ADD or Bipolar Disorder

[CJ]

My family doctor diagnosed me with ADD a few months ago. I saw a therapist for the first time yesterday and after talking to me for 10 minutes told me I was bipolar. He said he could tell because I had not history of drug or alcohol abuse and had never been in trouble with the police. He said that people with ADHD have that history because they are close to psychotic. I’m really having trouble believing that but I thought I’d ask other people about their experiences. Have many people here experienced or heard of these problems being related to ADD or ADHD?

REPORT ABUSE

[Bibliophile]

While it is true that many people with ADHD have problems with the law or develop habits, that is not a defining characteristic. The former would be due to the impaired executive functions leading to impulsive and sometimes inhibited behaviour, i.e. not thinking of the consequences of speeding, breaking and entering, stealing, getting into a fight, etc. The habits often develop as a means to self medicate with stimulants or because a need of more stimulation, be it gambling, sex, compulsive spending, etc.

I should note that I find that the inattentive subtype, often dubbed ADD, appears to be a completely different problem for the individual than what is experienced by the ADHD combined type based on the degree of impairment discussed on the Boards here. The inattentive subtype would most likely lack the impulsive urge that might put them in positions of committing crimes. ADHD combined subtype often lacks emotional regulation leading to opositional defiance or outbursts of anger that lead them into trouble.

You could very well be bipolar and not ADHD. What you have to ask yourself is what you wish to treat. If you are bipolar and wish to diminish the alternating states of hypomania/euphoria and depression, look for treatment for that. If you want your impulsivity and inattentiveness treated, go the ADHD route. It is very possible you have both disorders, but how you go about treating them is up to you.

REPORT ABUSE

[Curlymoe115]

If you do not cycle through the Bi-polar symptoms then get a second opinion. Try to see someone who knows more about ADD then this therapist. Because frankly you could be either or both. Many times there are co-morbids that go along with ADD. I certainly have never been arrested nor am I particularly psychotic. DH has never been arrested. We do not self medicate with booze or drugs. Yet we are both ADHD, and we both have Bi-Polar. My eldest daughter has both and she has self medicated, been in trouble with the law, and been psychotic when she is high. We are all different. As librarian_chef says you need to look at what is best for you. If it is not debilitating enough to warrant therapy and/or medication then you don’t need to pursue it. But otherwise ask for a second opinion.

REPORT ABUSE

[CJ]

Thanks so much for your feedback. I don’t believe I cycle through bipolar symptoms and I’m afraid to start messing around with my medications when I feel what my MD has prescribed is helping me. I was a little put off by this doctor because he seemed to dismiss adult ADD as not being real but only a misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder. I definitely intend to seek another opinion.

REPORT ABUSE

[Anonymous]

Get an hour long psychiatric evaluation by a specialist. The differential between bipolar disorder, ADHD, or both is complex and impossible to discover in 10 minutes! Even in an hour long psych eval, there will still be possibilities to rule out and the necessity of continued appointments.

REPORT ABUSE

[Author]

Posts