ARCHIVE

For decades, ADD/ADHD was primarily viewed as a disorder in boys who couldn’t sit still. Over time, it has become clearer that girls and women with the condition often have different symptoms and face special challenges. But what about adult men? They have to cope with unique struggles too. At Amen Clinics, we have treated thousands of men with ADD/ADHD, which brain SPECT imaging shows is typically associated with low activity in the prefrontal cortex and is also linked to low levels of the neurochemical, dopamine. Over time, it has become clearer that girls and women with ADD/ADHD often have different symptoms and face special challenges. But what about adult men? They have to cope with unique struggles too.
Click to tweet

Here are some of the most common issues adult men with ADD/ADHD face.

1. Work Challenges Faced by Men with ADD/ADHD

For many men, work defines their identity, and any struggles in this arena can create problems. Look at Bill, for example. At age 32, he got fired from a job he loved. He knew it was his fault, but he just couldn’t organize his time to do the work that was expected.  He missed deadlines, seemed to drift off in meetings, and he was often late to work. He knew that his wife would be angry with him. This was the third job he had lost in their 3-year marriage. As a child, Bill had taken Ritalin for troubles in school, but he was taken off the medication when he was a teenager. His doctor told him that all kids outgrow the problems he was having. That was bad advice. As an adult, Bill’s work was suffering from the effects of ADD/ADHD, and it left him with a sense of shame and failure. This is common in men with ADD/ADHD. When a supervisor or manager puts more pressure on them to perform, they often fall off in their work. The boss then interprets this decreased performance as willful misconduct and serious problems arise. One man with ADD/ADHD who came to Amen Clinics was a ship welder. He said that whenever his boss put pressure on him to do a better job, his work got worse (even though he really tried to do better). When the boss told him that he liked his work, he became more productive. Other ADD/ADHD-related traits include distractibility, forgetfulness, impulsivity, disorganization, being late for work, and having trouble with follow-through. This makes men with the condition more vulnerable to getting fired, demoted, or not achieving the success they desire.

2. Common Relationship Problems for Men with ADD/ADHD

For many men, ADD/ADHD causes trouble in their relationships for a variety of reasons. For example, males with this condition experience difficulty expressing their emotions. This can be frustrating for their partners, who say that there is little meaningful talking in the relationship. “He seems turned off when he comes home” is a common complaint. Relationships can also suffer due to temper outbursts, which occur in up to 70% of adults with ADD/ADHD, according to research in BMC Psychiatry. Emotional dysregulation makes those with the condition prone to irritability, frustration, and anger, and it is especially common in men. Conflict-seeking behavior is also common as a way for those with ADD/AHD to stimulate activity in the brain. In relationships, this leads men to play a game of “Let’s have a problem,” in which they create drama to build excitement. This can be detrimental to any relationship.

3. Sexual Issues in Men with ADD/ADHD

For men, performance in the bedroom is key to self-esteem, but having ADD/ADHD can get in the way of a fulfilling love life. A lack of focus can make a man’s mind wander during sex and can make it harder to achieve orgasm, which can make him feel like a failure. The need for novelty and thrill-seeking behavior, which is common in men with this condition, can lead to bad habits, such as extramarital affairs or regular use of online pornography. These can cause major rifts in relationships. A penchant for risky behavior and the thrill of the moment is also a recipe for engaging in unprotected sex, which can have serious consequences, such as exposure to STDs and unplanned pregnancies.

4. Men with ADD/ADHD are Less Likely to Seek Treatment

In our society, men are brought up to be the “strong, silent types,” and are encouraged to “tough it out” whenever they have a problem. The stigma surrounding mental health issues makes men less likely to ask for help when they need it. This means they are more likely to suffer in silence needlessly. If they don’t seek treatment or get a brain scan, which has helped the psychiatrists at Amen Clinics identify 7 types of ADD/ADHD, they won’t know which type they have or how to target treatment to their type. ADD/ADHD and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. Living with attention-deficit disorder (ADD), also known as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), can be difficult for anyone, but it can be particularly challenging for women. A 2014 review of existing studies confirms that women experience distinct risks when it comes to ADD, which affects approximately 4.4% of American adults.     Living with attention-deficit disorder (ADD), also known as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), can be difficult for anyone, but it can be particularly challenging for women.
Click to tweet

Here are 10 of the biggest challenges facing women with ADD.

1. Self-esteem issues

Girls and women with ADD often don’t display the hallmark hyperactivity that is typically associated with the condition, which is why this blog will refer to it as ADD rather than ADHD. Instead, they have inattentive ADD, which is one of the 7 types of ADD identified by the brain imaging work at Amen Clinics. Inattentive ADD is characterized by a lack of focus, distraction, trouble paying attention to details, forgetfulness, low motivation, and other symptoms. Sadly, these traits are often viewed as character flaws, and people are labeled as slow, lazy, spacey, or unmotivated, which can lead to self-esteem issues.

