10 Fundamentals To Know ADD And Treatment You Didn't Learn At School
ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are frequently connected to problems at school, work, or home. The psychiatric disorder can be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is most often referred to as attention hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. Mental health professionals utilize SPECT brain imaging to diagnose ADHD.
Symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful and disorganized. The use of medications such as stimulants and antidepressants can aid in overcoming.
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 people with this type have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex at rest and during concentration, but less activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia which produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter which helps to increase motivation, focus and calmness. People with this type have a hard time shifting their attention, are easily distracted by distractions and noises, and have shorter attention spans. They have trouble falling asleep, and they often wake up in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They can be easily annoyed and are often angry.

Those with Ring of Fire ADD have all the core symptoms of the classic ADD, but 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 even touch. They talk too fast and are indecisive. They are susceptible to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
Limbic ADD can be confused with depression, however it is different than depression because it is associated with increased activity in the limbic portion of the brain (the part that determines our emotional tone and regulates how happy or sad we feel) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex both when we are at rest and while in concentration. It can be treated with supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP), saffron and inositol, which improve alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also be helpful to reduce neural activity and prevent nerve cells from firing in a erratic manner or too frequently.
It is important to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which can trigger irritability, anger and low self-esteem. The distinction is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms has more consistent anger and frustration over time, whereas Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers are often caught in negative patterns of thoughts and behavior that cause excessive worry. This is because they exhibit rigid behaviors that are similar to those who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They may become emotionally upset when requested to switch their focus between tasks and can respond with oppositional or argumentative behavior.
They are prone to having a short temper, with their irritability coming from a chronic low-grade sadness or negativity "glass half-empty syndrome," and frequent feelings of hopelessness and desperation. They may also have trouble learning, have memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD may be rigid when it comes to changing tasks and become engrossed in their hobbies or work. They are prone to missing deadlines at work, and forgetting appointments at home, and they may not finish tasks or school assignments. They can also be very stubborn and resentful when they are punished or reprimanded by their teachers or parents.
Children with overfocused ADD can be angry and obstinate, and they may throw tantrums if their needs are not being respected. They can be obsessive about particular toys, activities, and video games. my latest blog post are also unable to express their emotions and may be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This type of ADD is difficult to diagnose, especially in children. Children who show this behavior are often unable to comprehend the cause of their problems. by a lack of ability to switch their focus from one task to the next. This is the reason it's crucial to seek help from an expert, as children with this kind of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family physicians and even psychologists. This type of ADD is usually treated with dietary changes, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of ADD is hard to treat, even with stimulant medication as it can cause the intensity of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is often used to distinguish the seven distinct kinds of ADD and is especially useful in diagnosing over-focused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have a high degree of anxiety. Comorbidity, also known as having multiple disorders simultaneously is a common problem and affects up to half of people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can be similar to the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and incorrect diagnosis can lead to inadequate treatment and even more frustration.
Anxious ADD may cause problems at school, at work or with social situations. This kind of ADD could result in low performance and feelings of inadequacy. People suffering from anxious ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and events, believing they're not capable of completing the task.
They are also afraid of being judged or being criticized. They hide their problems to others. These people can be so anxious and stressed that they suffer from panic attacks. These can be very dangerous and life-threatening, resulting in sweating, a pounding heart and breathing problems. Unlike Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD are more active in their basal ganglia and the amygdala. They operate on an instinctual basis and prioritize safety. This shuts down the PFC which makes it difficult for people with ADD to focus.
If someone with ADHD or ADD has anxiety the symptoms are typically more difficult to treat than those of someone who doesn't have anxiety. This is due to treatment programs for ADD/ADHD, that are designed to stimulate brain activity, can increase anxiety among those with anxiety-related ADD.
The psychiatrists at Amen Clinics employ functional neuroimaging, like SPECT scanning, to determine where in the brain there are areas of low or high levels of activity. This helps them differentiate between the seven types of ADD and determine the most effective treatment for each person.
A psychiatrist will collect the complete medical history of a patient and perform a physical examination to determine if the patient suffers from ADHD or ADD. In addition, he or will ask questions about the patient's mood and behavior to evaluate the overall health of a patient. Sometimes, medications are prescribed to treat ADD/ADHD. However, in the majority of instances, patients also require other therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy as well as exercise, nutrition, sleep strategies and desensitization. This can aid in improving their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe within the brain, which is responsible both for mood and memory. This kind of ADD is characterised by a problem learning and keeping information in memory as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggression issues. They may also be suffering from sensory issues such as feeling deja vu when objects or shadows change shape, or hearing sounds that others can't hear. They can be irritable, sensitive and easily overstimulated.
This kind of ADD is characterized by similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include inattention spans that are short and disorganized. It also has difficulty staying on task or following directions. However, this type of ADD does not cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This type of ADD is more common in females. People suffering from this type of ADD may suffer from low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which can lead to feelings of depression and poor self-regulation. It is characterized by sleeplessness, anxiety and irritability.
In this instance brain mapping scans qEEG of the brain reveal that people suffering from over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gyrus, the brain's "gear shifter," but they are experiencing difficulty shifting gears. They are unable to shift from one thought or task to another, and are stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors.
This is a type of ADD which means that people are highly motivated and hardworking however, they tend to get distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They can get lost and become embarrassed or tired due to their actions. They may have difficulty in relationships because of their tendency to be reactive and impulsive. They also have difficulty multitasking and working in a group. In some instances they may experience anxiety or depression. They are susceptible to panic attacks, and are susceptible to hallucinations. Medications are typically not recommended for this type of ADD as they don't tackle the root cause of the symptoms.