Do I have a mood disorder and anxiety?

I have been experiencing extreme mood swings. Lots of highs and lows. This has been happening for years but its starting to effect my relationship with my fiance. I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child.
Asked by Whitetailhunter365
Answered
12/27/2020

First, it is important to remember that no one is able to accurately tell you whether you do or do not have any mental health diagnosis without meeting with you and engaging in a full diagnostic assessment. However, we can discuss the symptoms you described in more general terms. The symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity experienced by persons with ADHD often contribute to heightened levels of worry and stress that may result in clinical levels of anxiety. These patterns of increased stress can also contribute to clinical levels of depression which may or may not include sadness, lethargy, lack of energy and motivation, etc. The combination of anxiety, depression, and ADHD symptoms could certainly impact an individual's ability to interact with those around them and cause conflict in their romantic and interpersonal relationships. There are a few steps you can take in order to find an accurate answer to your question. The first step would be to consider whether your ADHD symptoms are contributing to your relationship difficulties. You might start by talking to your primary care physician about whether it would be helpful to consider medication to manage ADHD symptoms at this time. In that same conversation, you could also discuss whether your mood symptoms are likely caused by ADHD or another issue (such as a mood or anxiety disorder). From there your physician will likely prescribe a medication to help reduce symptoms. They should also recommend that you attend counseling in order to learn skills to better manage symptoms for yourself. Remember medication is only one part of the equation and works better in conjunction with therapy than it does on its own. It is also possible that your physician might recommend that you have a psychological assessment prior to them prescribing medication. You can find a local psychological evaluator to do this or contact a qualified and licensed online provider. Assessment Psychologists or Psychological Evaluators are professionals who specialize in the use of psychological tests and questionnaires to provide reliable and accurate diagnoses for their own practices and other providers. At the end of the day, your first step is to continue this conversation in more depth with a provider who can help you decide on your next step.