condition that can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan, 5-HTP, saffron, and inositol that increase concentration, alertness and mood as well as mental clarity; amino acid GABA to calm neural activity and prevent nerve cells from over-firing or firing in a erratic manner; and liver support.
It is important to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder that can cause frustration and irritability as well as low self-esteem. The main difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD is more consistent in its level of irritability over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to have symptoms that come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD patients are often stuck in negative thoughts and behavior that cause excessive worry. This is due to rigid behaviors that are similar to those suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They are often frightened emotionally when they are required to shift their focus from one task to the next, and can react with a threatening or hostile behavior.
They are prone to having a short fuse and their anger stems from a persistent low-grade sadness or negativity "glass half-empty syndrome," and frequent feelings of hopelessness and a sense of worthlessness. They might also have difficulty learning, experience memory issues, or have extreme anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD are inflexible when it comes to changing tasks, and can be captivated by their work or interests. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work and forgetting appointments at home, and they may not finish homework or other school assignments. They could also be stubborn and resentful when they are reprimanded by their teachers or parents.
Children with hyperfocused ADD are often angry and stubborn, and can throw temper tantrums if their needs are not being recognized. They might be obsessed with certain activities, toys and video games. They may also have trouble in expressing their emotions and can be very sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This type of ADD is difficult to identify, particularly for children. Children who exhibit this type of behavior often have trouble understanding that their issues are caused by an inability to change their focus between tasks. It's important to consult a professional as these children are more likely to be misdiagnosed for ADD. This type of ADD is typically treated with dietary changes, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Medications are sometimes prescribed, but this kind of ADD can be difficult to treat with stimulant medications, as these can raise a person's levels of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to drugs used to treat adhd distinguish between the seven types of ADD. It is particularly useful in diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD have high levels of anxiety. Comorbidity, also known as having more than one disorder at the same time is a common problem and affects as much as half of people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. A misdiagnosis can lead to inadequate treatment and frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause issues at work, in school, or with social situations. This kind of ADD can result in low performance and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People with anxiety ADD avoid challenging tasks or events because they fear they won't succeed.
They are also afraid of being judged or criticised. They hide their problems to others. In some cases, these sufferers are so anxious and stressed that they experience panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They trigger a pounding of the heart sweating, difficulty breathing and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD differs from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the Basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on security. This causes a shutdown of PFC and makes it difficult for people with this disorder to concentrate.
If someone with ADD/ADHD has anxiety their symptoms are generally more difficult to manage than those of a person who does not suffer from anxiety. This is because treatment plans for ADD/ADHD, which are designed to stimulate the brain could actually increase anxiety in people with anxious ADD due to a decrease in the activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists utilize functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scans to identify which areas of the brain have low and/or higher levels of activity are occurring. This helps them differentiate between the seven kinds of ADD and determine the most effective treatment for each person.
To determine if someone has ADD/ADHD psychiatrist collects a full medical history and conducts a physical exam. In addition, he / she may ask questions about mood and behavior to assess the patient's overall performance. Some medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD but most patients require other therapies too, including cognitive behavioral therapy or nutrition and exercise, sleep strategies, desensitization, and other relaxation techniques. This may improve their ability to control their moods and overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe of the brain, which is responsible both for mood and memory. This type of ADD is manifested by a lack of learning and storing information as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggressive issues. They also are often affected by various sensory issues, like feeling like they have deja vu or seeing shadows or objects change forms and hearing sounds that other people can't hear. They are often irritable and sensitive, and often become overstimulated by certain activities, such as computer screens or crowds.
This type of ADD has the same symptoms as Classic ADD. These include short attention spans and disorganization. It also includes difficulty in staying focused or following directions. This kind of ADD does not cause excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD is more common in females. People with this type of ADD may have low levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, which can lead to feelings of depression and poor self-regulation. Symptoms can include trouble sleeping and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this instance, qEEG brain mapping scans of the brain reveal that people suffering from over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gyrus which is the brain's "gear shifter," but they are experiencing difficulty shifting gears. They can't move from one thought or task to the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors.
This is a form of ADD where people can be extremely motivated and hardworking but they also have a tendency to get distracted by mundane or insignificant tasks. They may lose focus and feel embarrassed or exhausted because of their behavior. They might have a difficult relationship due to their tendency to be unpredictable or reactive and have a hard time with multitasking or working with other people. In certain situations they may experience anxiety or depression. They may be prone hallucinations or panic attacks. Medications are not usually recommended for this type of ADD as it doesn't tackle the root cause of the symptoms.