Which came first the chicken on the egg?

[SquarePeg]

mistake in title I mean or the egg.

Would like opinions, especially for those with other conditions.

I have only just been diagnosed adhd at 47. So before this I had suffered suicidal depression, bulimia, cfs, and self harm. During therapy aged 22 I often talked about when I was as young as 5 and my therapist says it sounded like was depressed.

I had a crappy homelife and have always blamed this. I left school at 14 and always blamed my homelife. I was disruptive, talkative and uninterested but bright and skipped school often from the age of 12 so have never studied for anything or taken a school exam.

After therapy all of the above disappeared apart from bouts of depression that come and go but I am used to them and I just go with the flow.

So then I was left with other adhd like symptoms. I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid gland but medication has never really made any difference, after trying for 10 years differents meds, supplements etc. So up until now I have blamed my thyroid for being forgetful, depressed, vague and absent, disorganised etc.

So was my adhd hidden by my other conditions or did they develop as a result of undiagnosed adhd?

I know that undiagnosed adults with adhd to go on to suffer other conditions, but when do these start?

I have noticed that some of you with a lot of other conditions rate adhd as not being the worst of them. Do you think your adhd was hidden by other conditions, or your conditions developed as a result of undiagnosed or undertreated adhd.

How do you think your conditions co-exist or overlap, do you consider them entirely separate.

SOrry but feeling confused this morning, my family certainly has a history of mental illness but am asking myself why. I don´t see my family, but remember my brother having problems at school with learning and then becoming isolated and never leaving the house and going on to develop a whole host of illnesses resulting in him never having worked, no social skills and a wasted life. Was it ADHD I ask myself?

[Abi]

I would say that you had a genetic predisposition to anxiety and depression, which, was exacerbated by [tho' not caused by] your stressful homelife and your ADHD.

ADHD is inherited, not acquired. The same applies to chronic depression and chronic anxiety disorders. [Edit: To rephrase: A predisposition towards chronic deprssive and anxiety disorders is *usually* inherited]

So basically, the origins of your ADHD and other stuff are more or less independent of each other, but each WOULD have exacerbated the severity of the other's manifestation.

[SquarePeg]

I´m so confused this morning, don´t know why I put that as the title as I know we are born with adhd. don´t know what I am saying today.

Are you saying I was born with depression but exacerbated by my childhood?

I know it is said that mental illness can run in families but is it because an untreated mental illness(es) can result in you being a poor parent and bringing your kids up in a dysfunctional home, therefore leading your kids to develop mental illness. And so the cycle is repeated.


I know that my mum was crap,(and knew this as a baby) she couldn´t help it I know, but nevertheless she was so far removed from giving me what a child needs that I didn´t stand a chance. There was no way I was growing up without it having an effect on me.

[Abi]

Are you saying I was born with depression but exacerbated by my childhood?

You were born with a strong genetic predisposition to develop depression, which was exacerbated by your childhood, yes.

[SpaceBaby]

I think I have an interesting combination of adhd and anxiety, although my doctor calls my anxiety "adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood". I think the anxiety comes from being raised by overprotective parents, feeling like I have so many demands (like chores and homework), and being afraid of disapproval. I also have Kallmann's syndrome, which means I lack much testosterone, and hormone therapy has failed, only causing bad side effects. For some reason my biochemistry seems to be very stubborn and doesn't respond well to treatments for either Kallman syndrome or ADHD. It seems like they make my urinary muscles have spasms for no apparent reason... I probably need some medication for that.

My doctors think I might have a personality disorder, I think I have aspergers, but who knows.. the reason for this is that I seem to avoid people and depend too much on my parents... but the reason for that is because I'm addicted to the internet and trying to focus on college.. I suppose if I was more social, I'd be off the computer more, but quite frankly, it would take too much effort in my part, especially since I don't drive and still live with my parents... spending time online is way easier.

[scrambled86]

I've been asking myself a lot of similar questions lately.

I too have suffered suicidal depression, self harm, dropped out of school at 15 and had a crappy homelife.

I often wonder which caused which. There's a history of mental illness in my family too and I'm not sure how much of this caused the crappy homelife and cycles of bad parenting or if bad parenting caused the mental illnesses.

I wonder how much of it has been undiagnosed ADHD across the generations that have led to so many problems but it's very confusing.

[Conman]

[angora]

I think my anxiety and depression developed because of undiagnosed adhd.

I had a good homelife but hated school from about grade 2 onwards. There was never a reason for my school phobia - my marks were generally good - but my first experience with a psychiatrist came about because of my refusal to go to school or do the required work in junior high.