2. Remaining undiagnosed

While hyperactive people bring negative attention to themselves with their constant chatter and conflict-driven behavior, girls and women with inattentive ADD tend to be quiet and distracted. For this reason, girls and women with ADD often go undiagnosed and untreated, which causes problems throughout their lifetime.

3. Internalizing

Females with ADD tend to internalize their problems and blame themselves rather than others, which leads to higher levels of anxiety.

4. Unplanned pregnancies

Teens and women with ADD are more likely to engage in risky behavior, such as sexual activity. A 2019 study shows that girls with ADD are 6 times more likely to become pregnant as teenagers compared with those who don’t have the condition. Among patients at Amen Clinics, there is a much higher percentage of teenage pregnancies in ADD girls. They do not think through the consequences of their behavior.

5. Sexual issues

Distractibility makes it harder to have an orgasm. Think about it—what does an orgasm require (besides a reasonable lover)? The answer is focus. You have to pay attention to the feeling long enough in order to make it happen. Many people, especially women, with ADD struggle to have orgasms, which can lead to relationship problems and feelings of dissatisfaction.

6. Hormonal influences

A woman’s hormones play a major role in ADD and can worsen around the time of puberty, during the premenstrual phase of a woman’s cycle, and also around the time of menopause. A number of brain SPECT studies have shown an overall decrease in brain activity when estrogen levels are low. During perimenopause or menopause, many women who previously had only mild ADD develop more acute symptoms.

7. More at risk for depression

Major depressive disorder is more than twice as common in teenage girls with ADD than in girls without the condition, according to research in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Brain imaging studies have demonstrated that females, on average, have a larger deep limbic system than males. This gives females several advantages and disadvantages. Due to the larger deep limbic brain women are more in touch with their feelings and are generally better able to express their feelings than men. They also have an increased ability to bond and be connected to others. Having a larger deep limbic system, however, leaves females somewhat more susceptible to depression.

8. Chronic stress connected to caretaking

Women are expected to be the primary caretakers in our society, but when they have difficulty planning and organizing their own lives, doing so for their children can make daily living seem overwhelming. When daily duties related to child-rearing pile-up, it can lead to feelings of emotional overwhelm and chronic stress.

9. Feeling like a failure

Organizing holiday parties, family dinners, and birthdays—these are some of the everyday areas where women are expected to excel. But when you forget to send a birthday card, neglect to call your mom on Mother’s Day or overlook a key ingredient in a recipe for a big holiday dinner it can make you feel like a failure.

10. Self-harm

Girls with ADD are at a higher risk for self-harm and suicidal behavior when they reach adulthood, according to findings in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. ADD (or ADHD) and co-existing depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. Many people think of mental health disorders as isolated conditions. When we hear someone say, “I have depression,” or “My husband has anxiety” it leads us to think that there’s a specific solution for each of these problems that would help people feel better. But it’s not quite that simple. For instance, if someone had only depression, you might think antidepressants would be the simple solution to reduce symptoms and boost their mood and energy. But more than half of depressed patients don’t get the relief they want from taking antidepressants, according to a large study. Similarly, if someone has ADD/ADHD, you might think that prescription stimulants are the easy answer to their issues. But they often aren’t. Why are the standard treatment models ineffective for so many people? Increasingly, physicians and other clinicians recognize that most patients with psychiatric conditions have complex conditions that don’t fit into the tidy categorical boxes described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders (DSM)—and for a good reason. Many people with mental health issues have an array of symptoms that can occur in a variety of disorders and confound the diagnostic process. Here’s an example of the same symptoms which can be seen in different mental health issues:
Depression Anxiety ADHD Bipolar Disorder TBI
Irritability x x x x
Insomnia x x x x
Poor concentration x x x x x
Impulsivity x x x
Restlessness x x x x x
Behavioral problems x x x

 

Having More Than One Psychiatric Diagnosis is Common

While there are other symptoms that cross diagnostic categories too, recognizing that most mental health problems are not single or simple disorders is helpful in understanding why so many people struggle to get adequate relief of their symptoms. A 2019 research study published in the journal, JAMA Psychiatry, reviewed the mental health history data of more than 5 million people and found that having one mental health disorder increased the risk of having another. This means that comorbidity (having two or more conditions) may actually be more common than having just one. Comorbidity (having two or more mental health conditions) may actually be more common than having just one.
Click to tweet
This means it’s common for people to have multiple conditions at the same time, such as depression and anxiety, ADD/ADHD and depression, panic disorder and bipolar disorder, addiction and anxiety or depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and an eating disorder, and so on. Having multiple psychiatric disorders is referred to as dual diagnosis, co-occurring conditions, or co-existing disorders. Treating only one of the conditions will never be adequate. All of the issues need to be treated in order to get well. While it is still not yet known why mental health problems are more complex than originally believed, there are likely some genetic influences and environmental experiences that make some people more vulnerable to them.

