• 💖 [Donate To Keep MyPTSD Online] 💖 Every contribution, no matter how small, fuels our mission and helps us continue to provide peer-to-peer services. Your generosity keeps us independent and available freely to the world. MyPTSD closes if we can't reach our annual goal.

ADHD Attention-deficit disorder and ptsd - all opinions welcomed

Status
Not open for further replies.
Well my psychologist authored a book (I had read it and sought him out as he didn't prefer to treat with Rx medicines). I did "free flow stream of consciousness" therapy. I greatly reduced my caffine and sugar intake (I did go sugar and caffine free for a year, but some has crept back in slowly -- it is though greatly reduced). Over time I learned how to slow down my thoughts and to recognize when I am racing. I did learn to pause, be aware of and then choose to attend and stay with one thought or a series of thoughts and improve my ability to communicate and then focus better when listening.

The name of the book is "Curing ADD/ADHD Children" by Dr. Peter Oas. Though he primarily works with parents and children, he agreed to work with me... and I actually tried to "self parent" and develop/learn non-ADD behaviors through challenges.

Because I was aware that I was symptomatic, and that it was a big drawback to my ability to interact with other people I went for the "least invasive thing first". I have to say that I was very fortunate to work with him and he helped me immensely.

His approach is: "The development of a child's capacity to attend, reflect, maintain self-control, and act calmly is a normal task for all parents to accomplish. ADD/ADHD is a behavioral response in all toddlers, and parents are required to teach non-ADD/ADHD behavior. The official diagnosis of ADD/ADHD is completely behaviorally based, and its causes rooted in a child's early experiences."
 
Hyper-arousal in some studies is differentiated in PTSD as centered around the memory flashbacks of the disorder, where as the hyper-arousal in ADD/ADHD is already there without the memory flashbacks. However, this does not mean that a comorbity definitively does not exist, quite to the contrary. Some studies have indicated that those with ADD/ADHD who are in a state of hyper-arousal can provoke PTSD symptomatic if PTSD is present. So, it would suggest that a hyper-arousal response can cause an elevation of stress response in PTSD patients.

[snip]

If trauma is present, then personally I would be mindful of a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD and any suggestion of a co-morbidity, without first trying to address the anxiety issues we know as core to PTSD. If only for the simple fact that there is great difficulty in distinguishing between hyper-arousal from two different conditions - PTSD or ADD/ADHD and subjective stressor responses. So, I think that the anxiety source needs to be addressed first before getting a Ritalin prescription for being hyperactive and, of course, a clear diagnosis is needed before prescription IMHO.


The first quoted paragraph is ringing my bell today because my internal medicine doctor (Who didn't know I had ADD/ADHD until recently. He doesn't know about my PTSD either.)... wrote ADD/ADHD and "CoSA" (co-occurring stimulating activity). So I am very interested in the hyper-arousal aspect and can personally attest to a great big YES. In my own experience it certainly can cause an elevation of stress... at least it does in this PTSD patient.

In the second paragraph, personally I have no idea if I had trauma in early development (though it is very possible tha I did). I do though deffinitely agree that if there is an anxiety source, it needs to be addressed before medication is attempted. But my bio parents were heavily involved in their own drama and cycle of violence --- I had no problem being open to the possibility that non-ADD behavior was not taught or modeled for me. All I had to do was to look at my maternal family members. I could see (as an adult) that I was modeling the same behaviors from my grandmother and my mother. It could be learned or something we are born with. It really didn't matter whether I was born that way, or it was PTSD or maybe even simply not taught "non -ADD behaviors by my parents. The way my Doc put it, irrespective of where it came from, it's here and can learn how to cope.
 
I can definitely see the connection between ADD hyper-arousal provoking PTSD symptoms, but not the other way around.

Agree whole heartedly. At least that's been my experience for the past couple years (since I became aware of the possibility of PTSD in addition to the ADD/ADHD).
 
I am back from My Med Provider. Sadly I did not get much information that could move this discussion along. Mostly this was my fault for not asking for a 30 minute apt. (I did not know I could do that. Duh!) I might try this in the future if cost is not too big of an issue.

I asked: "Could the stimulant medication I am taking for ADD be working at cross purposes with my PTSD medications, perhaps contributing to my anxiety?" Answer is …Yes. She was very vague on any details.
I hope to try to address this issue again in future appointments. For now though, we are not changing anything while I continue to adjust to the changes made 4 weeks ago. She wants me to keep working on symptom control and recommends we hold off on the EMDR for a while yet.

Second question: "Are my ADD symptoms a sign of ADD or just symptoms of my PTSD?" Answer; I have these symptoms because I have ADD. (My third opinion so yes, I do have ADD - sigh.) However, she also felt my PTSD is likely contributing to these same symptoms. Interesting.
 
I have been having a very similar experience.

My father reports that when it was time for me to go to kindergarten ('my sexually abuse had already taken place per to that time) he said to himself, "there is no way that kid will sit through a classroom lesson. She's going to come home with an ADHD diagnosis." To everyone's surprise, I was a fantastic student and never caused any trouble ...On the outside. My insides were SCREAMING and I walked the half of that school terrified.

