20 Fun Facts About ADD And Treatment
20 Fun Facts About ADD And Treatment
Blog Article
ADD and Treatment
ADD and treatment is often associated with problems at home, school or at work. The psychiatric disorder can be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common name for this psychiatric disorder. Mental health specialists diagnose ADHD by using SPECT brain scans.
The symptoms include 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 reveal that those suffering from this type are able to maintain normal activity during concentration and rest in the prefrontal cortex, but have decreased activity in their cerebellum and basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for motivation, calmness, and focus. This type has a limited attention span, is easily distracted by sounds and other stimuli, and is unable to shift attention. They are unable to fall asleep, and often wake up in the middle of the night feeling anxious. They can be easily annoyed and can be easily angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is defined by all the standard ADD symptoms as well as the difficulty of shifting their attention from one thought to another and between tasks. They are sensitive to light, noise and touch and talk too quickly and are easily impulsive and easily provoked into mean behaviors. They are prone to moodiness, low energy and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
Limbic ADD can be mistaken for depression, but it's distinct from depression because it has increased activity in the limbic part of the brain (the area that sets our mood and determines how happy or sad we are) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex at both rest and during concentration. It can be treated with supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with saffron, inositol that increase alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also be helpful to calm neural activity, inhibiting nerve cells from firing irregularly or excessively.
It is important to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which also can cause frustration, irritability, and poor self-esteem. The difference is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms is more prone to constant anger 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 behavior patterns similar to those of people suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) which is why it's frequently mistakenly diagnosed. These individuals often become threatened emotionally when they are asked to shift their attention from one activity to another and respond with argumentative or oppositional behavior.
They tend to be irritable and their irritability may be caused by chronic low-grade depression or sadness. They may also be afflicted by memory issues, feel intense 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 may become highly captivated by their work or hobbies. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work, and forgetting appointments at home, and they might not finish tasks or school assignments. They can also be very resistant and angry when they are disciplined or punished by their teacher or parents.
Children with overfocused ADD show a high degree of stubbornness and irritability, and may be prone to throwing inconsolable tantrums when their interests are violated. They might be obsessed with certain activities like video games, toys, and toys. They may also have trouble expressing their feelings and be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This form of ADD is more common among children, and is difficult to diagnose. Children who show this behavior are often unable to comprehend the cause of their problems. by a lack of ability to switch their focus from one task to another. It is important to speak with an expert as these children are more likely to be misdiagnosed with ADD. This type of ADD is treatable with nutritional modifications, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of ADD is hard to treat even with stimulant medication as it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is sometimes used to differentiate the seven distinct types of ADD and is especially useful for diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have high levels of anxiety. This comorbidity (having more than one disorder simultaneously) is common, affecting the majority of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mirror the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Misdiagnosis may result in inappropriate treatment and frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause issues at work, in school or in social situations. This kind of ADD can lead to underachievement and feelings of unworthiness. People suffering from anxious ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and activities because they think they won't do well.
They also fear being criticised or being judged. Due to this, they often hide their troubles from their peers. These people can be so anxious and stressed that they have panic attacks. They can be extremely severe and life-threatening, causing sweating, a pounding heart and breathing difficulties. Anxious ADD differs from Classic ADD because it has an increased activity in the basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on security. This causes a shutdown of PFC and can make it difficult for people with this disorder to focus.
When a person has ADD/ADHD and anxiety, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to manage. This is due to treatment strategies for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate the brain can actually increase anxiety in people with anxiety ADD by decreasing activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists utilize functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scans in order to determine which areas of the brain have high and/or lower levels of activity are found. This allows them to distinguish between the seven types and determine the most effective treatment.
A psychiatrist will collect a complete medical record and conduct a physical examination to diagnose ADHD or ADD. The doctor may also inquire about the patient's mood and behavior to evaluate the patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medications are prescribed to treat the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. However, in the majority of cases, patients require other treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy as well as 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 of the brain, which is responsible for mood and memory. People suffering from this kind of ADD struggle to process and store information and experience mood swings and are prone to severe anger or aggression issues. They may also suffer from sensory issues, such as experiencing deja vu and seeing shadows or objects change shape or hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They are irritable, sensitive and easily overstimulated.
This kind 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 directions. This type of ADD is not associated with hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in women. This kind of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain, which can lead to feelings of depression or insufficient self-regulation. Symptoms include difficulty sleeping, anxiety and irritability.
In this case QEEG scans of ADD brain reveal that people with over-focused ADD are having difficulties shifting gears. They show normal activity in the anterior cingulate region (the brain's "gearshifter"). They aren't able to shift from one thought or task to the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors.
This is a type of ADD which means that people are highly motivated and productive however, they tend to be easily distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They may lose focus and become embarrassed or tired by their behavior. They may have difficulty in relationships because of their tendency to be reactive and impulsive. They also have trouble multitasking and working in a group. In certain situations, first line treatment for adhd in adults they could be depressed or anxious. They could be susceptible to hallucinations and panic attacks. Treatments for this type of ADD are not recommended, as they don't address the underlying causes of symptoms.