A Retrospective: How People Talked About ADD And Treatment 20 Years Ago
ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often connected to problems at work, school or at home. The psychiatric disorder is often difficult to identify and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common name for this psychiatric disorder. Mental health experts diagnose ADHD by using SPECT brain scans.
Symptoms of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful and disorganized. The use of medications such as stimulants and antidepressants can help.
adult add treatments 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. The scans of the brain reveal that those suffering from this type can maintain normal levels of activity during concentration and at rest in the prefrontal cortex however, they have less activity in their cerebellum and basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, which is the neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness and concentration. This type has a short attention span, and is easily distracted by sounds and other stimuli, and is unable to switch attention. They also have trouble falling asleep and are often woken up in the middle of the night with anxiety or nightmares. They are easily frustrated and often get angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is characterized by all the classic ADD symptoms, but also by the difficulty of shifting their attention from one thought to another and from one task to another. They have a sensitivity to light, noise and touch; they talk too quickly and are impulsive, and easily triggered into a mean-spirited behavior. They are susceptible to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
It is possible to confuse limbic ADD with depression. However, it is different because it increases activity in the limbic area of the brain at rest and when concentrating. It is a condition that can be treated with supplements such as L-tryptophan, 5-HTP as well as saffron and inositol that improve focus, alertness and mood. They also improve mental clarity. Also, amino acid GABA to reduce neural activity and stop nerve cells from over-firing or firing in a erratic manner; and liver support.
It is important to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder, which also can cause irritability, frustration and low self-esteem. The difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more consistent level of irritability over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to exhibit symptoms that appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers tend to get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors that cause excessive worrying. This is due to rigid behaviors that are similar to those who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). People with OCD are often threatened emotionally when they are required to shift their attention from one task to the next, and can react with a threatening or hostile behavior.
These people are likely to have a short temper, with their irritability coming from a constant depression or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome" and often feeling of despair and worthlessness. They may also experience difficulties learning, experience memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD may be rigid when it comes to switching tasks and can become absorbed in their work or hobby. They may not remember appointments or deadlines at work or at home and may not finish their homework or chores. They can also be resistant and angry when they are reprimanded or chastised by their parents or teacher.
Children with hyper-focused ADD have a high degree of irritability and stubbornness, and are likely to throw inconsolable tantrums when their interests are not respected. They might be obsessed with certain activities, toys and video games. They are also unable to express their emotions, and can be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This type of ADD is more prevalent in children and is often difficult to identify. Children who show this behavior are often unable to comprehend the cause of their problems. by an inability to change their focus from one task to the next. This is why it's important to seek help from an expert, as these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This type of ADD can be treated with nutritional modifications, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of ADD is hard to treat, even with stimulant medication, because it can increase the intensity of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is sometimes used to distinguish the seven distinct kinds of ADD and is especially useful in diagnosing over-focused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD suffer from high levels of anxiety. This co-morbidity (having more than one disorder simultaneously) is common, affecting about half of people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can be similar to the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and misdiagnosis can lead to improper treatment and even more frustration.
Anxious ADD can lead to problems at school, work and social settings. This type of ADD can cause underperformance and feelings of inadequacy. People who suffer from anxiety ADD avoid challenging tasks or events because they fear they won't succeed.
They also fear being criticised or being judged. They hide their problems to others. In some cases, these people are so stressed and anxious that they develop panic attacks. These panic attacks can be extremely severe and life-threatening. They trigger heart pounding, sweating and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD is different from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and focus on security. This shuts down the PFC, which can make it difficult for those with this condition to concentrate.
If someone with anxiety or ADD, their symptoms are usually more difficult to manage than those of someone who does not suffer from anxiety. This is due to treatment strategies for ADD/ADHD, which are designed to stimulate the brain may actually increase anxiety among people with anxiety ADD due to a decrease in the activity of their PFC.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists use functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scans to determine where in the brain low and/or higher levels of activity are found. This helps them differentiate between the seven types of brain and determine the best treatment.
To diagnose ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist collects a full medical history and performs physical examination. In addition, he or might ask questions regarding the patient's mood and behavior to evaluate the patient's overall performance. Medications are sometimes used to treat ADD/ADHD however, most patients require other treatments as well, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, nutrition and exercise, sleep strategies, desensitization, and other relaxation techniques. This can aid in improving their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD affects the temporal lobe in the brain which is responsible for mood and memory. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to learn and store information and experience mood swings and suffer from intense anger or aggression issues. They might also experience sensory issues such as feeling deja vu and seeing shadows or objects change form or hearing sounds that others can't hear. They are often sensitive and angry and are often overstimulated by certain things, such as computer screens or crowds.
The symptoms of this type of ADD are similar to those seen in Classic ADD, including short attention spans and disorganization, difficulties in staying focused, and procrastinating. This kind of ADD does not cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD occurs more often in women. This type of ADD is defined by the low levels of dopamine in the brain which can result in feelings of low motivation or a lack of self-regulation. The symptoms include insomnia, anger and anxiety.
In this instance, qEEG scans of the ADD brain show that those with Overfocused ADD are having difficulty shifting gears. They have normal activity in the anterior cingulate region (the brain's "gearshifter"). They aren't able to shift from one task or thought to the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors.
This is a kind of ADD where individuals can be highly motivated and productive, but they have a tendency to get easily distracted by unimportant or non-essential tasks. They may lose focus and feel embarrassed or exhausted because of their behavior. They may experience difficulties in relationships because of their tendency to be impulsive and reactive. They also have trouble multitasking and working in a group. In some instances, they might suffer from depression or anxiety. They might be susceptible to panic attacks and hallucinations. The use of medication is not recommended for this type of ADD as it doesn't treat the root of the symptoms.