The Ultimate Glossary For Terms Related To ADD And Treatment
ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are frequently associated with problems at school, work or at home. The psychiatric illness can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common name for this psychiatric condition. Mental health professionals use the SPECT brain imaging method to determine ADHD.
Symptoms include being easily distracted, forgetful, and unorganized. 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 people with this type have normal activity in the prefrontal cortex at rest and during concentration, but reduced activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, which are responsible for the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter which helps to increase motivation, focus and a sense of calm. This type has a short attention span, is easily distracted by noises and other stimuli and is unable to switch attention. They are unable to fall asleep, and often wake up in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They can be easily annoyed and can be easily angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is characterized by all the classic ADD symptoms, but also by a difficulty in shifting their attention between thoughts and shifting their focus from one task to the next. They are sensitive to light, noise and even touch. treat adult adhd talk too quickly and are highly impulsive. They can experience periods of agitation and low energy, are quick to get angry and can get stuck in negative thoughts and guilty feelings.
It is possible to mix limbic ADD with depression. But it is different in that it boosts activity in the limbic part of the brain during time of rest and during concentration. It is a condition that can be treated with supplements like L-tryptophan, 5-HTP as well as saffron and inositol, which boost concentration, alertness and mood. They also improve mental clarity; amino acid GABA to reduce neural activity and prevent nerve cells from over-firing or firing irregularly; and liver support.

It is crucial to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which can cause irritability and 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
Overfocused ADD sufferers often get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors that trigger excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behaviors similar to the ones of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and that is why it's often misdiagnosed. These individuals often become threatened emotionally when required to shift their attention from one thing to another, 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 negative or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome" and frequent feelings of hopelessness and desperation. They may also be afflicted by memory problems, experience severe anger, and may have a short fuse.
People who have hyper-focused ADD may be rigid when it comes to changing tasks and may become absorbed in their job or pastime. They might forget appointments and deadlines at home or at work and they might not complete their schoolwork or chores. They could also be stubborn and resentful when punished by their parents or teachers.
Children with overfocused ADD show a high degree of irritability and stubbornness, and are susceptible to throwing a rage when their interests are not respected. They might be obsessed with particular activities like video games, toys, and toys. They also have difficulty expressing their feelings, and can be extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This kind of ADD can be difficult to recognize, especially in children. Children who exhibit this type of behavior may have difficulty understanding the cause of their problems. by a lack of ability to switch their focus from one task to the next. This is the reason it's crucial to seek out help from a professional, as children with this type of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family doctors and even psychologists. This kind of ADD is treatable with diet modifications, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. Some medications are prescribed, but this type of ADD can be difficult to treat with stimulant drugs, since they can boost a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging is sometimes used to distinguish the seven distinct types of ADD and is especially helpful for diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD have high levels of anxiety. This co-morbidity (having more than one disorder simultaneously) is common, affecting the majority of sufferers of ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can resemble the symptoms of ADD/ADHD and the wrong diagnosis can lead to ineffective treatment and further frustration.
Anxious ADD may cause problems at school, at work, or with social situations. This kind of ADD can cause under-performance and feelings of unworthiness. People suffering from anxious ADD tend to avoid challenging tasks and activities because they think they're not capable of completing the task.
They are also afraid of being judged or being criticized. They also hide their issues from others. These people can be so stressed and anxious that they experience panic attacks. They can be extremely severe and life-threatening, causing sweating, a pounding heart and breathing problems. Anxious ADD is distinct from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the Basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and prioritize security. This can shut down PFC and makes it difficult for people with this disorder to concentrate.
If someone suffering from ADHD or ADD has anxiety their symptoms are generally more difficult to manage than those of a person who does not suffer from anxiety. This is due to treatment strategies for ADD/ADHD, which are designed to stimulate the brain could actually increase anxiety among people with anxious ADD by reducing the activity of their PFC.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging such as SPECT scans to identify where in the brain low and/or higher levels of activity are occurring. This allows them to distinguish between the seven different types of ADD and determine the best treatment for each person.
To determine if someone has ADD/ADHD psychiatrist collects a full medical history and conducts physical examination. They may also ask about mood and behavior to assess the patient's overall functioning. Medications are sometimes used to treat ADD/ADHD, but most patients need other therapies in addition, such as cognitive behavioral therapy as well as nutrition and exercise strategies for sleep, desensitization and other techniques to relax. This will help enhance their ability to control their moods and overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This kind of ADD affects the temporal lobe of the brain which is responsible for mood and memory. People suffering from this kind of ADD struggle to retain and learn and experience mood swings and are prone to extreme anger or aggression issues. They also often suffer from various sensory issues, like feeling like they have deja vu or experiencing shadows or objects changing forms and hearing sounds that others don't. They tend to be sensitive and angry and are often overwhelmed by certain activities, such as computer screens or crowds.
This kind of ADD has the same symptoms as Classic ADD. These include inattention spans that are short and disorganized. It also includes difficulty staying on task or following directions. This kind of ADD is not associated with an excessive amount of impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD is more common in females. People suffering from this kind of ADD might have low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which can cause feelings of low motivation and low self-regulation. The symptoms can include sleep problems and feelings of irritability or anxiety.
In this instance brain mapping scans using qEEG of the brain reveal that people suffering from Over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gyrus which is the brain's "gear shifter," but they are having trouble shifting gears. They aren't able to shift from one thought or task to the next and are stuck in negative thoughts and behavior.
This is a kind of ADD which means that people are highly motivated and hardworking however, they have a tendency to get distracted by unimportant or non-essential tasks. They can get lost in their school work and parents or teachers are often exhausted 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 with others. In certain situations they may suffer from depression or anxiety. They might be susceptible to hallucinations and panic attacks. The use of medications for this kind of ADD aren't usually advised, since they don't address the underlying causes of symptoms.