It's really hard to quantify and describe the symptoms and life impacts that I'm dealing with, and so it's hard to discern what the problem is and how I should seek treatment.

My main complaints are a lack of energy, which limits motivation, productivity and functionality. I've historically excluded depression as a possible factor because I don't experience emotional distress like I would expect to if that was the problem.

If there *was* an 'emotional' characteristic I could use to describe my lack of energy, it would be a general apathy and lack of emotion (positive or negative) altogether. In other words, I've become pretty 'cold' and don't really 'care' about things that my *mind* knows I should care about.

Curious if anyone has ever started out with an ADD diagnosis and eventually migrated to/included treatment for depression.

When I first went to be tested for ADD the women who tested me said ADD the women I saw in that same group who would decided what was next for me thought it was depression and gave me Prozac and a Large dose !!

It was a very very wrong med. for me and I had all kinds of trouble, for example 5 day with no sleep ! After a month I thought I was going crazy, was told the feelings I was having go away. They didn't and the med didn't help any ADD stuff at all :mad: One reason this women felt it was depression not ADD was because I was overweight !!!!!!!! I went to other place.......

ADD and depression often go hand in hand. Sometimes depression can be so overbearing that it just drains you of all strength and desire to get anything done...or even to feel anything. I've been there...I'm STILL there a good amount of time...but there IS hope :) Seek out your doctor and explain what you're going through...Talking through your problems can help ALOT. Meds can help too...and don't forget...you have friends here at the forums who are here to listen and share their stories too!

Kansas: You've post really hit a cord with me and I think I understand your confusion, although mine was the other way around
has anyone started out with an ADD diagnosis and eventually migrated to/included treatment for depression.
Last year, I went thru a marriage break-up, this was something I felt I could deal with but ended up going to the doctor who prescribed lexapro. I stayed on that for about six months but still fought with the utter sense of being stuck and the lexapro [for depression] didn't help [but I was hesitant to come off them because I wasn't sure if I would get worse]. Anyhow, I went back to the doctor and she referred me to an analytical psych. I spent 3 months in therapy and although I felt I had totally worked thru the grieving process, the feeling of worthlessness didn't abait and I was stuck. I have always been a person who lives by lists [otherwise things wouldn't get done], have no emotional highs, and always felt cheated by not getting excited over things [eg: Christmas as a child, overseas experiences, and even getting married]. Like you, I previously had a general apathy and lack of emotion (both positive or negative).

All in all, I initially wasn't thrilled about having a diagnosis of Limbic ADHD and so I wanted some kind of evidence. I was referred for two SPECT scans, and although it was all gobbly-gook to me, both the neuro[?] and the psychiatrist, that I was then referred to, came to the same conclusion of Limbic ADHD. My confusion came with thinking "surely this is a result of previous situations?" and I didn't want something I hadn't dealt with to come back and "bite me in the bum" but I KNEW I wasn't a worthless person so why couldn't I stop the ruminating?

The position that I'm in now is that I am on my second week of Dex, Lexapro and Lamagine, I don't feel high, I just feel calm, sitting on the side positive than impending doom, and I have focus. My diagnosis came out of the blue, but I think it's been a mixed blessing, although I still ponder as to whether I'm really ADHD cause it's something I don't know heaps about. Hence joining this forum.

I hope you find the answer that's right for you - Hang in there

Trying to figure out what symptoms or behaviors come from which conditions? This gets to be such a puzzle for me and I feel like I'm trying to put together the puzzle of my life but I don't have a picture to refer to. Everytime I think I know what my puzzle will look like, I find a different part to work on. So frustrating.

For me, it seems much like a chicken/egg process. My depression and eating disorder were definately diagnosed first. I'm not really sure which spurred the other on there either. there are so many influences, environmental and internal that have gone into their development. Now, 10 years after those, the ADD diagnosis comes up. Did I not have this previously? I did, but it was skillfully masked by anorexia and depression. Was the anorexia a way to cope with the disorganization of my mind? In part and in response to environmental and internal triggers. Did the depression develop because of the symptoms of anorexia? I don't really know anymore.

For me, I have to deal with the symptoms foremost. I have to find ways to function. This means Tx and medication mostly. Through those, maybe I can begin to untangle the mess I feel like life is so often. But whatever treatment I seek, has usually addressed the multiple issues at the same time. This is necessary because the depession, eating disorder, and ADD all affect each other anyway. For me, there is really no way to separate them.

be well,
Tristan

Exercise alone, in the absence of medication or a diagnosis, often does wonders.

It may be wise to try to address the depression alone first. It is common for ADD/ADHD-like symptoms to be present in people who are depressed but do not have ADD/ADHD.

In these situations, the ADD/ADHD-like symptoms usually go away when the depression is treated effectively. This could be accomplished either by adjusting lifestyle (e.g. exercising regularly) or taking medication specifically to treat depression (or both!).

Good luck.

With kids, it's usually the other way around.

You notice the depression first; assuming there's not overwhelming hyperactivity.

In my case I find the two disorders go quite hand in hand. Often times when I have one under control the other is not as noticeable to me. However, it is more often than not the ADHD that is under control to the point where I don't notice my depression. Perhaps the depression stems from the lack of coping with the ADHD, maybe? Sometimes the depression will be undercontrol and the ADHD is still there, but generally much more mild than is status quo for myself. It's a balance and everyone is different!

first let me tell this: Inattentive ADD has many sympthoms of Depression, so just because of someone doesn't look like the classic hyperactive child it doesn't mean they can't have ADD.

feelings of legarhy are often due to problems with cathecolamines. I think they could change prozac to effexor (vanlafaxine) it would work by increasing norepinephrine and serotonin so you get more energy from the cathecolamine part (norepinephrine) and more creativity from serotonin. I'm not a doctor but I think as long as people are not showing sympthoms of OCD they should not be given a med that works selectively on Serotonin