co-existing disorders

[Janice Adamson]

How many people with ADHD also suffer from co-existing disorders?

[Joshua Alexander, MBA]

What kind I have hypoglycemia and migraines? Does that count.

[Bryan Hutchinson]

I don't know if those would be co-morbid Joshua. I have PTSD and have suffered from Depression, both mental disorders and co-morbid.

Has the doc mentioned that your migraines may be the result of hypoglycemia? They just seem like two that could go hand in hand...?

[Melissa Raines]

That's a very good question , is it possibly that the hyperness & hyperfocus of ADHD can over lap Bipolar mood disorder , since some times people with ADHD tend to be irritiable as well . Is it quite possibly for these two disorders to over lap each other so there for your not sure which is which .

[Joshua Alexander, MBA]

Actually the Migraines preceded the hypoglycemia. I think it was caused mostly from chemical exposures in the military. The hypoglycemia of course is probably more genenic in origin. I have no depression or other mental disorders outsde of ADHD so far at least. I have heard that most of those disorders are more prevelant in inattentive and combined type over hyperactive types.

[Janice Adamson]

Witin my family there is prevalence of many conditions, running on both sides of my childrens' families. These included but are not limited to, ADD, ADHD, AD/HD, OCD, ASD's (Autism Spectrum Disorders) SPD's (Sensory Processing Disorders), non-verbal learning disabilities, anxiety disorders,clinical depression, Bi-Polar Disorder, ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder), split IQ's, and perfectionistic tendencies.I know that being involved in forums dealing with Autism, or ASD's many of these conditions seem to overlap. Out of my five children, only one is NT (neuro-typical).Emotional lability is a common occurance as is self-harm and reacting negatively to others. This is the result of reacting to emotions before you even know what you are reacting or did react to. Many children with ADHD are not naturally born with coping mechanisms, they have to be taught and learned.As well as different types of ADHD, there is also varying degrees of such as well.

[MontanaShepherdess]

ADHD researchers and those investigating other psychiatric disorders try to find 'pure' subjects with no comorbid conditions, but in real life most people have some mental illness comorbidity, including people with ADHD. I have a tendency towards anxiety but manage it well through cognitive-behavioral /environmental strategies. Also, Starting meds for ADHD actually DECREASED my anxiety substantially. I also have some PTSD, which is related to unfortunate situational exposures (partly self inflicted during my 'adventures'). Probably some of the sequellae of PTSD stem from my risk-taking nature and impulsivity. If you leap first and then look, you're bound to get a few bruises bouncing off the cliff.

[Helen Sullivan]

Ok...here goes...
I started with school phobia/panic attacks from age 10 then going on to anxiety/depression/OCD during my teens. My parents have anxiety/depression...and probably other undiagnosed stuff going on. My siblings Bipolar Disorder, Aspergers Syndrome, anxiety/depression. My son diagnosed ADHD anxiety/depression. My daughter depression and maybe undiagnosed inattentive ADHD. Everyone with the exception of the Bipolar Disorder, stuggle within themselves but function well otherwise.
Me and my children also have gluten intolerance and my 21year old daughter has gone on from being gluten intolerant 4 years ago (when we were all diagnosed) to being Coeliac now. My son and daughter didnt want follow a gluten free diet.

I think people can have varying degrees of disorders. I don't think it is as simple as ticking the correct boxes to qualify as having a disorder. It just makes it easier for the professionals.

[LARRY VIGGO]

Hi Janice Although I did get a very clearcut diagnosis of ADHD from both a psychologist and psychiatrist after taking a number of tests.,I never did get a bona fide diagnosis of a comorbid condition. I do know that I often suffer from debilitating depressions,from time to time. So,I do have a feeling that I have mild bipolar,because of massive mood swings. I think that is fairly common?

[Joshua Alexander, MBA]

I have talked with a lot of people with ADHD after I was diagnosed but have never seen so many comorbid conditions. I had no idea that these where all prevelant in ADHD. My father had Bi-Polar but I so far do not. I guess I've been lucky to avoid some of these conditions. I hope everyone here is doing good. Because some of these conditions are extremely concerning. I'm not on any medications for anything including the ADHD now I feel very lucky.

[Something Shiny]

I have combo ADD/ADHD with depression and anxiety/panic disorder... I've also had/have substance abuse issues which really I think all goes hand in hand with ADHD. Coming from a background in psychology, I think my school of thought is more that they are not so much co-existing disorders as all part of the same disorder. Obviously no one person is like another in terms of having the exact same symptoms but I think there is definitely a commonality of these symptoms in our population...

[Devin Mackey]

Hi, I'm Devin, new to the group. My diagnosis is borderline personality disorder, adhd, and depression. Not diagnosed with anxiety but do experience quite a bit of that.

[Miss K]

I may also have a good dose of anxiety but we're still sorting that out :) Much of my anxiety though was calmed through medicating my ADHD, but there seem to be leftovers. It was sort of a question at first if I have ADHD with a side order of anxiety or an anxiety disorder that was causing inattention and other ADHD type symptoms. I responded immediately to Strattera though, which is primarily used for ADHD treatment...so it seems my primary issue has been solved. Whether the residual anxiety is a big enough issue to "diagnose" remains to be seen.