Comorbid Bipolar Disorder and ADHD – Part 2
ADHD often co-occurs with other illnesses, and bipolar disorder being one of them. This creates a confusing situation as there is a symptom overlap between these two.
However, discerning ADHD from bipolar disorder can be done. For instance, ADHD can cause mood swings, and bipolar disorder is a mood disorder in which mood cycles exist.
ADHD is a more consistent, day-to-day life disorder symptom-wise. Whereas bipolar disorder can be more erratic, so the mood disturbances of bipolar disorder will appear in more distinct portions that come and go whereas in ADHD it is a daily part of life.
Regardless, both disorders impact the lives of the individual dealing with them, just in different ways, because the symptoms of bipolar disorder are more profound during the mood cycles but may appear in a more muted form or even seem absent in between periods of mania or depression. This is not so for ADHD.
Bipolar disorder also has a series of specifiers in its diagnostic criteria, that indicate the presence of specific symptoms such as the hallucinations or delusions in psychosis, or, rapid cycling. Meanwhile, ADHD has three different diagnoses, classifying the different symptoms into primarily inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, or combined.
Mood disturbances also cause trouble with memory and concentration, but in bipolar disorder, those tend to be cyclical in nature, as with the illness, while in ADHD they are constants for some individuals. Additionally, hyperactivity in ADHD can also present like mania.
The important thing to remember here is that bipolar disorder is defined by its mood cycles while ADHD is constant.
Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Knowing there are defined lines that separate ADHD and bipolar disorder helps, in particular, the presence of mood cycles versus mood swings. The symptoms of mania and depression tend to fade when the cycle ends, while in ADHD those similar symptoms, like hyperactivity, cause the person to be faced with those experiences on a daily basis.
This does not make one illness more or less severe than the other, only different. The same could be said for the different types of bipolar disorder.
The term bipolar disorder encompasses three diagnoses in particular. These disorders are all mood disorders with different, but similar symptom sets, and they all fall under the same group.
Of the three diagnoses falling under the category of bipolar disorder, bipolar I disorder is the most widely known and understood because of the cycles of full mania and depression. Some may also experience psychosis in bipolar I disorder, which is not really seen in bipolar II disorder. Hypomania is characteristic of bipolar II disorder, which is essentially sub-threshold mania.
Understanding mania, hypomania, and depression are complicated, as it can look so different in each person’s life that it may not get recognized as anything other than bad behavior, or poor decision making, rather than symptoms of an illness.
Prominent symptoms of mania may include: impulsivity, risk-taking, euphoria, increased productivity, grandiosity, and not sleeping. It may also include psychosis, hallucinations and delusions. Hypomania does not typically include psychosis. The symptoms will be similar to mania, just less heightened. Hypomania can turn into mania if untreated.
Depression is tricky. The person may seem fine but may be struggling immensely beneath the surface. There may be feelings of sadness present or irritability, for instance. A slowing down of normal functions or avoidance of them is common. Lack of interest in life, and negativity or even thoughts of suicide may also occur.
Bipolar disorder not otherwise specified is a diagnosis given when the individual does not meet the criteria for bipolar I disorder or bipolar II disorder, but a mood disorder is clearly present.
Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
Treating bipolar disorder is complicated. There is no one answer to what helps all, but the following methods of treatment tend to benefit most:
- Medication. The common classes of medications that treat bipolar disorder include Lithium, a mood stabilizer, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, and, at times antidepressants.
- Therapy. Psychotherapy and cognitive behavior therapy are quite effective.
- Lifestyle changes. Changes in diet and exercise can improve overall physical and mental wellbeing.
- Normal sleep patterns. Sleep disturbances are common on both ends of the spectrum with bipolar disorder. Establishing normal sleep habits is vital to overall stability.
- Keep track of your symptoms. This will give you an idea of how you are doing, if your medications and other methods of stabilization are helping, and offer your care providers feedback.
It is important to remember that bipolar disorder is a real illness of the brain and requires attention. It cannot be cured, but with help, stability can be maintained with time and patience.
No two people are the same, and there is no formula to ‘fix’ bipolar disorder, so do not get discouraged. There is hope that life with bipolar disorder can be fruitful.
In part three: tips for coping with comorbid diagnoses.
