ADHD Is adhd really ptsd in disguise?

['91 Girl]

Practically, Abstract, a few things to consider: age of inattentive symptoms versus age of trauma, whether the inattention is relatively constant or it comes and goes based on PTSD symptoms, whether the inattention fluctuates based on where you're at, whether you get something called "hyper focus" where you can zoom in on one thing and focus on it for hours to the exclusion of the world around you, whether you are a relatively organized person or a scattered person, and what effect, if any, dissociation has on your ability to focus and remain concentrated.

 

[Abstract]

Thanks girl 91!

Not so easy as trauma possibly early. No self awareness and loss of memory for most of childhood.

But interestingly just about the first time I heard the "trauma" word in relation to me was when I consulted a psychiatrist online to check if I should go and be evaluated for ADD. I started realising my attention problems where not "right" and had a friend with ADHD tell me she thought I had it. But the psychiatrist was thorough and asked the right questions and she told me that all the flags pointed to trauma first and foremost. A bit of a surprise I must say. That ADD may be an issue but that I needed to evaluate the rest as it was important. Not that I listened that closely at that point! But it did start the cogs turning.

I do hyperfocus but I do think most of my inattention is dissociative so I am not very motivated to go and get tested. Other priorities at present. And yes my PTSD symptoms correlate with my attention issues. And it is situational as well. Mostly what made me doubt ADD was how different I felt when I felt a bit better. It seems things that I thought we "me" my whole life were not. Scatty regardless but there you go...

 

['91 Girl]

Based on what you just said...I am betting its not ADD. I'm no psychologist, but you answered every question in the way that would indicate trauma, not ADD. JMO.

 

[Abstract]

Yes I actually agree with you. I think its just another thing I use to tell myself I haven't got PTSD and don't need trauma therapy! :p

Or if I do have it it is mild and really not that disruptive. I do have constant organisational issues but there could be psychological foundations to that too. Thanks.

 

['91 Girl]

Oh, except for the fact that you can hyper focus. Although that is quite possibly just an ability you have developed to cope with the inattention caused by trauma. They say that hyper focus is a coping mechanism, not something that kids with ADD/ADHD naturally have.

 

[Abstract]

not something that kids with ADD/ADHD naturally have.

I didn't know that actually. Interesting. Yes so I might just have learned. Actually I do think its possible I still have it but maybe it would be 5 % of the inattentive issues I have so it feels like it is "gone" when dissociation etc is better. But regardless it is not the end of the world. I should probably be tested but I have a list a mile long of other priorities so it isn't going to happen!

 

['91 Girl]

Yes organization issues could definitely be trauma-related. However, I have found that, for myself, I became overly organized and controlled because of trauma. It wiped out that natural chaos that ADHD often brings to people's lives. I find that I hyper focus on organization and time, rather than letting those get out of hand.

 

['91 Girl]

If it isn't bothering you, it's not worth the effort. It would not be a good idea to go on stimulants because of the fact that it would make your anxiety worse, so you wouldn't even be able to be treated if you were diagnosed.

 

[Abstract]

Just looked now and saw a couple of articles that mention hyperfocus in relation to PTSD. :O_o: Such as Dead Link Removed I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on that.

Just realised though that this may not be considered a reliable source because of their last point which I only just read.

 

[Abstract]

you wouldn't even be able to be treated if you were diagnosed.

That is what I suspected.

Hope its Ok chatting like this but am thinking this conversation is relevant and on topic!

 

['91 Girl]

Interesting. I've never heard of hyper focus in relation to PTSD as a common symptom. But certainly, if a natural coping mechanism to inattention is hyper focus, people with PTSD would tend to hyper focus. I also think it might have to do with the neural pathways that affect both.

ADHD is an issue of under stimulation of the prefrontal cortex (the place of concentration and focus). So when stimulants increase the response of the brain to things around it, ADHD is treated. PTSD is an issue of overstimulation in part in the same areas. It is the same as what happens when an ADHD kid get stressed, except chronically and obviously for different reasons. The prefrontal cortex is flooded with adrenaline, causing a mental shutdown. Your logical thinking shuts down. With PTSD, this trigger is accompanied with mental recall of trauma, etc... With ADHD, a kid might just avoid whatever is causing the stress (homework, school, etc...) and get lost in various addictions (video games or TV is common for young kids, drugs/alcohol for teens and adults). They really are extremely similar in terms of brain activity.

I say all that to say, it makes sense that there would be such a huge overlap. There are certain things that are different (the involvement of memories for PTSD is the biggest, along with the opposite effects of overstimulation versus under stimulation) that cause the differences in hyperarousal and inattentiveness. But overall, they have some major similarities.

 

[Mayday]

oh my goodness thank you Abstract and '91 Girl! Some great info there in that conversation, makes a lot of sense to me and will help me whenever I can get in to see someone about being evaluated for ADHD (currently on a waiting list to see someone about it)

Not so easy as trauma possibly early. No self awareness and loss of memory for most of childhood.

same for me, plus because I don't remember my childhood much it's hard to know if I was showing the ADHD signs as a kid (plus that was back in the '80's and in NZ so make that another 10 years behind the rest of the world). My family, for various reasons, are not a reliable source of information in that regard, don't have any school reports and not in contact with anyone I went to school with.

It's interesting to note the similarities between adhd & ptsd