treat adhd in adults and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are frequently related to issues at school, work or home. The psychiatric condition can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common name for this psychiatric disorder. Mental health professionals diagnose ADHD using SPECT brain images.
The signs of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful and unorganized. 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 those suffering from this condition have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration, however they have reduced activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, which produce dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that promotes motivation, focus, and calmness. This type has a short attention span, is easily distracted by noises and other stimuli, and has a hard time shifting attention. They also have trouble falling asleep and often wake up in the middle of the night with nightmares or anxiety. treat adult add are often overwhelmed by emotions and have an impulsive personality, getting quickly annoyed by tasks and easily angered.
Ring of Fire ADD is distinguished by all the typical ADD symptoms as well as a difficulty in shifting their focus from one thought to another and between tasks. They are sensitive to noise, light, and touch; they talk too fast and are impulsive and easily provoked into a mean-spirited behaviour. They experience periods of depression and fatigue, are quick to anger, and get stuck on negative thoughts and guilt.
Limbic ADD can be confused with depression, but it's distinct from depression because it causes increased activity in the limbic region 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 such as L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with saffron, inositol that increase alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also be helpful to slow neural activity, preventing nerve cells from firing irregularly or too frequently.
It is important to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which can trigger irritability, anger, and poor self-esteem. The distinction between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more consistent degree of irritability throughout the course of time. Bipolar Disorder tends to suffer from symptoms that occur in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Overfocused ADD patients often get stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors that result in excessive worry. They exhibit rigid behavior patterns similar to those of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) which is the reason it's often mistakenly diagnosed. They are often frightened emotionally when required to shift their focus from one thing to another and may respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.
These people tend to have a short temper and their irritability stems from a constant low-grade sadness or negativity "glass half-empty syndrome," and often feeling of despair and a sense of worthlessness. They may also have trouble learning, struggle with memory issues, or feel intense anger and aggression.
People with hyperfocused ADD may be rigid when it comes to switching tasks and can become absorbed in their work or hobby. They are prone to missing deadlines at work and forgetting appointments at home and they might not finish homework or other school assignments. They may also be extremely stubborn and resentful when reprimanded by their parents or teachers.
Children with overfocused ADD exhibit a high level of irritability and stubbornness, and are likely to throw inconsolable tantrums when their interests are trampled on. They might be obsessed with certain activities, toys and video games. They also have difficulty expressing their emotions and may be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.
This form of ADD is more common in children, and is often difficult to identify. These children often don't understand the cause of their condition. It's due to their inability to switch their focus from one thing to the next. This is why it's essential 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 treatable with dietary modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some medications are prescribed, however this kind of ADD can be difficult to treat using stimulant medications, as these can raise a person's levels of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is sometimes used to identify the seven distinct kinds of ADD and is especially helpful for diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have a high degree of anxiety. Comorbidity, which is having more than one disorder at the same time is a common occurrence and affects as much as 50% of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Misdiagnosis may lead to inappropriate treatment and anger.
Anxious ADD can cause problems with work, school, and social situations. This type of ADD can cause low performance and feelings of inadequacy. People with anxious ADD are hesitant to take on difficult tasks or activities because they fear that they won't be successful.
They also fear being criticised or judged. This is why they often hide their troubles from their peers. These people can be so stressed and anxious that they experience panic attacks. These panic attacks can be extremely severe and life-threatening. They can cause an increase in heart rate, sweating and difficulty breathing. Unlike Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD have increased activity in their basal ganglia and the amygdala, which operate on an instinctual basis and place a high priority on safety. This can shut down the PFC which makes it difficult for people with ADD to concentrate.
If someone with ADHD or ADD has anxiety the symptoms are typically more difficult to manage than those of someone who isn't suffering from anxiety. This is because treatment protocols for ADD/ADHD which are designed to stimulate the brain may actually increase anxiety in people with anxiety ADD by decreasing the activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging such as SPECT scans in order to determine where in the brain more or less activity are present. This helps them distinguish between the seven types of brain and determine the best treatment.
To determine if a patient has ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist takes a thorough medical history and performs a physical exam. They may also ask about the patient's mood and behavior in order to evaluate the patient's overall performance. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADHD and ADD. However, in many instances, patients also require other therapies, including cognitive behavior therapy as well as nutrition, exercise, sleep strategies and desensitization. This can help improve their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall function.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD affects the brain's temporal lobe which is responsible for memory and mood. This type of ADD is characterised by a problem learning and keeping information in memory, mood instability and severe anger or aggression issues. They also are often affected by various sensory issues, such as feeling like they have deja vu, or seeing shadows or objects changing forms and hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They are irritable, sensitive and easily overstimulated.
This kind of ADD is characterized by similar symptoms to Classic ADD. These include inattention spans that are short and disorganized. It also includes difficulty in staying focused or following directions. However, this type of ADD does not cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This type of ADD is more common in females. People suffering from this type of ADD may suffer from low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine which can cause feelings of low motivation and low self-regulation. It is characterized by sleeplessness, anxiety and irritability.
In this instance QEEG scans of the ADD brain reveal that people with Overfocused ADD are experiencing difficulties shifting gears. They show normal activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to move from one thought or task to the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a form of ADD in which people are highly motivated and hardworking but have a tendency not to pay attention to important tasks. They can lose track of their schoolwork, and their teachers or parents can become tired 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 in a group. In some cases they may experience anxiety or depression. They could be susceptible to hallucinations and panic attacks. The use of medications for this kind of ADD aren't usually recommended, as they do not address the root causes of symptoms.