ADHD Depression: Is There A Mental Health Link?
A high number of adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) report feeling depressed sometimes, and a clinical diagnosis is not uncommon. According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA), adults with ADHD are more likely to have an anxiety disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, or other comorbid psychiatric disorders. For this reason, some may wonder whether people with ADHD are more inclined to experience depression.
What is attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition that affects a person's ability to pay attention, control their impulses, sit still, and sometimes manage their behavior. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, there are three main symptoms of ADHD: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Scientists aren't sure what causes ADHD. Still, they believe that a combination of brain chemistry, genetics, and environmental factors, including exposure to toxic chemicals during early childhood, brain injury, and low birth weight, could increase the likelihood of developing it.
Many people with this condition get an ADHD diagnosis in their youth. If you suspect your child may have ADHD, you can get them evaluated by a specialist who can make a diagnosis after administering a series of cognitive tests and observing the child in various situations. Symptoms of ADHD depend on the subtype of the condition that one is diagnosed with, but combined type ADHD generally includes the following symptoms:
- Inattention
- Impulsiveness
- Poor planning skills
- Difficulty managing time
- Mood swings and irritability
- Lack of motivation
- Restlessness
- Trouble sleeping
- Forgetfulness
What is depression, and how does it affect mental health?
Depression is a mental health condition that affects 17 million adults and 2.7 million children aged three to 17 in the United States. The condition is usually characterized by a loss of interest in activities or a persistently glum or pessimistic mood and can potentially cause significant impairment in daily life.
Major depression is not the same as feeling unhappy for a couple of days. Those who experience momentary pain or sadness can usually still function in their daily lives. Someone who has clinical depression or major depressive disorder might feel too sad to work, pay bills, or do other tasks that are essential to their lives. This depression can be profound, lasting, and go on for days or weeks if left untreated. Symptoms of depression can include:
- Persistent feelings of sadness, despair, and hopelessness
- Fatigue
- Forgetfulness
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Mood swings, irritability, and anxiety
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Trouble concentrating
- Changes in eating habits
- Substance use
How are depression and ADHD related, given that ADHD and depression commonly occur together?
At first glance, ADHD and depression might not seem to be related. If you have depression, you may feel low and not want to engage with the world or anything in it. You could withdraw and struggle to interact with anyone, even your loved ones and closest friends. Contrarily, ADHD can cause hyperactive behavior.
The difference between ADHD and depression lies in their core symptoms: depression mainly involves persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest, while difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness characterize ADHD. Still, some symptoms of depression overlap with those of ADHD, so telling them apart can be challenging. Reports suggest that anger management issues and aggression could also be present in people with major depressive disorder and ADHD.
Depression and ADHD don't always happen together, but a person can live with both conditions simultaneously, which can have significant clinical implications. When this happens, doctors call them comorbid disorders or co-occurring conditions. Researchers have developed a consensus-derived diagnostic algorithm to diagnose the comorbidities of ADHD and depression in adults to address this challenge.
How comorbid ADHD and depression are treated
People with ADHD may develop depression due to a perception of inadequacy and social challenges. However, anyone can develop depression for any reason. Below are a few treatment options that may be helpful for comorbid ADHD and depression.
Therapy can help when ADHD and depression go hand-in-hand
Therapy can help those diagnosed with ADHD process their emotions and overcome low self-esteem. The condition can quickly isolate one from peers and the rest of the world, which can put someone at higher risk of depression. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that behavior therapy is an effective treatment to guide clients in improving behavior, self-control, and self-esteem. Speaking with a licensed therapist can have a positive impact on those diagnosed with ADHD and those who have risk factors for depression.
Coaching
A coach may teach people diagnosed with ADHD new techniques to help them concentrate and manage social situations.
Having ADHD is not a life sentence. Challenging symptoms can often be healthily managed with tools. Getting out of one's headspace or changing one's way of thinking can be taught. ADHD coaches may help you in this process. If you're looking for an ADHD coach, try to get a recommendation from your doctor or search the Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) resource directory.