Mental Health Disorders Have Multiple Causes

However, what we do know, is that a person’s mental health is directly linked to what’s going on in their brain. During the past 30 years, many people have sought treatment at Amen Clinics after they’ve had several failed attempts to feel better elsewhere. This is largely because of traditional psychiatry’s reliance on the limited DSM symptom-cluster approach to diagnosing their patients. Plus, most psychiatrists don’t use advanced imaging technology, such as SPECT (single-photon-emission-computed-tomography) to actually look at their patients’ brains to assess for the biological underpinnings of their symptoms. Consequently, many people are misdiagnosed and/or inadequately treated because underlying brain problems are missed altogether. Using the example of depression again, to accurately treat a patient, it’s necessary to identify what could be driving a person’s symptoms, since there are several potential causes, including these: Because of this, what works well for one person isn’t necessarily going to work for someone else. There is not a one-size-fits-all treatment for depression—nor for any other psychiatric disorder—because of the complexities that come with each condition as well as the uniqueness of each person’s brain.

A Game-Changing Discovery

Another discovery that helps to explain the problems with treatment response also comes from the extensive brain SPECT imaging work done at Amen Clinics, which now has a database of more than 183,000 patient scans. One of the most important findings is that some of the more common mental health conditions have several identifiable subtypes, which are based on specific brain patterns. The doctors and researchers at Amen Clinics have identified: What makes this work so important is that each of the disorders and their subtypes has different characteristics, which require individualized treatment plans that take into consideration a patient’s symptoms as well as their brain biology and clinical history. Without having SPECT scans as an adjunct tool, it would be much more difficult to accurately diagnose and treat patients. As Dr. Daniel Amen, founder of Amen Clinics, has said, “How do you know unless you look?” By having incorporated such a comprehensive evaluation process for each patient—including the valuable information from the scans—the doctors at Amen Clinics have successfully helped tens of thousands of people finally find relief from symptoms of multiple conditions, so they can live more fulfilling and healthy lives. Complex mental health problems can’t wait. During this ongoing time of uncertainty, your mental well-being is more important than ever. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. Amen Clinics attracts some very successful people—superstar musicians, athletes, actors, and CEOs—who want to get their brain scanned. Their hope is that seeing what’s happening inside their head will help them find a path to decreasing symptoms, whether they’re experiencing depression, anxiety, obsessiveness, trouble with focus and attention, PTSD, addictions, eating disorders, or other issues. They all want to feel happier, but many of them have a common concern. If they enhance their brain health, will it take away the unique or quirky part of their personality that makes them special and that helped them achieve so much success in the first place? Will it dull their creativity? Will it make them less likely to take the necessary risks to reach greatness? Will it make them boring? That’s what stand-up comedian and host of the Sharp Tongue and Highlarious podcasts, Jessimae Peluso, wanted to know when she came to Amen Clinics for a brain scan and evaluation as part of an influencer series called “Scan My Brain.” She asked psychiatrist and neuroscientist Daniel G. Amen, MD, the founder of Amen Clinics: “What if my broken brain is the thing that makes me funny?” Comedian Jessimae Peluso asked psychiatrist and neuroscientist Daniel G. Amen, MD, the founder of Amen Clinics: “What if my broken brain is the thing that makes me funny?”
Click to tweet

Mental Health Is No Laughing Matter

Peluso has spent a lifetime struggling with attention issues. In school, she was smart, but she caused problems. “I had a permanent desk in the hallway,” she admitted, “because I drove the teacher so nuts because I was more focused on entertaining and just saying whatever came to my brain.” As an adult, she wants to be able to follow through on projects without a million interruptions. “Without first Swiffering the kitchen, eating half a sandwich, going back and checking my text messages, walking out to the front to rake the yard,” she said. In her everyday life, it’s like “I’ve done 1000 things, but I never finished the thing that I set off to do.” The comedian had never really thought much about the health of her brain until her dad developed Alzheimer’s disease and died from it in 2018. That prompted her to invite Dr. Amen as a guest on her Sharpe Tongue podcast. The conversation about brain health and its relationship to psychiatric issues piqued her curiosity, and she decided to visit Amen Clinics for a brain SPECT scan. SPECT is a sophisticated brain mapping tool that measures blood flow and activity in the brain. It shows 3 things: Peluso was hoping she could learn more about her brain so she could improve her attention and focus and help prevent dementia, which has a genetic component. When one or both parents have Alzheimer’s disease it increases the likelihood that their offspring will develop it someday. “I would not like that house guest up here whatsoever,” Peluso said with a laugh.

