depression or ADHD?

[Alm751]

are there ways to differentiate depression from ADHD ? So many of the same symptoms.

[DLTT1418]

Wondering the same.

[Old_Owl]

I believe depression can be seen as one of a number of commodities for ADHD. Dealing with sever depression for a number of years ultimately lead to treating my ADHD.

For me the connection between the two comes down to how my brain works, tied to social expectations and my perception of meeting those expectations lead to both anxiety and depression. That's my experience and it will very from person to person with clinical depression for some people with ADHD not being an issue at all.

[wearetryingourbest in reply to Old_Owl]

Sounds similar. So how did you improve? in the adhd and subsequent depression related to social issues and expectations? adhd med? anxiety med?

[Old_Owl in reply to wearetryingourbest]

So when I was five I was diagnosed with Hyperactivity and put on ritalin but my mom took me off pretty quickly as I started falling asleep in class. Fast forward many years and I thought I had "grown out of it" but I was dealing regularly with depression. For many years I powered through it until it became so bad that ending my life seemed better option. That's when I went to therapy with the intent of getting the tools to last long enough to may sure my family was financially secure.

Luckily I found a good therapist, started addressing my depression through cognitive behavioral therapy. A lot of work over a few years. But I'd keep slipping back. Then I happened across an article on ADHD and my eyes were open that it wasn't all about sitting still- intrusive thoughts, hyper focus, not being able to focus, forgetting things. All these things I constantly battle and tried to hide to fit in. And I knew this was adding to my depression and anxiety.

So I was tested and diagnosed with sever ADHD and started taking Vyvanse. I also dove into understanding ADHD, brain chemistry, symptoms, treatment, exercise and nutrition (much of this research was also tied to me thinking maybe I made it up as an excuse, and maybe I was just lazy).

I'm in a much better place now and have a better understanding of myself, but the work continues. There is no "silver bullet" for me and therapy, medication, and working to be physically healthier are my key tools. At least for now.

[Flurble]

Speaking to my personal experience, I became depressed because untreated ADHD symptoms made my life a nightmare of forgetfullness coupled with unrealised goals and unfinished tasks. So the depression was for the most part specific rather than generalised. So no surprise that ADHD medication resolved the problem by enabling me to complete tasks and reach goals. That said, everyone's journey is different.

[BLC89]

Hello Alm751,This can be a tough one to tease apart. Are you officially diagnosed ADHD? Are you taking meds for either?

ADHD can exasperate and magnify any depressive issues, feelings and tendencies. Dr Hallowell, along with other experts, suggest treating the ADHD first and then addressing depression.

ADHD meds act quickly and can relieve a lot of symptoms that make depression worse. Antidepressants need time to build up in your system and it can take a couple months or longer to get the meds dialed in. Antidepressants can also make some symptoms worse, like sleep, before it gets better.

ADHD meds can ease depression because so many aspects of your life are more clear and easier to handle when ADHD is under control.

If you haven't already, get officially diagnosed, and of it suits you, try some ADHD medications to see if there is a good fit. Getting some of the big challenges reduced with ADHD meds can really help in general and create some bandwidth so you can begin to address the depression.

I hope that helps.

BLC89

Full disclosure: I am an ADHD Parent Coach. I have been married to ADHD for nearly 30 years and raised two kids who have ADHD.

[Alm751 in reply to BLC89]

Yes officially diagnosed ADHD and depression. On meds for depression many years. Started on Adderall and it was life changing. Unfortunately after about 10 years my MD noticed the start of tics. Because she didn’t want them to morph into TD I had to stop Adderall. Started on atomoxetine but it just wasn’t helping so MD said I should stop. Increased dose of one antidepressant and focus is better but not as good as it was when I took Adderall.

[BLC89 in reply to Alm751]

Alm751,Will any stimulant take you down the road toward TD? My understanding is that atomoxetine is not a stimulant so it would most definitely feel different than Adderall.

I would ask about other stimulants. Did you notice the tics? Were they negatively impacting your life? Which would you rather deal with tics or ADHD? Unless they're is a health issue with tics then it should be your call as to whether you want to take Adderall or not.

Below is a CHADD article about tics and stimulants that may be helpful. I would fight for the right medicine, ask lots of questions - what if you take breaks from the meds like no meds on weekends, does that make a difference? What are your options to get the same benefit as you had with Adderall? You deserve to feel your best. Make it your doctor's problem to solve what else you can take that is just as good as the Adderall was.

chadd.org/about-adhd/tics-a....

I hope that helps,

BLC89

[Jozlynn]

Hi Alm751!

Like Old_Owl, being treated for severe depression ultimately led to my ADHD diagnosis. I lived with "depression" for over 2 decades before someone realized I was ADHD. The meds would semi-help, but NEVER solved my motivation issues or weird anxiety all the time.

It's really difficult to suss out the difference between the 2 sometimes, but in my case - getting on my ADHD meds turned around a TON of the symptoms that I had always thought were depression - but I am also still being treated for depression in addition to my ADHD.

I found that depression created unreasonable anxiety for me (like being worked up, fearing that I would die on the freeways here in Texas, even when I was home in bed), an overall sense of being constantly dispirited, and either being extremely sad or numb emotionally. I didn't have the energy to get out bed some mornings, and everything I did felt like it took more spoons than I had ever been allotted.

ADHD showed up for me with forgetfulness and a lack of motivation (among other things), but it was often situational and not an "all-day, every day" feeling. If I found something interesting, I no longer felt "down".

Sometimes, the two are just intertwined. It's such a common comorbidity that most ADHDers I know are also being treated for depression. I think a lot of my depression symptoms came from the fact that I couldn't ever seem to truly succeed in my job (couldn't fit into the neurotypical boxes), felt like I was always "too much" in social situations (which led to me avoiding them at all costs), and from feeling like I was an overall failure at the basics of life that everyone else seemed to have down pat...for decades. Now that my ADHD is being treated, those things don't emotionally impact me the way they once did.

If you are struggling with either depression and/or untreated ADHD, I truly hope you're able to get to the bottom of what's what so you can get help. Neither situation is a good place to be.

Wishing you all the best!

[STEM_Dad]

You could be experiencing both.

As you've seen in others' posts, it has been historically common for people with ADHD to be misdiagnosed with depression (or bipolar disorder).

However, ADHD often has other concurrent neurological or mental health disorders. About 80% of people with ADHD have at least one comorbidity, and over 50% have 2 or more comorbidities.

• Two common comorbidities with ADHD are Anxiety &/or Depression.

~~~~~

Psychiatrist and YouTuber healthygamergg (Dr. Alok Kanojia, aka "Dr. K") has made a long video about the connection between ADHD and Depression. (I've only made it through the whole video once, so far.)

youtu.be/xkXpcs_an80?si=azi...(Not working as expected?)