Bipolar Support Group

I notice that people are at times, diagnosed with ADHD and Bipolar Disorder.

I do have a bit of a problem with this, meaning while the person may meet some of the DSM IV defination of Bipolar Disorder, they can also met the defination of ADHD (I am referring to the hyperactivity type of ADHD).

Plus the medications are totally different.

What do you reakon?

Jennywren

I was dx with adhd as a child. My pdoc told me that adhd in children is a precursor to becoming bipolar and he even said, based on my history, that I was bipolar as a child. I think he's a good doctor but I have dont believe i was bipolar as a child. He did say that many of the symptoms over lap.

er44. Only you would know how you were as a kid. I do not believe him when he says that adhd in children is a percusor to becoming Bipolar.

For some time, years doctors did not believe that people under say 20 could have bipolar disorder. But they are now being proved incorrect.

I did find on the internet a well written and a very sensible list of differences between the symptoms of kids with adhd and kids with bipolar disorder.

I will try and find it again.

Regards,

Jennywren

I'd like to read that article bc I dont think i was a bipolar kid at all. I had a lot of friends and remember my childhood fondly. At around the age of 15 or so, I started getting into drinking and it lasted til I was 33-thats when I was x as being bipolar.I'm 44 now. It took me up until last year to really accept that I was bipolar. I thought I just had a drinking problem. In highschool, I just partied like everyone else and had a lot of friends then too. I think I need to get a new pdoc bc he keeps bringing up that I was a bipolar child. I have given him no reason to think that except that I told him I was dx at age 4 as having attention difficulties and hyperactivity. They didnt call it adhd back then. I think he is way off base and it really kind of upset me.

I have been diagnosed with both disorders in the past, but my best pdoc said that I did not have ADHD which leads me to believe that all of the hyperactivity, pressured talking and hypersexuality were part of bipolar. I believe that hypomania and ADHD can look similar.

er44,

Would not worry about your pdoc saying that you had Bipolar Disorder as a child. Does not matter really.

Well I would get tired of him mentioning it all the time and tell him to lay off!

Jennywren

Hey:

Last year I was struggling with a mild depression and tweaking the dosage of Abilfy didn't work (can't take most anti-depressants). My new Pdoc of ten months says to me 'I've been thinking that maybe you also have ADHD'. I had been in denial of my illness to a certain extent so had not learned about my illness, meds, etc. I just took what the Pdocs told me too and kept my mouth shut. Anyway, he prescribed me Adderall and off I went. Within 30 minutes of taking the first dose I was hooked. So much energy! Less than eight weeks later I was manic with delusions and paranoia.

After finding my way out of the terribly deep depression I fell into when the mania subsided, my denial was long gone. I have since taken the bull by the horns and learned as much as I could. It's clear that I do not present the symptoms of ADHD; not now, not then. My denial and lack of knowledge cost me dearly. Never again.

Anyway, thats my experience with ADHD.

Eric

My friend has bipolar disorder and add and a few other things. Poor guy has it all. For me personally, people over the years have asked me if I had ADD because I randomly go into talking jags and act Silly at times. I have been diagnosed with bipolar only. In high school I remember a few times sobbing because I sat down to do my homework but couldn't sit still or slow down my thoughts. At the time I thought I may have ADD, but now I know it was the start of BP disorder for me.

what I am trying to figure out Jessache, is can hyperfocus, be likened to mania? What do you think? I have not got a clue.

Jennywren

they say i have it too-tried med for it(stimulant-was not good for me-went off it.)"