Do I Have Adhd Or Am I Just Depressed

How Adhd Anxiety And Depression Carry Into Adulthood

What you learned in school gets carried with you into adulthood. If you never received treatment for your ADHD, it can cause a lot of problems.

You may find it hard to study or stay in school. Work becomes difficult as its hard to stay focused or on task. Or you find that you are only really successful in one or two things that really carry your interest . The other stuff you just keep at arms reach, hoping you never have to deal with it.

However, your lack of success causes you to feel more sad and depressed. Also, you are self-conscious of your condition and how others perceive you.

Hopefulness Has Replaced Dread

I feel as though the medication has unlocked doors in my mind to qualities I always possessed but were until now inaccessible. I have energy, motivation, a sense of humor, and a desire to show affection again. Hopefulness and an eagerness to experience the potential of each day has replaced feelings of dread.

If I could offer one piece of advice to someone considering diagnosis or treatment for ADHD, it would be this: Dont wait. Moreover, if you, like me, have received diagnoses of other issues such as depression and anxiety, learn more about ADHD to see if it is a possibility. Then talk with your doctor or therapist to see if ADHD could be contributing to your symptoms.

Thank you to Khanji for sharing your story.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with depression or anxietybut found little relief from treatment is

here is my advice: Learn about ADHD and know that ADHD is often misdiagnosed as depression and anxiety

What Can I Do Today

If you have a diagnosis of ADHD and think you might also be depressedor your child has ADHD and you suspect depression talk to your doctor as soon as you can. Its possible that the medication being used to treat the ADHD is causing these symptoms and can be changed or adjusted. Its also possible that the depression is not caused by medication and needs additional treatment. Listen to your mind, body, and emotions, and dont be afraid to take notes. With the right support and attention, the grip of depression can loosen and allow you to live an engaging and healthy life.

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When Should I Go To The Emergency Room

If you or a loved one has suicidal thoughts, get help. Call your provider, go to an emergency room, call 911 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800.273.8255. This national network of local crisis centers provides free, confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Its available 24/7.

Treatment For Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Starting treatment early is important. Treatment is most effective if it fits the needs of the child and family. The first step to treatment is to have a comprehensive evaluation by a mental health professional. Some of the signs of behavior problems, such as not following rules, are also signs of ADHD, so it is important to get a careful evaluation to see if a child has both conditions. For younger children, the treatment with the strongest evidence is behavioral parent training, where a therapist helps the parent learn effective ways to strengthen the parent-child relationship and respond to the childs behavior. For school-age children and teens, an often-used effective treatment is combination training and therapy that includes the child, the family, and the school. Sometimes medication is part of the treatment.

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How To Encourage People With Depression And Mental Health Problems

One of the best ways to completely deflate and degrade someone with depression is to call them lazy. Language has power. When you see someone being lazy at work, pause and consider how to inspire them.

Consider swapping out the word “lazy” from your vocabulary altogether. As I mentioned, lazy has such a negative connotation and can bring up harmful feelings.

Encourage employees and colleagues to schedule downtime into their calendars. Sometimes I call it “thinking time” or moments of space.

It might look like laziness, but it’s actually the most replenishing time you can put on your agenda.

Treatment For Coexisting Adhd And Depression

Both ADHD and depression are treatable conditions. People with coexisting ADHD and depression have treatment options that include stimulant and nonstimulant medications to treat specific symptoms. Stimulants are the main treatment for ADHD, and are sometimes used to augment antidepressants in the management of depression. Antidepressant therapies are the main pharmacologic treatment for depression, and some antidepressants can also have benefit in ADHD. Examples include Wellbutrin and Effexor .

In addition to medications, cognitive behavioral therapy , in particular, has the potential to improve executive dysfunction and reduce symptoms of mood disorders, including major depressive disorder.

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Overlap Of Adhd And Depression

How do ADHD and depression overlap? We know that these are comorbid conditions, which means that when you are diagnosed with one, the odds of you also being diagnosed with the other are higher.

Below are some facts on the overlap of ADHD and depression:

• Teens with ADHD are 10 times more likely than their peers without ADHD to develop depression
• Depression is three times more prevalent in adults with ADHD compared to adults without ADHD.
• People diagnosed with depression tend to have rates of ADHD diagnosis of about 30 to 40%.
• 70% of people diagnosed with ADHD may also experience depression in their lifetime.

Furthermore, in a study that examined data from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety, it was found that rates of ADHD were higher among those who had severe depression, chronic depression, early-onset depression, or comorbid anxiety. This suggests a strong relationship between ADHD and depression.

