Posted by cathal on September 24, 2003, at 9:20:08
In reply to Re: Adderall advise!, posted by reba on August 8, 2003, at 6:53:14
I am a psychiatric RN. you have too many diagnoses. i'm not a doctor but in my experience, which is not slim, the diagnoses you list conflict. you can't be bipolar and have depression because depression is one side of being bipolar, so get rid of that. i doubt you are even bipolar and ADD, more than likely one or the other. if you do some reading - especially in the DSM-IV about the diagnostic criteria for these disorders, you can begin to narrow it down. a bipolar person in a manic or hypermanic state certainly has attention deficits and other sx of ADD, but having an attention deficit doesn't mean automatically you have ADD. People with mental retardation often have attention deficits but it's not ADD, it's just a deficit existing alone and due to some other condition. And ADD can often mimic bipolar disorder. Many people with profound ADD cylce in ways similar to bipolar. See if this sounds familiar: you attempt something, sign up for a class, start a new project, etc. You can't stay focused on it and you mess it up or don't finish it. As a result parents, friends, spouses, teachers, bosses, etc get on your case, tell you you're unreliable, not effective, sloppy, etc. then you feel like shit. then you ruminate on it and get depressed and feel worthless and you're depressed. that's not bipolar disorder. bipolar disorder happens no matter whether you do a good job or bad job. bipolar is uncontrolled mood swings that aren't related to how well you perform at work or what a good husband your are, etc. but the process i described is not a mood swing, it's the sequelae of an existing condition, ADD. Just like the sequelae for someone with bad allergies is that they are exposed, they react, they have trouble breathing, they use an inhaler, the inhaler makes them hyper. Those other problems follow exposure to the allergen. And those terrible personality traits follow problems caused by ADD. I'd look for a shrink who specializes in ADD and finalize your diagnoses. Look for someone attached to a university or program that studies learning disabilities. And by the way, adults with ADD frequently also exhibit sx of OCD, phobic disorders, panic attacks, social anxiety, low self esteem, poor anger management and mood swings.
poster:cathal
thread:133458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030923/msgs/262903.html