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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Amanda S on April 2, 2000, at 20:57:04
I can't belive some of the symtoms of ADD are much like bipolar disorder. How do I know which to treat. Not sure if my IQ is very high. I was an average student in school. This sounds funny, when I was in the sixth grade I did not do well on some kind of school work so I stomped in the trash can saying I was going to be a garbage man for the rest of my life. At the time it was hurtful. I was always wanting to do very well, but found it hard. My mom and teachers said I wasn't applying myself. I have yet to want to go back to college and probably won't. I am 37 years old and my therapist says I am bipolar. I am really confused now. I did have alot of temper tantrums and when I am not on some brain drug I lash out either to my husband or kids. I yell louder than I should. The anger is incredible. I had a dysfunctional childhood,but was well taken care of. I always felt like the black sheep. Very low selfesteem. You wouldn't want to know how I did on my SAT. I have always felt inadequate. Are these symtoms of ADD or bipolar? Help
Posted by christi on April 6, 2000, at 18:27:36
In reply to ADD or bipolar???, posted by Amanda S on April 2, 2000, at 20:57:04
> I can't belive some of the symtoms of ADD are much like bipolar disorder. How do I know which to treat. Not sure if my IQ is very high. I was an average student in school. This sounds funny, when I was in the sixth grade I did not do well on some kind of school work so I stomped in the trash can saying I was going to be a garbage man for the rest of my life. At the time it was hurtful. I was always wanting to do very well, but found it hard. My mom and teachers said I wasn't applying myself. I have yet to want to go back to college and probably won't. I am 37 years old and my therapist says I am bipolar. I am really confused now. I did have alot of temper tantrums and when I am not on some brain drug I lash out either to my husband or kids. I yell louder than I should. The anger is incredible. I had a dysfunctional childhood,but was well taken care of. I always felt like the black sheep. Very low selfesteem. You wouldn't want to know how I did on my SAT. I have always felt inadequate. Are these symtoms of ADD or bipolar? Help
<
Amanda you are in a tough place. Wish I had a magic wand. Let me preface my comment by saying that I am _not_ a therapist. What you describe of your behavior doesn't sound like either one of your Dx; it does sound like a whole lot of repressed anger, not unreasonable for someone with a dysfunctional childhood. (feeling like a black sheep,low self-esteem, difficulty concentrating in school) All of those things rolled together could very easily make you depressed but outbursts of anger aren't usually a sign of manic behavior.
Maybe others will have a comment for you.<<
<
Posted by Janice on April 6, 2000, at 20:25:00
In reply to Re: ADD or bipolar???, posted by christi on April 6, 2000, at 18:27:36
Amanda,
Anger is a VERY BIG part of bipolar disorder.
Although ADD also has anger, I don't believe it is usually to the same extent as the anger in bipolar (and the anger in ADD cools off more quickly).If you are unsure (some people do have both), I'd treat the bipolar first. A stimulant for a bipolar not on mood stabilizers, could send you manic.
FYI, children with both disorders often do poorly in school, regardless of their intelligence. Both disorders are often accompanied by learning disabilities. Janice
Posted by Jen on April 8, 2000, at 16:37:31
In reply to ADD or bipolar???, posted by Amanda S on April 2, 2000, at 20:57:04
> I can't belive some of the symtoms of ADD
[snip]It could be that you are both bipolar and ADD. I am not a therapist or doctor myself, but I have been searching the
web for any sort of information on the two disorders co-existing in the same person. I myself have been diagnosed ADHD
by some doctors and Bipolar 1 by others. I responded extremely well to Dexedrine with regard to the ADHD stuff, but the
mood swings continued to be way out of control. In the past I guess I responded well to lithium for the mood swings (memory
is fuzzy as it's been about 10 years). At any rate, I'm about to see a new doctor, and the therapist I've recently been to seems
to think that the two disorders can indeed exist in the same person at the same time. I'm beginning to believe the same myself,
but what I'm really hoping is that both can be treated at the same time as I'm sick of living such a messed-up dysfunctional
life (I'm 30). My doctors way back when didn't even want me to have a cup of coffee with the lithium so I don't know if I'd be
able to take it with Dexedrine. I don't know if or what other treatments might be effective. Anyway, I did find a little something on
the web -- an interesting diagnostic/differentiation criteria for the two disorders. My husband and I went through it a few
times and if it is anything to go by then I definately have both disorders. Here's the link if you're interested:http://www.addclinic.com/296.html
Best of luck to you
Posted by Janice on April 9, 2000, at 9:25:46
In reply to Re: ADD or bipolar???, posted by Jen on April 8, 2000, at 16:37:31
thanks Jen,
As for the caffeine, I was thoroughly addicted and on both medications lithium and Dexedrine. Over the past couple of weeks, I've cut down to 2 teas a day ( I was at 16). I'm feeling MUCH better without the caffeine.
The article forgets to mention rapid cycling bipolar, which makes discerning the difference between the two disorders even more difficult.
Janice
> http://www.addclinic.com/296.html
Posted by christi on April 9, 2000, at 15:03:12
In reply to Good article Jen!, posted by Janice on April 9, 2000, at 9:25:46
> thanks Jen,
>
> As for the caffeine, I was thoroughly addicted and on both medications lithium and Dexedrine. Over the past couple of weeks, I've cut down to 2 teas a day ( I was at 16). I'm feeling MUCH better without the caffeine.
>
> The article forgets to mention rapid cycling bipolar, which makes discerning the difference between the two disorders even more difficult.
>
> Janice
> > http://www.addclinic.com/296.html__________________________________________________<< Jen--thanks for providing the address for
addclinic.com good information not available thru other sites. Christi
Posted by Jen on April 9, 2000, at 18:32:10
In reply to Good article Jen!, posted by Janice on April 9, 2000, at 9:25:46
> As for the caffeine, I was thoroughly addicted and on both medications lithium and Dexedrine.Are you still taking both lithium and Dexedrine? Do you or did you find both to be helpful? At this
point I'm very certain that Dexedrine is helpful for a number of problems I have, but also that it
by itself is aggravating the mood problems quite a bit. I've tried all the other stimulants (and Wellbutrin
which is another story) and didn't have nearly as much success as with Dexedrine. I agree about the
caffeine. I know it's a stimulant, but it's one of the worst for side effects (in my opinion). I try to avoid it,
but I do like to have soda, coffee or tea now and then.> The article forgets to mention rapid cycling bipolar, which makes discerning the difference between
> the two disorders even more difficult.Yeah, I know, it's hard to find anything with all the information all in one place, ya know? At any rate
that page has been the best I've found where both disorders are addressed at the same time.
Posted by Janice on April 9, 2000, at 20:24:28
In reply to Re: Good article Jen!, posted by Jen on April 9, 2000, at 18:32:10
I was on both up till about a month ago.
Now I am only on Lithium. Both pills help me substantially…or a better way to say it is, they are the best 2 medications I have found to this date.
Dexedrine completely changed my life around. It was not my choice to quit it. Now that I'm off, it seems I have mostly reverted to my pre-dexedrine days, except that it appears that I have learnt some things--like being clean and organized--and these things have stayed with me. Otherwise, I am hyper again, spilling drinks, blurting out stupid things, etc.
I've noticed most professionals will say if you don't know what you have, try a mood stabilizer for bipolar before a stimulant for ADHD.
Janice
This is the end of the thread.
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