With respect to suicidal ideation, a study of 627 undergraduates showed that a diagnosis of ADHD was related to increased suicidal ideation. This relationship was affected by various factors such as management of negative emotions, emotional awareness, and goal-oriented behavior.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

Adhd & Laziness Are Not The Same

The idea that people with ADHD are lazy seems silly. After all, its a hyperactivity disorder. If people are hyper, how are they lazy? The truth is that people with ADHD often come across as lazy because their minds move too fast.

Before getting an ADHD diagnosis, people with this problem have trouble focusing. Their minds work overtime, but they have difficulty completing tasks on time. For those on the outside looking in, it appears that people with ADHD are too lazy to finish their work. In reality, they just cant focus, which makes completing work difficult.

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Are People With Adhd And Depression More At Risk For Suicide

In addition to an increased risk for conduct problems, obesity, and other conditions, there is an increased risk for suicide among people with ADHD who also suffer from depression. This is true for males and females of all age groups. People with ADHD often have trouble controlling their impulses, making them more likely to act on negative thoughts and feelings without considering the consequences of their actions.

Warning signs that you or a loved one may be at risk for suicide include:

• Feeling sad, moody, or irritable

• Thinking or talking about death

• Hopelessness

• Withdrawal from family and friends

• Engaging in risky and dangerous behavior

• Self-harming

• Acquiring means for suicide, like purchasing a gun or pills

If youre feeling suicidal or concerned about a loved one, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at . You can also chat online with a trained counselor. The Lifeline is completely confidential and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You Get Better By Getting Better

Theres a common saying among mental health professionals: You get better by getting better. That simply means that getting treatment can greatly improve a persons quality of life who has any kind of mental health issue.

And, when life gets easier, self-medicating is less likely. With proper intervention and treatment, patients dont have to rely on alcohol or drugs to get relief. When substance abuse is removed from the equation, the person can follow a healthier lifestyle, improve personal relationships, and reach goals.

Read Also: How To Heal Yourself From Depression

You’re Addicted To Social Media

No judgment. I have lost hours to mindlessly scrolling Instagram myself. Social media addiction is a documented issue. Realize that your social scrolling is contributing to your mental health in either a positive or negative way.

Focus on reducing your time spent on social media. In years, we will be so distressed to see the long-term effects of apps like Instagram on our mental health.

One tip that helps: I like to delete my social media apps on the weekends and after hours. It might take extra time to reinstall them, but it helps me to keep from mindlessly hopping back on. They’re just too addictive!

Also, consider muting and unfollowing accounts that make you feel bad about yourself.

True Laziness Might Be A Myth

I would argue that true laziness as a moral failure or a temperament is a myth.

Sure, we all have days where we are voluntarily and blissfully lazy. When we take a day off, for example. Being lazy is an act of self-care. The space to watch television, order your favorite food, and enjoy a moment to breathe without the maniacal pace of life as a corporate employee is absolutely necessary.

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How Accurate Is It

This quiz is NOT a diagnostic tool. Mental health disorders can only be diagnosed by qualified mental health professionals.

Psycom believes assessments can be a valuable first step toward getting treatment. All too often people stop short of seeking help out of fear their concerns arent legitimate or severe enough to warrant professional intervention.

How Does Adhd Cause Depression

For some children and adults with ADHD, the challenges of living with ADHD can lead to depression. ADHD can cause problems at work, school, and in relationships with other people, who may become frustrated dealing with the persons symptoms. This can lead a person to develop negative thoughts about themselves, like Im not good enough or Im a failure, and feelings of guilt and worthlessness. Experiencing negative thoughts and feelings is a sign of depression. Relationship problems or conflict due to ADHD can also lead to isolating from other people, which can contribute to feeling depressed.

Professionals are unsure why some people with ADHD develop depression and others dont. However, they have found that certain risk factors are linked to having both conditions. If you fall into one or more of the following categories, you may have a higher risk of developing major depressive disorder along with ADHD:

• Female

• Experiencing an anxiety disorder

• Having substance abuse problems

People with both major depressive disorder and ADHD are also more likely to develop conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, substance misuse, and obesity.

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Do I Have Adhdor Am I Just Lazy

Do you leave things until the last minute? Have trouble getting motivated? Flake out on boring chores? You may have grown up with people telling you to just try harder. Parents, teachers, coaches, and other authority figures may have told you that you have a lot of potential but that you need to apply yourself. They may even have called you lazy. But is your problem just being lazy, or could you have ADD/ADHD?

Take A Depression Test

The depression symptoms test, MADRS-S , can give you an overall view of your mood. Remember, questionnaires cant provide you with a complete diagnosis. In clinical practice, the results are used as general guidelines.

