ADHD and anxiety...counter-indicated?? (new here) - ADD / ADHD Message Board

ScAttErBrAiNed · 01-03-2007, 08:09 PM

Hi, everyone. New to this board. I am a teenager and am trying to find treatment. To make this as short as possible, I have had a phobia for as long as I can remember (of vomiting-it does exist, belong to one of those forums too ;-P) and in the past it has caused me to stop eating and at one point, almost two, I was hospitalized, and then diagnosed (or should I say misdiagnosed) with anorexia. I am trying to seek treatment for ADHD, but the doc who I began to see before I was almost hospitalized a second time refuses to put me on stimulants because he thinks I have an eating disorder. So now I am trying to find a new doctor because this one obviously has the story completely twisted. I was evaluated at NY Presbyterian (which is supposedly one of the best hosps in the nation), and they said they are concerned about putting me on stims b/c of my history of anxiety issues, rather than one of anorexia. so I guess that's a little better-at least they know that its anxiety-based and not anorexia.

I cannot do this anymore: I live in a dysfunctional household with a neurotic mother which is probably why I became so anxiety-provoked myself, and my parents are also very skeptical about the meds. It takes me HOURS to get my work done and I have no life because all I do is school/homework. My biggest issue is internal (hyperactive mind) rather than external distraction.

anyways, my question is, do stims cause anxiety?? (no strattera for me--huge vomiting rep) if they do, can i just get the ADD and phobia/anxiety treated simultaneously?? also, what I just said about internal distraction, is it common for people with ADD to be distracted by their own thoughts racing about pretty much everything other than the task they should be focusing on? I haven't told my mom yet, because my therapist told me not to, she will flip, but I asked by dad to speak to his bro (my uncle) about me moving in with him and my aunt because I cannot stand my household anymore and I need a more supportive, but more easygoing environment for the next 1-2 years before I'm off to college.

Thank you all SOO much for reading all this. I really appreciate all your replies and your time. My career goal is to be a PA to a psychiatrist, so, ironically, I'm actually interested in all this that I'm struggling with. :-P

Thank you all again!

elmhar · 01-04-2007, 01:33 PM

Hi ScatterB,

Stimulants do have a tendency to 'activate' a large portion of the brain. When people are prone to anxiety and/or obsessive/compulsive tendencies, what is going on in the brain already is overactivation of certain parts -- sort of like "hot spots." Adding stimulants to that can be like pouring oil on a fire. Everyone is different, of course, but not infrequently in such situations, anxiety can really flare up. Stim meds may also further rev your hyperactive mental state.

This is not a traditional medical approach, but have you encountered the experience & testimonies of many people who have reduced or resolved attentional & even anxiety issues by treating food allergies and intolerances? I personally know of 2 young women who were hospitalized for anorexia, only to have it found later (due to parent's internet prowling & pushing for testing), that they suffered from celiac disease, a severe form of gluten intolerance. Once the dietary issues were addressed, anxiety was reduced, vomitting & diarrhea stopped, & the anorexia resolved. Mental energy & focus was restored.

I also recommend the book, Healing ADD by Daniel Amen, M.D. This book gives a self test for 6 sub-types of ADD (I think you would find a subtype that fits), as well as recommendations for both medication combinations and also effective alternative med approaches, for each subtype. If you like what Dr. Amen has to say, this book may be a conversation-extender for you with your doc and/or parents.

Best wishes.

ScAttErBrAiNed · 01-05-2007, 02:30 PM

As a matter of fact, I recently borrowed that book from the library. I thought I may have matched best with the "over-focused" type, but the description doesn't sound like me. What you mentioned about diet-related issues is interesting, because until recently my blood pressure wason the low side, and I was also borderline underweight for most of my life, and at one point borderline anemic. I have never actually experienced a physical allergic reaction to anything (sneezing, rashes, etc.) except penicillin, but I guess that's possible as well.

I am currently taking effexor XR 150 mg/day and zyprexa because my doc thinks the effexor can cause mania and I need a mood stabilizer along with it. I saw in Dr. Amen's book something about taking Effexor for one type of ADHD, hyperfocus, I think, but I'm not seeing any effects on my inattention with the effexor. I've been on this med for 2 1/2 yrs now, and ~2 years before that. My regular doc (who is pediatric) said "nothing works like the medications" and that I would have to make a compromise when it comes to the inattention vs. a potential anxiety flare-up. don't you think anyone else has had this problem previously, with ADHD and anxiety? I can't be the first person. what do other people do about it? I thought having another issue like anxiety along with ADHD was quite common.

I read a post on here just yesterday that someone was lethargic from the stims. That lit me up because I thought perhaps in some, it would actually help the anxiety, and I wouldn't have to take another med along with it to manage the anxiety, which was my original thought. although, as much as I talk about this anxiety, if I don't sleep for at least 10 hrs. each night I get drowsy, and I always have trouble waking up early. Over this psat winter break I woke up between 11 AM-1PM every day, ~12-13 hrs. of sleep a night. I think the best thing for me would be to find a doc who realizes my mother's anxiety when she tells them about me, and makes me sound soo much worse than I really am. (This is what my therapist says).

Anyway, thank you for replying. Objective opinions are very helpful to me at this point