ADD and Treatment

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

The psychiatric disorder is most commonly known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or adhd treatment in adults. Mental health specialists diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.

Symptoms of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful and unorganized. The use of 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. Brain scans reveal that those suffering from this type of ADD are able to maintain normal activity while concentrating and rest in the prefrontal cortex, but have decreased activity in their cerebellum and basal ganglia. These areas help produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, tranquility, and focus. This type has a short attention span, and is easily distracted by noises and other stimuli and is unable to shift focus. They also have difficulty falling asleep and are often woken up in the middle of the night with anxiety or nightmares. They often feel overwhelmed by their emotions and have an impulsive personality, getting easily frustrated and easily angered.

Ring of Fire ADD is distinguished by all the typical ADD symptoms, but also by difficulties in shifting their attention from one thought to the next and shifting their focus from one task to the next. They have a sensitivity to noise, light, and touch and they talk too quickly and are easily impulsive and easily provoked into a mean-spirited behavior. They can experience periods of agitation and low energy levels, are easily angered, and get stuck on negative thoughts and guilt feelings.

Limbic ADD can be confused with depression, however 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 to get diagnosed and treated for adhd happy or sad we are) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex at both rest and during concentration. It can be treated with supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with saffron, inositol which increase alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also be helpful to slow neural activity, preventing nerve cells from firing irregularly or excessively.

It is important to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which also can trigger irritability, anger, and poor self-esteem. The difference is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms is more prone to constant anger and frustration over time, whereas Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to manifest in waves.

Overfocused ADD

Over-focused ADD patients often get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors that trigger excessive worrying. This is because they exhibit rigid behavior that is similar to those with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). People with OCD are often threatened emotionally when asked to shift their attention from one activity to another and may respond with argumentative or oppositional behavior.

They are often irritable and their irritability can be caused by a low-grade chronic sadness or negative mood. They might also have memory problems, experience severe anger, and may have a short fuse.

People who suffer from over-focused ADD are inflexible when they have to change tasks, and can become enthralled by their work or hobbies. They are at risk of missing deadlines at work and forgetting appointments at home and they may not finish tasks or school assignments. They may also be stubborn and resentful when they are punished or reprimanded by their parents or teacher.

Children who have overfocused ADD exhibit a high level of irritability and stubbornness, and may be likely to throw inconsolable tantrums When Adhd Goes untreated their interests are trampled on. They may be obsessed with particular toys, activities, and video games. They may also have trouble communicating their feelings and are very sensitive to rejection or criticism.

This kind of ADD can be difficult to diagnose, especially in children. Children who show this behavior often have trouble understanding that their problems are caused due to the inability of them to shift their focus between tasks. This is the reason it's crucial 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 usually treated using dietary changes, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some medications are prescribed, but this kind of ADD can be difficult to treat using stimulant medications used to treat adhd because they can raise a person's levels of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is often used to differentiate the seven distinct types of ADD, and is particularly helpful for diagnosing overfocused ADD.

Anxious ADD

Many people with ADD experience high levels of anxiety. Comorbidity, also known as having more than one disorder at the same time, is common and affects as much as half of people with ADD/adhd diagnosis and treatment. Stress and anxiety can mimic the symptoms of ADD/adhd treatment adults. Incorrect diagnosis can lead to unsuitable treatment and frustration.

Anxious ADD can lead to problems at work, school and social situations. This kind of ADD can lead to low achievement and feelings of inadequateness. People with anxious ADD avoid difficult tasks or events because they fear they won't succeed.

They also fear being criticised or being judged. They hide their problems to others. In some cases, people are so stressed and anxious that they develop panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They cause heart pounding sweating, breathing difficulties and difficulty. Anxious ADD is different from Classic ADD because it has an increased activity in the basal ganglia and the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and prioritize safety. This can shut down PFC and can make it difficult for people with this disorder to concentrate.

When a person has anxiety and ADD/ADHD, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to manage. This is because treatment protocols for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate the brain can actually increase anxiety in people with anxious ADD by reducing the activity in their PFC.

The psychiatrists at Amen Clinics employ functional neuroimaging techniques, such as SPECT scanning, to determine where in the brain there are areas of low or high levels of activity. This helps them distinguish between the seven types and determine the best method of treatment.

A psychiatrist will gather an entire medical record and perform a physical examination to diagnose ADHD or ADD. Additionally, he or will ask questions about mood and behavior to assess the overall health of a patient. Sometimes, medications are used 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, and desensitization. This can increase their ability to manage their moods and overall function.

Temporal Lobe ADD

This type of ADD affects the temporal lobe in the brain which is responsible for mood and memory. This type of ADD is characterised by a problem learning and storing information and mood swings, as well as severe anger or aggressive issues. They also are often affected by a variety of sensory issues, like experiencing a sense of déjà vu, seeing shadows or objects changing forms and hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They can be irritable, sensitive and easily overwhelmed.

The symptoms of this type of ADD are similar to those of Classic ADD, including short attention spans, disorganization, difficulty staying on task, and procrastinating. However, this kind of ADD does not cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more common in women. People suffering from this type of ADD may have low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine which can cause feelings of low motivation and low self-regulation. The symptoms include insomnia, anxiety and irritability.

In this instance QEEG scans of the ADD brain reveal that people with Overfocused ADD are experiencing difficulty shifting gears. They have normal activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to move from one task or thought to the next, and they get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviours.

This is a type of ADD where people are highly motivated and hardworking but have a tendency not to pay attention to important tasks. They can lose track and be embarrassed or exhausted due to their actions. They may have a hard time in relationships due to their tendency to be hyper-active or reactive, and struggle managing multiple tasks or working with others. In some instances, they might be depressed or anxious. They are susceptible to panic attacks and susceptible to hallucinations. Medications for this type of ADD aren't usually advised, since they do not address the underlying cause of symptoms.