Undiagnosed ADD Doesn’t Affect Just You, It Hurts Those Around You Too, But It Doesn’t Have To

While ADD is most often thought of as a disorder for children and adolescent boys with behavioral issues, 4.1% of all US adults have ADD, and 41% of those adults have cases the National Institute of Mental Health classify as severe. However, those are just those adults who are diagnosed with ADD. When left untreated, ADD can be incredibly debilitating for not only the people struggling with it but their loved ones as well. They may have trouble focusing, but that isn’t all, patients with untreated ADD often suffer from other disorders as well, from social isolation to depression and anxiety. And those who love them may not know what makes them act so differently. One of our patients named Larry was 62 when he came in to see us. He was experiencing a great deal of marital conflict and was on the brink of divorce.  His wife complained that he never talked to her, was unreliable, never finished projects that he started, and that he was very negative. He tended to be moody, tired, and disinterested in sex. As a child, Larry had mediocre to poor grades in school, and as an adult he went from job to job, complaining of boredom. But, he was never diagnosed with ADD. After his marital specialist referred him to Amen Clinics, and we had a chance to scan his brain, Larry’s SPECT scan showed decreased prefrontal cortex activity and increased activity in the deep limbic system of his brain.  Larry had Limbic ADD, with problems that looked like a combination of ADD and mild, chronic depression. That’s right, Larry had suffered from limbic ADD, one of the seven types of ADD, for his whole life, and he had never been diagnosed. Luckily for Larry, after getting him on a personalized treatment program, his ADD is under control. Last time we spoke, they told me that he and his wife were happier than when they first were married! ADD is a neurobiological disorder with serious psychological and social consequences. Children, teens, adults and parents need to know that it’s not their fault, they didn’t cause it, and there is hope. Amen Clinics is here to help you understand the ADD brain and provide treatment options that address more than just symptoms. Call us today at 888-288-9834 or visit us online to schedule a visit.