The 3 Greatest Moments In ADD And Treatment History
The 3 Greatest Moments In ADD And Treatment History
Blog Article
ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is usually related to issues at home, school or work. The psychiatric illness isn't easy to identify and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is commonly known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Mental health professionals utilize SPECT brain imaging to diagnose ADHD.
Symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful and disorganized. Treatments such as stimulants and antidepressants may 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 people with this type of ADD are able to maintain normal levels of activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex, however, they have less activity in their cerebellum as well as the basal ganglia. These areas help produce dopamine, an important neurotransmitter that is that is responsible for motivation, calmness and concentration. This type has a limited attention span, and is easily distracted by noises and other stimuli and is unable to switch attention. They also have difficulty sleeping and frequently wake up at night with anxiety or nightmares. They often feel overwhelmed by emotions and possess 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 a difficulty in shifting their attention between thoughts and shifting their focus from one task to the next. They have a sensitivity to light, noise and touch; they talk too quickly and are easily impulsive and easily triggered into mean behaviors. They can experience periods of agitation and low energy, are quick to get angry, and get stuck on negative thoughts and guilt.
Limbic ADD is often mistaken for depression, but it is distinct from depression in that it has increased activity in the limbic portion of the brain (the brain region that sets our emotional tone and regulates the level of happiness or sadness we feel) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex at both when we are at rest and while in concentration. It can be treated by supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with saffron, inositol that increase alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA is also helpful to slow neural activity, preventing nerve cells from firing irregularly or excessively.
It is important to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder, which also can cause irritability, frustration, and poor self-esteem. The distinction is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms has a more constant level of irritability and frustration over time, whereas Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to come in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD patients often get 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 the reason it's often misdiagnosed. People with OCD are often threatened emotionally when they are required to shift their attention from one thing to another, and can respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
They are often angry and their irritability can be caused by a low-grade chronic sadness or negative mood. They may also have trouble learning, have memory issues, or have extreme anger and aggression.
People with overfocused ADD are unable to adapt when it comes to changing tasks, and may become enthralled by their hobbies or work. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work and forgetting appointments at home and may not complete homework or other school assignments. They may also be extremely stubborn and resentful when they are reprimanded by their parents or teachers.
Children with hyper-focused ADD have a high degree of irritability and stubbornness, and can be prone to throwing inconsolable tantrums when their interests are violated. They can be obsessive about specific toys, activities and video games. They may also have difficulty communicating their feelings and are very sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This form of ADD is difficult to diagnose, especially when it affects children. Children who show this behavior may have difficulty understanding that their problems are caused by an inability to change their focus from one task to another. This is the reason it's crucial to seek out help from an expert, since these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This kind of ADD is treatable with dietary modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. This type of ADD is hard to treat, even with stimulant medication due to the fact that it can cause the intensity of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is often used to differentiate the seven distinct kinds of ADD and is especially helpful for diagnosing overfocused 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 the majority of sufferers of ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and misdiagnosis can lead to improper treatment and even more frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause issues with school, work and social settings. This type of ADD may lead to low achievement and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People who suffer from anxiety ADD are hesitant to take on difficult tasks or activities because they fear they won't succeed.
They also fear being criticized or being judged. They hide their problems to others. In some cases, these sufferers are so anxious and stressed that they experience panic attacks. These panic attacks can be extremely severe and life-threatening. They trigger a pounding of the heart, sweating and difficulty breathing. In contrast to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD are more active in their basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These organs operate on an instinctual basis and place a high priority on safety. This can shut down PFC and makes it difficult for these individuals focus.
When a person has ADD/ADHD and anxiety and untreated adhd in adults anxiety, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to treat. This is due to treatment strategies for ADD/ADHD which are designed to stimulate the brain can actually increase anxiety among people who suffer from anxiety ADD by decreasing the activity of their PFC.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging techniques, such as SPECT scanning to discover where in the brain there are low and/or high levels of activity. This helps them differentiate between the seven different types of ADD and determine the most effective treatment for each person.
A psychiatrist will collect a complete medical record and conduct a physical exam to determine if the patient suffers from ADHD or ADD. The doctor may also inquire about mood and behavior in order to evaluate the patient's overall functioning. Medications are sometimes used to treat ADD/ADHD, but most patients need other therapies as well, such as cognitive behavioral therapy as well as nutrition and exercise sleep strategies, desensitization and other relaxation techniques. This can improve their ability to control their emotions and their overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD is a problem with the temporal lobe in the brain which is responsible for memory and mood. This kind of ADD is manifested by a lack of learning and storage of information as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggression. They might also experience sensory issues such as feeling like they're in a dream, seeing shadows or objects change form or hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They can be irritable, sensitive and easily overstimulated.
This type of ADD has the same symptoms as Classic ADD. These include low attention spans and disorganization. It also presents with difficulty staying on task or following instructions. However, this type of ADD does not cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD is more prevalent in females. People with this type of ADD may have low levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, which can cause feelings of low motivation and low self-regulation. It is characterized by sleeplessness, anger and anxiety.
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 which is the brain's "gear shifter," but they are having trouble shifting gears. They can't move from one thought or task to another, and they get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a form of ADD where people can be highly motivated and productive but they also tend to be easily distracted by mundane or insignificant tasks. They may lose track of their school work and parents or teachers are often annoyed or embarrassed by their behavior. They may experience difficulties in relationships due to their tendency be reactive and impulsive. They also have issues multitasking and working in a group. In some cases they may experience anxiety or depression. They could be susceptible to panic attacks and hallucinations. The use of medications for this kind of ADD are not advised, since they do not address the root causes of symptoms.