What Jessimae Peluso Saw in Her Brain Scan

When Dr. Amen revealed Peluso’s brain scan to her, she asked “Why does it look like a smiley face?” She was referring to what looked like two big holes near the top of the scan. As Dr. Amen explained, the holes aren’t really holes, rather they indicate areas of low blood flow. Here’s a closer look at two areas of concern in Peluso’s brain. “It looks like an aerial view of Arizona,” Peluso quipped. Dr. Amen explained that scalloping is often a sign of toxicity, such as alcohol or drug use. It can also be associated with environmental toxins, chemotherapy, carbon monoxide poisoning, infections, hypothyroidism, severe anemia, or anoxia (a lack of oxygen to the brain, such as from a near-drowning incident or a heart attack). As the host of the “Highlarious” podcast, Peluso is admittedly an avid pot smoker. She didn’t like learning that an Amen Clinics study with 65,424 brain SPECT scans found that marijuana use prematurely ages the brain.

A Better Brain and a Better, Funnier Life

Peluso’s brain, according to Dr. Amen, was not on a healthy path. He showed her a progression of what her brain could look like 10 years from now if she didn’t make any changes to her lifestyle. It wasn’t pretty. “That looks like a horror movie set,” said Peluso, cringing. When Dr. Amen showed her a SPECT scan of the brain of someone with Alzheimer’s disease, it really hit home for the comedian. “That gives me so much anxiety,” she said of the scan that looked like it was full of giant holes indicating a lack of activity. Seeing a different progression of how much healthier and younger her brain could look in 10 years if she adopted better brain habits and eliminated toxins from her life sparked hope. But it also made her wonder, “How will this affect me as a comedian?” Dr. Amen assured her that having a healthier brain will make her better—a more consistent performer, more adept with the business side of things, and happier overall. “You’ll still be able to look at things in an unusual way. Right? That’s what makes you funny,” he said. “But you’ll be able to follow through.” ADD/ADHD, anxiety, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever, and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. Many people are aware of the symptoms associated with adult ADD, also known as adult ADHD—short attention span, easily distracted, disorganization, procrastination, and impulsivity. But what does it really feel like to have this common condition that affects approximately 4.4% of American adults? At Amen Clinics, we have worked with thousands of people who struggle with ADD/ADHD. Straight from the psychiatrist’s couch, here’s what some of them have said about what life is like with ADD/ADHD.

What our patients have said about what life is like with ADD/ADHD:

“I feel so bad about the rude things I say.”

I have a tendency to blurt out whatever pops into my head. If you’ve ever answered “yes” when your wife asks you if those jeans make her butt look fat, then you know how I feel. It’s like the words just spill out of my mouth and it’s too late to take them back. As soon as I say something rude, I regret it. I’m really not trying to be hurtful, but I end up making people mad at me or hurting their feelings and ruining my relationships. I spend so much time feeling bad about the mean things I’ve said. Why can’t I just keep my mouth shut?

“My mind is being assaulted…all the time.”

No matter where I am, I can’t help but notice everything that’s going on around me—the wind blowing that tree branch, the itchy tag on the back of my sweater, or the pretty butterfly that just flew by. It’s really a problem when I’m in a conversation with someone, especially with my husband. My mind gets distracted, and I miss what he’s saying. Sometimes, he’ll notice that I’m not paying attention to him, and he thinks I don’t love him or care about him. Or he’ll ask me to do something, but that’s right when a loud car whizzed past us, and I lost track of what he was saying. Then he gets mad at me when I don’t do whatever it was he requested. It’s not that I’m not trying to listen to what he’s saying, it’s just that there’s so much going on around me that grabs my attention, and I can’t block it out. It’s like I can’t filter out all the unimportant stuff. I just want to turn my mind off sometimes.

“Everything takes me so long.”

Even when I think I’ve given myself enough time to get ready for something, I find ways to be late anyway. Last week, I had a Zoom job interview, and I gave myself half an hour to get ready, but during that time, I managed to get distracted and start a load of laundry, answer some emails, and call my mom. All of a sudden, I only had 5 minutes left and I still hadn’t finished my hair or makeup. I ended up jumping on the interview a few minutes late, and I didn’t look or feel my best. I was sure I made a bad impression, so I couldn’t focus on their questions or what I could bring to the company. I’m sure it cost me the job. It made me feel like a failure like I should just give up trying to get a job.

“I get so antsy if I have to wait for anything.”

