Watch Out: What ADD And Treatment Is Taking Over And What We Can Do About It

ADD and Treatment

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

The psychiatric condition is often referred to as attention hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD. Mental health professionals utilize the SPECT brain imaging method to diagnose ADHD.

The symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful, and unorganized. The use of 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. Brain scans show that those with this type of ADD have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex at rest and during concentration, however they have reduced activity in the cerebellum and the basal ganglia which are responsible for the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that enhances focus, motivation and calmness. People with this type have a difficult in shifting their focus and are easily distracted by noise and other stimuli, and have a short attention span. They also have trouble falling asleep and often wake up during the night with anxiety or nightmares. They can be easily annoyed and are often angry.

People suffering from Ring of Fire ADD have all the symptoms of the classic ADD However, they also have difficulty shifting their attention from one thought to another thought and from task to task. They have a sensitivity to light, noise and touch and they talk too fast and are impulsive and easily triggered into a mean-spirited behaviour. They can experience periods of agitation and fatigue, are easily angered and can get stuck in negative thoughts and guilty feelings.

It is possible to mix the symptoms of limbic ADD with depression. However, it is different because it increases activity in the limbic part of the brain at time of rest and during concentration. It is a condition that can be treated using supplements such as L-tryptophan, 5-HTP as well as saffron and inositol that increase alertness, focus and mood. They also improve 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 distinguish between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which also can cause frustration, irritability, and poor 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

Overfocused ADD sufferers are often caught in negative patterns of thoughts and behavior that cause excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns that resemble the ones of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) which is the reason it's often incorrectly diagnosed. These individuals often become threatened emotionally when required to shift their focus from one thing to another, and can react with a threatening or hostile behavior.

These people tend to have a short fuse and their irritability 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 feel intense anger and aggression.

People who have hyper-focused ADD are not flexible when they have to change tasks, and may be captivated by their work or hobbies. They are prone to missing deadlines at work, and not remembering appointments at home, and they might not finish chores or school assignments. They can also be stubborn and resentful when they are reprimanded or chastised by their parents or teacher.

Children with hyper-focused ADD exhibit a high level of irritability and stubbornness, and can be prone to throwing inconsolable tantrums when their interests are violated. They may be obsessed with specific activities, toys, and video games. They may also have difficulty in expressing their emotions and can be very sensitive to rejection or criticism.

This form of ADD can be difficult to diagnose, especially for 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 from one task to the next. This is why it's essential to seek help from a professional, as children with this type of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This type of ADD is usually treated with dietary changes, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This type of ADD is difficult to treat even with stimulant medications, because it can increase hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is a method to distinguish between the seven kinds of ADD. It is especially helpful in diagnosing overfocused ADD.

Anxious ADD

Many people with ADD have high levels of anxiety. This is a comorbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common, impacting the majority of people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mirror the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. A misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatment and anger.

Anxious ADD may cause problems at work, at school or with social situations. This type of ADD may result in low performance and feelings of inadequacy. People with anxiety ADD avoid challenging tasks or activities because they are afraid they won't be successful.

They also fear being criticized or judged. They hide their problems to others. They can become so stressed and anxious that they suffer from panic attacks. These panic attacks can be severe and life-threatening. They cause an increase in heart rate sweating, difficulty breathing and difficulty breathing. Contrary to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD are more active in their basal ganglia and the amygdala, which operate on an instinctual basis and place a high priority on safety. This can shut down PFC and can make it difficult for these individuals concentrate.

If a person with ADHD or ADD has anxiety their symptoms are generally more difficult to manage than those of a person who isn't suffering from anxiety. This is because treatment protocols for ADD/ADHD, which are designed to stimulate the brain may actually increase anxiety in people with anxiety ADD by decreasing the activity of their PFC.

Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging such as SPECT scans to identify which areas of the brain have high and/or lower levels of activity are present. This helps them differentiate between the seven types and determine the best treatment.

To determine if someone has ADD/ADHD psychiatrist collects a full medical history and performs an examination. Additionally, he or will ask questions about the patient's mood and behavior to evaluate a patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medications are used to treat the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. However, in many cases, patients require other therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy, exercise, nutrition, sleep strategies and desensitization. This will help increase their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall function.

Temporal Lobe ADD

This type 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 as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggressive issues. They also suffer from various sensory issues, including feeling like they have deja vu or seeing shadows or objects changing forms and hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They can be irritable, sensitive and easily overstimulated.

This type of ADD has similar symptoms to Classic ADD.  adhd treatment in adults  include inattention spans that are short and disorganized. It also presents with difficulty in staying focused or following directions. However, this kind of ADD does not cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This type of ADD is more prevalent in females. People suffering from this kind of ADD may suffer from low levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, which contributes to their feelings of depression and poor self-regulation. Symptoms can include trouble sleeping and feelings of anxiety or irritability.

In this instance brain mapping scans qEEG of the brain show that individuals with over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gland which is the brain's "gear shifter," but they are having trouble shifting gears. They are not able to move from one thought or task to another, and get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviours.

This is a kind of ADD where people can be extremely motivated and hardworking however, they tend to get easily distracted by unimportant or non-essential tasks. They can get lost in their school work, and their teachers or parents can become exhausted or ashamed of their behavior. They may have a hard time in relationships due to their tendency to be impulsive or reactive, and struggle managing multiple tasks or working with others. In some cases, they can suffer from depression or anxiety. They are susceptible to panic attacks and susceptible to hallucinations. The use of medications for this kind of ADD aren't usually advised, since they don't address the underlying cause of symptoms.