[Road_to_recovery]

I've made a post similar to this before. I have never been taken seriously when I mention to people that I think I may have ADHD. But- no one took me seriously about bipolar, past psychiatrists included- and here I am with a bipolar 1 diagnosis(not 100% sure I agree with the 1)

But it seems no matter what cycle I'm in, manic, depressed, mixed, or normal, I am always in this disorganized chaos. NOTHING in my life is in order, it's awful. It's so anxiety inducing. It has definitely gotten worse with pregnancy. I tell people that pregnancy-brain is my worst symptom. But in truth, it feels like so much more.

My therapist gave me a couple handouts on ADHD. And one of them said to make sure that something else isn't a problem, and it lists mood disorders in that. I don't know why?

I'm sorry if this is scattered... My mind is truly in a fog and I can't keep thoughts straight.

[elevatedsoul]

what does your pdoc say?

im in the middle of discussing ADHD with my team as well, so far they let me try strattera which i had a negative reaction to

hang in there

[avlady]

i am sorry for your situation. i have several diagnosis, see a doc and t which helps greatly, maybe you do have what you think you have. good luck

[JaiHanaLakshmi]

Yeah, I took the adhd test thing, and I forgot to ask her to results, (HOW IRONIC OF ME TO FORGET LIKE I FORGET EVERYTHING)

and when I did finally ask her, the results didn't come in, and she had told me it was from my anxiety that was causing me to stumble over chairs, forget my wallet, forget to go to the store after I had turned into the block and forget small things and because of all of the stress..

I would just like to throw that out there because it could very well be the case for you guys, and I thought it was with me, but its not.

Im graduating from college, im on break, I felt good about the exams i took for the classes i needed to walk, and im through the bad side effects of my meds stage, so virtually as stress-free as I can be (well, if I had a cat, that would make it even better)

But, anyway, the symptoms are still here (worse even) and the erasing of stress did not help. On the contrary actually. It may sound weird and I don't know if you guys are the same, but I feel like im more prone to stupid ***** when im more relaxed and happy.

Anyway, im glad someone wrote about this.

im definitely asking her for the adhd meds because it got so bad that I forgot to put away my therapy notes from the table and we had company and they all saw the paper for my scheduled appointments, the meds I was on, and my journal pages I wrote in (they fell on the floor and scattered).

That to me was the tipping point.

Anyway, thanks again guys. <3

[JaiHanaLakshmi]

Sorry, and when I refer to *she* I mean my therapist

[Road_to_recovery]

Thank you for the answers. I lose stuff ALL the time (bill money included), I've been late to pay pills for the simple fact that I forgot. Everything is just a cluttered mess. Honestly I would have guessed ADHD before bipolar. But I'm not hyperactive so maybe that's why it's brushed off. I see a psychiatrist on Friday and I'm going to try to bring it up. I feel like she's the first person to really hear me and take me seriously.

[BastetsMuse]

Originally Posted by Road_to_recovery

I've made a post similar to this before. I have never been taken seriously when I mention to people that I think I may have ADHD. But- no one took me seriously about bipolar, past psychiatrists included- and here I am with a bipolar 1 diagnosis(not 100% sure I agree with the 1)

But it seems no matter what cycle I'm in, manic, depressed, mixed, or normal, I am always in this disorganized chaos. NOTHING in my life is in order, it's awful. It's so anxiety inducing. It has definitely gotten worse with pregnancy. I tell people that pregnancy-brain is my worst symptom. But in truth, it feels like so much more.

My therapist gave me a couple handouts on ADHD. And one of them said to make sure that something else isn't a problem, and it lists mood disorders in that. I don't know why?

I'm sorry if this is scattered... My mind is truly in a fog and I can't keep thoughts straight.

I have ADD, inattentive type, AND I'm Bipolar I as well. My ADD wasn't diagnosed until I had been Bipolarly diagnosed for ten years.... ...why? Because the bipolar needed to be stabilized first, *and* I needed to find a pdoc who wasn't afraid to treat the ADD. Think about it -- often stimulants are given to those with ADD and ADHD, and stimulants given to someone who might go manic is automatically a big no-no. Bipolar and ADHD/ADD have a lot in common, you see; so that's why the Powers That Be tell you to get your other problems in order before you look at ADHD.

So, can you drink a pot of coffee and take a nap? Quaff energy drinks and snooze? Are any members of your family ADHD and *not* mood disordered? You need to deal with your bipolar honestly before you'll get most pdocs to address your suspicions of ADHD; I wish you luck.

