The Ultimate Glossary Of Terms For ADD And Treatment
ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are frequently related to issues at school, work, or home. The psychiatric disorder isn't easy to identify and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is commonly known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Mental health professionals employ SPECT brain imaging to determine ADHD.
Symptoms of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Antidepressants and stimulants 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 people with this type are able to maintain normal activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex but they are less active in their cerebellum and the basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, tranquility and focus. People with this type have a difficult in shifting their focus and are easily distracted by distractions and noises, and have short attention spans. They also have difficulty falling asleep and often wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety or nightmares. They can be easily annoyed and are often angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is characterized by all the classic ADD symptoms however, it also has the difficulty of shifting their focus from one thought to another and shifting their focus from one task to the next. They have a sensitivity to noise, light, and touch; they talk too quickly and are impulsive, and easily provoked into a mean-spirited behaviour. They have periods of moodiness and fatigue, are easily angered and can get stuck in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
It is possible to mistake limbic ADD with depression. But it is distinct because it stimulates activity in the limbic region of the brain at rest and when concentrating. It can be treated with supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) as well as saffron, inositol, which improve alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also be helpful to calm neural activity, inhibiting nerve cells from firing irregularly or in excess.
It is important to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder, which can cause frustration, irritability and low self-esteem. The main difference 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 patients tend to get caught up in negative thoughts and behavior that cause excessive worry. This is due to rigid behaviors similar to people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They are often frightened emotionally when they are asked to shift their attention from one thing to another and respond with argumentative or oppositional behavior.
They tend to be irritable, and their irritability is due to a low-grade chronic sadness or negativity. They may also experience difficulties learning, experience memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.
People with hyperfocused ADD might be rigid when it comes switching tasks and can become absorbed in their work or hobby. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work, and not remembering appointments at home, and may not complete tasks or school assignments. They can also be very stubborn and resentful if they are disciplined or punished by their teachers or parents.
Children with hyperfocused ADD can be angry and obstinate, and they might throw temper tantrums when their needs are not being respected. They might be obsessed with a particular activity, toys and video games. They may also have difficulty expressing their feelings and be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This form of ADD is more prevalent in children, and is often difficult to recognize. Children often don't realize that their issue is due to their inability to shift their focus from one thing to the next. This is why it's essential to seek the help of a professional, as children with this type of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This type of ADD can be treated using diet modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. This kind of ADD is hard to treat, even with stimulant medication due to the fact that it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is a method to distinguish between the seven types of ADD. adhd untreated in adults is especially useful in diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD have a high level of anxiety. This is a comorbidity (having more than one disorder simultaneously) is common and affects about half of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. A misdiagnosis can lead to inadequate treatment and frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause issues with school, work, and social situations. This type of ADD can cause underperformance and feelings of unworthiness. People with anxious ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and activities because they think they won't do well.
They also fear being criticised or being judged. They also hide their issues from others. People with anxiety can become so anxious and stressed that they suffer from panic attacks. These panic attacks can be extremely severe and life-threatening. They cause heart pounding, sweating and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD is distinct from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and prioritize security. This can shut down PFC and makes it difficult for those with this condition to concentrate.
If someone with ADHD or ADD has anxiety, their symptoms are usually more difficult to treat than those of someone who does not suffer from anxiety. This is due to treatments for ADD/ADHD, that are designed to stimulate 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 where in the brain low and/or higher levels of activity are present. This allows them to distinguish between the seven types of brain and determine the best treatment.
To determine if someone has ADD/ADHD psychiatrist takes a thorough medical history and performs physical examination. The doctor may also inquire about the patient's mood and behavior in order to evaluate the patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD, but in most cases, patients need other therapies as well, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or nutrition and exercise, sleep strategies, desensitization, and other techniques to relax. This will help increase their ability to manage their moods and overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe in the brain, which is responsible both for memory and mood. People suffering from this kind of ADD struggle to process and store information and experience mood swings and are prone to extreme anger or aggression issues. They also are often affected by a variety of sensory issues, including feeling like they've experienced déjà vu, experiencing shadows or objects changing shapes, and hearing sounds others don't. They can be irritable, sensitive and easily overstimulated.
This kind of ADD has similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include inattention spans that are short and disorganized. It also has difficulty in staying focused or following directions. This kind of ADD does not cause an excessive amount of impulsivity or hyperactivity. This type of ADD is more prevalent in females. People suffering from this type of ADD might have low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which can lead to feelings of depression and poor self-regulation. The symptoms include insomnia, anxiety and irritability.
In this case, qEEG brain mapping scans of the brain show that people suffering from Over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate region which is the brain's "gear shifter," but they are struggling to shift gears. They can't move from one thought or task to another and get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors.
This is a kind of ADD where people can be extremely motivated and hardworking, but they tend to get easily distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They can get lost in their schoolwork and parents or teachers are often annoyed or ashamed of their behavior. They may experience difficulties in relationships because of their tendency to be reactive and impulsive. They also have issues multitasking and working with others. In certain situations they may experience anxiety or depression. They may be prone hallucinations and panic attacks. Medications are typically not advised for this kind of ADD as it doesn't tackle the root cause of the symptoms.