Psycho-Babble Social Thread 5723

Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

ADD or Anxiety?

Posted by mist on April 18, 2001, at 2:16:45

Sometimes I think I might have ADD but then I think it's just constant anxiety that interferes with my ability to concentrate. How do you know the difference?

I've had underlying anxiety all my life stemming from events in my early childhood.

I don't have panic attacks or insomnia or anything, though. It's more like a dread of the future that wears away at me, and avoidance of some situations and people.

I end up not doing a lot that I should do because of it.

Should I treat this as ADD or anxiety?

I've wondered if it's ADD because I know that if I could just focus on one task at a time I could get things done--but I have trouble doing that.

If it's anxiety, what meds would be good?

 

Re: ADD or Anxiety?

Posted by mila on April 18, 2001, at 3:07:27

In reply to ADD or Anxiety?, posted by mist on April 18, 2001, at 2:16:45

Hi mist,

ADHD is a developmental disorder, and anxiety is not. Children with ADHD are first identified as different from their peers around age 3 or 4. The symptoms later become increasingly obvoius during the school years.

What you are describing doesn't look like ADHD to me, but only a doctor would be able to tell with more certainty.

Both medication and psychosocial treatments for ADHD and anxiety disorders are totally opposite. ADHD patiens are taking stimulants, and anxiety sufferers take 'calming' drugs. ADHD sufferers do not avoid people, they just do not listen to others, or blurt answers before questions have been completed, anxiety sufferers might avoid people associated with fear or anxiety.

In case you'd get diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, you'd be recommended cognitive-behavioral therapy to learn new behavioral and thinking patterns and new stress-coping skills, drug treatment to reduce symptoms of anxiety ( antidepressants and/or benzodiazepines), and other treatments (such as managing stress through rest, exercise, nutrition, social support, moderate alcohol or other drug intake, etc)

I wish you the very best of luck. I am an anxiety sufferer myself.

mila

 

Re: ADD or Anxiety?

Posted by roo on April 18, 2001, at 13:20:02

In reply to Re: ADD or Anxiety?, posted by mila on April 18, 2001, at 3:07:27

Hi Mist,

I agree with the previous poster. Sounds more like
anxiety to me. I've often wondered the same thing
about myself--am I just anxious, or do I have ADD?
I can totally relate to your feelings. I can tell you
that the drug, neurotin, helped a lot with my anxiety,
and helped calm me and focus me more. It's not a "cure
all", but it did help my symptoms get under control.
I am also in therapy, learning cognitive techniques,
and learning meditation, which I think will eventually
help. Good luck. Just out of curiosity--what has helped
you so far, if anything?

 

Re: ADD or Anxiety?

Posted by mist on April 18, 2001, at 14:28:54

In reply to ADD or Anxiety?, posted by mist on April 18, 2001, at 2:16:45

Thank you Mila and Roo for your responses.

Roo, you asked what has helped. St. John’s Wort did a little, but it stopped working after many months. And its effects weren't dramatic enough that I overcame my avoidance and procrastination (which I think is at least partially anxiety-based for me).

 

Re: ADD or Anxiety?

Posted by Dubya on April 19, 2001, at 0:23:41

In reply to Re: ADD or Anxiety?, posted by mist on April 18, 2001, at 14:28:54

Mist's situation seems to mirror mine. I can totally relate. I am taking Clomipramine for OCD, Anxiety, depression. So far, I've seen some improvement. Ever since being 2 or 3, I've been hyperactive/impulsive, afraid (anxiety)... Anyways, I recently (being 20) went to my family doc of 20yrs, and suggested I had ADD/depression. He said "you are too young for that". So I switched Docs and voila, new doc referred me to a 'shrink'. psychiatrist helped me dearly. I still believe that I am suffering from ADD/ADHD not anxiety/depression/OCD... But, I have thoughts of the past, esp. bad memories at school/with other people.

 

Re: ADD or Anxiety?

