ADD and Eating Disorders

[Impetus]

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...orexia-nervosa

Very interesting article about the increased incidence of anorexia and bulimia in ADD'ers.

It caught my eye b/c my SIL is ADD, and she has struggled with bulimia since the late 80's. I dunno, it's like another sign post in a heap of sign posts. Too bad her parents didn't understand ADD. Treating her ADD has helped the bulimia a lot!

[rainbowdash]

This is a cool find! I suffered from Bulumia and Anorexia but now I've just recently been diagnosed with ADD-PI

[C-digs]

I have anorexia and ADD and I feel like there were so many girls I've been in treatment with that have ADD symptoms. When I was finally medicated for my ADD my eating disorder symptoms improved drastically. Im not "cured" but I've done a lot more work in therapy since!

[La Sleepy]

C-digs, I have the same diagnoses that you do, although major depression and anorexia were the main ones that got me hospitalized in 1982 (for way over a year) and between 1980 and 1982 they tried every medication they could think of, even haldol added into the mix. Nothing worked, ever, And back then the side effects of some of those meds were horrific. Then they sent me to a psychopharmocologist for just one visit (literally drove me to his office from the mental hospital in Pasadena) and he had the results of days of intensive testing they had done, IQ and every psychological test they had. He put me on dexedrine and nardil with a lot of restoril and a lot of ativan with about 10 mg of ativan prn a day.

This was the magic bullet for me. Like you said, it didn't cure my anorexia (which later morphed into bulimia) but it made my life literally new. And the only reason I can think of that I would finally snap together like that within a few days of the new medications is that I had ADD - inattentive type in the mix of all my other disorders.

I tried to get my records from that hospital and they said they haven't kept them from that far back.

I think that the anorexia rituals of tightly controlled eating and exercise and focus on your own body is probably a way of coping with the out of control feeling of untreated ADD. You find one area in your life that you can have real control over and it gives you a sense of mastery that you couldn't get from anything else.

Anorexia never goes away completely, as you all know, but it gets so much better with time if treated. For those of you struggling with it in your teens, 20''s and 30's, it's pretty bad, but for most of us, it really gets better after 35.

The bulimia is a tricky thing. I think it is influenced enormously by medication and by life circumstances.

[La Sleepy]

I'm afraid to even go look at any kind of eating disorder forum because I'm going to get sucked back into it by reading about it.

[eawaters04]

Originally Posted by La Sleepy

I'm afraid to even go look at any kind of eating disorder forum because I'm going to get sucked back into it by reading about it.

I have the same problem. My other meds have caused weight gain and I'm becoming obsessive and very crazy over my weight again. I'm afraid I'll start going back to ED forums again. I also have a friend who is struggling with anorexia and that's bringing me back down the same road again.

[PixieVixie]

Bulimia is a terrible terrible disorder. I do not wish it on anyone. That being said help is definitely possible. When I was put on medication for adhd and depression 2 years ago it was like turning off a switch. Good luck to any men and women struggling with eating disorders. I know it can be hell.

[Fraser_0762]

I've always been considered "underweight", but it was never really seen as a problem. I have however been putting it on rapidly in the last year or so. I seem to find myself eating more out of boredom these days.

[Fraser_0762]

Originally Posted by Josey12

Sorry I meant our lives back!!

And thanks to anyone who has read my post!

You think people with ADHD have never tried the diet approach?

I consume omega-3 fish oils on a daily basis and although they're extremely healthy for the mind and i'd strongly encourage anybody to take them.... they do NOT cure ADHD.

ADHD isn't something thats curable. Anybody who claims to have found a "cure" or to have "cured" it themselves, never had ADHD in the first place.

[rocketfuel]

Thanks Impetus for posting the article!! I have an ED and have been in treatment for a while. I've wondered for years if those were connected. It wasn't until I began seeing a shrink for the ED that I got diagnosed with ADD. I, like most of you, got better EDwise once I got meds for the ADD. It's so nice to be able to focus on "normal" things instead of trying to trick myself into thinking I can focus just fine by overly focusing on weight.

KUDOS to those who posted who are working so hard to stay healthy!! It takes a lot of energy and courage, but is completely worth it.

[jmfmft]

I have just joined the forum, as I have recently been diagnosed with adult adhd and "disordered eating." I am really looking forward to being able to take advantage of this great support!

I meet with the MD next week for the medication referral, as I have finished all the testing. Looking forward to learning more!!

[anderson82]

It is essential that both add and eating disorders are treated.Too many people are struggling with their eating disorders because they have undiagnosed or untreated add.When add is properly treated,the individual is better able to focus and follow through with treatment for their eating disorders.They also have greater control of their impulses and less of a need to self-medicate their add symptoms

[Chicchick]

I struggled with body image and i'd say a mild case of an eating disorder before being properly diagnosed. I was obsessed with nutrition, fitness and all that stuff. I counted every calorie, and obsessed over my already low weight.

The day I started treatment for my ADHD, miraculously, it all went away

But anyone struggling with disordered eating, I know how hard it is, and I'm praying for you all

[jmfmft]

Me Too!! I just started Adderall 20mg XR and feel like a completely different person in 5 days!! No more starving, overeating, and constant perseveration on food, eating, calories, exercise. It feels great!

[Chicchick]

Originally Posted by jmfmft

Me Too!! I just started Adderall 20mg XR and feel like a completely different person in 5 days!! No more starving, overeating, and constant perseveration on food, eating, calories, exercise. It feels great!

I'm so glad to hear that! Congrats!