I’m so impatient, I refuse to wait in line at the store, so I end up eating cereal for dinner because it’s all I have in the house. I hang up if I’m on hold with the bank for longer than a minute. I walk away from my computer if I get the dreaded spooling icon. The bottom line, it means I don’t get things done even though I wanted to do them, and I actually tried to do them. Due to the pandemic, I had to file for unemployment and the website took so long to load and there were so many steps involved, I just gave up. I ended up losing out on several weeks of benefits before I finally got through it all.

“My life is in piles.”

At home, at work—everything is in piles. I have stacks of mail and bills on the kitchen counter, work files piled high in my car, and my clothes are in heaps on the bedroom floor. It drives my wife crazy.  She’s always yelling at me to clean up after myself and to get organized. Me, I don’t even see the mess. I don’t know why she’s so focused on it. We end up arguing about it a LOT. “I feel so bad about the rude things I say.” “Everything takes me so long.” “My mind is being assaulted…all the time.” “I get so antsy if I have to wait for anything.” “My life is in piles.” —things people with ADD say.
Click to tweet
ADD/ADHD and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. Are you chronically late for meetings, have difficulty getting your projects completed, or have a hard time sitting at a desk for any length of time? If so, ADD may be the driving force. While most often diagnosed during childhood due to school and behavior issues, ADD/ADHD doesn’t just disappear in adulthood. Thus, having untreated ADD can cause some problems in the workplace for many people. ADD brains work differently in certain respects, and while there are several potential challenges, there are also some amazing gifts. On the bright side, people with ADD can be: ADD brains work differently in certain respects, and while they have several challenges, there are also some amazing gifts, such as spontaneity, enthusiasm, creativity, and the ability to generate new ideas.
Click to tweet

8 CHALLENGES FOR ADD AT WORK

If people with ADD are able to surround themselves with support staff who manage the details of their projects and help keep them organized, they can be very successful. However, not everyone has that luxury. Research has found that it is not unusual for many with ADD to struggle with a number of challenges at work, particularly the following ones:

1. The Harder You Try, the Harder it Gets

And it isn’t exactly your fault because it’s actually how your brain works. When people with ADD concentrate, blood flow decreases in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the part of the brain that is vital for staying focused. This makes it harder to stay on task. Helpful hint:  Set a timer for every 60 or 90 minutes and take a quick break to move around a little and get your blood flowing again. Then get right back to the project you were working on.

2. Procrastination

Do you wait right up until the deadline to get started on a project? Sometimes projects can seem really overwhelming, so people may put them off as long as possible. On one hand, that shortened timeline gets the adrenaline flowing to help motivate you, but on the other hand, waiting until the last minute can cause problems for yourself and others. You’re more likely to make mistakes when rushed and if you’re working on a team project it can interfere with the productivity of others. Helpful hint: Break up your project into smaller tasks and focus on one at a time, rather than feeling like it’s a giant ball of twine you have to untangle all at once.

3. Distractibility

It can be very challenging for ADD brains to filter out voices, noise, and other things going on around them—including what’s happening on their smartphone. They also have a tendency to daydream and get caught up in their own busy mind. These distractions interfere with the ability to pay attention and follow directions, which of course are detrimental to productivity. Helpful hint: Try using a white noise machine or earbuds to minimize distractions from the sound around you. Also, turn off the notification beep for your email and set a timer to check and respond to your inbox once per hour instead.

4. Impulsivity

The PFC is supposed to function as the brakes of the brain, but with ADD, this part of the brain tends to be underactive, and your brakes don’t work as well as they should. Often, this lends itself to interrupting others or speaking before thinking—and in the workplace that can be problematic. Blurting out something without taking a moment to process the thought can offend or irritate coworkers, customers, or even the boss. Helpful hint: Start paying attention to how your body feels when you have the urge to respond instantaneously to something and practice counting to 10 before responding. This can help you get control of your mouth, so you don’t put your foot in it.

5. Forgetfulness

When you have a busy and spontaneous brain, memory can be an issue. Missed deadlines, forgotten reports, and steps not completed because you didn’t remember how to do them or even that you were supposed to do them, all can adversely impact your success at work. Helpful hint: When you’ve been assigned a new task or project, write out all the necessary steps and use your computer or phone reminder functions to help you stay on track.

6. Disorganization

This is one of the hallmarks of ADD. Does your office have piles of stuff that make others wonder how you can find anything at all? This can be very challenging for your work because of how easy it is to lose track of important papers you need and the excessive time it takes to find things—both of which can lead to being inefficient at your job. In addition, a messy workspace is very distracting and can make it even harder to focus. Helpful hint: Shred or recycle papers you don’t need—as soon as you are finished with them—so they don’t end up in a pile. For all others, scan and file documents electronically, or if appropriate, put them in clearly labeled file folders in your desk drawer.

