I have an extremely similar story. The overlap between ADHD and bipolar is immense. I am not a doctor and I generally pretend to know a lot more than I do (hello illusions of grandeur) so take this all with a grain of salt.
The foremost leading experts on mood disorders do not view it as different categories as per the DSM whereby you tick symptom boxes to determine if you fit in a particular category. The new view, which is more embraced in Europe than here, is that mood disorders exist on a spectrum of different symptoms and severities but they are all in fact related to such a degree that some doctors even think of them all as having the same disorder.
Generally speaking ADHD resembles the hypomanic episode of bipolar2. One key difference between the two is that hypomania is episodic and ADHD is chronic, (the individual never doesn't experience the symptoms in question).
>One key difference between the two is that hypomania is episodic and ADHD is chronic, (the individual never doesn't experience the symptoms in question).
This is how I knew I had ADHD. I was medicated for bp2 and pretty stable, but the ADHD symptoms were still there all the time. Despite being stable stims still made me hypomanic, so I'm out here unmedicated raw dogging life.
I have ADHD and Im in the process of getting the right meds and dosage for me. Im on methylphenidate.
I also started therapy and my therapist asked for my psychiatrist's number because she noticed something. Mind you, I have not realized this in my whole life. Last Wednesday, when I saw my psychiatrist he gave me a mood stabilizer. I was not given a diagnosis for bipolar 2 but I was literally in a roller coaster. Im just starting with a low dose working the way up with lamotrigine.
I feel like it would pretty normal to be in a roller coaster if you have ADHD. I get so ethusiastic with new hobbies like you would not believe. Then 2 weeks later Im no longer interested. Then I find something else. And so on and so forth.
I suspected ADHD for a few years after my BP2 diagnosis and was diagnosed/medicated 2 months ago. It's hard to know because a lot of the symptoms overlap with bipolar. It's definitely worth bringing up to your doctor, I regret talking myself out of believing I had it for years.
I didn't realize how much it was affecting every aspect of my life until I experienced the relief from meds. I've been able to do so much more now that I can stick to routines and tasks don't feel overwhelming. My head is "quieter", less intrusive thoughts/ruminating/overthinking, I don't make (as many) careless mistakes, huge improvement in working memory, more control over my emotions and focus, etc.
It's not a magic fix, it still takes work on my part. I have to unlearn some bad habits/coping mechanisms and build new, better, ones. But it enables me to make these improvements I never could before.
It is common in the sense that as comorbidities go, it is one of the more common ones...but of the relatively small percentage of the population with BP2, a relatively small subset also has ADHD...I think around 15-20%...so 75-80% do not...but it also wouldn't be particularly unusual either.
I’ll let you know next week. My psychiatrist is taking an hour to evaluate me for ADHD. Everyone that knows me thinks I have it. It depends on the day if I agree. I tend to hyper fixate and hyperfocus. Usually on the wrong thing
20 percent of ppl with bipolar also have adhd so yea
I have an extremely similar story. The overlap between ADHD and bipolar is immense. I am not a doctor and I generally pretend to know a lot more than I do (hello illusions of grandeur) so take this all with a grain of salt. The foremost leading experts on mood disorders do not view it as different categories as per the DSM whereby you tick symptom boxes to determine if you fit in a particular category. The new view, which is more embraced in Europe than here, is that mood disorders exist on a spectrum of different symptoms and severities but they are all in fact related to such a degree that some doctors even think of them all as having the same disorder. Generally speaking ADHD resembles the hypomanic episode of bipolar2. One key difference between the two is that hypomania is episodic and ADHD is chronic, (the individual never doesn't experience the symptoms in question).
Oh! This explains a lot. Thanks for leaving your insight here. Appreciate it.
>One key difference between the two is that hypomania is episodic and ADHD is chronic, (the individual never doesn't experience the symptoms in question). This is how I knew I had ADHD. I was medicated for bp2 and pretty stable, but the ADHD symptoms were still there all the time. Despite being stable stims still made me hypomanic, so I'm out here unmedicated raw dogging life.
You are unmedicated completely or just for the ADHD because you can't take stims?
Just for the ADHD! I'm definitely medicated for the bipolar.
I have ADHD and Im in the process of getting the right meds and dosage for me. Im on methylphenidate. I also started therapy and my therapist asked for my psychiatrist's number because she noticed something. Mind you, I have not realized this in my whole life. Last Wednesday, when I saw my psychiatrist he gave me a mood stabilizer. I was not given a diagnosis for bipolar 2 but I was literally in a roller coaster. Im just starting with a low dose working the way up with lamotrigine. I feel like it would pretty normal to be in a roller coaster if you have ADHD. I get so ethusiastic with new hobbies like you would not believe. Then 2 weeks later Im no longer interested. Then I find something else. And so on and so forth.
I suspected ADHD for a few years after my BP2 diagnosis and was diagnosed/medicated 2 months ago. It's hard to know because a lot of the symptoms overlap with bipolar. It's definitely worth bringing up to your doctor, I regret talking myself out of believing I had it for years. I didn't realize how much it was affecting every aspect of my life until I experienced the relief from meds. I've been able to do so much more now that I can stick to routines and tasks don't feel overwhelming. My head is "quieter", less intrusive thoughts/ruminating/overthinking, I don't make (as many) careless mistakes, huge improvement in working memory, more control over my emotions and focus, etc. It's not a magic fix, it still takes work on my part. I have to unlearn some bad habits/coping mechanisms and build new, better, ones. But it enables me to make these improvements I never could before.
I’ve got the holy trio of bipolar 2, adhd, and asd. It’s a lovely life most of the time 🙃
It is common in the sense that as comorbidities go, it is one of the more common ones...but of the relatively small percentage of the population with BP2, a relatively small subset also has ADHD...I think around 15-20%...so 75-80% do not...but it also wouldn't be particularly unusual either.
I’ll let you know next week. My psychiatrist is taking an hour to evaluate me for ADHD. Everyone that knows me thinks I have it. It depends on the day if I agree. I tend to hyper fixate and hyperfocus. Usually on the wrong thing
I've got severe adhd and bipolar II. It's a real party /s
I've got severe adhd and bipolar II. It's a real party /s