When I was 21 I was diagnosed its both C-PTSD and ADHD. Personally, I think the ADHD symptoms are a result of severe trauma at very young age. That obviously causes me to be hyper-arouses all the time. So, my diagnosis has since been changed to just C-PTSD (by my therapist and a new psychiatrist) but I still are Aderall because we have found that, like you ericaboo, it helps me stay in control or my mind and body and keep my PTSD symptoms semi-manageable, at lest during the day. I think it's an excellent, creative stagy really; to give patients with severe PTSD symptoms a brain stimulant to help stimulate thinking rather that FEELING, which is where flashbacks are derived from and where all maladaptive coping skills stem from. We experience symptoms and the subsequent maladaptive coping mechanisms when we are presented with feelings we cannot bear or make sense of.

So, long story short: I am not too sure the diagnosis itself matters, what came fist, the chicken or the egg? What do you have, ADHD or PTSD? Whichever came first? Does it matter. I have found ADHD medication extremely helpful in bringing my states of hypersarousal down by giving me the space and brain power to think! Ju. Thought for those considering different treatment avenues :)
 
When I was growing up this was not even heard of or had been studied. Whether it had a factor in it is another thing.

My attention is very poor, always has been. I can also do impulsive things and get very over excited about things most people find calm, this confuses me with bipolar though. As this seems to happen now when I am feeling really good rather than depressed and make myself go out and do things, when I do them I get over excited about it all, hope that makes sense. :wacky: But as a child I cannot remember what I was like, hard work according to my mother, so who knows. (I've blocked everything)

It is interesting to read though and makes me think that maybe if I did have this as a kid and was totally misunderstood the abuse was even worse because of this. I actually did not have control of this, so no matter how much hitting, spitting and shouting, disappointed looks and rejection occurred I would not be able to change with out the right help.

But hey I can sit here and think of a million reason why and still not get the answer :)

good topic though and I am sorry your other thread was trolled.

best wishes
Saffy
 
The stimulants do reduce my anxiety and they seem well aware of that. But are they making my hyper-arousal worse? If my meds are working at cross purposes, then maybe my provider is just attempting to hit the "reset" button so we can start over. :alien:

Hi,I have been on Pristiq for the last 2 years since my work accident.It is an antidepressant of the SNRI type. I think it has helped in a way but I continued to have emotional breakdowns and outbursts from time to time. I sought a second opinion from a psychiatrist. I ran through how I was feeling and symtoms(lack of focus,motivation,loss of confidence,feeling inadequete and fearful/anxious etc) and he diagnosed me with ADHD. I was put on a trial of dexamphetamine and it seemed to help with the above symptoms. However I continued in a downward spiral to the point now I am not even working.

My dad went to Vietnam and as a result discovered my core trauma was my upbringing with Dad and Mum. Dad was dealing with his demons of anger,alcoholism and seemed to be angry most the time or not present. Mum on the other hand was depressed and doing the best she knew how but projected her emotions onto me and my two brothers. We all became surrogate husbands with her like a child.

So I have discovered original trauma/s and then another lot of PTSD from my accident. Or they are all just combining? I feel the dexies have positives but sometimes feel they add to my anxiety and triggers.
 
I have been having a very similar experience.

My father reports that when it was time for me to go to kindergarten ('my sexually abuse had already taken place per to that time) he said to himself, "there is no way that kid will sit through a classroom lesson. She's going to come home with an ADHD diagnosis." To everyone's surprise, I was a fantastic student and never caused any trouble ...On the outside. My insides were SCREAMING and I walked the half of that school terrified.

If you notice a lot of these things keep linking up.For almost 8 years after my accident my GP and other so called mental health practitioners never even mentioned trauma or PTSD.I am in Western Australia so we can take awhile to catch up.
Very similar symptoms in both PTSD and ADHD as we know and I have been diagnosed with both.
The PTSD diagnose for me makes the most sense.Thats when it all started linking.

There is also a big hormone connection that runs through all of this.With any trauma the affected person is on a state of high alert at all times(Hypervigilance) as they view the world as an unsafe place.Particular situations,people or experiences can 'trigger' us and we go into a survival mode of fight or flight.It's primal.
Left over from the days when we needed to fight or run away from a predator.When on high alert our adrenal glands produce adrenalin and cortisol(the stress hormone) giving us extra energy and anxiety.It also rolls onto the Nervous system which is why we can appear to be stressed,restless and fearful.

I am finding the best thing for me is dealing with a psychologist who specialises in trauma.I have learned to recognise alot of my triggers by my self and although I still feel stressed and edgy it is a relief to know why it is happening.Kind of empowering.I also went to a naturopath and he told me my adrenal glands are overactice.

I very much doubt that I have ADHD at all and have a hunch most of these disorders are trauma based.A lot of factors from parenting styles and sex of child etc will determine how each child deals with it and what coping mechanisms are used.Check out 'core trauma' as this has shed light on it for me.
 
I am back from My Med Provider. Sadly I did not get much information that could move this discussion along. Mostly this was my fault for not asking for a 30 minute apt. (I did not know I could do that. Duh!) I might try this in the future if cost is not too big of an issue.

Hi Chondra,
Because my dad is a Vietnam Vet(I am in Perth Western Australia) I get my 1hr sessions on PTSD free.I have to this point an unlimited amount so let me help if I can as you are paying for shorter sessions.The first time I went it all started spilling out of me and I was pretty emotional and all over the place.I felt like I could have sat there for 3 hours talking.When I was thinking about things I started brainstorming and writing it down in a book.At first it was all scattered feelings and thoughts but as I learnt about trauma all the dots of my life have began to join.I still have quite a way to go and see it in the future as a management issue.Hope this helps :)
 
How interesting how many people with PTSD and ADHD diagnoses have war veteran fathers. (Including myself)

I would love to see a study on that.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top