ADHD and comorbidity

[sharkticon]

I think sometimes we struggle with understanding our ADHD because everyone with it experiences it so differently. I often look at others with ADHD and think they are so different than me, maybe they don't really have ADHD or maybe I don't.

I was thinking there might be a perfectly logical reason for that. In my personal research I've found that ADHD has a high comorbidity rate with just about every other disorder out there. Look at the rates of comorbidity among some of these conditions and you will see it is high: Depression, Anxiety, OCD, oppositional defient dissorder, leraning dissabilities, executive function dissorders, boarderline personality, addicition, trauma, PTSD. So maybe you are not part of the 30% of ADHDers who have had to deal with depression, but maybe you are part of the 50% of people with ADHD that deal with Anxiety. Trauma hits about 70% of the population in general, but have you ever read about how well people with ADHD deal with trauma. And on top of that, all the symptoms of trauma are also symptoms of ADHD. Also half the symptoms of every other disorder overlap with ADHD. If you have ADHD it seems logical to wonder what else am I dealing with. And in turn you can see how everyone with ADHD is experiencing it differently.

have you ever listened to those hordes of motivational speakers talk about how they overcame their ADHD, and how they became an entrepreneur, and you can too? Personally I think they are partially right. I don't 100% shoot down the idea that ADHD is just a different way of thinking rather than a disorder. They might be right. And maybe if all you have is ADHD it's not all that bad. Or most likely ADHD is on a spectrum. But again, it's not a one shoe fits all situation. I would say most people with ADHD are dealing with more than just ADHD. And when you look at the overlap, they might find out they don't have ADHD at all, but a mixture of other disorders that present themselves as ADHD. And I think that ADHD meds can relieve symptoms of ADHD even if they are not caused by ADHD. But that is a whole other conversation.

Anyway, that's my thought for the day. I just wanted to help dispel some of the shame I've had around my own ADHD. There is often this pressure, to perform, and compare. But we should focus on ourselves, and our own well being and what works for us because we are all different with different talents and abilities, and strengths and weaknesses. And remember that motivational speakers are dangerous, and often black and white thinkers whether they are pro ADHD medication or against.

Incase you are interested, this is the video that prompted me to write this. youtube.com/watch?v=QuC4fd2...(Not working as expected?)

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Hi Sharkicon. You are right, many adults diagnosed with ADHD have comorbidities that tend to present in the form of depression, more with anxiety, and most with substance abuse issues.

For me, I’ve had substance abuse issues since I was 19, but never considered ADHD because I now know I compensated for symptoms and just didn’t know it. For example, I always put my keys and wallet in the same place. If I don’t, I can’t find them.

I had good grades in school and never had to study, then I hit college and nearly flunked out my first semester. I had to learn how to study and retain the information. It took me 11 years to finish my undergrad. That was 1998. Went back to school and earned an MBA in 2014 and it was a very different experience. I’ve always had trouble with math, but got an A in my MBA program because I learned to visualize things differently over the years and it made sense.

4 years ago I was recruited to a new job. That’s when I got diagnosed because I couldn’t retain information, took 2 years to learn the product line, and I still struggle. So I saw my doc and was put on meds. A few months later my boss said in a meeting with me “whatever you’re doing, don’t change it, you’re on the mark. That was very validating for me. I haven’t had a drink in 3 years and haven’t used drugs. I was being treated for everything except the true problem because ADHD is mostly diagnosed in kids.