ADHD & BIPOLAR DISEASE????? - ADD / ADHD Message Board

DontWannaBsick · 12-08-2005, 09:24 PM

Have any of you or your loved ones been dignosed with ADHD with bipolar disease????... I have heard of this and I have heard of other people say these 2 disorders get confused because they have very similar symptoms.

Do any of you have family, friends or yourself with both of these diagnosis"???? What kind of meds do you take for these disorders and do they interfere with each other???????

Looking forward to hearing your responses and how having both of these dignosis's are handled. I just kinda think it is pretty much the same disorder.

addprogrammer · 12-09-2005, 07:10 PM

DontWannaBeSick,

Interesting question. I thought I might be bi-polar since I am capable of extraordinary focus if something is interesting to me. I appeared to me as a swing between no concentration and all the concentration in the world but without noticable mood swings. I think the shrinks got it right - two different disorders. Anything stimulating will help me focus. I can fake my brain out by adding distractions when concentration is on the wane. Nothing like that will help with bi-polar. But who knows? Maybe deep down at some root level the same neurotransmitters are to blame.

mzzmodest · 12-14-2005, 07:24 AM

My son who is now 10yrs old is hyper (always jumping and fidgeting as a baby, always screaming for attention, happy, sad, mad..one extreme to the next..black & white, no grey area) and has constant mood swings. I think the effects from the "ADHD" is nothing but pure hyperness and happiness, but the bipolar personality takes over..and he's ****ed off instantly, next second he ecstatically happy and excited, then crying, then mad and hitting/throwing things, would threaten to hurt himself or someone else.. nuts! Took him everywhere..every Doctor he had seen, he was on his best behavior pretty much (was medicated) and they thought I was exaggerating. Except for 1 Doctor (the one who actually prescribed him medicine). I had split up with his Dad, was telling him that I couldn't take it anymore, I was going insane, I need a break. His Dad says, "Oh he's not that bad", okay then please take him...he did..and guess what! 2 weeks later, he's on 4 different medications! I don't even know what he's taking, but when I talk to him on the phone, he sounds like he's depressed, I tell his Dad, he tells me he's not. A year later, his Dad calls me, leaves me this message, "You gotta figure something out to do with this kid, he's breaking up my relationship! Call me! Bye!" Nice..huh? I know how frustrating it is living with someone like this, but, obviously, the medications/diagnosis' aren't exactly right! I tried and tried. I feel like it's his turn. I took care of him for 9 years, Dad has only had him for 1 year now. When I was with his Dad, he didn't even give him much attention. Now he has his attention. I also have a 9yr old daughter that has ADHD. And I have disabilities of my own. I need some sanity! Am I wrong to feel this way? I don't think so.

DontWannaBsick · 12-31-2005, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mzzmodest

My son who is now 10yrs old is hyper (always jumping and fidgeting as a baby, always screaming for attention, happy, sad, mad..one extreme to the next..black & white, no grey area) and has constant mood swings. I think the effects from the "ADHD" is nothing but pure hyperness and happiness, but the bipolar personality takes over..and he's ****ed off instantly, next second he ecstatically happy and excited, then crying, then mad and hitting/throwing things, would threaten to hurt himself or someone else.. nuts! Took him everywhere..every Doctor he had seen, he was on his best behavior pretty much (was medicated) and they thought I was exaggerating. Except for 1 Doctor (the one who actually prescribed him medicine). I had split up with his Dad, was telling him that I couldn't take it anymore, I was going insane, I need a break. His Dad says, "Oh he's not that bad", okay then please take him...he did..and guess what! 2 weeks later, he's on 4 different medications! I don't even know what he's taking, but when I talk to him on the phone, he sounds like he's depressed, I tell his Dad, he tells me he's not. A year later, his Dad calls me, leaves me this message, "You gotta figure something out to do with this kid, he's breaking up my relationship! Call me! Bye!" Nice..huh? I know how frustrating it is living with someone like this, but, obviously, the medications/diagnosis' aren't exactly right! I tried and tried. I feel like it's his turn. I took care of him for 9 years, Dad has only had him for 1 year now. When I was with his Dad, he didn't even give him much attention. Now he has his attention. I also have a 9yr old daughter that has ADHD. And I have disabilities of my own. I need some sanity! Am I wrong to feel this way? I don't think so.

In my pittiful little opinion, as long as your son is in a loving, healthy enviroment, then there is nothing wrong with dad being a dad. He can figure out something with that kid as well as you can. Remind him that his children should come before his relationship with anyone else. It is a rough road to travel, no doubt. If the poor kid needs help, tell dad to get with the program and help out. Best of luck and let us know how it goes.

lmm23 · 01-06-2006, 09:32 AM

I am certainly of the opinion that you can have both. My doctor thinks that I might have both. But the trouble is that it's difficult to discern between the two often. Nowadays, doctors tend to eliminate what they think might be a mood disorder, and see what is left over, like ADHD. Research, however, is still in its infancy. One day, I hop we learn more about the two together.

Leon.