Posted by Noa on April 21, 2001, at 15:10:55

In reply to Re: ADD or Anxiety?, posted by Dubya on April 19, 2001, at 0:23:41

It can often be hard to tell the difference. I have attention and organizational problems stemming back to childhood that have made my pdoc wonder at times if I have ADD but I really believe that the underlying cause is not ADD, but my depression and anxiety. Nevertheless, as part of my medication cocktail, I take Adderall. A stimulant (originally ritalin) was added to my med cocktail because of intense fatique and somnolence, but the adderall really helps me feel calmer and more focused.

At the moment, diagnosis of ADD is based on history and observation, although there are some computer tests for the attentional aspects of the disorder. Still, for many people, there will be overdiagnosing and for others, underdiagnosing. Someday, they will have the brain imaging techniques honed so that an inexpensive, noninvasive scan will help diagnose what is actually going on in the brain. Until then, I think it is often hard to distinguish between ADD and other causes of attentional problems.

 

Re: ADD or Anxiety?

Posted by Mr.Scott on May 3, 2001, at 16:22:35

In reply to ADD or Anxiety?, posted by mist on April 18, 2001, at 2:16:45

You have asked the very question of my life. It sounds more like anxiety in your case, but why not try Ritalin and see what it does for you?

I have had all the anxiety spectrum disorders, and tend to avoid things, Although now with a push I can do just about anything. I am always on edge a bit. Often depressed, shy, and highly obsessive, like with this board for instance although I think it is my response to being in psychological pain. However...When I was a child I was like the complete opposite. A total Behavior disorder and trouble maker. I was always considered Very intellient but was tested and had a Learning disability in math, and a deficit in spatial reasoning. I had tons of friends.. Then at age 15-16 I became severly anxious and depressed, and have been to some degree ever since. When I take Ritalin I get a mild High at first, a lot of nervousness and tacycardia forcing me to take a benzo. No real beneficial effect except on mood. I even tend to obsess more about my problems and search every nook and cranny of the web for the answer. I become less social. But the fact remains that I can't pay attention to what people are saying in meetings, and my life is narrowly focused on my psychiatric illness. My life is disorganized although I am successful in my profession. I basically only focus on having ADD and how it prevents me from living a normal life. It seems to come and go to some degree depending on stress in my life.

I am obsessed if you will with having ADD but Stimulants tend to make me dysphoric, anxious, unsocial, and then i crash.

What do you think I have.

mr.scott

 

Re: ADD or Anxiety?

Posted by mist on May 5, 2001, at 23:00:43

In reply to Re: ADD or Anxiety?, posted by Mr.Scott on May 3, 2001, at 16:22:35


Mr. Scott,

Yours sounds more like "pure" ADD (in addition to anxiety). Maybe you need to try a different stimulant?

I usually don't pay attention in meetings either, but that's because they're usually boring and a waste of time (at least the ones I've had to attend).

Whenever I feel my life is disorganized I usually attribute it to being depressed—like I can’t keep up with things.

I wish I could offer more help. I might try Ritalin but the problems have let up a little--they seem to come and go for me, too.


> You have asked the very question of my life. It sounds more like anxiety in your case, but why not try Ritalin and see what it does for you?
>
> I have had all the anxiety spectrum disorders, and tend to avoid things, Although now with a push I can do just about anything. I am always on edge a bit. Often depressed, shy, and highly obsessive, like with this board for instance although I think it is my response to being in psychological pain. However...When I was a child I was like the complete opposite. A total Behavior disorder and trouble maker. I was always considered Very intellient but was tested and had a Learning disability in math, and a deficit in spatial reasoning. I had tons of friends.. Then at age 15-16 I became severly anxious and depressed, and have been to some degree ever since. When I take Ritalin I get a mild High at first, a lot of nervousness and tacycardia forcing me to take a benzo. No real beneficial effect except on mood. I even tend to obsess more about my problems and search every nook and cranny of the web for the answer. I become less social. But the fact remains that I can't pay attention to what people are saying in meetings, and my life is narrowly focused on my psychiatric illness. My life is disorganized although I am successful in my profession. I basically only focus on having ADD and how it prevents me from living a normal life. It seems to come and go to some degree depending on stress in my life.
>
> I am obsessed if you will with having ADD but Stimulants tend to make me dysphoric, anxious, unsocial, and then i crash.
>
> What do you think I have.
>
> mr.scott


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