Co-morbidities: When you Have ADHD and Depression, Anxiety, etc
How are you managing your ADHD in addition to other issues?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Terry Matlen on -
In the early days when adults where just being identified as having ADHD (when we thought only kids had it), little was said about anxiety + ADHD. I'm beginning to see a lot more anxiety in the mix and am glad to see, too, that more clinicians recognize that it's commonly seen together.
Do you struggle with anxiety, too? Panic? Social phobia?
-
Permalink Reply by Lynn Kirsch on -
I'm so on this page I have Known about my ADHD for only 3 years now and I have so many other things going on also. I have lost friends because of my social phobia, I have anxiety and depression to boot. I am currently taking Celexa and Vyvanse and I think I need to change because I'm finding that I can't sleep at night and I'm tired all day long so this route isn't working but I hope my Dr. and I can figure this out as I have had one of the worst summers I can remember in a while as far as not wanting to leave the house or just getting up the energy to anything. I'm 40 and feel guilty all to often for not having the gumption to go get active with my 3 younger kids but it really is a daily struggle. I would love to others stories and will take any advice anyone wants to give.
-
Permalink Reply by paisley on -
I have had both anxiety and depression for most of my life, and they have hidden my adhd from a lot of medical providers. It is really tough to manage them all at the same time. I only just was diagnosed with the adhd recently, and a lot of things fell into place. i really resisted the diagnosis, partly because of the stigma, partly because of denial. but all of my friends and especially partners heard about it and immediately agreed that was it. silly me!! I am still trying to work through all of it, and also analyze and assess what I can do to accomodate myself. it is hard! especially since motivation and follow-through are the very things I have difficulty with! Lynn, you sound like you have your hands full! Definitely I would recommend checking with your doctor, and maybe also addressing diet and exercise. these things have helped with me, but not solved it altogether obviously. I also have the social phobia thing and have found it difficult to keep friends and network for jobs. Supposedly meds can really help with that--let me know if you find anything that works.
-
Permalink Reply by abbiegrrl on -
I find that if I can contain the other symptoms--or manage them, I suppose, depending on the day--the ADD doesn't get out of hand. I've noticed of late that the symptoms really are all intertwined, so I'm not sure if it's one or the other. As such, I think I am going to make a concerted effort to get closer to God. He has the answers, and He can surely sort them all out for me. (**Not saying that I'm gonna exclude the things I've BEEN doing, just gonna add more prayer and meditation--somehow!)
-
Permalink Reply by Rose on -
From memory I've always had ADD and I'm 61 yrs old now with 3 adult ADD children. I suffer from depression and anxiety and I take 100mg of Zoloft daily. I also take fish oil and glucosamine suppliments daily. They obviously are doing me good for I notice a big difference in my wellbeing when I forget to take them.
I sort of wonder if the anxiety came with the ADD or did the ADD cause the anxiety? I have always been an anxious person, I worry a lot about everything. If an event is approaching that I'm anxious about it's not uncommon for me to have sleep deprived nights beforehand.
i intend to investigate other medication. I put it off as I feel deep down that I've coped so far , do I really need more medication? I am happy with myself and my life at the moment and I hesitate to change anything. I'm used to coping withh my ADD symptoms . Does this mean I'm selfish because that means everyone around me suffer when I have my ADD moments????
-
Permalink Reply by Terry Matlen on
-
Interesting discussions, here!
Rosemary Ann, those are some great questions. It can be hard to sort out what is causing the anxiety; whether it's FROM having ADHD or if it's a separate entity. Either way, it can be treated. But if you're doing fine on your current medication regime, maybe there are other ways to cope, ie meditation, exercise or working with a counselor/therapist. You could also try a new med if your doc suggests it, knowing you can always stop it if you don't like the effects. I'm guessing the Zoloft is covering the anxiety symptoms, but you're not on ADD meds. The nice thing about most ADD meds (the stimulants) is that they are out of your body quickly, so..if you don't like the way they make you feel, you don't have to wait weeks for the effect to stop working.
-
Permalink Reply by Rose on
-
thank you Terry, you have give me the incentive to talk over my medication options with my doctor. regards Rossemary
Terry Matlen said:Interesting discussions, here!
Rosemary Ann, those are some great questions. It can be hard to sort out what is causing the anxiety; whether it's FROM having ADHD or if it's a separate entity. Either way, it can be treated. But if you're doing fine on your current medication regime, maybe there are other ways to cope, ie meditation, exercise or working with a counselor/therapist. You could also try a new med if your doc suggests it, knowing you can always stop it if you don't like the effects. I'm guessing the Zoloft is covering the anxiety symptoms, but you're not on ADD meds. The nice thing about most ADD meds (the stimulants) is that they are out of your body quickly, so..if you don't like the way they make you feel, you don't have to wait weeks for the effect to stop working.
-
Permalink Reply by Terry Matlen on
-
My pleasure! Keep us posted...!
Terry
Rosemary Ann Hoad (nee Williams said:thank you Terry, you have give me the incentive to talk over my medication options with my doctor. regards Rossemary
Terry Matlen said:Interesting discussions, here!
