Why You Should Focus On Making Improvements To ADD And Treatment
Why You Should Focus On Making Improvements To ADD And Treatment
Blog Article
ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is typically connected to problems at school, home or at work. The psychiatric condition can be difficult to diagnose and manage.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common name for this psychiatric disorder. Mental health professionals utilize SPECT brain imaging to diagnose ADHD.
The symptoms of typical ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Antidepressants and stimulants can 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 condition have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex at rest and during concentration, however they have less activity in the cerebellum and the basal ganglia which are responsible for the production of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that promotes motivation, focus, and calmness. People with this type have a hard time shifting their attention, are easily distracted by noise and other stimuli, and have shorter attention spans. They have trouble falling asleep and frequently awake in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They often feel overwhelmed by their emotions and have an impulsive personality, getting quickly frustrated with tasks and easily angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is distinguished by all the typical ADD symptoms as well as difficulties in shifting their focus between thoughts and between tasks. They are sensitive to light, sound, and touch. They talk too quickly and are highly impulsive. They have periods of moodiness and low energy levels, are quick to anger and can get stuck in negative thoughts and guilt.
Limbic ADD can be mistaken for depression, but it's different than depression because it causes increased activity in the limbic part of the brain (the brain region that sets our mood and determines the level of happiness or sadness we feel) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex both rest and during concentration. It can be treated by supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP), saffron and inositol, which improve alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also help slow neural activity, preventing nerve cells from firing in a erratic manner or too frequently.
It is crucial to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders, such as Bipolar Disorder that can result in frustration and irritability, as well as 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 have symptoms that come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers tend to get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors that cause excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns similar to those of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) which is the reason it's often incorrectly diagnosed. They may become emotional when they are asked to switch their attention between activities and may respond with oppositional or argumentative behavior.
They are prone to having an inability to keep their cool and their anger stems from a constant depression or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome," and often feeling of despair and a sense of worthlessness. They may also be afflicted by memory problems, experience severe anger, and may have a short fuse.
People who have hyper-focused ADD are unable to adapt when they have to change tasks, and can become highly captivated by their hobbies or work. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work, and not remembering appointments at home, and they might not finish tasks or school assignments. They can also be stubborn and resentful when they are disapproved of by their teachers or parents.
Children with hyperfocused ADD are often angry and stubborn, and they might throw temper tantrums when their interests aren't respected. They might be obsessed with particular activities such as toys and video games. They can also have difficulty in expressing their emotions and can be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This form of ADD is more common in children, and is often difficult to identify. Children often don't realize that their problem is caused by their inability switch their focus between different things. It's important to consult a professional as these children are more likely to be misdiagnosed for ADD. This kind of ADD is usually treated using modifications to diet, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Medications are sometimes prescribed, but this kind of ADD can be difficult to treat using stimulant medications because they can increase a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to distinguish the seven distinct kinds of ADD, and is particularly useful in diagnosing over-focused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD suffer from high levels of anxiety. This is a comorbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common and affects about half of sufferers of ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. A misdiagnosis can cause inappropriate treatment and anger.
Anxious ADD can cause problems at work, in school or in social situations. This type of ADD may cause low performance and feelings of inadequateness. People suffering from anxious ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and events because they believe they're not capable of completing the task.
They are also afraid of being judged or being criticized. This is why they often hide their troubles from their peers. In some cases, these sufferers are so stressed and anxious that they suffer from panic attacks. They can be extremely dangerous and life-threatening, resulting in sweating, a pounding heart, 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 causes a shutdown of PFC and makes it difficult for people with this disorder to focus.
When a person has anxiety and ADD/ADHD, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to manage. This is due to treatments for ADD/ADHD, that are designed to stimulate brain activity, may actually increase anxiety among those with anxiety-related ADD.
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 allows them to distinguish between the seven types of brain and determine the best treatment.
To determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist takes a thorough medical history and performs physical examination. The doctor may also inquire about the patient's mood and behavior in order to evaluate the patient's overall performance. Some medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD, however, most patients require other therapies in addition, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, nutrition and exercise, sleep strategies, desensitization, and other relaxation techniques. This can increase their ability to manage their emotions and their overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD involves the temporal lobe of the brain, which is responsible for mood and memory. People suffering from this kind of ADD struggle to learn and store information, experience mood instability, and are prone to severe anger or aggression issues. They may also be suffering from sensory issues like feeling like they're in a dream when objects or shadows change shape, or hearing sounds that others don't long-term effects of untreated adhd in adults hear. They are irritable, sensitive and easily overstimulated.
This kind of ADD has the same symptoms as Classic ADD. These include low attention spans and disorganization. It also presents with difficulties staying focused or following directions. This kind of ADD is not associated with an excessive amount of impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD is more common in females. People suffering from this type of ADD may suffer from low levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, which can lead to feelings of low motivation and poor self-regulation. It is characterized by sleeplessness, anger and anxiety.
In this instance, qEEG brain mapping scans of the brain show that people with Over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gyrus, the brain's "gear shifter," but they are having trouble shifting gears. They are unable to move from one task or thought to the next, and they are stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors.
This is a kind of ADD which means that people are highly motivated and hardworking but they also have a tendency to get distracted by unimportant or non-essential tasks. They may lose track of their schoolwork, and their teachers or parents are often exhausted or ashamed of their behavior. They may experience difficulties in relationships due to their tendency to be reactive and impulsive. They also have difficulty multitasking and working with others. In some cases they may be depressed or anxious. They could be susceptible to hallucinations or panic attacks. The use of medication is not advised for this kind of ADD as it doesn't address the root cause of the symptoms.