Bi-polar and ADHD
Bipolar and ADHD seem to go hand in hand. The two disorders are often confused with each other and are not properly diagnosed. When there is confusion about whether a person has bipolar or ADHD, it is very common that they have both of the disorders, not just one.
It is understandable that bi-polar disorder could be so often confused or mistaken for ADHD and vice versa because of the similarity of symptoms. Almost fifty percent of adults who have ADHD also have another psychiatric disorder.
Bipolar disorder and ADHD share so many of the same symptoms and behaviors, no wonder it is so hard to tell the difference between the two. Some of the trademark symptoms of both bipolar disorder and ADHD are mood instability, impatience, extreme highs, extreme lows, mania, bursts of energy, bursts of depression, restlessness, insomnia, talkativeness, hyperactivity, high energy, low energy, ups, downs, inattentiveness, and the list goes on.
Bipolar disorder is characterized by mood swings and mood instability. People who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder have extreme shifts in their moods for no reason. They can stay in one mood swing for weeks or months and then shift to another. The mood swings shift from extreme highs to extreme lows, and usually nowhere in the middle. They are either extremely happy and have very high energy levels, or they have intense feelings of sadness, depression and low energy. ADHD is diagnosed with people who have extreme trouble focusing on one thing for long periods of time, significantly high levels of inattention, mental and physical restlessness, extremely high energy, irrational impulsivity and distractibility.
During a manic mood or signs of mania, bipolar and ADHD can be easily confused with each other or they could be the same thing. Someone with bipolar disorder who is experiencing a “high” mood swing; demonstrating restlessness, intense happiness, giddiness, and a ton of energy could actually have ADHD, not bipolar disorder. For someone who is diagnosed with ADHD and showing distractibility, inability to focus, restlessness, high energy, and impulsivity, they could actually be in a manic mood state from bipolar disorder.
People who have ADHD are not full of energy all of the time, they have lows too; they wear themselves out without knowing it and can become extremely exhausted. Once they fall asleep, they may sleep for 10-12 hours, similar to a “low” or depressed mood state of bipolar disorder. The distinction between these two disorders is a hard one to make. Should a distinction even be made at all? Do people with high energy, low energy, mania, depression, mood swings, and other characteristics need to be labeled with ADHD or bipolar disorder? Most of the population experiences mood swings. Although, in many cases, living with ADHD or bipolar disorder without a diagnosis can cause hardship in peoples everyday lives. They can suffer in school and at work with trouble focusing, restlessness, depression, or uncontrollable happiness. They ask themselves what’s wrong with them, nothing is wrong with them. Whether it’s bipolar or ADHD that is who they are and they should be conscious of what they can do to enhance their life and make their highs and lows, ups and downs fit into their world in healthy ways
Bipolar disorder and ADHD share so many of the same symptoms and behaviors, no wonder it is so hard to tell the difference between the two. Some of the trademark symptoms of both bipolar disorder and ADHD are mood instability, impatience, extreme highs, extreme lows, mania, bursts of energy, bursts of depression, restlessness, insomnia, talkativeness, hyperactivity, high energy, low energy, ups, downs, inattentiveness, and the list goes on.
Bipolar disorder is characterized by mood swings and mood instability. People who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder have extreme shifts in their moods for no reason. They can stay in one mood swing for weeks or months and then shift to another. The mood swings shift from extreme highs to extreme lows, and usually nowhere in the middle. They are either extremely happy and have very high energy levels, or they have intense feelings of sadness, depression and low energy. ADHD is diagnosed with people who have extreme trouble focusing on one thing for long periods of time, significantly high levels of inattention, mental and physical restlessness, extremely high energy, irrational impulsivity and distractibility.
During a manic mood or signs of mania, bipolar and ADHD can be easily confused with each other or they could be the same thing. Someone with bipolar disorder who is experiencing a “high” mood swing; demonstrating restlessness, intense happiness, giddiness, and a ton of energy could actually have ADHD, not bipolar disorder. For someone who is diagnosed with ADHD and showing distractibility, inability to focus, restlessness, high energy, and impulsivity, they could actually be in a manic mood state from bipolar disorder.
People who have ADHD are not full of energy all of the time, they have lows too; they wear themselves out without knowing it and can become extremely exhausted. Once they fall asleep, they may sleep for 10-12 hours, similar to a “low” or depressed mood state of bipolar disorder. The distinction between these two disorders is a hard one to make. Should a distinction even be made at all? Do people with high energy, low energy, mania, depression, mood swings, and other characteristics need to be labeled with ADHD or bipolar disorder? Most of the population experiences mood swings. Although, in many cases, living with ADHD or bipolar disorder without a diagnosis can cause hardship in peoples everyday lives. They can suffer in school and at work with trouble focusing, restlessness, depression, or uncontrollable happiness. They ask themselves what’s wrong with them, nothing is wrong with them. Whether it’s bipolar or ADHD that is who they are and they should be conscious of what they can do to enhance their life and make their highs and lows, ups and downs fit into their world in healthy ways
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Bi-Polar Disorder Therapy • Bi-Polar Help • Bi-Polar Treatment
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