[electricbipolargirl]

Originally Posted by BastetsMuse

I have ADD, inattentive type, AND I'm Bipolar I as well. My ADD wasn't diagnosed until I had been Bipolarly diagnosed for ten years.... ...why? Because the bipolar needed to be stabilized first, *and* I needed to find a pdoc who wasn't afraid to treat the ADD. Think about it -- often stimulants are given to those with ADD and ADHD, and stimulants given to someone who might go manic is automatically a big no-no. Bipolar and ADHD/ADD have a lot in common, you see; so that's why the Powers That Be tell you to get your other problems in order before you look at ADHD.

So, can you drink a pot of coffee and take a nap? Quaff energy drinks and snooze? Are any members of your family ADHD and *not* mood disordered? You need to deal with your bipolar honestly before you'll get most pdocs to address your suspicions of ADHD; I wish you luck.

My story is virtually the same as yours bastets. Except I was first diagnosed with ADD and given Adderall which sent me to the moon with a horrible mania/mixed episode. That was actually what clued them in that I have bipolar 1. So then my ADD diagnoses was put on hold so they could treat my bipolar episode. Finally, when I was better, they put me on Strattera to treat the ADD. That has been great in helping with my focus, my organization, my motivation, etc.

I hope your pdoc takes your concerns with ADD/ADHD seriously and looks at a possible diagnosis. Congrats on your baby!

[bbTofu]

I was and still am, pretty sure I have something with ADD/ADHD may it be related to some anxiety issues or the seemingly anxiety is actually the ADHD.
I brought up the subject with my therapist once and I said I'm not sure if that is because I'm moderately anxious all the time or it is the ADHD really.. I haven't been tested for ADHD by doctors or something, ever. so I ask What came first, the chicken or the egg ?

I tried taking Ritalin few times from diagnosed friends with ADHD while in college,
oh boy ~ It was like I took a double dose of MDMA, so later I took smaller dosage of Ritalin and same effect, though less intense but nowhere near treating my attention issues so it is a really dangerous area, and I'm not diagnosed with Bipolar even (cyclothymi0)

[raspberrytorte]

Sometimes I wonder if I have ADD, or if I'm just a huge ditz.

I lose everything. I have to really focus whenever I go out (make sure I don't lock my keys in the car, etc.) I have to really focus in order to concentrate on everything. It's a mess, and when I try to organize anything it just ends up a cluttered mess again.

Sigh.

It's probably just the way I am though, and I wouldn't want to go on any stimulant anyway.

Just have to keep on making myself focus. lol

Good luck!

[JaiHanaLakshmi]

Originally Posted by BastetsMuse

I have ADD, inattentive type, AND I'm Bipolar I as well. My ADD wasn't diagnosed until I had been Bipolarly diagnosed for ten years.... ...why? Because the bipolar needed to be stabilized first, *and* I needed to find a pdoc who wasn't afraid to treat the ADD. Think about it -- often stimulants are given to those with ADD and ADHD, and stimulants given to someone who might go manic is automatically a big no-no. Bipolar and ADHD/ADD have a lot in common, you see; so that's why the Powers That Be tell you to get your other problems in order before you look at ADHD.

So, can you drink a pot of coffee and take a nap? Quaff energy drinks and snooze? Are any members of your family ADHD and *not* mood disordered? You need to deal with your bipolar honestly before you'll get most pdocs to address your suspicions of ADHD; I wish you luck.

Not that this should be some sort of telltale sign, but when I drink coffee, I dont get an energy buzz, I get tired. Anything with caffeine, that happens. Or, during the day, I get tired, but I have also seemed to slow my brain down a bit. The same goes with energy drinks.

I can see now why my psych is holding off on that haha

[Atypical_Disaster]

I have ADHD along with Bipolar I(technically I'm schizoaffective bipolar type but eh I'm not in that forum right now lol).

My psychiatrist was hesitant to medicate me properly for my ADHD at first, as she worried stimulants would increase my chances of manic episodes... But I explained to her that those meds for ADHD calm me down so I can actually focus on things worth a damn, they do not speed me up which is what happens when those meds are given to someone who actually has ADHD... Stimulants(legal ones, just clarifying lol) calm my mind, they always have.

I haven't been taken seriously about various diagnoses I have, so I understand that.

I think the reason they mention mood disorders is because frankly un-medicated ADHD can mimic mania, and vice-versa. But there is a hell of a lot of differences between ADHD symptoms and mania even if at times they can look alike, it just takes some observation by yourself and a competent psychiatrist.

I hope you can find answers and solutions that work for you.