10 Factors To Know Regarding ADD And Treatment You Didn't Learn In The Classroom
10 Factors To Know Regarding ADD And Treatment You Didn't Learn In The Classroom
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ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often related to issues at school, work or home. The psychiatric disorder is difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most popular name used for this psychiatric disorder. Mental health professionals diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
Some of the symptoms are being easily distracted, forgetful and unorganized. The use of medications such as 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 people suffering from this type of ADD are able to maintain normal activity during concentration and rest in the prefrontal cortex, however, they have less activity in their cerebellum and basal ganglia. These areas are responsible for the production of dopamine, which is the neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, tranquility and concentration. This type has a short attention span, and is easily distracted by sounds and other stimuli, and has a hard time shifting attention. They also have trouble falling asleep and often wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety or nightmares. They are often overwhelmed by their emotions and have an impulsive personality, getting quickly frustrated with tasks and easily angered.
Ring of Fire ADD is characterized by all the classic ADD symptoms however, it also has the difficulty of shifting their attention from one thought to the next and shifting their focus from one task to the next. They have a sensitivity to noise, light, and touch and they talk too quickly and are easily impulsive and easily triggered into mean behaviors. They are prone to moodiness, low energy and anger. They also tend to get stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
Limbic ADD can be mistaken for depression, but it's different than depression because it has increased activity in the limbic part of the brain (the brain region that sets our emotional tone and regulates how happy or sad we feel) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration. It can be treated with supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) as well as saffron, inositol which increase alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also help slow neural activity, preventing nerve cells from firing in a erratic manner or too frequently.
It is crucial to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder, which also can cause frustration, irritability and low self-esteem. The distinction between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more consistent level of irritability that lasts over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to have symptoms that come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers are often caught in negative patterns of thoughts and behaviors that cause excessive worry. This is because they exhibit rigid behaviors similar to people suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They can become angry when they are asked to shift their attention between tasks and can respond with a resentful or argumentative behavior.
They are prone to having a short temper and their irritability stems from a persistent depression or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome," and frequent feelings of hopelessness and desperation. They may also have trouble learning, struggle with memory issues, or feel intense anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD might be rigid when it comes changing tasks and become engrossed in their job or pastime. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work, and not remembering appointments at home, and they might 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 are often angry and obstinate, and they may throw tantrums if their interests are not respected. They can be obsessive about specific activities, toys, and video games. They also have difficulty expressing their emotions and may be extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This form of ADD is more prevalent among children, and is difficult to diagnose. Children who exhibit this type of behavior often have trouble understanding that their issues are caused by a lack of ability to switch their focus from one task to the next. This is why it's important to seek out help from an expert, since these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This type of ADD can be treated using dietary modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some medications are prescribed, but this type of ADD can be difficult to treat using stimulant medications because they can raise a person's levels of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to distinguish between the seven kinds of ADD. It is particularly useful in diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have a high level of anxiety. Comorbidity, also known as having more than one disorder simultaneously, is common and affects as much as half of people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Misdiagnosis may lead to inadequate treatment and frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause issues with work, school and social situations. This type of ADD can cause under-performance and feelings of unworthiness. People who suffer from anxiety ADD are hesitant to take on difficult tasks or events because they fear they won't succeed.
They are also afraid of being judged or criticised. They hide their problems to others. In some cases, these people are so stressed and anxious that they suffer from panic attacks. These can be very life-threatening and cause sweating, a pounding heart and breathing difficulties. Anxious ADD differs from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the basal ganglia, as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and prioritize safety. This can shut down PFC and makes it difficult for these individuals concentrate.
When a person has anxiety and ADD/ADHD their symptoms are more difficult to manage. This is because treatments for ADD/ADHD, that are designed to increase brain activity, may actually increase anxiety in people who have anxiety-related ADD.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists use functional neuroimaging such as SPECT scans to identify the areas of the brain where high and/or lower levels of activity are occurring. This allows them to distinguish between the seven types of brain and determine the best treatment.
To determine if someone has ADD/ADHD psychiatrist gathers a complete medical history and conducts a physical exam. He or she might also inquire about mood and behavior to assess the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are prescribed to treat ADD/ADHD. However, in most cases, patients require other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy as well as diet, exercise sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. This can enhance their ability to control their emotions and improve their overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe of the brain, which is responsible both for memory and mood. This type of ADD is manifested by a lack of learning and keeping information in memory as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggression issues. They may also suffer from sensory issues, such as experiencing deja vu and seeing shadows or objects change adhd symptoms and treatment in adults shape or hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They are sensitive, irritable and easily overwhelmed.
The symptoms of this type of ADD are similar to those in Classic ADD, including short attention spans and disorganization, difficulties in staying on task and procrastinating. This type of ADD does not cause excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in females. This kind of ADD is characterized by low levels of dopamine in the brain, which can lead to feelings of depression or a lack of self-regulation. It is characterized by sleeplessness, anxiety and irritability.
In this case brain mapping scans qEEG of the brain reveal that people with 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 not able to move from one task or thought to another, and they are stuck in negative thought patterns and behavior.
This is a type of ADD where people can be highly motivated and hardworking however, they have a tendency to get easily distracted by unimportant or non-essential tasks. They may lose focus and feel embarrassed or exhausted by their behavior. They may have a difficult relationship because they are hyper-active or reactive, and have a hard time dealing with multitasking or working with others. In some instances, they might experience anxiety or depression. They may be susceptible to panic attacks and susceptible to hallucinations. Medications are typically not advised for this kind of ADD as it doesn't tackle the root cause of the symptoms.