The test usually takes 510 minutes to complete. the Flow depression app to take the test for free. In addition, the app will offer you over 50 virtual therapy sessions .

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What If I Do Not Have Insurance And/or Can’t Afford A Doctor To Diagnose And Treat Me For Adhd

Research has shown that interacting with others that share similar challenges can be a helpful source of knowledge, camaraderie, and effective coping strategies. Connect with support groups online through reputable organizations like CHADD and NAMI . Apps can also be a helpful tool. Many are designed to help you cope with related anxiety, stress, insomnia, and organizational challenges. For a list of mental health apps visit

Adhd Medication And Depression

The medication that people use for ADHD can have side effects.

The drugs can worsen the symptoms of depression or they can cause symptoms that look like depression. This can also make a diagnosis of depression with ADHD more difficult.

This can make it difficult to identify the two conditions and to treat them properly. However, ADHD is normally a lifelong disorder, whereas depression can come and go.

Anyone who thinks that ADHD medication could be leading to symptoms of depression should seek medical advice.

ADHD can be challenging for children who are still developing emotionally, mentally, and physically, partly because they may not understand what is happening.

Issues with behavior and self-esteem can lead to depression. Unusual behaviors may lead to bullying and isolation.

Signs of depression in children with ADHD include:

• feeling very low
• feeling hopeless, helpless or suicidal

Depression may cause an increase in ADHD-related behaviors.

A child may begin to:

• act out more
• become extremely overwhelmed and disorganized

Girls with ADHD different symptoms from boys. They are more likely to have difficulty focusing and less likely to show signs of hyperactivity.

A girl with ADHD and depression may become withdrawn rather than acting out.

Find out more about how ADHD affects girls in our dedicated article here.

The symptoms of ADHD and bipolar disorder can also overlap.

Signs of depression in adults with ADHD include:

Signs of depression in adults include:

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Risk Factors For Comorbid Adhd And Depression

What are the risk factors for having comorbid ADHD and depression? Below are some of the risk factors that have been identified.

• Being female: Although ADHD is more common in males, females are more likely to have comorbid ADHD and depression.
• Inattentive type: Those diagnosed as inattentive type are more likely to also have a diagnosis of depression.
• Mother’s mental health: When a mother has depression during pregnancy, this is linked to a higher likelihood of giving birth to a child who is later diagnosed with ADHD, depression, or both.
• Early-onset: Being diagnosed with ADHD during childhood is related to an increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts later in life.
• Not receiving treatment: People who have untreated ADHD are at higher risk for depression due to secondary issues such as low self esteem.

Risks Of Adhd Leading To Depression

People diagnosed with ADHD have a greater chance of developing depression in childhood and adulthood. Both conditions have genetic links, with higher rates for those with a parent or family member who has been diagnosed.

Males are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, but females with ADHD are more likely to become depressed than males with ADHD. Depression is more likely in individuals with predominantly inattentive type ADHD or the combined type of ADHD when compared to those with the hyperactive-impulsive type. Children whose mothers had depression or serotonin impairment during pregnancy also have a higher chance of being diagnosed with ADHD, depression, or both.

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The Turning Point For Me

I kept trying harder and harder, until I realized, I am trying as hard as I can! It is not about willpower, or gumption, or commitment. Its low levels of certain neurotransmitters.

There are a lot of very successful people who have the ADHD mindset. Theyve succeeded in large part because they figured out whats going on.

Understand that you are NOT crazy. This is NOT a mental illness that you cure. Its how you are wired. New brain imaging technologies show our brains are different from most. Its biology not morality.

Research has shown that the brain can change at any age, its called Neuro-plasticity. A holistic planthat includes Mindfulness, exercise, and education can be life-changing.

Just ask the people who share their stories and struggles in our great private community. Every person is unique, but they all have much in common.

Is It Adhd Depression Or Both

Research has shown that the severity of a persons depressive symptoms may also be linked to ADHD symptoms. ADHD symptoms can also be overlooked due to coexisting depression or anxiety symptoms. The relationship between these two conditions is complex and not necessarily one-way. Rather, each condition may influence a persons experience of the other condition.

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Is Adhd A Mental Illness

ADHD is a neurological condition. While it technically falls under the umbrella of mental illnesses most practitioners see it as a behavior disorder rather than a mental illness. ADHD is associated with behavior problems caused by working memory and executive functioning deficits . It also commonly co-occurs with mental illnesses including bipolar disorder, social anxiety disorder, substance use disorder, and learning disabilities. Another term that is gaining acceptance that may more accurately describe ADHD is neurodiversity. Neurodiversity is a term that describes people who think and learn differently.