Medication for ADHD depression
ADHD and depression can be treated with stimulant medications and non-stimulant medications. Stimulants are one family of medications that are sometimes employed. Giving stimulants to someone already perceived as hyperactive may seem to be counterintuitive. However, stimulant ADHD medications increase the activity of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. These increases can boost concentration and reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity.
For individuals with ADHD and clinical depression, antidepressants might be prescribed. Antidepressants may support both ADHD symptoms and depression, as they may "level out" chemicals in the brain that could cause an unstable mood to bring someone to a new baseline or equilibrium.
For any medications a doctor might prescribe in the case of ADHD and/or depression, a healthcare professional must monitor the situation carefully. Each person's physiology is different, and what works wonderfully for one person might not work for another. A doctor might prescribe a few different combinations of medications before the right one is discovered to treat ADHD and depression.
Do not start, stop, or change medications without the recommendation to do so from your physician.
Combination therapy for ADHD and depression symptoms
ADHD, depression, and the behaviors associated with both are often effectively treated with a combination of medications and therapy or coaching. You might take some time before finding the proper treatment for you. However, there are hundreds of therapy modalities out there, as well as many options for support.
Can online therapy help with ADHD and depression?
Online therapy through platforms like BetterHelp can be a convenient way to get help with comorbid ADHD and depression, allowing you to meet with a licensed professional from the comfort and convenience of your home for ADHD and depression treatment.
With these services, you can be matched quickly with a therapist. Whether you want individual therapy, family therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or another modality, help is available. Additionally, online therapy has been proven to be as effective in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and many other conditions when compared directly to its traditional counterpart.
Takeaway
ADHD and comorbid depression may have symptoms that overlap and negatively affect a person's life. However, a combination of medications and therapy or coaching has been shown to improve symptoms and help individuals diagnosed with either condition to live productive, fulfilling lives. Consider reaching out to a therapist online or in your area to receive personalized support.
Does attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) make you depressed?
People with ADHD are at an increased risk of experiencing depression, with some studies finding that 18.6% to 53.3% of adults with ADHD also have depression. Several ADHD factors can explain this connection, including genetic predisposition, brain differences, difficulty communicating, and low self-esteem.
This connection is common in adult ADHD, where difficulties in work, focus, and relationships may lead to depressive symptoms. Studies in postgraduate medicine and current developmental disorders reports have explored proposed mechanisms that link attention challenges to mood issues, especially during emerging adulthood.
How can you manage ADHD depression symptoms?
Adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and co-occurring symptoms of depression can often manage their symptoms simultaneously. For example, journaling, working with a therapist, connecting with others, eating a healthy diet, getting organized, managing stress, and using healthy coping strategies can help many people navigate both symptoms of ADHD and depression.
For some adult patients, using a mix of therapy and lifestyle strategies can reduce stress in daily life. Approaches like cognitive therapy may also help manage mood while building structure for focus and attention.
Furthermore, ADHD medications can often be safely used in combination with antidepressants. However, you should seek medical advice from a licensed professional for the diagnosis or treatment of these conditions.
If ADHD fuels depression, should you treat ADHD or depression first?
The treatment plan for co-occurring ADHD and depression will depend on symptom severity. Typically, doctors start one medication at a time to help patients track side effects without confounding variables. For example, if ADHD symptoms cause more impairment, a medical professional will typically prescribe a stimulant first. If depression symptoms are not improved after treating ADHD, your provider may recommend trying an antidepressant.
Doctors may consider family history or the presence of comorbid disorders when deciding which condition to treat first. Treatment plans often include stimulant medications to manage ADHD, followed by mood support if depressive symptoms continue.
Do ADHD meds help with depression, considering that ADHD and depression commonly occur together?
Adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression typically don’t experience depression symptom improvement from ADHD medications. However, treating ADHD can make it easier to sleep, communicate, pay attention, and function in daily life, which could also improve depression symptoms.
