[pretty-eyes]

My therapist thinks I may have ADD or ADHD I also have type to bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder...is this common? Does anyone else have the same thing? Does ADD meds affect moods or anxiety? Or counteract with mood stabilizers in anyway?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[twizzlerheaded]

I have been diagnosed with ADD, bipolar and generalized anxiety disorder as well. Personally, the ADD meds keep my energy levels even. By that I mean I'm not wired, but I'm no longer constantly fatigued and looking for a place to take a nap. Mood wise, the meds help me look at both sides of the equation when it comes to problems. I'm not drowning in the what if's or the worries, I'm more realistic. It helps me get out of my head--if that makes sense. I have heard, however, that in some people ADD meds can cause anxiety especially when mixed with caffeine. I'm not a physician so if whatever I'm saying counteracts with what he/she is telling you please ignore me.

[Crazy Hitch]

I like twizzlerheaded's response.

Hopefully more members in your situation will come forward soon pretty-eyes.

Wishing you well.

[pretty-eyes]

I actually haven't talked to my dr about it yet. I had to get a different dr so I'm still waiting to see her. My therapist is the one who is thinking I have more issues than my anxiety causing my concentration issues. I really hope if I get put on them it helps the same ways it does you! That would make me feel so much better. I seem to have the same issues you do and yes helping you get out of your head makes perfect sense! I can't ever seem to get out of mine!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Hooligan

I like twizzlerheaded's response.

Wow! I was thinking exactly the same thing! Reading it thinking, "Yup. Yup. Yup…."

Pretty-eyes, I don't know if it's common (though I don't think of it as being uncommon, if that makes any sense(!)). I have those dx's as well. The ADD meds, well, it tends to a sort of confirmation thing. I remember the awe I had the first time I tried them. I hadn't realized just how very, very much noise and jumble went on in my head. That that level of chaos isn't normal. Until it was quieted. All the signs had been there, but I'd "fought" the dx, reasoning that I couldn't have it because I'd done well in school as a kid. (That was my only defense btw, lol.) I marveled how much better I was at staying on task, and that I was getting things done, but in a not at all manic-y way. (That's a pretty important point.)

One thing you'll find is that everyone reacts differently to whatever meds they're on (for mood, anxiety, ADD, etc. --talking all different kinds of things) What works great for one person can be exactly opposite for someone else. So in terms of actions, reactions and interactions, it's not really possible to say, because it's not exactly predictable. It is best to introduce one med at a time for this reason. If someone is suddenly given 3 new meds all at the same time, and some symptoms get better, or worse, which one(s) are causing that to happen?

In most places, therapists can't actually diagnose or prescribe (I actually don't know anywhere they can, but I want to leave room for being wrong ). A Pdoc (psychiatrist) can both diagnose and prescribe. Therapists do tend to spend more time (and better get to know someone) than Pdocs, so they can make some pretty educated guesses, but they're not "official" or whatever. (Not to confuse, but I'm compelled to mention that there are also PMHNPs -- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. They have varying levels of authority from state to state when it comes to prescribing.)

[sidney1771]

Completely agree with Innerzone. I'm bipolar, anxiety, adhd, ptsd and other things. We try to keep medications minimal because treating one can trigger another. The last thing you want to do is over-react to an acute situation if you don't have to. Our goal is to keep a stable working ground with meds and make sure that I'm getting enough sleep but not too much sleep. Outside of that, management of the emotions and brain activity are done through coping skills and on-going therapy. That is what works best for me.

Also, my diagnosis list wasn't made in one appointment with one doctor. These are a cumulative effort of 3 or 4 doctors who know me very well, and have for 4 to 5 years.

[MattBemis]

I've been diagnosed with both adhd and bipolar disorder. I think they do go hand in hand, they both share some similar symptoms. I manage through proper sleep, a healthy diet, medication, meditation, playing music, group therapy, and physical exercise. I'm still a work in progress (as are all human beings) and I will always be, but I'm trying and that's what counts.

To go deeper into my medications I'm prescribed to Adderall for ADHD, 40MG xr in the morning and 200mg of Lamictal in the mornings. Although adderall can be dangerous for bipolar, I've found it works for me and Lamictal balances my moods. This combination is great for me and has me feeling like my "regular" self for the first time in years. Of course I try to maintain a healthy lifestype on top of that, medication isn't a magic bullet.

[MotherMarcus]

What makes things difficult is that these disorders can share some of the same symptoms . They are also known as co-morbid disorders in that they can go hand-in-hand with each other.