I was diagnosed with adhd about two years ago, at age 48, after my oldest son was diagnosed. At the time I was being treated for anxiety and depression.

My life has been very stressful the last couple of years but I am coping. I keep thinking I am going to shut down but it hasn't happened.

I told my doctor this summer that the adhd medication and understanding what adhd is has allowed me to keep going. Before, my already confused brain would just implode.

I also told him I had no doubt that if my son had not been diagnosed, I would not have either and would have spent the rest of my life being treated off and on for depression instead.

I still have some anxiety but nothing like it was and just the occasional panic attack.

[Fuzzy12]

According to Barkley, for depression to develop you need a genetic disposition and a trigger. At least if I understand him correctly. In my case, it seems to fit.

Before the trigger, I now think I've had bouts of depression, which usually developed when I was bored with life, nothing to look forward to, out of stimulation. So that might be ADHD related. A large part of my depression still stems from lack of stimulation, feelings of failure and obsessive thinking (so that could be OCD or ADHD).

My obsessive compulsive tendencies started after the depression kicked in. I don't think, I really have OCD though. I think, it's partly related to depression but mainly to ADHD. (e.g. I keep checking stuff, because I just don't remember if I've done something already or not).

I've had an eating disorder from age 16. Partly because it stimulated me and partly as a way of relief, so that would be depression and ADHD related.

I used to self harm for the reasons given above, again depression and ADHD related.

Sigh, what else is there. Ah..the mood swings.. My GP thinks I might have bi-polar disorder. My mom might have it so there could be a genetic disposition. My mood swings are usually related to lack of stimulation or feelings of failure so it could just be ADHD. Or maybe I don't have ADHD but am just bipolar.

Anyway, my mom has been severely depressed for the last 20 years or so. I think, there's definitely a genetic predisposition in my family (or maybe it's just learnt behaviour??). She might have ADHD and bipolar too. Anyway, I think the depression and ADHD (if I have ADHD) are the driving forces of the other disorders.

You are right. It is confusing.

[scrambled86]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy12

(or maybe it's just learnt behaviour??).

That's the words I was trying to think of...learnt behaviour. I wonder sometimes if it's that, especially in my case.

Or if learned behaviour then becomes something so deeply ingrained that it is then your mental health condition too?

I don't know

[SquarePeg]

Originally Posted by angora

I think my anxiety and depression developed because of undiagnosed adhd.


I was diagnosed with adhd about two years ago, at age 48, after my oldest son was diagnosed. At the time I was being treated for anxiety and depression.

Hi, so are you still being treated for depression or are you on adhd meds? If so have you improved?

[angora]

Originally Posted by SquarePeg

Hi, so are you still being treated for depression or are you on adhd meds? If so have you improved?

Just adhd meds now - biphentin which is similar to concerta. I tried others but it works best for me.

Improved ??? I'm definitely not as reactive - emotionally impulsive - and don't get stuck with one way of thinking as often. I can stop and change course if that makes sense. I can think while something is happening more often instead of three days later coming up with the solution or better response.

A lot of the improvement is also due to learning about adhd and being able to advocate for my children more effectively. Also recognizing what is happening and what can or can't be changed or managed.

Our family has pretty much just been in survival mode for the last few years. My oldest was having so many problems and we were overwhelmed. Things have changed and improved so much in the last 2 months that I asked if someone replaced my child with an alien.

I still procrastinate, don't finish things, don't have people over because our house is disgusting and take on things that I shouldn't. But ... I don't feel as overwhelmed - I feel like I can and will make changes in my life.

[Phoenix Ash]

I've been wondering the same thing... The only thing I know for sure is that in my case, the ADD came first, and I definitely inherited it from my mother. I remember being reasonably happy and energetic -- and ADD-ey -- when I was a really young kid, up to age 6 or so (before everything went to hell). The depression definitely came a little later.

Really not sure how much of my depression is a result of chemical imbalances vs genetics vs negative life experiences. I'm sure it's a combination of all of the above, but how much each contributed I will probably never know.

I am learning that ADD meds help me feel less depressed, though. Until they wear off, anyway.

And I will say this: even though the depression can be pretty bad at times, I still hate the ADD more. I feel like nothing has had a nastier impact on my life than ADD, because it's gotten in the way of EVERYTHING, including getting help for my depression. I am still in mourning for what might have been, had I just not had to deal with ADD on top of everything else. Sure, I probably still would've struggled with depression, but I'd have been better equipped to get treatment for it, and who knows, maybe even have beaten it by now.