BLOG PODS #11 - ADHD & Co-Morbidities
Introduction
One of the things that spurred me on to seek out an assessment, was the fact that I was struggling (and always had struggled) with emotional regulation. In short, I get angry a lot. I don’t express it much, but it’s there; an underlying almost constant seething, bubbling away in the background, that threatens to pop out of hiding any moment!
Similarly, I have a persistent feeling of low mood. People who know me might not believe this, because the external ‘me’ is a chirpy kind of chap whom most folk would never think of as being even slightly ‘depressed.’
One of the great benefits of a psychiatric assessment and subsequent treatment, is the awareness of, and opportunity to seek treatment for such things, as well as for ADHD.
Co-morbidities
ADHD is a ‘sociable’ condition in that it often co-occurs with other things, as I’ve described. These other things are sometimes referred to as co-morbidities.
What?
Comorbidity refers to the presence of two or more conditions being present in a person, at the same time. This is quite common - particularly so in ADHD.
This can make assessment, diagnosis and treatment a bit more tricky and illustrates why a good quality assessment (rather than seeking out a particular ‘diagnosis’) is essential.
An assessment may well throw up more issues than we expect; in the long run this is good, of course, but it can be a little unsettling if we’re not expecting anything other than ADHD!
Examples
I like this graphic from Psychiatry-UK as it shows some of the kinds of other conditions that can co-occur with ADHD.
Image source: https://psychiatry-uk.com/adhd/
Here’s a sense of what a few of these conditions entail - please note: this is a selective list for illustration only, so is neither exhaustive nor very detailed):
* Anxiety
* Anxiety problems involve excessive worry, fear, or nervousness that can interfere with daily life. Children and adults with ADHD often experience anxiety alongside their ADHD symptoms.
* Depression
* Depression involves persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities, even the ones normally enjoyed. Individuals with ADHD are at higher risk of developing depression, possibly due to struggles with self-esteem and coping with the challenges related to their ADHD.
* Learning Disorders
* Learning disorders - for example dyslexia or dyspraxia - affect a person's ability to acquire or use specific academic skills, such as reading, writing, or arithmetic (why do we call them the 3 ‘Rs’ when only one of them starts with an ‘r’? 😆). ADHD often coexists with these and others conditions, making it harder for individuals to succeed academically.
* Substance Misuse
* Substance misuse usually refers to problematic patterns of drug and alcohol use, leading to significant impairment and/or distress. Teenagers and adults with ADHD have a higher risk of developing substance use disorders compared to those without ADHD. Again this may be directly related to coping with symptoms of ADHD, or as a result of something else entirely. Once again, a thorough assessment will help to unravel this.
* Sleep Disorders
* Sleep disorders can include difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing sleep that is restful and regular. ADHD symptoms can interfere with sleep patterns, and some individuals with ADHD may also have co-existing sleep disorders.
And the list goes on…
Co-morbidities such as these, and the many others not listed here, can complicate the management and treatment of ADHD, requiring a comprehensive approach that addresses both ADHD symptoms and any accompanying conditions.
You don’t need a diagnosis…
‘I need a diagnosis.’
I’ve heard this said a lot, particularly in more recent years when the knowledge of and tolerance for ADHD has increased.
I know what people mean. They’ve read around the subject, consulted Dr Google and made a tacit decision that they probably have ADHD and want some help with it.
But there are some problems with this; big problems as it turns out:
* Unless they are a doctor, specifically a psychiatrist and/or a clinical psychologist, they aren’t qualified to know what to look for or how this might present in different people of varying ages and circumstances.
* ADHD very often (in around 80% of people) is NOT the only thing going on. So a broad knowledge of human physiology and psychology is needed to untangle the web. Dr Google can’t do this.
* Sometimes, in my experience, people ‘prefer’ the idea of having ADHD to, for example, having depression or anxiety or Asperger’s - this can sway their thinking in the direction of ADHD and lacks the objective clinical judgment that medics spend a decade or more acquiring and learning how to use.
In short, unless we are a specialist doctor, few of us are even in a position to begin the process of assessment, never mind make a diagnosis and build a treatment plan.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Having ADHD doesn’t mean there are always other conditions in play at the same time. But it might do. So even if you’re convinced the struggles are caused by ADHD, please bear in mind that there may well be something else - or more than one thing - going on at the same time.
This is neither a good nor necessarily a bad thing. Most co-morbidities can be helped with the correct clinical input and advice, supportive loved ones, sometimes medication and usually a good dose of personal determination.
But it would be a bad thing if we were blinkered in our thinking about ADHD and missed either the real cause of our problems, or a contributor to them, that might otherwise be helped.
So, don’t go to the doctor for a diagnosis, go for assessment and see what comes - chances are, it’ll be the start of a new, positive chapter of getting to grips with what’s going on and starting to sort things out!
See you in the next one.
More information:
* WEB ARTICLE: Is It Just ADHD? Co-morbidities That Unlock an Accurate Mental Health Diagnosis - click
* PAPER: Self-Regulation and Inhibition in Comorbid ADHD Children: An Evaluation of Executive Functions - click
* BOOK: Scattered Minds - The Origins & Healing of ADHD - click here (affiliate link)
* BOOK: ADHD 2.0 by Ed Halliwell & John Ratey - click here (affiliate link)
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©️ Jonny Matthew 2024