7. Chronic lateness

Losing track of time can cause big problems at work. Not making deadlines, regularly showing up late to meetings, and not getting to work on time are red flags for many supervisors. Whether it’s due to disorganization, overscheduling yourself, or not getting up early enough, a lack of timeliness can lead to job loss. Helpful hint: Set meeting reminders to beep 10 minutes and 5 minutes prior to when you need to depart for each meeting and give yourself adequate time to get there. Even if it’s an online meeting, use the same reminders to get logged in before the start time. Also, set your alarm clock so that you have plenty of time to get ready for work and prepare any lunch food the night before, so you don’t waste time in the morning.

8. Restlessness

Many (but not all) people with ADD are naturally restless or hyperactive. It can be very hard to sit still and do desk work or stay in one place for any length of time. This urge to move around can be difficult to harness, so if you can’t switch careers to one that offers more movement and novelty, try building more motion into your day. Helpful hint: To avoid being fidgety during meetings, take notes to keep your mind focused and your hand busy. Also, schedule short intermittent breaks throughout the day to get some quick exercise, such as a power walk around the block or a few laps up and down the stairs to help burn off some of that excess energy. Job problems are quite common in people with untreated ADD; however, with some natural solutions, you really can improve the behaviors and habits that keep getting in your way at work. Depending on which of the 7 Types of ADD a person has, the proper diet, adequate exercise, simple supplements, and other lifestyle changes can make a huge difference in getting control of your brain, so you can be successful in your career and the goals that lay ahead! ADD and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever, and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. Do you or your child have trouble focusing, staying organized, or completing tasks? It could be attention-deficit disorder (ADD), also known as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). If you (or a loved one) have ADD/ADHD, you may think stimulant medication, such as Ritalin or Adderall, is the only answer. Wrong! Many natural ADD/ADHD solutions are backed by science. If you (or a loved one) have ADD/ADHD, you may think stimulant medication, such as Ritalin or Adderall, is the only answer. Wrong! Many natural ADD/ADHD solutions are backed by science.
Click to tweet
Although research in the journal Plos One found that the usage of stimulant medication for ADD/ADHD doubled from 2006-2016, it isn’t the only option. Other scientific findings show that alternatives to ADD/ADHD medication can improve symptoms, such as: If you’re one of the 4.4% of adults in America who are affected by ADD/ADHD, or your child is among the over 6 million youngsters who have this condition, you may benefit from some of these natural strategies. In some instances, natural solutions can help reduce or eliminate the need for prescription stimulants. If you or your child are currently taking medication, be sure to discuss your situation with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your prescription medication.

Here are 7 science-backed secrets to healing ADD/ADHD naturally:

1. Nourish the ADD/ADHD brain with nutritional supplements.

A growing body of research shows that nutritional deficiencies—including low levels of vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, and ferritin—are common in people with ADD/ADHD. Taking a high-quality daily multiple vitamin/mineral supports healthy levels of foundational nutrients. Similarly, studies have found that those with ADD/ADHD generally have lower levels of important omega-3 fatty acids. Supplementing with omega-3s can improve issues with impulse control, attention, and hyperactivity, according to findings in Translational Psychiatry and the Journal of Lipids.

2. Avoid stimulating substances.

Kick the caffeine habit and eliminate the use of any nicotine products. At Amen Clinics, brain SPECT imaging studies show that, over time, caffeine and nicotine reduce activity in the brain. During concentration in people with ADD/ADHD, there is typically lower activity in the prefrontal cortex, and this can be compounded with caffeine and nicotine use.

3. Get moving.

Physical exercise enhances blood flow and activity in the brain, which can improve focus and attention. The benefits of intense physical exercise are so great, it should be viewed as supplemental medication.

4. Put devices away.

Limiting screen time to no more than 30 minutes a day can make a significant difference in ADD/ADHD symptoms. A study in Plos One found that preschoolers who spent more than 2 hours of screen time per day had “clinically significant” increases in ADD/ADHD symptoms, such as attentional problems.

5. Eat to heal ADD/ADHD.

Consuming a higher-protein, lower-simple carbohydrate diet can help with focus and attention in most people with ADD/ADHD. There is one exception, however. People who have Over-Focused ADD—one of the 7 types of ADD identified by Amen Clinics—usually do better with a diet that includes higher levels of complex carbohydrates.

6. Find out if other issues are contributing to ADD/ADHD symptoms.

Issues, such as head trauma, depression, and hormonal imbalances are common in people with ADD/ADHD. Another condition called Irlen Syndrome, which is a visual processing problem, is commonly seen with the condition. Brain SPECT imaging, in addition to lab testing, can help determine the root causes of your (or your child’s) symptoms. Treating any underlying issues can be a critical part of the process of healing from ADD/ADHD.