Originally Posted by sidney1771

...Outside of that, management of the emotions and brain activity are done through coping skills and on-going therapy. ...
Also, my diagnosis list wasn't made in one appointment with one doctor. These are a cumulative effort of 3 or 4 doctors who know me very well, and have for 4 to 5 years.

Coping skills and therapy, yes, very important! Meds alone are very very very likely to be able to be take care of everything(!) And yeah, Pdocs really shouldn't be to too quick to diagnose, especially if we're talking more than one disorder. That said, my own BP was dx was dx'd quickly. It was utterly obvious given a couple of decades of evidence, lol. BUT, the other diagnoses were made considerably later. Not because they weren't going on all along, but that it took time to parse them out and realize that they were not just a part of the BP.

Originally Posted by MotherMarcus

What makes things difficult is that these disorders can share some of the same symptoms . They are also known as co-morbid disorders in that they can go hand-in-hand with each other.

Yes! And that is a good reason that it's not good for overly quick diagnoses to be made by the Pdoc. They have to really get to know what's going on to be able to discern. Even with a lot of time and knowledge it can be tricky to sort out. The good news is that it's the symptoms that are treated.

[pretty-eyes]

My therapist thinks this because of the way I talk and can't finish a story without starting another one then going back to the original one half way through the second one...and certain meds didn't work to help me sleep made me more wired. Work is hard because I'll start something then start doing something else then walk past the thing I had originally started an hour before and it's only like half done . I can't sit still and sometimes the only thing I can do at work is sit. it stinks getting diagnosed from a psychiatrist because of the fact they don't talk to you as much as a therapist.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Disorder7]

Yes, it's very possible. Keep in mind that bipoar symptoms mimic ADD/ADHD so much that even professionals have difficulty with this diagnosis.

[JoshRuss]

Originally Posted by Innerzone

Wow! I was thinking exactly the same thing! Reading it thinking, "Yup. Yup. Yup…."

Pretty-eyes, I don't know if it's common (though I don't think of it as being uncommon, if that makes any sense(!)). I have those dx's as well. The ADD meds, well, it tends to a sort of confirmation thing. I remember the awe I had the first time I tried them. I hadn't realized just how very, very much noise and jumble went on in my head. That that level of chaos isn't normal. Until it was quieted. All the signs had been there, but I'd "fought" the dx, reasoning that I couldn't have it because I'd done well in school as a kid. (That was my only defense btw, lol.) I marveled how much better I was at staying on task, and that I was getting things done, but in a not at all manic-y way. (That's a pretty important point.)

One thing you'll find is that everyone reacts differently to whatever meds they're on (for mood, anxiety, ADD, etc. --talking all different kinds of things) What works great for one person can be exactly opposite for someone else. So in terms of actions, reactions and interactions, it's not really possible to say, because it's not exactly predictable. It is best to introduce one med at a time for this reason. If someone is suddenly given 3 new meds all at the same time, and some symptoms get better, or worse, which one(s) are causing that to happen?

In most places, therapists can't actually diagnose or prescribe (I actually don't know anywhere they can, but I want to leave room for being wrong ). A Pdoc (psychiatrist) can both diagnose and prescribe. Therapists do tend to spend more time (and better get to know someone) than Pdocs, so they can make some pretty educated guesses, but they're not "official" or whatever. (Not to confuse, but I'm compelled to mention that there are also PMHNPs -- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. They have varying levels of authority from state to state when it comes to prescribing.)

Therapists tend to defer to the pdoc like you said. To my knowledge only pdocs, nurse practitioners, and other doctors can prescribe.

[gayleggg]

I, also, like twislerheadeds comments. I am bipolar with probably ADD and thanks to Ritalin I'm no longer sleeping 12-14 hours a day.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[JoshRuss]

In my understanding most of the overlap in symptoms between bipolar and ADHD are overlaps between hypomania or mania and ADHD. If your doctor can control the bipolar then possibly look at if you still have ADHD symptoms or administer psychometric tests. I'm sure there's other ways to go about it as well. I have both ADHD and bipolar and it's frustrating to discern whether I'm stable or not. My doctor assures me that I am but sometimes I do impulsive things or seem to change moods more than I'd like to, but that can be caused by ADHD.

In my state, therapists can administer psychometric tests and often it is not a pdoc who administers the more comprehensive tests. Of course testing is just part of the process in diagnosing.