More on this book
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Read between
January 15 - January 23, 2022
Effective treatment does not make ADD sufferers different people: It removes the barriers hindering them from being the people they already are. I think of effective treatment for ADD like glasses for people who have trouble seeing. The glasses do not change people, they just make their vision more effective.
Type 3: Overfocused ADD—sufferers tend to have trouble shifting attention, which makes them look like they cannot pay attention; they frequently get stuck in loops of negative thoughts or behaviors; can be obsessive, worried, and inflexible; and are frequently oppositional, argumentative, and fault finding. Opposed to most ADD types, their organization is often fine or in some cases they are obsessively organized.
impulsive decision making;
tendency to misplace things frequently.
Symptoms of trouble thinking clearly,
We are being programmed to need more stimulation in order to pay attention.
Effexor, which is a stimulating antidepressant that increases serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine neurotransmitters.
The negativity that is often associated with ADD frequently ruins lives.
Be careful with negativity. If you use it as a stimulant you might want to get your medication adjusted or increase your exercise. This is a damaging and dangerous game.
Many of my patients struggle with the game of “I Say the First Thing That Comes to Mind.” I have heard a number of my patients say, “I am brutally honest.” They wear this trait as if it is a badge of courage. I usually reply to them that brutal honesty is usually not helpful. Relationships require tact.
Problems Taking Turns
Speaking Without Thinking
Problems Completing Chores
Excessive Talking Sometimes people with ADD talk for self-stimulation. There is an internal drive to go on and on. This may irritate others, who feel like a prisoner of the conversation because they feel that they cannot get a word in the conversation.
Low Self-Esteem
The Harder They Try, the Worse It Gets Research has shown that the more ADD people try to concentrate, the worse it gets for them. Their brain region responsible for concentrated thinking turns off, not on.
Forgetfulness Forgetfulness is common in ADD and a serious handicap on the job. Missed deadlines, forgotten reports, and steps gone undone on a job are just a few examples.
Switches Things Around: Many people with ADD have a tendency to switch things around
ADD is a neurobiological disorder with serious psychological and social consequences.
Caffeine and nicotine have been shown in brain studies to decrease overall blood flow to the brain, which in turn will make ADD symptoms worse over time.
Also, lift weights twice a week to optimize muscle mass and hormone function.
A better breakfast for the group would have been hard-boiled eggs, nuts, chopped veggies, and fruit (but not fruit juice—too much sugar).
Chickpeas—for their high serotonin content (good for Type 3 [Overfocused] ADD)
L-tryptophan (the amino acid building block for serotonin) and 5-HTP (also a serotonin building block) are other ways of increasing cerebral serotonin.
The supplements that seem to help this type of ADD best are DL-phenylalanine (DLPA), L-tyrosine, and S-Adenosyl-Methionine (SAMe).
People who have bipolar disorder or manic-depressive illness or Type 6 (Ring of Fire) ADD should not take SAMe.
SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor).
Typically, I tend to prescribe Neurontin for anxiety, irritability, and pain; Lamictal for resistant depression; and Depakote or Tegretol for aggression.
You can use this breathing technique to help you be more focused and less anxious and have better control over your temper. It is easy to learn and it can also be applied to help with the sleep problems so common in ADD.
It was time to go “gremlin hunting”! The “gremlin” is a concept used in coaching to identify the voice within us that holds us back from being who we want to be. It sabotages our growth and keeps us from taking action.
I expect to succeed in whatever I do. I am able to see myself succeeding at tasks before I start them. In this way, I program myself for success . . . and I see success. I understand that successful people sometimes make mistakes and have failures along the way. I do not expect perfection, but I learn from each mistake.
