Have questions about ADD and Bi Polar Disorder

[Anonymous]

I have been going to a therapist twice a month for the past two months and most recent visit I told my therapist about discovering ADD, and it is a possibility that I do have ADD but some of my symptoms are showing signs of Bi Polar Disorder. I have a psychiatrist appointment on the 3rd of January to help diagnose whatever I have. What are some significant differences in ADD to Bi Polar Disorder?

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[Anonymous]

I was just diagnosed with ADHD and have all the symptoms of bipolarism as well. My emotional life looks like a stock chart. With the bipolarism, I get about two years up, a year of mixed and then a hard crash. When the crash happens my ADD symptoms get worse.

The psychiatrist I am working with elected to attack the ADHD symptoms first instead of the bi-polarism. She had concluded I was not going to hurt myself. She also asked me what one symptom, if I could get rid of it, would help me the most. The thing is, a lot of the symptoms overlap.

As we followup on the ADHD meds next week, we will address the increased depression and anxiety I am noticing, along with the bi-polar issues. The meds have helped clear my thoughts and see a lot more of wht is going on around me. A clearer awareness I guess. I am still trying to straighten out the changes I am noticing from the meds.

The book “taking charge of adult ADHD” mentions that ADHD tends to co-exist with one or more other disorders. I picked up “living with bipolar disorder- a guide for patients and families” at my local family practice clinic. It was quite an eye opener for me and was the ‘straw’ that got me into counseling and an ADHD assessment. I did not suspect bipolarism when I read the pamphlet, it was just there and I had read about the co-mingling of disorders, including bipolarism.

I hope you get the insight and the care that will help you.

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[Anonymous]

Bi-polar is a mood disorder that is to say your mood “cycles” from high to low it can and does result in “racing thoughts” and irritability which can make it difficult to concentrate. ADD/ADHD involves your ability to focus and “stay on task” and exhibits similar symptoms such as “racing thoughts.” A unique difference in ADD/ADHD is you sometimes “zone out” making it difficult to read a book or follow a conversation. I was diagnosed with both and after years of trial and error finally got both under control at least for now. One word of caution don’t let anyone tell you that adult ADD/ADHD doen’t exist. I hope I was able to be of some help.

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[Anonymous]

I have racing thoughts constently but as far as zoning out that really depends. I tend to loose track of what I’m supposed to do as to what I am actually doing. Lets say if I’m trying to find a riff to a guitar part I was thinking about earlier and go to play it I will tend to loose track of where I’m supposed to go on the fretboard or start thinking about stuff around me. If I really isoclate myself I tend not to zone out but become flustered because when I try to play the riff on the guitar and hear the notes in my head it tends to mix together not creating the sound i’m looking for and causing me to be frustrated. I have tendacies to loose interest in stuff really quick also

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[BuxomDiva]

I had been diagnosed with ADHD for several years before I experienced a mild manic episode while on Effexor and figured out that the depression I’ve been struggling with my whole life was actually bipolar not unipolar.

I understand it is becoming increasingly common for folks to be diagnosed with both,

Speaking only for myself, here’s the difference between being hyperactive and being hypomanic (I have type 2 so don’t get the full blown mania going without sleep for days and stuff).

For me, being hyper involves racing thoughts, being unable to turn off the noise in my brain, talking a mile a minute – that type of thing.

The rare hypomanic episodes I have experienced involved being physical energy. I felt compelled to clean my apartment at 2 AM. (wish I could figure out how to have an episode like that by choice!)

ADHD can make us very impulsive and engage in seeking an adrenaline rush; one of the hallmarks of bipolar disorder is being hypersexual. Lots of room for crossover there!

The important thing is to work with your specialist to address the symptom(s) most messing up your life RIGHT NOW. Don’t worry so much about the big picture diagnosis, just get the help you need to make your life work.

Hope this helps.

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