treatment for add and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often related to issues at school, work, or home. The psychiatric illness can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most popular name used for this psychiatric disorder. Mental health professionals utilize the SPECT brain imaging method to diagnose ADHD.
Symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful and unorganized. Treatments such as stimulants and antidepressants may 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. Scans of the brain show those with this type of ADD have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration, but decreased activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, which produce dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that promotes motivation, focus, and calmness. People with this type have a hard to focus their attention and are easily distracted by distractions and noises, and have short attention spans. They also have trouble falling asleep and often wake up at night with anxiety or nightmares. They can be easily annoyed and are often angry.
People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the symptoms of classic ADD however, they also have trouble shifting their attention from one thought to another thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to noise, light, and touch. They talk too fast and are indecisive. They are prone to moodiness, low energy and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
Limbic ADD can be confused with depression, but it is distinct from depression because it is associated with increased activity in the limbic portion of the brain (the area that sets our mood and determines how happy or sad we are) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex at both at rest and during concentration. It is a condition that can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan, 5-HTP, saffron, and inositol that increase focus, alertness and mood as well as mental clarity; amino acid GABA to reduce neural activity and stop nerve cells from over-firing or firing erratically; and liver support.
treatment for adhd adults is important to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders like 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
Overfocused ADD patients are often stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors which result in excessive worry. This is because they exhibit rigid behaviors similar to people who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). People with OCD are often threatened emotionally when they are required to shift their focus from one thing to another and may respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
They tend to be irritable and their irritability can be due to a low-grade chronic sadness or negativity. They might also have difficulty learning, struggle with memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD are unable to adapt when it comes to changing tasks, and could become highly captivated by their hobbies or work. They are at risk of missing deadlines at work, and forgetting appointments at home and they might not finish homework or other school assignments. They could also be stubborn and resentful when disapproved of by their teachers or parents.
Children with hyper-focused ADD exhibit a high level of irritability and stubbornness, and can be susceptible to throwing a rage when their interests are trampled on. They may be obsessed with specific toys, activities and video games. They may also have trouble in expressing their emotions and can be very sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This form of ADD is more common in children and is often difficult to identify. The majority of children don't understand that their problem is caused by their inability to switch their attention from one thing to the next. This is the reason it's crucial to seek help from an expert, as children with this type of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This kind of ADD is typically treated with modifications to diet, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some medications are prescribed, but this kind of ADD is difficult to treat with stimulant medications because they can raise a person's levels 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 who suffer from ADD suffer from a high level of anxiety. Comorbidity, which is having multiple disorders simultaneously is a common occurrence and affects as much as 50% of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can be similar to the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and misdiagnosis can lead to improper treatment and further frustration.
Anxious ADD can lead to problems at school, work, and social situations. This type of ADD can cause underperformance and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People with anxious ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and events, believing they'll fail.
They are also afraid of being judged and being criticized. This is why they often hide their troubles from their peers. In some instances, sufferers are so anxious and stressed that they suffer from 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, as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on safety. This can shut down the PFC and can make it hard for these individuals to focus.
When a person has ADD/ADHD and anxiety, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to treat. This is because treatments for ADD/ADHD, that are designed to increase brain activity, can actually increase anxiety among people with anxious ADD.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scans in order to determine the areas of the brain where high and/or lower levels of activity are occurring. This helps them distinguish between the seven types of brain and determine the most effective treatment.
To determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist takes a thorough medical history and performs physical examination. He or she may also ask about the patient's mood and behavior to assess the patient's overall performance. Some medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD but in most cases, patients need other therapies too, including cognitive behavioral therapy or nutrition and exercise, strategies for sleep, desensitization and other techniques to relax. This can help improve their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD is a problem with the temporal lobe of the brain, which is responsible for memory and mood. This kind of ADD is characterized by a difficulty in learning and storing information, mood instability and severe anger or aggression issues. They also often suffer from various sensory issues, including feeling like they've experienced déjà vu, seeing shadows or objects change shapes, and hearing sounds others don't. They are often sensitive and angry, 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 inattention spans that are short and disorganized. It also presents with difficulty in staying focused or following instructions. However, this kind of ADD does not cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in women. This type of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain, which can lead to feelings of depression or poor self-regulation. Symptoms include difficulty sleeping, anxiety and irritability.
In this case, qEEG brain mapping scans of the brain show that people with Over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gland, the brain's "gear shifter," but they are struggling to shift gears. They can't move from one thought or task to the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a form of ADD where people can be highly motivated and hardworking however, they have a tendency to get distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They may lose focus and be embarrassed or exhausted due to their actions. They may have a difficult relationship with others because they are hyper-active or reactive, and have difficulty dealing with multitasking or working with others. In certain situations, they can suffer from depression or anxiety. They may be susceptible to panic attacks and susceptible to hallucinations. The use of medication is not advised for this kind of ADD as they don't treat the root of the symptoms.