15 Terms That Everyone Involved In ADD And Treatment Industry Should Know
15 Terms That Everyone Involved In ADD And Treatment Industry Should Know
Blog Article
ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often related to issues at work, school or home. The psychiatric disorder may be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is most often referred to as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Mental health specialists diagnose ADHD using SPECT brain images.
The symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful and disorganized. Medications like stimulants and antidepressants can aid in overcoming.
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. Scans of the brain show those with this type of ADD have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex at rest and during concentration, but reduced activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, which produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that promotes motivation, focus and calmness. This type has a shorter attention span, is easily distracted by sounds and other stimuli, and is unable to shift focus. They also have trouble sleeping and frequently wake up during the night with nightmares or anxiety. They often feel overwhelmed by their emotions and have short tempers, and are quickly annoyed by tasks and easily annoyed.
Ring of Fire ADD is characterized by all the classic ADD symptoms as well as a difficulty in shifting their attention from one thought to another and shifting their focus from one task to the next. They are sensitive to light, sound and even touch. They talk too fast and are indecisive. They have periods of moodiness and fatigue, are quick to anger and are prone to relapse into negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
It is possible to mix limbic ADD with depression. But it is different in that it boosts activity in the limbic region of the brain during rest and when concentrating. It can be treated by supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP), saffron and inositol which increase alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also help slow neural activity, preventing nerve cells from firing irregularly or too frequently.
It is important to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders, such as Bipolar Disorder, which can result in frustration and irritability, as well as low self-esteem. The difference is that ADD with Limbic Symptoms has more consistent irritability and frustration over time, whereas Bipolar Disorder symptoms tend to appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD sufferers are often caught in negative thoughts and behaviors that trigger excessive worry. They exhibit rigid behaviors that are similar to those of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) which is why it's frequently misdiagnosed. They may become emotionally upset when requested to switch their focus between activities and may respond with a resentful or argumentative behavior.
These people are likely to have a short fuse, with their irritability coming from a constant depression or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome" and often feeling of despair and a sense of worthlessness. They may also experience difficulties learning, struggle with memory issues, or have extreme anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD may be rigid when it comes to switching tasks and can become absorbed in their job or pastime. They are prone to missing deadlines at work, and forgetting appointments at home, and may not complete 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 might throw temper tantrums when their needs are not being accepted. They may be obsessed with specific toys, activities and video games. They may also have trouble communicating their feelings and are very sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This type of ADD is more common among children, and can be difficult to recognize. Children often don't realize that their problem is caused by their inability to shift their focus between different things. This is the reason it's crucial to seek help from an expert, since children with this kind of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This type of ADD is usually treated using dietary changes, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. This kind of ADD is extremely difficult to treat even with stimulant medications due to the fact that it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to identify the seven distinct types of ADD, and is particularly helpful for diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people suffering from ADD experience high levels of anxiety. This is a comorbidity (having more than one disorder simultaneously) is common and affects the majority of sufferers of ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and misdiagnosis can lead to improper treatment and further frustration.
Anxious ADD may cause problems at work, at school, or with social situations. This type of ADD could result in low performance and feelings of inadequateness. People with anxious ADD avoid challenging tasks or activities because they are afraid they won't be successful.
They also fear being criticized or being judged. They hide their problems to others. These people can be so anxious and stressed that they have panic attacks. These can be life-threatening and cause sweating, a heart that is pounding and breathing problems. Unlike Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD are more active in their basal ganglia and the amygdala, which operate on an instinctual basis, and are able to prioritize safety. This can shut down PFC and makes here it difficult for people with this disorder to focus.
If a person with anxiety or ADD their symptoms are generally more difficult to manage than those of a person who doesn't have anxiety. This is due to treatment strategies for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate the brain could actually increase anxiety in people with anxiety ADD due to a decrease in the activity of their PFC.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists use functional neuroimaging techniques like SPECT scans to identify the areas of the brain where low and/or higher levels of activity are occurring. This allows them to differentiate between the seven types of ADD and determine the best treatment for each individual.
To diagnose ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist takes a thorough medical history and conducts an examination. The doctor may also inquire about the patient's mood and behavior to evaluate the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD. However, in most cases patients also need other therapies, including cognitive behavior therapy, diet, exercise sleep strategies, desensitization and sleep strategies. 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 in the brain which is responsible for memory and mood. People with this type of ADD struggle to learn and store information they experience mood instability and have severe anger or aggression issues. They also suffer from various sensory issues, like experiencing a sense of déjà vu, experiencing shadows or objects changing forms and hearing sounds that others don't. They are often sensitive and angry, and often become overstimulated by certain activities, such as computer screens or crowds.
This kind of ADD is characterized by similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include short attention spans and disorganization. It also includes difficulty staying on task or following directions. However, this kind of ADD doesn't cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in females. People with this type of ADD might have low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine which can lead to feelings of depression and low self-regulation. Symptoms include difficulty sleeping, anger and anxiety.
In this instance QEEG scans of the ADD brain reveal that people with over-focused ADD have difficulties shifting gears. They are experiencing normal activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (the brain's "gearshifter"). They can't move from one task or thought to another, and they get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a form of ADD where people are extremely motivated and hardworking but have a tendency not to pay attention to important tasks. They can lose track and be embarrassed or exhausted because of their behavior. They may have a hard relationship with others due to their tendency to be impulsive or reactive, and struggle dealing with multitasking or working with other people. In some instances they might suffer from depression or anxiety. They may be susceptible to panic attacks and are susceptible to hallucinations. The use of medication is not recommended for this type of ADD as it doesn't tackle the root cause of the symptoms.