Poll Does Anyone Have ADHD in Addition to PTSD?

[Phaed]

"Sorry I lost my train of thought" during conversations...

I say this all the time and now that my friends know I have an ADHD diagnosis we are able to laugh about it. My students love it when I ask them to sit down and they say sorry it's my ADHD and I say I know mine is kicking my butt today too! It's even funnier when I am working one on one with a student and we both completely space out!! Yikes.

I do believe I actually have ADHD. I have done extensive testing for it and I have frontal lobe ADHD or something like that, this means I have a hard time controlling my anger as well as concentration. I also had a concussion when I was about 7 which can cause this frontal lobe damage. I do believe it is worse when my PTSD is triggered because both affect concentration.

I am not taking and have never taken any ADHD meds, my P says my anxiety is too high to do so. I do recommend lots of Omega 3's and an organic diet. ADHD has been shown to be linked to pesticide ingestion from our foods. Pesticides are a neurotoxin that's why they cause it in people that are predisposed genetically to ADHD. This is good information for those of us with ADHD who have children, as they may have the gene. I try to give my kids as many organic foods as I can afford to buy or grow in my little urban farm. Farmers markets are a great place to get them as well.

Also ADD does not exist in the DSM anymore. Not that I checked myself but my P told me this when I asked about the difference. She said it is all ADHD now, basically they are the same thing.

 

[njray]

Phaed... R u taking meds for the anxiety? ADHD is in the DSM IV and there are 3 subtypes and there are differences. Easy to find and u may see which type suits ur symptoms best. Interesting about the pesticides.... I worked around them for about 5 years heavily 15/16 years ago.... great more worries hehehe the omega's and organics def a good idea according to my readings also. Best of luck

 

[Lady Haze]

I read that there's a study at New York University about the prevalence of ADHD with PTSD. I actually tried to sign up for this study...but you have to be geographically close in order to participate.

I was just wondering if there's anyone else here who has ADHD?

Lisa

i have been diagnosed with ADHD & its starting to become clearer that i do have PTSD because everything pretty much happen consectivly

 

[Fabulously_Screwed_Up]

I was diagnosed with Adult ADD at the ripe age of 42, while trying to finish college for the last time! I started Ritalin the next to last semester before my graduation, and it really helped me to finish and actually -finally!- graduate. However, the Ritalin also (or it may have been too much coffee! LOL) aggravated my PFO symptoms (heart-skippings and "flutterings") so it was eventually discontinued (upon the discovery of my PFO a few summers later.)

I have never been "properly" diagnosed with PTSD, as far as I know. Nevertheless, any of my therapists who have heard my long history of survival KNOW that I suffer from it... :-P

In any case, I don't know that there IS a correlation between the two of them. However, my PERSONAL experience has led me to believe that my childhood ADHD (and later ADD) made me more of an easy target (or placed me under those dangerous situations) for all the sorts of abuse that I endured.

Hope that helps! :-)

 

[Fabulously_Screwed_Up]

I do believe I actually have ADHD. I have done extensive testing for it and I have frontal lobe ADHD or something like that, this means I have a hard time controlling my anger as well as concentration. I also had a concussion when I was about 7 which can cause this frontal lobe damage. I do believe it is worse when my PTSD is triggered because both affect concentration.

Phaed, I find that extremely interesting. Where did you find that information? I'm going to have to do some research on that. I had A LOT of head injuries during my childhood, and I also endured plenty of physical abuse (all over my body, including my head) all the way to my adulthood. I always had trouble in school (could never measure up to my older siblings, and I was always called "lazy" by my mother.) My grades were on a permanent roller-coaster, doing better in certain subjects than others, or even from day to day. I struggled through college -several times- until I was finally able to graduate at almost 43 years of age. I have forever felt I'm troubled by "spacing out" and lack of concentration. I also thought I needed something like anger management, because I'm "normally" a really nice, outgoing, friendly, loving, helpful, yes, even sweet person, but once in a while I feel this "monster" lurking inside that I have a really hard time controlling...

It's too bad you've never tried any AD/HD meds, because I would really love to find something that actually works for both the PTSD and the AD/HD symptoms. The Wellbutrin was a huge fiasco for me. I tried Adderall this morning for the first time (only 10mg XR) and it almost made me pass out first (I honestly felt "drunk") then, when it started wearing out from that, my heart felt a little fast for about an hour. Now I'm groggy again, feeling nauseous but hungry, tired and weirdly "calm" but something like "shaky" (without actual tremors) at the same time...

By the way, I'm on a mostly vegetarian diet, and I try to pack as many fresh fruits and vegetables (straight from the local farmers markets whenever possible) into my day as I can. I also try to drink gallons of water, and I take Sam-e, calcium/mag, multi vit / min (with a good dose of B-complex,) and a bunch of other "goodies" on a regular basis. These also help my fibromyalgia. (I take diazepam PRN for my occasional bouts of anxiety and panic attacks.)

I'm sorry this got so long and off-the subject, but I would love to find out more information and any assistance available to help me deal with so many diagnoses...

Thanks!

 

[Invisible-Guy]

Yes and No. I haven't been diagnosed with ADHD, but my doctor did put me on Adderal because I can't really focus very well.

 

[allisonp]

I was diagnosed with severe ADD following my trauma. I am currently in medical school, and it is extremely difficult to handle both ADD and PTSD with the added stress of school. I had to take a year off because the overwhelming stress threw me into a very deep depression. I'm doing much better now and am back to studies, but I have to be very vigilant about maintaining my mental and emotional health.

 

[Invisible-Guy]

Hi AllisonP, That's cool that you're able to go back to med school. That's something for anyone to be proud of, but with PTSD, you really are a remarkable person! I hope you do well.

 

[poeticprincess88]

Wow I never thought that there was a connection with ADHD & PTSD. I've struggled with it alone time. I actually didn't get diagnosed until I was in a inpatient treatment program for PTSD in D.C. in 2011

 

[Tootilla]

I was told that the symptoms of PTSD mimic ADHD. Vyvanse calms me down so that I very infrequently need a Lorazepam. I am able to sleep on it and get especially peaceful with Prozasin. My ADHD started around the time of the trauma. It was shortly after that that I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. I'm sure that it's all related.I am currently untreated since I after my divorce from the director of tramatic events,I lost my health insurance.Then my job of course went next.

 

[JustBe]

My answer was no, although the PTSD does make it seem like a yes sometimes.

 

[Invisible-Guy]

I think it's because there's so many similarities. PTSD effects out processing as well as mood. I had to temporarily drop out of college, but will hopefully will be able to go back soon.