10 Key Factors About ADD And Treatment You Didn't Learn In The Classroom
10 Key Factors About ADD And Treatment You Didn't Learn In The Classroom
Blog Article
ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are usually connected to problems at school, work or at home. The psychiatric illness is often difficult to identify and treat.
The psychiatric condition is often referred to as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. Mental health specialists diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
The symptoms of typical ADD 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 show that those with this type of ADD have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration, however they have less activity in the cerebellum and the basal ganglia which are responsible for the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that enhances focus, motivation and a sense of calm. People with this type have a hard time shifting their attention, are easily distracted by noise and other stimuli, and have short attention spans. They have trouble falling asleep, and often wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety. They are often overwhelmed by emotions and possess a short fuse, becoming easily frustrated and easily angry.
People suffering from Ring of Fire ADD have all the core symptoms of classic ADD However, they also have trouble shifting their focus from thought to thought and from task to task. They are sensitive to light, sound, and touch. They talk too fast and are highly impulsive. They have periods of moodiness and low energy, are quick to anger, and get stuck on negative thoughts and guilty feelings.
Limbic ADD can be confused with depression, but it is different than depression because it has increased activity in the limbic part of the brain (the brain region that sets our emotional tone and controls how happy or sad we feel) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex at both rest and during concentration. It can be treated by supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) as well as saffron, inositol which increase alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA can also help calm neural activity, inhibiting nerve cells from firing erratically or excessively.
It is important to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder that can cause irritability and frustration and low self-esteem. The main difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD is more consistent in its level of irritability over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to exhibit symptoms that appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD patients often get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors which result in excessive worry. This is due to rigid behaviors that are similar to those with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). These individuals often become threatened emotionally when they are required to shift their focus from one task to the next, and can respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
They are generally irritable and their irritability can be caused by a low-grade chronic depression or sadness. They may also be afflicted by memory issues, experience extreme anger, and are prone to having a short fuse.
People who have hyper-focused ADD are not flexible when it comes to changing tasks, and could become highly captivated by their work or hobbies. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work and not remembering appointments at home, and may not complete chores or school assignments. They can also be stubborn and resentful when disapproved of by their teachers or parents.
Children with hyper-focused ADD show a high degree of stubbornness and irritability, and can be susceptible to throwing a rage when their interests are violated. They can be obsessive about specific toys, activities and video games. They also have difficulty expressing their emotions and may be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This type of ADD is difficult to identify, particularly for children. Children who show this behavior are often unable to comprehend that their problems are caused by a lack of ability to switch their attention from one task to the next. This is the reason it's crucial to seek the help of an expert, since children with this kind of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This type of ADD is usually treated using dietary changes, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This type of ADD is difficult to treat even with stimulant medication due to the fact that it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to differentiate between the seven types of ADD. It is especially useful in diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have a high level of anxiety. This comorbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common, affecting up to half of all people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and misdiagnosis can lead to improper treatment and further frustration.
Anxious ADD can lead to problems at school, work, and social situations. This kind of ADD may cause low performance and feelings of inadequacy. People who suffer from anxiety ADD avoid difficult tasks or activities because they fear that they won't be successful.
They also fear being judged or considered a victim. Because of this, they often hide their problems from others. These people can be so anxious and stressed that they experience panic attacks. These panic attacks can be serious and life-threatening. They trigger a pounding of the heart sweating, difficulty breathing and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD differs from Classic ADD because it has an increased activity in the basal ganglia and the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on security. This can shut down PFC and can make it difficult for those with this condition to concentrate.
If someone suffering from anxiety or ADD, their symptoms are usually 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 increase brain activity, can actually increase anxiety in people who have anxious ADD.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists utilize functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scans in order to determine where in IamPsychiatry the brain more or less activity are found. This allows them to distinguish between the seven kinds of ADD and determine the most effective treatment for each individual.
To diagnose ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist takes a thorough medical history and performs an examination. They may also ask about the patient's mood and behavior to assess the patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD. However, in most cases, patients require other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy and diet, exercise, sleep strategies and desensitization. This can improve their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD affects the temporal lobe within the brain, which is responsible both for memory and mood. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to learn and store information and experience mood swings and suffer from severe anger or aggression issues. They also often suffer from various sensory issues, like experiencing a sense of deja vu or seeing shadows or objects changing shapes and hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They can be extremely sensitive and irritable and are often overwhelmed by certain things, such as computer screens or crowds.
This type of ADD has similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include short attention spans and disorganization. It also presents with difficulty staying on task or following instructions. This kind of ADD is not associated with an excessive amount of impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in females. This kind of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain which can lead to feelings of low motivation or insufficient self-regulation. Some of the symptoms include difficulty sleeping and feelings of irritability or anxiety.
In this instance, qEEG brain mapping scans of the brain indicate that people suffering from Over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gyrus, the brain's "gear shifter," but they are having trouble shifting gears. They are unable to move from one thought or task to the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a type of ADD which means that people are highly motivated and productive, but they have a tendency to get easily distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They can get lost in their schoolwork, and their parents or teachers are often tired or embarrassed by their behavior. They might have a difficult relationship due to their tendency to be unpredictable or reactive and have difficulty managing multiple tasks or working with other people. In some instances they might suffer from depression or anxiety. They are susceptible to panic attacks, and are susceptible to hallucinations. The use of medication is not advised for this kind of ADD as it doesn't treat the root of the symptoms.