How ADD And Treatment Changed Over Time Evolution Of ADD And Treatment
How ADD And Treatment Changed Over Time Evolution Of ADD And Treatment
Blog Article
ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are usually related to issues at work, school or home. The psychiatric disorder may be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
The psychiatric disorder is commonly known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Mental health professionals employ brain imaging using SPECT to diagnose ADHD.
Symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Medications such as stimulants and antidepressants can ease the symptoms.
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, however they have less activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, which help make dopamine, a neurotransmitter which enhances focus, motivation and a sense of calm. This type has a short attention span, is easily distracted by sounds and other stimuli, and is unable to shift focus. They are unable to fall asleep, and often wake up in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They are often overwhelmed by their emotions and have short tempers, and are easily frustrated and easily angered.
Ring of Fire ADD is distinguished by all the typical ADD symptoms, but also by the difficulty of shifting their attention from one thought to the next 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 are susceptible to low energy, moodiness, and anger. They are also prone to getting stuck in negative thoughts and guilt-related feelings.
Limbic ADD can be confused with depression, however it is different than depression because it has increased activity in the limbic part of the brain (the area that sets our emotional tone and controls the level of happiness or sadness we feel) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex at both rest and during concentration. It can be treated by supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP) along with saffron, inositol, which improve alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also help calm neural activity, inhibiting nerve cells from firing irregularly or too frequently.
It is important to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders such as 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 is more consistent in its 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 thoughts and behaviors that cause excessive worry. They exhibit rigid behaviors that are similar to those of people suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and that is why it's frequently incorrectly diagnosed. They are often frightened emotionally when they are required to shift their attention from one activity to another, and can react with a threatening or hostile behavior.
They are prone to having an inability to keep their cool and their irritability stems from a persistent low-grade sadness or negativity "glass half-empty syndrome" and frequently feeling hopeless and desperation. They may also have trouble learning, experience memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.
People who have hyper-focused ADD are inflexible when it comes to changing tasks, and could be captivated by their work or hobbies. They might forget appointments and deadlines at work or at home and they might not finish their homework or chores. They may also be stubborn and resentful if they are disciplined or punished by their parents or teacher.
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 a particular activity such as toys and video games. They can also have difficulty communicating their feelings and are very sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This form of ADD is more common among children, and is often difficult to diagnose. Children who exhibit this type of behavior may have difficulty understanding that their issues are caused by an inability to change their focus from one task to the next. It's important to consult a professional as these children are more likely to be misdiagnosed with ADD. This kind of ADD is treatable with diet modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. This type of ADD is difficult to treat even with stimulant medications as it can cause the intensity of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is sometimes used to identify the seven distinct kinds of ADD and is especially useful in diagnosing over-focused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD suffer from a high level of anxiety. This co-morbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common, affecting up to half of all sufferers of ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD, and the wrong diagnosis can lead to ineffective treatment and even more frustration.
Anxious ADD can cause issues at work, at school or with social situations. This type of ADD could lead to low achievement and feelings of inadequateness. People with anxiety ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and events because they believe they're not capable of completing the task.
They are also afraid of being judged and criticised. They also hide their issues from others. In some instances, people are so stressed and anxious that they experience panic attacks. These panic attacks can be severe and life-threatening. They can cause heart pounding, sweating and difficulty breathing. Unlike Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD have increased activity in their basal ganglia and the amygdala. They operate on an instinctual basis and prioritize safety. This causes a shutdown of PFC and can make it difficult for these individuals concentrate.
If a person suffers from ADD/ADHD and anxiety and anxiety, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to treat. This is due to treatments for ADD/ADHD, that are designed to increase brain activity, may actually increase anxiety in people who have anxious ADD.
Amen Clinics psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging techniques, such as SPECT scanning, to learn where in the brain there are areas of low or high levels of activity. This allows them to distinguish between the seven types and determine the best treatment.
To diagnose ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist gathers a complete medical history and performs an examination. In addition, he or she may ask questions about the patient's mood and behavior to evaluate a patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADHD and ADD. However, in the majority of cases patients also need other therapies, including cognitive behavior therapy as well as nutrition, exercise sleep strategies, and desensitization. This can improve their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall performance.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD affects the temporal lobe in the brain, which is untreated adhd in adults responsible for mood and memory. People suffering from this type of ADD struggle to learn and store information, experience mood instability, and have extreme anger or aggression issues. They may also be suffering from sensory issues such as feeling deja vu, seeing shadows or objects change shape or hearing sounds that others don't hear. They can be extremely sensitive and irritable, and often become overstimulated by certain activities, like computer screens or crowds.
This type of ADD has the same symptoms as Classic ADD. These include short attention spans and disorganization. It also includes difficulty in staying focused or following directions. This kind of ADD does not cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in females. People with this type of ADD may have low levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, which can cause feelings of low motivation and low self-regulation. The symptoms include insomnia, anger and anxiety.
In this case QEEG scans of ADD brain show that those with Overfocused ADD are experiencing difficulty shifting gears. They show normal activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus (the brain's "gearshifter"). They are unable to move from one task or thought to another and get stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a kind of ADD which means that people are highly motivated and hardworking however, they tend to get easily distracted by unimportant or non-essential tasks. They can get lost in their schoolwork, and their parents or teachers are often annoyed or ashamed of their behavior. They may have difficulty in relationships because of their tendency to be impulsive and reactive. They also have issues multitasking and working in a group. In some instances they might experience anxiety or depression. They could be susceptible to hallucinations and panic attacks. Medications are not usually advised for this kind of ADD, because it doesn't tackle the root cause of the symptoms.