10 Essentials About ADD And Treatment You Didn't Learn At School
10 Essentials About ADD And Treatment You Didn't Learn At School
Blog Article
ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is often connected to problems at home, school or work. The psychiatric illness can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is often referred to as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD. Mental health professionals utilize SPECT brain imaging to determine ADHD.
The symptoms of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Medications such as stimulants and antidepressants can ease the symptoms.
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 reveal that those suffering from this type can maintain normal activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex, however, they have less activity in their cerebellum and the basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, an important neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness and concentration. People with this type have a hard time shifting their attention, are easily distracted by the noise or other stimuli and have short attention spans. They have difficulty falling asleep and frequently awake in the middle of the night with anxiety. They are easily frustrated and are often angry.
Those with Ring of Fire ADD have all the symptoms of classic ADD, but they also have trouble shifting their attention from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to noise, light, and touch. They talk too fast and are indecisive. They experience periods of depression and low energy, are easily angered and are prone to relapse into negative thoughts and guilty feelings.
It is possible to confuse the symptoms of limbic ADD with depression. However, it is distinct because it stimulates activity in the limbic region of the brain at time of rest and during concentration. It can be treated with supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with saffron, inositol that increase alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also help slow neural activity, preventing nerve cells from firing irregularly or too frequently.
It is important to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder which can also result in frustration and irritability, as well as low self-esteem. The difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more consistent level of irritability over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to suffer from symptoms that occur in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD patients often get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior that trigger excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns similar to those of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is why it's often incorrectly diagnosed. People with OCD are often threatened emotionally when required to shift their focus from one activity to another, and can react with a threatening or hostile behavior.
They tend to be angry, and their irritability is caused by chronic low-grade depression or sadness. They might also have memory problems, experience severe anger, and have a short fuse.
People with overfocused ADD might be rigid when it comes changing tasks and may become absorbed in their hobbies or work. They are at risk of missing deadlines at work and forgetting appointments at home and they may not finish homework or other school assignments. They can also be stubborn and resentful when they are reprimanded by their teachers or parents.
Children with overfocused ADD can be irritable and stubborn, and might throw temper tantrums when their interests aren't respected. They may be obsessed with specific toys, activities and video games. They may also have difficulty in expressing their emotions and can be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This type of ADD can be difficult to recognize, especially when it affects children. Children often don't realize that their issue is caused by their inability to switch their attention from one thing to another. This is the reason it's crucial to seek out help from an expert, as these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family physicians and even psychologists. This kind of ADD can be treated using diet modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. Some medications are prescribed, however this kind of ADD is difficult to treat with stimulant drugs, since they can raise a person's levels of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is sometimes used to identify the seven distinct kinds of ADD and is especially useful in diagnosing over-focused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD have a high degree of anxiety. Comorbidity, also known as having multiple disorders simultaneously is a common occurrence and affects up to 50% of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Misdiagnosis may cause inappropriate treatment and anger.
Anxious ADD may cause problems at school, at work or with website social situations. This kind of ADD can cause underperformance and feelings of inadequacy. People with anxious ADD avoid difficult tasks or activities because they are afraid they won't be successful.
They are also afraid of being judged and critiqued. They hide their problems to others. These people can be so anxious and stressed that they experience panic attacks. These can be very severe and life-threatening, causing a pounding heart, sweating and breathing problems. Anxious ADD is distinct from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the basal ganglia and the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and prioritize security. This can shut down PFC and can make it difficult for those with this condition to focus.
When a person has ADD/ADHD and anxiety their symptoms are more difficult to treat. This is due to the treatment programs for ADD/ADHD which are designed to stimulate brain activity, can actually increase anxiety among people with anxiety-related ADD.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists utilize functional neuroimaging techniques like SPECT scans in order to determine where in the brain more or less activity are present. 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 collects a full medical history and conducts a physical exam. They may also ask about the patient's mood and behavior in order to evaluate the patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD but most patients require other therapies too, including cognitive behavioral therapy as well as nutrition and exercise sleep strategies, desensitization, and other techniques for relaxation. This can improve their ability to control their emotions and their overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the brain's temporal lobe which is responsible for memory and mood. This type of ADD is characterized by a difficulty in learning and keeping information in memory as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggressive issues. They also suffer from various sensory issues, like feeling like they have déjà vu, experiencing shadows or objects changing shapes, and hearing sounds other people don't hear. They are often sensitive and irritable and are often overwhelmed by certain activities, such as computer screens or crowds.
Symptoms of this type of ADD are similar to those in Classic ADD, including short attention spans, disorganization, difficulty following instructions or staying focused, and procrastinating. However, this kind of ADD doesn't cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD is more common in females. This kind of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain which can result in feelings of depression or insufficient self-regulation. Symptoms include difficulty sleeping, anger and anxiety.
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 having trouble shifting gears. They can't move from one task or thought to another, and they get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a type of ADD where individuals can be extremely motivated and hardworking, but they tend to get easily distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They can lose track of their school work and their parents or teachers are often annoyed or embarrassed by their behavior. They may have a difficult time in relationships because they are impulsive or reactive, and struggle managing multiple tasks or working with others. In some instances they may suffer from depression or anxiety. They might be susceptible to hallucinations and panic attacks. Treatments for this type of ADD are not usually recommended, as they don't address the underlying cause of symptoms.