Limbic System Disorders: What is Limbic ADD?

Limbic ADD is one of the popularly theorized “7 types of ADD” (Classic ADD, Inattentive ADD, Over-focused ADD, Temporal Lobe ADD, and Ring of Fire ADD). Limbic ADD involves a series of complex structures in the brain—known as the “Limbic System”—which are involved in regulating emotions, motivation, memory, behavior, olfaction, and influences both the endocrine system and autonomic nervous system.

People suffering from Limbic ADD are thought to be suffering from an overactive limbic system and an underactive prefrontal cortex, leading to brain dysregulation and the unwanted symptoms associated with the disorder. At the Drake Institute, we use advanced qEEG brain mapping technology to evaluate brain functioning and determine if a patient’s ADD issues are related to symptoms involving the Limbic System, allowing us to determine the best possible treatment for ADD.

Please note that the theoretical 7 types of ADD, including Limbic ADD, are not official disorders or diagnoses recognized by the American Psychiatric Association. However, because the general population has become aware of these labels due to popular media promoting their existence, we feel that they are still worth addressing.

And while it is debatable about whether or not there may be such a thing as “Limbic ADD”, people with ADD or ADHD definitely can and do experience the symptoms outlined below, and some people with ADD may be experiencing negative symptoms as a direct result of irregular functioning in their Limbic System.

Limbic ADD Symptoms

When the limbic system becomes overactive, people afflicted by Limbic ADD tend to experience an array of negative symptoms. Below is a list of common Limbic ADD symptoms:

• Chronic low energy
• Moodiness
• Hopelessness
• Apathy
• Abnormal sleep ( too little or excessive)
• Low self-esteem
• Excessive guilt
• Dysthymia
• Inattention ADD symptoms

These symptoms may sound familiar to you because they’re almost identical to the symptoms associated with clinical depression. While a diagnosis of Limbic ADD may be controversial, everyone in the medical community has accepted the existence of clinical depression.

Limbic ADD & Clinical Depression

It is possible for an individual suffering from Limbic ADD to be misdiagnosed as having simply clinical depression since the symptoms, at least on the surface, can be indistinguishable.

If left untreated, both of these disorders can have a severe impact on a person’s ability to live a happy and functional life, which is why it is imperative for anyone experiencing these symptoms to seek a medical evaluation immediately.

Limbic ADD and Its Devastating Effects

The effect that Limbic ADD can have on a person’s life can be truly devastating. Limbic ADD can cause marriages to fail, poor performance at school or work, and result in painful low self-esteem.

Limbic ADD can put a real strain on intimate relationships, especially since it may hinder one’s capacity for bonding with their peers. People suffering from Limbic ADD are vulnerable to becoming isolated and cut off from others around them.  

Many people suffering from ADD really can’t help it: their brains are limiting their ability to experience successful careers, joy, happiness, and love.  

Compounding the severity of these issues, Limbic ADD can reduce a person’s ability to get a good night’s rest; a person suffering from Limbic ADD may have difficulty staying asleep throughout the night. Although the person might be able to fall asleep quickly, they may wake up numerous times throughout the night with feelings of anxiety or hopelessness.

After waking, these individuals may be able to fall asleep again, but only temporarily, as the process repeats itself: they sleep; they wake, fall asleep again, only to wake up again.

During restless nights, people tend to find themselves worrying about things excessively as their “fight or flight” system is overstimulated.  

It is widely known that sleep deprivation can cause a variety of issues, including short-term memory loss, fatigue, irritability, and poor concentration. When you combine sleep deprivation with the symptoms of Limbic ADD, it’s easy to see how a person’s struggles can become exponentially worse.

Limbic ADD Treatment Options

Typically, Limbic ADD treatment plans encompass a range of Limbic ADD medications and at times  Limbic ADD nutritional supplements, but this is far from a long-term strategy. Even in the best case scenarios, medication typically only offers temporary relief and can cause unwanted side-effects.

Simply put, when the pills stop, the symptoms may return.

At the Drake Institute, we approach ADD treatment in an entirely different way, relying on qEEG brain mapping technology to identify the severity of the dysregulation within the Limbic System, then developing a treatment plan that is not only highly effective but individually tailored to the patient’s specific needs (linking symptoms to the dysregulated brain activity).

Our treatment plans utilize both neurofeedback and biofeedback therapy to strengthen the brain’s natural ability to regulate itself better. Neurofeedback and Biofeedback are both non-invasive treatment methods, but what’s more, they’re capable of providing patients with self-regulation and long-lasting results.

By helping our patients develop the mental skills and improved brain functioning required for self-regulation, this reduces the patients’ needs or requirements for medications. Though in some cases medication may still be necessary.

The patient can now rely on the resources of their own brain to improve their symptoms. In fact, many of our patients find themselves able to titrate off of or at least reduce their reliance on expensive, and sometimes potentially harmful medications.

Contact the Drake Institute Today

Limbic ADD is a serious disorder involving a very specific set of complex structures within the brain, and manifesting symptoms similar to clinical depression.

Without proper treatment, those experiencing the effects of Limbic ADD are at risk of having their lives becoming very dysfunctional and unhappy.

At the Drake Institute, we help patients rediscover their full potential and get their lives back on track, without relying solely on drugs.

Get the help your family deserves at the Drake Institute today. Contact us at 1-800-700-4233 to schedule a no-cost screening consultation.

We’re here to help you put the pieces back together, and, no matter how broken things may seem, relief may be possible at the Drake Institute.