7. Target natural treatments for your type of ADD/ADHD.

Brain SPECT imaging shows that there are 7 types of ADD/ADHD. Knowing which ADD/ADHD type you (or your child) have is an important step in finding the most effective natural solutions. ADD/ADHD—as well as anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions—can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. Do you leave things until the last minute? Have trouble getting motivated? Flake out on boring chores? You may have grown up with people telling you to “just try harder.” Parents, teachers, coaches, and other authority figures may have told you that you have a lot of potential but that you need to apply yourself. They may even have called you lazy. But is your problem just being lazy, or could you have ADD/ADHD?

LAZINESS VS. ADD/ADHD

People with ADD/ADHD have brains that work differently than those who don’t have the condition and differently from lazy people. People who are lazy typically don’t make an effort to complete tasks at work, school, or home. ADD/ADHD people, however, may try really, really hard but still can’t tackle what they want to accomplish. This can lead to frustration, low self-esteem, and feeling bad about your abilities. Do you leave things until the last minute? Have trouble getting motivated? Flake out on boring chores? You may have grown up with people telling you to “just try harder.” But is your problem just being lazy, or could you have ADD/ADHD?
Click to tweet

COMMON SIGNS OF ADD/ADHD

To understand if your issues are due to ADD/ADHD, which affects an estimated 4.4% of American adults, check to see if you have these common symptoms associated with the condition. You can also take this ADD/ADHD Quiz for adults to see if you might have it.

ADD/ADHD AND THE BRAIN

ADD/ADHD is a brain-based disorder. In the healthy brain, concentration causes blood flow to increase in certain regions, especially the prefrontal cortex, an area involved with focus, planning, organization, impulse control, judgment, and follow-through. The brain SPECT imaging work at Amen Clinics reveals that when people with ADD/ADHD try to concentrate, blood flow tends to decrease in the prefrontal cortex, making it difficult to stay focused. This means that the harder ADD/ADHD people try, the worse it gets. If you have this condition, when you make a concerted effort to pay attention, finish a work project, or do your household chores, it backfires. ADD/ADHD is also associated with issues with neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers in the brain. Some types of the condition—based on over 160,000 brain scans from patients in 155 countries, Amen Clinics has identified 7 types of ADD/ADHD—are tied to a relative deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical heavily involved with attention span, focus, follow-through, and motivation. When its availability in the brain is low, people tend to struggle with the common symptoms of ADD/ADHD.

TREATING ADD/ADHD

The good news is that ADD/ADHD is treatable. With targeted treatment, people with this condition often get much better. Effective treatment does not make ADD/ADHD sufferers different people: It removes the barriers hindering them from being the people they already are. Effective treatment for this condition is like glasses for people who have trouble seeing.  The glasses do not change people, they just make their vision more effective. With the right treatment plan, you can stop feeling like you’re lazy and start achieving what you want in life. ADD/ADHD and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your relationships and symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. Problems with inattention have, ironically, gotten a lot of attention recently. With many adults working from home right now, some have been able to observe their kids having a hard time staying focused on schoolwork. While other distractions may be in play due to the unusual stressors related to the pandemic, ADD is a developmental disorder (meaning people are born with it), and the symptoms typically become evident during childhood. Unfortunately, unless a child is hyperactive and has behavior issues at school, brain problems related to inattention are often overlooked. Instead, the symptoms may (sadly) be attributed to perceived shortcomings of a child’s mind or personality. As a result, these symptoms—as well as the feelings of inadequacy that come with them—can last into adulthood and can lead to depression, low self-esteem, and anxiety. Unless a child is hyperactive and has behavior issues at school, brain problems related to inattention are often overlooked.
Click to tweet
Inattentive ADD is the 2nd most common type of ADD and primarily affects women and girls. However, since they tend to be quiet, rather than behaving in ways that make them the center of attention, their ADD symptoms tend to go unnoticed.

Inattentive ADD is Real

Through the groundbreaking brain imaging work at Amen Clinics, one of the discoveries is that ADD is not just a single and simple disorder; there are 7 types of ADD. They are: Type 1: Classic ADD, often known as ADHD Type 2: Inattentive ADD Type 3: Overfocused ADD Type 4: Temporal Lobe ADD Type 5: Limbic ADD Type 6: Ring of Fire ADD Type 7: Anxious ADD As children, those with Inattentive ADD likely flew under the radar because they were not inclined to draw attention to themselves, but nonetheless probably struggled to some extent in school. Now as adults, they can be having some similar problems at work and home.

How Many of These Inattentive ADD Symptoms Fit for You?

But you do care! Your brain just works differently. If you have several of these symptoms, you may have Inattentive ADD. It’s definitely worth getting a professional evaluation to find out if you do, and to get on a treatment plan that can help you manage the symptoms and behaviors that are troubling you.

