For Those Who Don’t Read Directions
If you have attention deficit disorder (ADD), also known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), I know you are not likely to read this entire book. I have been working with people who have ADD for over thirty years. You have many strengths, but a long attention span is usually not one of them. So, to honor the fact that many people with ADD have a short attention span, get distracted easily, and have poor follow-through, I developed a starter report to help you quickly get on your way to Healing ADD. In the rest of the book you will find the logic and research behind these strategies, along with many other life-enhancing strategies and stories.
The first step is to discover if you or a loved one really has it. ADD is called a developmental disorder, because people have it early in life. It is not something that shows up in middle age. If you have ADD symptoms, but never had them as a child, it is likely due to something else, such as depression, chronic stress, hormonal changes, a head injury, or some form of toxic exposure.
Once you know if you or a loved one has ADD, it is critical to know which type you have. ADD is not one thing. In this book I present seven distinct types of ADD. One treatment does not fit everyone. It is also possible to have more than one type. You can take the Amen Clinics ADD Type Test online at amenclinics.com/HealingADDtypetest.com to find out which type or types you or a loved one may have.
Type 1. Classic ADD (ADHD)—inattentive, distractible, disorganized, hyperactive, restless, and impulsive.
Type 2. Inattentive ADD—inattentive, easily distracted, disorganized, and often described as space cadets, daydreamers, and couch potatoes. Not hyperactive!
Type 3. Overfocused ADD—inattentive, trouble shifting attention, frequently get stuck in loops of negative thoughts or behaviors, obsessive, excessive worrying, inflexible, frequent oppositional and argumentative behavior. May or may not be hyperactive.
Type 4. Temporal Lobe ADD—inattentive, easily distracted, disorganized, irritable, short fuse, dark thoughts, mood instability, and may struggle with learning disabilities. May or may not be hyperactive.
Type 5. Limbic ADD—inattentive, easily distracted, disorganized, chronic low-grade sadness or negativity, “glass half empty syndrome,” low energy, tends to be more isolated socially, and frequent feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. May or may not be hyperactive.
Type 6. Ring of Fire ADD—inattentive, easily distracted, irritable, overly sensitive, cyclic moodiness, and oppositional. May or may not be hyperactive.
Type 7. Anxious ADD—inattentive, easily distracted, disorganized, anxious, tense, nervous, predicts the worst, gets anxious with timed tests, social anxiety, and often has physical stress symptoms, such as headaches and gastrointestinal symptoms. May or may not be hyperactive.
Knowing your type is essential to getting the right help for yourself.
At the Amen Clinics we have a very specific method for evaluating and treating our patients that has yielded very successful outcomes. You can use it no matter where you are. It involves four processes:
1. Four Circle Assessments: Know your biology (the physical process that makes you who you are—genetic or family history, nutritional status, exercise, health, sleep), know your psychology (your developmental history and the quality of your thoughts), know your social circle (your current stresses in life and the health of those with whom you spend the most time), and know your spiritual circle (why you care about life, what is your sense of meaning and purpose).
2. Evaluate the physical functioning of your brain. At the Amen Clinics we use brain SPECT imaging, a sophisticated brain imaging tool, and quantitative EEG, that help us understand the underlying biology of individual patients. For those who cannot get their brain function evaluated directly, we have developed online questionnaires to help predict what we might learn from a scan. In addition, we test brain function through computerized neuropsychological tests that measure: mood, anxiety, stress, social skills, attention, memory, executive function, information processing efficiency, response speed, impulsivity, and negativity bias. These are also available online.
3. Know your important numbers. It is also critical to know some important numbers, such as your height, weight, waist size, blood pressure, and specific lab tests, such as your CBC, blood sugar, thyroid levels, etc. If your thyroid or other lab values are off you will never be your best. A detailed list of these numbers can be found in Chapter 3.
Understanding these first three processes leads us to a targeted plan to optimize your specific brain and situation, rather than treating a general diagnostic category like ADD, anxiety, or depression. The best treatments use a combination of all four circles: biological (diet, exercise, supplements, meds, and neurofeedback), psychological (learning how to heal past hurts and thinking honestly and clearly), social (managing stress and improving your relationships), and spiritual (getting in touch with a deep sense of meaning and purpose).
4. Boost your brain’s reserve. The last part of our method is to help boost the brain’s reserve, or the extra brain function you have to deal with whatever stresses come your way in the future, such as losses, hormonal swings, and aging. Boost your brain’s reserve with three strategies:
Things to do today! There are many treatments common to all people with ADD. Here are the most important ones to start with today.
Just because you or a loved one has ADD does not mean that medication is the first intervention to try. Many people, in my experience, respond to natural treatments and they are at least something to seriously consider before medication. See below for a summary of the supplements for each type of ADD. But, just because something is natural does not mean it is without risk or side effects. See Chapter 19 for more information.
BIOLOGICAL ADD TREATMENT SUMMARY
Here Is a Summary of the Major Treatments for Each Type.
ADD Type |
Diet |
Natural Supplements |
Medications |
Type 1. |
higher protein, lower carb |
Rhodiola, green tea, ginseng, L-tyrosine, zinc, grape seed or pine bark (abbreviated stimulating supplements) |
Stimulants such as Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, or Concerta Stimulants or Provigil, Nuvigil |
Type 2. |
higher protein, lower carb |
stimulating supplements |
Stimulants or Provigil, Nuvigil |
Type 3. |
lower protein, higher smart carb |
5-HTP PLUS stimulating supplements |
Serotonin and norepinephrine enhancing meds such as Effexor or Cymbalata; or a serotonin enhancing med, such as Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Celexa, or Lexapro, PLUS a stimulant |
Type 4. |
higher protein, lower carb, maybe “ketogenic diet” |
GABA, gingko, vinpocetine, huperzine A, ALC, PS, NAC, and ALA PLUS stimulating supplements |
If mood instability, consider anticonvulsants such as Neurontin, Lamictal, Trileptal or Depakote, PLUS a stimulant |
Type 5. Limbic ADD |
higher protein, lower carb |
SAMe PLUS stimulating supplements |
Stimulants such as Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, or Concerta |
Type 6. |
higher protein, lower carb |
GABA, 5HTP PLUS stimulating supplements |
Anticonvulsants together with a serotonin enhancing med and then if needed a stimulant. Guanfacine or clonidine can also be used. |
Type 7. |
higher protein, lower carb |
L-theanine, Relora, Magnesium, Holy Basil, PLUS stimulating supplements |
Strattera, desipramine, imipramine |
Medication is an important issue to consider. People who have mild to even moderate ADD may be able to treat the disorder through natural means. People with more severe forms of ADD often need medication. It is usually not the first thing to do, but when necessary and if prescribed properly it can make a huge positive difference. See below for a summary of the medications for each type of ADD.
I like to start any lecture about ADD by talking about its many strengths. People with ADD are often highly intelligent, competent, and successful. It is well known that many CEOs have ADD and they tend to thrive when they hire people to keep them on track and organized. People with ADD often make wonderful writers, artists, and salespeople. There is a high incidence of people with ADD among certain professions, such as ER physicians and trauma nurses. They tend to be people who run toward fires, as opposed to people like me who tend to run away from dangerous situations. In wartime, ADD people tend to be our heroes because they are better able to throw caution to the wind, but in peacetime that same trait can get them into trouble. Never let the idea that you have ADD hold you back from reaching for your dreams or be an excuse on why you cannot get there.