Rosemary Ann, those are some great questions. It can be hard to sort out what is causing the anxiety; whether it's FROM having ADHD or if it's a separate entity. Either way, it can be treated. But if you're doing fine on your current medication regime, maybe there are other ways to cope, ie meditation, exercise or working with a counselor/therapist. You could also try a new med if your doc suggests it, knowing you can always stop it if you don't like the effects. I'm guessing the Zoloft is covering the anxiety symptoms, but you're not on ADD meds. The nice thing about most ADD meds (the stimulants) is that they are out of your body quickly, so..if you don't like the way they make you feel, you don't have to wait weeks for the effect to stop working.
-
Permalink Reply by Linda Beebe on -
As an adult I have always felt some depression though I couldn't quite tell why. I can not remember very many times when I really felt happy for more than a few days. Over the past five years I have learned that I am ADD and bipolar. I didn't mind being told I had ADD, that was almost a relief to have it defined. The bipolar part was a little harder to deal with. I am taking several medications including concerta, cymbalta, abilify, and zoloft. I am now able to stay active all day and can stay fairly calm even when the "bad clouds" come. I've have had to deal with a lot of drama and hard times the last couple of years in part due to the ADD and Bipolar so I can't say I've found peace with myself as yet but I do handle crisis much better.
-
Permalink Reply by classicboo on
-
I fel as though I hit the genetic lotto with these disorders. I have long been diagnosed with depression and generalized anxiety disorder and have been on the meds for years. It was only because my doc kept having to increase my meds that ADHD became a diagnostic option. I had been previously screened, but was told I did too well in school as a child to be diagnosed as ADHD. In the post, I have also struggled with horrible anxiety attacks to the point of dreading to leave the house. I find I am more prone toi these attacks when I am over-stressed and not getting enough sleep. I also have to deal with OCD, which, as a teen, was crippling, and now, as with anxiety attacks, they become more prevalent when I am over-stressed and under-rested.
I don't know that I am managing the ADHD very well- I am so easily overwhelmed with day-to-day living that getting anything but what is absolutely necessary done is very hard. It is like living on the edge of burn-out most days.
-
Permalink Reply by jo elleman on
-
Hi Rosemary, I wanted to comment on the anxiety issue. I was taking a psychology class while attending school to learn american sign language, and after hearing about generalized anxiety, couldn't wait to see my psychiatrist because I assumed that perhaps now I didn't have ADD at all, but instead became: distracted, forgetfull, etc., etc. because of an anxiety disorder. But she immediately informed me that the ADHD had come first, causing the anxiety.
Also, I don't think you are being selfish about not wanting to be medicated for the ADHD. I admire you for trying to cope. Jo
Rosemary Ann Hoad (nee Williams said:From memory I've always had ADD and I'm 61 yrs old now with 3 adult ADD children. I suffer from depression and anxiety and I take 100mg of Zoloft daily. I also take fish oil and glucosamine suppliments daily. They obviously are doing me good for I notice a big difference in my wellbeing when I forget to take them.
I sort of wonder if the anxiety came with the ADD or did the ADD cause the anxiety? I have always been an anxious person, I worry a lot about everything. If an event is approaching that I'm anxious about it's not uncommon for me to have sleep deprived nights beforehand.
i intend to investigate other medication. I put it off as I feel deep down that I've coped so far , do I really need more medication? I am happy with myself and my life at the moment and I hesitate to change anything. I'm used to coping withh my ADD symptoms . Does this mean I'm selfish because that means everyone around me suffer when I have my ADD moments????
-
Permalink Reply by Alyssa The Otter One on -
At 16, I was diagnosed as having clinical depression. In my late teens I was diagnosed as having anxiety disorder (this one caused me to have "friends" bail on me, especially if they had ever seen me in a panic attack). I HAD been tested at age 10 for ADD (ok, this was 1985...) and "they" said I was not ADD.
Flash forward to this past summer. We had our 9 year old daughter (we also have a 6 year old daughter) tested for ADD. Sure enough, she is ADD. In talking to our family therapist, she commented on how she believed I was ADD. My first reaction was "NO WAY, "they" said I wasn't". I talked to my psyc dr, and my husband and I completed CAAR evealuations. My name is Alyssa, and I am ADD! (my humor has not improved...)
I started Adderall a little over 2 weeks ago. As my doctor had mentioned, my anxiety has gone down! For the most part, I have the energy I never did, and my brain is QUIET! It was like spending my life in front of a speaker of a heavy metal concert, then being plopped down in the middle of a Zen garden. My implusiveness and focus has improved.
The pros to having the issues before the diagnosis of ADD is that at least logically, I am more accepting of the diagnosis (I already knew I was wired differently) and accepting of the idea of medication to help me. The nice thing about ADD treatment is it doesn't take 6-8 weeks to see a difference. I think that the trials and tribulations with depression and anxiety also help me realize that though the Adderall is helping, it will take time to get the right dosage and even the right medication in the end.
The bad part is now I notice my ADD tendencies and symptoms, but don't have the skills to organize, manage my time and the other issues we face as ADDers. I am looking into an ADD Coach, but need to see if my HSA account covers that. Being overwhelmed is also one of my panic triggers. I have danced close to a panic attack, but have not gone into one yet. Since I feel off kilter, I have been avoiding crowds (another trigger when I am "off") and doing my best not to completely shut down mentally.
Interesting, that even with the ADD diagnosis, I still thought I was "odd" since I had depression AND anxiety too(whoo hoo, mental trifecta!). It is amazing (and comforting) to find that there are other women out there, like me. I am not alone as I thought I was. How many of us think there is something "not right" about us and don't realize that there is someone else out there that understands?
© 2012 Created by Terry Matlen.