Inattentive ADD Brain Function

SPECT brain images show us that the root cause of these symptoms is related to how the brain functions with Inattentive ADD. The images tell us that 3 parts of the brain involved in learning, focus, and motivation tend to be underactive. They are:

4 Simple Strategies for a More Focused Brain

If you think you might have Inattentive ADD, there are definitely things you can do to improve your brain’s function. Here are 4 ways to help you increase focus, stay on task, and achieve your goals.
  1. Switch to a higher protein, lower carb diet with lots of fresh greens and vegetables to help boost dopamine.
  2. Engage in regular exercise to increase blood flow to your brain.
  3. Consider dopamine-boosting supplements, such as green tea extract and ginkgo biloba.
  4. Try neurofeedback, a non-invasive (and fun) clinical treatment that can retrain your brain waves to improve your focus and concentration.
The symptoms of Inattentive ADD really can get better. However, if you have some of the symptoms listed above now, but did not during childhood, they could be caused by another condition, such as depression, concussion, or cognitive decline related to aging. With the right diagnosis and treatment, these problems can get better too. ADD and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. At Amen Clinics, we routinely track the reasons why people call our clinics. It helps us understand your pain points and helps us focus on providing you with the information and care you need. One of the most common phrases we’ve been hearing from parents since the pandemic began is that their kids are struggling with “school issues.” This translates into meltdowns, tantrums, anxiety, loneliness, difficulty focusing, and more. Are you noticing these issues in your kids too?

What’s Causing So Many School Problems?

School is such a fundamental part of a child’s life. In 2020, when the lockdowns and social distancing requirements were put into place, parents were scrambling to figure out how to navigate this new normal. Human brains don’t like change. We prefer—and need—some level of predictability in our lives. Children need this even more. When schools switched to online learning, that transition was faced by kids and parents alike. Not only were some of the moms and/or dads having to work from home, but they also became the classroom supervisors too. This helped to give them a close look at the adjustment issues and behavior problems a lot of kids were developing as they accommodated these changes.

5 Unprecedented School Challenges Children are Facing

  1. Many kids are still in either hybrid programs or remote learning for school. This has led to feelings of loneliness, isolation, and disconnection from their friends.
  2. Children are experiencing stress and anxiety from trying to learn in new formats under frequently changing circumstances, as schools continue to adjust their programming.
  3. With few or no extra-curricular activities available for them to do with classmates and friends, it can feel like all work and no play.
  4. Many sports programs are on hold which limits the amount of body movement and exercises a lot of kids are getting.
  5. Distractions are everywhere! Without the kind of boundaries and rules that classrooms usually have, it can be much harder for certain kids to stay focused at all.
While children can seem remarkably resilient at times, it’s important for parents to pay attention to any significant behavior changes they see in their children, especially ones that have been magnified during the pandemic. For instance, don’t overlook behaviors such as these: If you have concerns, talk to your kids about what you see and get them the help they need. Did you know that most parents wait about a decade after symptoms first emerge before reaching out to a mental health professional? The right treatment can make all the difference in the world for getting your kids back on track—even in these trying times. There are also things you can do to support the mental and physical health of your whole family. Most kids don’t see a mental health professional until a decade after symptoms first emerge. The right treatment can make all the difference in the world for getting your kids back on track—even in these trying times.
Click to tweet

5 Ways to Boost Your Kids’ (and Your Own!) Resilience Now

  1. Establish regular schedules and routines—including sleep—that provide daily structure, especially for the kids.
  2. Being sedentary increases depression, so plan times each week to go outside with your family and play a game, take a walk, or go for a hike together. The exercise and bonding will promote happier brain chemicals.
  3. Comfort food might be making things worse! Make sure everyone is getting plenty of fresh produces and clean protein, and don’t indulge in sugary treats—the spikes and dips in blood sugar increases stress, anxiety, and irritability. And avoid foods with artificial dyes like Red Dye 40, which has been linked to hyperactivity and other adverse reactions in some children. You don’t need any more of that!
  4. Limit screen time for kids, who are on it enough as it is. Help them develop new hobbies that involve things that interest them.
  5. Be sure to take care of your own mental health! To be a good messenger, you must model the message, so if you are struggling with depression, anxiety, grief, or an overload of stress, make the effort to get help for yourself.
School issues, behavior problems, ADD/ADHD, anxiety, and other mental health issues in children can’t wait. During these uncertain times, mental well-being is more important than ever, and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make a child’s symptoms worsen over time. Love & Logic, the trusted leader for parenting skills, has recently become part of the Amen Clinics family because they understand that having a healthy brain is a requirement for successfully implementing parenting strategies and raising respectful and responsible children. At Amen Clinics, we offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for parents and children. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.