I had a fascinating week talking to different people who were seeking mental health care. I was excited and eager to help them. Many of you have heard before that I am a mental health provider, a motivational speaker, and an educator. Well, I had to do a lot of education. Many of the people that I talked with told me that they thought that they have ADHD and that they wanted to be tested for ADHD.
Of course, the first question that I asked them was how would you know that you have ADHD. What makes you think that you have ADHD? Yes, they announced some symptoms of ADHD, but those symptoms may also be present in other mental health disorders such Anxiety Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and even PTSD. There are specific tests that may definitively diagnose an individual with ADHD as well as other disorders.
In this blog, I will compare and contrast ADHD with other mental health disorders. First, I will define the disorders, then compare and contrast them with ADHD.
- ADHD is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This condition affects the brain which causes difficulty with paying attention, controlling impulses, and to sitting still.
- GAD is Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and its main features are excessive worry and anxiety but look at the chart to see how the symptoms are so close to the symptoms of ADHD. It is important to note that the conditions can overlap or coexist in an individual.
- Depressive Disorder exhibits a persistent feeling of sadness, emptiness, and hopelessness but look at the chart to see how the symptoms are so close to the symptoms of ADHD. It is still important to note that the conditions may coexist in an individual.
- PTSD is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder which is a mental condition that is developed after a traumatic experience has occurred or a traumatic event has been witnessed but look at the chart to see how the symptoms are so close to the symptoms of ADHD. Yet again the conditions can overlap or coexist in an individual.
| ADHD | Anxiety | Depression | PTSD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attention Issues such as focusing on tasks, easily distracted, trouble with staying on task. | Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank. | Diminished ability to think or concentrate or indecisiveness. | Concentration problems |
| Hyperactivity with a lot of energy, fidgety, squirms or talks a lot even in inappropriate time. | Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge. | Psychomotor agitation or restlessness | Hypervigilance |
| Impulsivity such as acting without thinking, blurting out answers or interrupting others because they cannot wait their turn to speak. | Irritability that may cause some impulsivity in individuals. | Defiant behavior which may exhibit to some impulsivity | Irritable behavior or angry outburst with little or no provocation. |
There are different types of ADHD just as there are different types of Anxiety Disorders and Depressive Disorders. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, although it is a type of Anxiety Disorder, has its own place in the DSM-V because it is so much more prevalent. However, to truly know which mental health disorder one is experiencing, one must be seen, tested, and diagnosed by a mental health professional.
Of course, treatment for ADHD and any other mental health conditions are based upon the presenting symptoms and how they affect one’s daily life. Psychotherapy, medications, and support are an ideal treatment combination.
There was a time when children were the focus when speaking about ADHD. It is evident that ADHD can persist into adulthood. It has been my experience that an adult just doesn’t develop ADHD out of nowhere. It has been my experience that the individual, as a child, may have had the condition and was never treated for it, or the child was treated for the condition and stopped the treatment.
There are ways to manage ADHD. There has not been a cure discovered for this condition. Management strategies may take on the form of creating routines, creating tasks into smaller steps, and staying organized.
The most important thing to remember is ADHD can show up differently in different people. It is so smart to ask for help if you or someone you know who may be struggling with symptoms. This condition or any mental health condition does not define a person. As a matter of fact, with the right support and treatment, people with ADHD can and have thrived in many areas of their lives.
Since you are already on my website, please schedule yourself a 15-minute free consultation call with me. We can talk about your mental health concerns and about the services that I am able to provide to help you. I AM GLAD TO SERVE.
Kind regards, Dr. Wilder
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).