The ADD And Treatment Success Story You'll Never Believe
ADD and TreatmentADD and its treatment are often associated with problems at work, school or home. The psychiatric disorder may be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric condition is often referred to as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Mental health professionals diagnose ADHD by using SPECT brain scans.
Symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Medications like stimulants and antidepressants 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 reduced activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia which are responsible for the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that enhances focus, motivation and a sense of calm. This type has a shorter attention span, and is easily distracted by noises and other stimuli and is unable to shift attention. They have difficulty falling asleep, and they often wake up in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They are often overwhelmed by emotions and have an impulsive personality, getting quickly frustrated with tasks and easily angered.
People suffering from Ring of Fire ADD have all the core symptoms of the classic ADD, but they also have trouble shifting their focus from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to light, noise, and touch. They talk too fast and are impulsive. They are prone to moodiness, low energy and anger. They also tend to get stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
It is possible to mistake the condition of limbic ADD with depression. But it is different because it increases activity in the limbic area of the brain at rest and when concentrating. It is a condition which can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan, 5-HTP as well as saffron and inositol, which boost alertness, focus, mood, and mental clarity; amino acid GABA to reduce neural activity and stop nerve cells from over-firing or firing erratically and liver support.
It is important to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder which can also result in frustration and irritability, as well as low self-esteem. The distinction is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms is more prone to constant frustration and irritability over time, while Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD sufferers tend to get stuck in negative patterns of thoughts and behaviors that cause excessive worry. They exhibit rigid behaviors that are similar to the ones of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is the reason it's often mistakenly diagnosed. They can be angry when they are asked to shift their attention between activities and may respond with oppositional or argumentative behavior.
These people are likely to have a short temper and their irritability stems from a persistent negative 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 issues, experience extreme anger, and may have a short fuse.
People who have hyper-focused ADD are unable to adapt when it comes to changing tasks, and could become highly captivated by their work or hobbies. They may forget appointments and deadlines at home or at work and they might not complete their chores or schoolwork. They could also be stubborn and resentful when disapproved of by their parents or teachers.
Children who have overfocused ADD have a high degree of irritability and stubbornness, and are susceptible to throwing a rage when their interests are trampled on. They may be obsessed with a particular activity, toys and video games. They may also have trouble expressing their feelings and be very sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This type of ADD is more common in children, and is difficult to recognize. Children who show this behavior are often unable to comprehend that their issues are caused by an inability to change their attention from one task to the next. It's important to consult an expert as these children are more likely to be misdiagnosed with ADD. This type of ADD can be treated with dietary modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Medications are sometimes prescribed, however this kind of ADD is difficult to treat using stimulant drugs, since they can increase a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be 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, which is having more than one disorder simultaneously is a common problem and affects up to half of people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and the wrong diagnosis can lead to ineffective treatment and even more frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause issues with school, work and social situations. This kind of ADD may cause low performance and feelings of inadequateness. People with anxious ADD avoid difficult tasks or events because they fear they won't succeed.
They also fear being criticized or judged. Due to this, they tend to hide their issues from others. These people can be so anxious and stressed that they suffer from panic attacks. These panic attacks can be extremely severe and life-threatening. They trigger heart pounding sweating, difficulty breathing and difficulty breathing. Contrary to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD have increased activity in their basal ganglia and the amygdala, which operate on an instinctual basis, and are able to prioritize safety. This causes the brain to shut down the PFC which makes it difficult for those with this condition to concentrate.
If someone suffers from ADD/ADHD and anxiety and anxiety, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to treat. This is because treatment plans for ADD/ADHD which are designed to stimulate the brain may actually increase anxiety in people with anxiety ADD due to a decrease in the activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging such as SPECT scans in order to determine the areas of the brain where more or less activity are occurring. This helps them differentiate between the seven types and determine the most effective treatment.
A psychiatrist will collect the complete medical history of a patient and conduct a physical examination to diagnose the condition of ADD/ADHD. In addition, he / she may ask questions about the patient's mood and behavior to evaluate a patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medications are prescribed to treat ADHD and ADD. However, in the majority of cases patients also need other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy and nutrition, exercise sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. This may improve their ability to control their emotions and improve their overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD here is a problem with the temporal lobe of the brain which is responsible for mood and memory. 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, such as feeling like they have deja vu or seeing shadows or objects change forms and hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They are often irritable and sensitive, and often become overstimulated by certain things, such as computer screens or crowds.
This kind of ADD is characterized by similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include low attention spans and disorganization. It also has difficulty staying on task or following directions. This type of ADD does not cause an excessive amount of impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD occurs more often in women. People suffering from this type of ADD might have low levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, which can cause feelings of low motivation and poor self-regulation. Some of the symptoms include difficulty sleeping and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this instance, qEEG scans of the ADD brain show that those with Overfocused ADD have difficulty shifting gears. They are experiencing normal activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to move from one thought or task to the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a form of ADD where people are extremely motivated and productive but are unable to concentrate on their tasks. They can lose track of their schoolwork, and their teachers or parents can become tired or embarrassed by their behavior. They might have a difficult time in relationships because they are impulsive or reactive, and struggle managing multiple tasks or working with other people. In some instances they might experience anxiety or depression. They can be prone to panic attacks and susceptible to hallucinations. Medications for this type of ADD aren't usually recommended since they do not address the root causes of symptoms.