Why No One Cares About ADD And Treatment
Why No One Cares About ADD And Treatment
Blog Article
ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is often associated with problems at school, home or at work. The psychiatric disorder is difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is most often referred to as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Mental health professionals utilize the SPECT brain imaging method to diagnose ADHD.
Symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful and disorganized. 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 people with this type have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex at rest and during concentration, but less activity in the cerebellum and the basal ganglia which are responsible for the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter which enhances focus, motivation and calmness. People with this type have a hard to focus their attention, are easily distracted by noise and other stimuli, and have a short attention span. They also have difficulty falling asleep and often wake up at night with anxiety or nightmares. They are easily frustrated and are often angry.
Those with Ring of Fire ADD have all the hallmarks of the classic ADD However, they also have difficulty shifting their attention from thought to thought and from task to task. They have a sensitivity to noise, light, and touch; they talk too quickly and are impulsive, and easily provoked into mean behavior. They are susceptible to moodiness, low energy and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
It is possible to mix the condition of limbic ADD with depression. But it is distinct because it stimulates activity in the limbic region of the brain when it is at time of rest and during concentration. It can be treated with supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP), saffron and inositol which increase alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA is also helpful to reduce neural activity and prevent nerve cells from firing erratically or too frequently.
It is crucial to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder, which can cause irritability and frustration and low self-esteem. The difference is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms is more prone to constant irritability and frustration over time, whereas Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD patients are often stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors which cause excessive worry. They exhibit rigid behaviors that resemble the ones of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) which is why it's often mistakenly diagnosed. People with OCD are often threatened emotionally when they are required to shift their attention from one task to the next and may respond with argumentative or oppositional behavior.
These people are likely to have an inability to keep their cool, with their irritability coming from a chronic negative or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome," and frequent feelings of hopelessness and desperation. They may also be afflicted by memory issues, experience extreme anger, and may have a short fuse.
People who suffer from over-focused ADD are unable to adapt when it comes to changing tasks, and can be captivated by their work or interests. They are at risk of missing deadlines at work, and forgetting appointments at home, and may not complete homework or other school assignments. They can also be stubborn and resentful when reprimanded by their parents or teachers.
Children with hyperfocused ADD are often angry and stubborn, and they might throw temper tantrums when their interests are not respected. They may be obsessed with particular toys, activities, and video games. They may also have trouble expressing their feelings and be very sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This form of ADD can be difficult to identify, particularly when it affects children. Children who exhibit this type of behavior are often unable to comprehend that their problems are caused by an inability to change their focus from one task to the next. It is important to speak with an expert as these children are more likely to be misdiagnosed with ADD. This kind of ADD can be treated with diet modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. Medications are sometimes prescribed, but this type of ADD is difficult to treat with stimulant medications because they can boost a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to identify the seven distinct kinds of ADD, and is particularly useful in diagnosing over-focused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have high levels of anxiety. Comorbidity, also known as having multiple disorders simultaneously is a common occurrence and can affect up to half of those with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Misdiagnosis may cause unsuitable treatment and frustration.
Anxious ADD can lead to problems at work, school, and social situations. This kind of ADD can cause underperformance and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People with anxiety ADD avoid difficult tasks or activities because they fear that they won't be successful.
They are also afraid of being judged and critiqued. Due to this, they tend to hide their issues from others. These people can be so stressed and anxious that they have panic attacks. These can be very severe and life-threatening, causing a pounding heart, sweating, and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD is different from Classic ADD because it has an increased activity in the basal ganglia as IamPsychiatry well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on safety. This can shut down the PFC, which can make it difficult for people with ADD to focus.
If someone with anxiety or ADD, their symptoms are usually more difficult to treat than those of someone who doesn't have anxiety. This is because treatment plans for ADD/ADHD which are designed to stimulate the brain could actually increase anxiety in people with anxious ADD by decreasing activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging techniques like SPECT scans in order to determine where in the brain low and/or higher levels of activity are found. This allows them to distinguish between the seven types of ADD and determine the most effective treatment for each patient.
To determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist collects a full medical history and performs an examination. In addition, he / will ask questions about behavior and mood to determine a patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medication is used to treat ADHD and ADD. However, in many instances, patients also require other therapies, including cognitive behavior therapy and exercise, nutrition sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. This can enhance their ability to control their emotions and their overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe in the brain, which is responsible both for memory and mood. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to process and store information, experience mood instability, and suffer from severe anger or aggression issues. They may also suffer from sensory issues such as feeling like they're in a dream, seeing shadows or objects change form or hearing sounds that others don't hear. They can be extremely sensitive and angry and are often overstimulated by certain things, such as computer screens or crowds.
This kind of ADD has the same symptoms as Classic ADD. These include low attention spans and disorganization. It also presents with difficulty in staying focused or following instructions. However, this kind of ADD doesn't cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in women. This kind of ADD is characterized by low levels of dopamine in the brain, which can cause feelings of low motivation or poor self-regulation. Symptoms can include trouble sleeping and feelings of irritability or anxiety.
In this instance QEEG scans of the ADD brain show that those with Overfocused ADD are having difficulty shifting gears. They have normal activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to shift from one task or thought to another, and they become stuck in negative thinking patterns and behavior.
This is a form of ADD where individuals can be highly motivated and productive but they also tend to be easily distracted by unimportant or non-essential tasks. They may lose track of their schoolwork, and their parents or teachers are often annoyed or embarrassed by their behavior. They may be struggling in relationships due to their tendency to be reactive and impulsive. They also have issues multitasking and working with others. In some instances, they might be depressed or anxious. They might be susceptible to hallucinations and panic attacks. Medications for this type of ADD are not advised, since they do not address the underlying cause of symptoms.