ADD and Treatment

ADD and its treatment are often connected to problems at school, work, or home. The psychiatric disorder can be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.

The psychiatric disorder is most commonly known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. Mental health professionals employ SPECT brain imaging to diagnose ADHD.

The symptoms of classic ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful and disorganized. Treatments such as 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. The scans of the brain reveal that people with this type can maintain normal activity while concentrating and at rest in the prefrontal cortex but have decreased activity in their cerebellum and the basal ganglia. These areas help produce dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for motivation, calmness and focus. This type has a short attention span, and is easily distracted by noises and other stimuli and is unable to shift attention. They have trouble falling asleep and frequently wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety. They can be easily annoyed and can be easily angry.

Ring of Fire ADD is defined by all the standard ADD symptoms, but also by the difficulty of shifting their attention from one thought to the next and between tasks. They are sensitive to noise, light, and touch. They talk too quickly and are indecisive. They are prone to low energy, moodiness and anger. They also tend to get stuck in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.

It is possible to mix the symptoms of limbic ADD with depression. But it is different because it increases activity in the limbic area of the brain at the moment of rest and while concentrating. It can be treated with supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP), saffron and inositol that increase alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also be helpful to slow neural activity, preventing nerve cells from firing erratically or excessively.

It is crucial to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder which can also cause irritability and frustration and low self-esteem. The main difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD is more consistent in its level of irritability that lasts over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to suffer from symptoms that occur in waves.

Overfocused ADD

Over-focused ADD patients are often stuck in negative thoughts and behaviors that result in excessive worry. This is because they exhibit rigid behaviors that are similar to those suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). These individuals often become threatened emotionally when they are required to shift their attention from one activity to another, and can respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.

They are often irritable, and their irritability is caused by chronic low-grade sadness or negativity. They may also experience difficulties learning, have memory issues, or experience severe anger and aggression.

People who have hyper-focused ADD may be rigid when it comes switching tasks and can become absorbed in their hobbies or work. They are prone to missing deadlines at work, and forgetting appointments at home, and may not complete chores or school assignments. They may also be stubborn and resentful when they are reprimanded or chastised by their parents or teacher.

Children with hyper-focused ADD exhibit a high level of irritability and stubbornness and are prone to throwing inconsolable tantrums when their interests are violated. They may be obsessed with a particular activity such as toys and video games. They can also have difficulty in expressing their emotions and can be very sensitive to criticism or rejection.

This type of ADD is more prevalent in children, and is often difficult to identify. Children often don't realize that their issue is due to their inability to switch their attention between different things. This is why it's important to seek out help from a professional, as these youngsters are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This kind of ADD can be treated with nutritional modifications, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapies. This kind of ADD is difficult to treat, even with stimulant medication as it can cause hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is a method to distinguish between the seven kinds of ADD. It is especially useful in diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.

Anxious ADD


Many people suffering from ADD suffer from a high level of anxiety. This co-morbidity (having more than one disorder at the same time) is common, affecting about half of people with ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mirror the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Misdiagnosis may cause unsuitable treatment and frustration.

Anxious ADD can cause issues with work, school, and social situations. This type of ADD can cause underperformance and feelings of unworthiness. People with anxiety ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and activities because they think they'll fail.

They also fear being criticised or being judged. Due to this, they often hide their troubles from others. People with anxiety can become so anxious and stressed that they have panic attacks. These can be very severe and life-threatening, causing sweating, a heart that is pounding and breathing problems. In contrast to Classic ADD, those with Anxious ADD are more active in their basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. They operate on an instinctual basis and prioritize safety. This causes the brain to shut down the PFC which makes it hard for these individuals to concentrate.

If a person suffers from ADD/ADHD and anxiety and anxiety, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to treat. This is because treatment plans for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate the brain may actually increase anxiety in people with anxiety ADD due to a decrease in the activity in their PFC.

Amen Clinics psychiatrists use functional neuroimaging such as SPECT scans to identify which areas of the brain have high and/or lower levels of activity are occurring. This allows them to differentiate between the seven different types of ADD and determine the best treatment for each individual.

A psychiatrist will gather the complete medical history of a patient and conduct a physical examination to diagnose the condition of ADD/ADHD. In addition, he or she may ask questions about the patient's mood and behavior to evaluate the overall health of a patient. Sometimes, medications are prescribed to treat ADHD and ADD. However, in most cases patients also need other therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy and diet, 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 is a problem with the brain's temporal lobe, which is responsible for memory and mood. People suffering from this kind of ADD struggle to learn and store information they experience mood instability and are prone to intense anger or aggression issues. They also often suffer from a variety of sensory issues, including feeling like they've experienced deja vu, or seeing shadows or objects change forms and hearing sounds that other people don't hear. treatment for adult add are irritable, sensitive and easily overstimulated.

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. This type of ADD does not cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in females. People suffering from this type of ADD may suffer from low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine which contributes to their feelings of low motivation and poor self-regulation. The symptoms include insomnia, anger and anxiety.

In this instance QEEG scans of the ADD brain reveal that individuals with Overfocused ADD have difficulties shifting gears. They are experiencing normal activity in the anterior cingulate region (the brain's "gearshifter"). They can't move from one task or thought to the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.

This is a kind of ADD which means that people are extremely motivated and hardworking but they also tend to get distracted by non-essential or unimportant tasks. They can lose track of their schoolwork and their teachers or parents can become tired or embarrassed by their behavior. They may experience difficulties in relationships due to their tendency be reactive and impulsive. They also have difficulty managing multiple tasks and working with others. In some instances, they can suffer from depression or anxiety. They might be susceptible to hallucinations and panic attacks. The use of medication is not recommended for this type of ADD as they don't tackle the root cause of the symptoms.