While stimulant medications mainly target attention, improving structure and focus might help reduce emotional distress for many adults. If symptoms persist, therapy may offer promising interventions that support overall mental health.
If depression symptoms linger after addressing ADHD, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and antidepressants may be recommended. For advice, diagnosis, or treatment of ADHD or depression, work with a medical practitioner or licensed mental health provider.
Do I have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or am I just lazy?
ADHD is sometimes conflated with laziness, but they are not the same. ADHD is a diagnosable neurodevelopmental disorder, whereas laziness refers to low motivation.
Signs of laziness include a conscious choice to avoid tasks or a lack of concern about them. People who experience laziness may avoid tasks, but they typically don’t feel guilty about it. On the other hand, people with ADHD often put in a lot of effort to complete tasks, but have difficulty focusing, prioritizing tasks, or managing time. Children and adults with ADHD symptoms often lead to feelings of anxiety, low self-worth, or guilt when tasks go unfinished.
For those with undiagnosed ADHD, struggles with focus and follow-through may be misunderstood as laziness. Insights from the field of abnormal child psychology suggest that early behavioral patterns can sometimes be misread, leading to missed diagnoses in both children and adult ADHD cases.
Why is living with ADHD so hard on mental health?
ADHD can cause challenges such as:
- Distractibility and difficulty staying on task
- Time management challenges
- Emotional overwhelm
- Trouble processing new information and making decisions
- Trouble focusing or remembering plans
- Challenges in completing tasks
- Impulsivity, mood swings, and emotional fluctuation
These issues can make daily activities stressful or overwhelming and lead to burnout, low self-worth, or guilt. These challenges can significantly impact mental health, but many people can effectively manage ADHD by learning more about themselves, using techniques to stay organized, and prioritizing balance.
In clinical psychology, researchers have explored how ADHD-related stress can lead to emotional exhaustion. Factors like stress generation, where ADHD symptoms increase life stress, can make daily tasks feel harder for adult patients.
What is the sad side of ADHD?
ADHD can lead to cyclical patterns of emotional overwhelm and paralysis. For example, if you have a school exam coming up, you may experience:
- Increasing stress;
- Difficulty focusing, procrastination, distractions, or inability to manage time;
- Relying on unhealthy coping strategies;
- Feelings of hopelessness, emotional exhaustion, or burnout as stress builds; and
- ADHD paralysis or withdrawal.
When many adults with ADHD struggle to stay on top of responsibilities, they may feel sad even after trying their best. Some studies use symptom patterns to predict levels of anxiety or depression in individuals with adult ADHD, especially when attention issues are combined with emotional stress.
While it may not always be possible to manage symptoms before they lead to sadness, there are some things you can do to help. Setting healthy boundaries, sticking with a routine, using organizational tools, and prioritizing self-care can help you build resilience in the face of challenges.
Am I ADHD or bipolar?
ADHD and bipolar disorder can have overlapping symptoms, such as difficulty focusing, irritability, impulsiveness, sleep disturbances, easy frustration, and hyperactivity. However, they also have distinct features, as ADHD primarily impacts attention, whereas bipolar disorder affects mood. If you’re experiencing concerning symptoms, consider getting advice, diagnosis, and treatment from a licensed professional.
How do I handle an ADHD person?
Some strategies for helping someone with ADHD include:
- Communicating clearly
- Prioritizing tasks
- Encouraging and emphasizing their strengths
- Developing consistent schedules
- Providing reminders
- Learning more about ADHD
- Setting healthy boundaries
- Being patient
- Making feedback specific
In addition to these strategies, it can be helpful to remember that ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder. A person with ADHD deserves acceptance for the person they are, and it may be beneficial to let some things go.
Does ADHD cause overthinking?
ADHD often causes challenges in filtering unimportant information, intrusive thinking, lower self-efficacy, overwhelming feelings, and rapid information processing. These ADHD symptoms may lead to overthinking.
When feeling overwhelmed, it may be helpful to meditate, exercise, reframe negative thoughts, and talk about it with a trusted friend or family member.
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