ADHD and Depression: Exploring the Connection
ADHD and depression are distinctive disorders with unique characteristics and approaches to treatment, but in many patients, there is a correlation. Several patients who have ADHD are observed to be diagnosed with depression as well. If you are struggling to understand this mental health puzzle, then you are not alone. Individuals suffering from depression with ADHD are generally more affected by their symptoms than those with only ADHD or only depression. Therefore, the Solid Psychiatry Foundation provides you with effective mental solutions to acquire relief from your mental health signs.
This article is a perfect guide to understanding the link between ADHD and depression and whether Is depression a symptom of ADHD.
What is Depression?
Depression is a mental health disorder that usually impacts your mood, provoking feelings of sadness and disinterest in activities that you once enjoyed. It also affects your thinking, memory, eating, sleeping patterns, and social relationships.
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is also a mental health illness that impacts the individual’s behaviors. Persons who have ADHD tend to be physically fidgety, are likely to appear not to focus, and often make hasty decisions.
What are the symptoms of ADHD and Depression?
Both adult ADHD and Depression have some similar symptoms, and hence, diagnosing the two is difficult.
For instance, both can cause a disruption of work and tasks that you need to accomplish. Interference with sleeping and eating patterns can also indicate the presence of ADHD and depression, especially for those patients using stimulant drugs for the ADHD illness.
Some ADHD and depression symptoms are distinctive and do not overlap, including:
- Constantly feeling sad
- Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness
- Lack of interest in activities and hobbies
- Persistent suicidal thoughts
How are ADHD and Depression related?
Some individuals suffer from ADHD and Depression individually, but they occur at the same time. Some of the possible causes for depression and risk factors are not related to the development of ADHD, for instance, having a genetic background of depression or any physical ailment.
ADHD, at times, leads to or results in depression. ADHD may increase your likelihood of experiencing depression in a few ways:
Learn More: ADHD in Women: Signs, Causes, and Treatments
Low self-esteem:
ADHD impacts the self-esteem of the sufferers, and therefore, people with the condition have higher negative self-appraisal.
ADHD effects on work and school:
The effects of ADHD may hinder a person’s academic or employment performance. It can make individuals feel they should do things and achieve targets and goals. They may also need help to improve their academic performance. In addition, those adults who fear getting fired from their jobs also need assistance.
Relationship difficulties:
Some individuals with ADHD may experience difficulties in managing their relationships with other people. Symptoms associated with ADHD mean social skills are impaired, making it hard to find the right words or read body language.
Last but not least, relationship issues, jobs, and studies may also cause one to develop depression. This could be pretty distressing or even enraging for those with undiagnosed ADHD while persistently struggling to complete tasks that appear more accessible to others.
ADHD and Depression in Children and Adults
ADHD is also diagnosed in childhood; therefore, to say that an adult with ADHD has this disorder implies that the condition developed in childhood. Most children with ADHD may grow out of the condition as they are adjusted, while for others, it may continue to be a significant problem in adulthood.
Recent studies show that the development of depression is more common in people with a childhood history of ADHD than in their non-ADHD peers.
Surprisingly, evidence indicates that if the person with a childhood history of ADHD no longer experiences the symptoms of ADHD in the process of transitioning to an adult, the relationship is unlikely to be linked between childhood ADHD and the subsequent development of depression.
Therefore, treatment and management of ADHD symptoms at an early stage can help reduce the risks of the onset of depression in individuals with a childhood history of ADHD.
Can ADHD and Depression Coexist?
It is possible to develop ADHD and depression together, and if the symptoms seem severe or if you have been already diagnosed with either, you should still consult with a mental health provider.
However, psychotherapy can be used for treating both conditions or only one.
An accurate diagnosis and treatment method can help manage symptoms and diminish their negative impacts on daily life.
Learn More: The Effects of Depression on Mental Health
What are the treatments for ADHD and Depression?
The most effective way to treat ADHD and depression is the combination of medication and psychotherapy.
Your mental health provider may recommend the following medication to manage the signs of ADHD:
Stimulant medications:
In ADHD, stimulants are the first-line treatment due to their effectiveness. These medications assist in raising the amount of certain neurotransmitters (chemicals that help the brain function).
Non-stimulant medications:
Sometimes, non-stimulant medications may be prescribed when the stimulant medications do not help in controlling the symptoms or when the side effects are causing distress.
Antidepressants:
It is advised to seek proper medical assistance as ADHD medications do not help treat depression, and only antidepressants can treat ADHD. It is also possible for antidepressants to be used as a combination in cases where depressive disorder is being treated. Specific forms of antidepressants that can be efficient in the case of ADHD are bupropion and some others.
Cognitive behavioral therapy:
This form of psychotherapy is most commonly used as a non-pharmacological treatment best suitable for people suffering from depression with ADHD. Additionally, it assists in changing maladaptive beliefs and ways of approaching problems and overcoming them with alternative and adaptive ones.
Putting it all together!
ADHD and depression are different mental health conditions, although it is often observed that people with one also suffer from the other. Depression influences a person’s emotions and makes them feel sad and uninterested in things, while ADHD affects actions, making a person act in a hyperactive manner. Both affect activities and sleep, so it is difficult to diagnose, though depression has specific signs such as hopelessness, worthlessness, or thoughts of suicide. Low self-esteem, problems with studies/work, and interpersonal relationships that often stem from ADHD result in depression, which may also be genetically inclined or caused by other physical illnesses.
So, if you are seeking a reliable mental health platform for understanding your signs of ADHD and depression, then you are at the right place. Solid Foundation Psychiatry is the leading mental health platform with a team of proficient mental health professionals possessing ample knowledge about treating ADHD and depression. So, wait no more and get in touch with our platform to gain knowledge about the most common question, “Is ADHD linked to Depression?”