When a doctor tells you or your child that you have ADHD ( Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ), we often focus on that alone, right? But did you know that ADHD often doesn't just happen on its own? Adults and children with ADHD can have several other health problems that go hand in hand with it. Sometimes these other conditions can be difficult to distinguish because their symptoms are so similar to ADHD. Therefore, if you or your child has ADHD, it's important to talk openly with your doctor about any feelings or behaviors that are troubling you. Only then can your doctor determine whether this is a condition that requires separate treatment.
The relationship between ADHD and depression
It's normal to feel sad and frustrated sometimes because you have ADHD. But what we're talking about here is clinical depression, which is a different, more serious condition. It can be severe enough to affect your daily activities, such as work, schoolwork, family, and social relationships.
Research suggests that about 70% of people with ADHD will seek treatment for depression at some point in their lives.
How to recognize depression in adults and children?
This condition can affect both adults and children. However, it can be difficult to recognize depression in children because its symptoms can include frequent outbursts of anger and hyperactivity . These are also symptoms of ADHD, so it's easy to confuse the two.
Pay attention to the symptoms in the table below. If these persist for more than two weeks, don't just assume that it's ADHD. Be sure to see your doctor and talk about it.
| Common symptoms of depression | |
|---|---|
| Feelings | Feeling sad, hopeless, or empty most of the day. |
| Willingness/Happiness | The fact that I don't feel like doing anything I used to enjoy now. |
| Body weight | Sudden significant weight loss or gain without food control. |
| Sleep | Feeling sleepy all the time during the day and unable to sleep at night. |
| Behavior | Frequent meaningless activities such as pacing back and forth restlessly and wringing one's hands. |
If a child has depression, the condition can be well managed with behavioral therapy and sometimes medication.
ADHD and sleep problems
Sleep problems are very common among adults with ADHD, as well as among children. In fact, children with ADHD are two to three times more likely to have sleep problems than children without ADHD. Why is it so hard to get a good night's sleep with ADHD? Scientists don't yet have a definitive answer, but they have found that several factors may play a role.
| Reasons for affecting sleep | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Stimulants | Coffee is a stimulant, as are some medications for ADHD. These can keep you awake at night. |
| Depression and Anxiety | Both of these mental health conditions are common with ADHD and can cause insomnia. |
| Restless Legs Syndrome | This is a neurological condition. You feel discomfort in your legs when you are at rest, and you feel the need to move your legs to relieve the discomfort. |
| Sleep-Disordered Breathing | This includes a range of conditions, from snoring to sleep apnea, which affects about 30% of children with ADHD. |
| Circadian-Rhythm Sleep Disorders | Simply put, our body clock is out of whack. That means the body gets used to a cycle of going to sleep later and waking up later than usual. |
Experts say that trying to improve sleep should be part of the ADHD treatment plan.
These things will help you sleep better:
- Develop good sleep habits : Limit the use of devices like phones and tablets before bed. Get into the habit of going to bed and waking up at the same time. Limit things like coffee and tea.
- Prepare the bedroom: Keep the room cool and dark.
- Exercise: Exercise well during the day. But don't exercise within 3 hours of bedtime.
- Food : Don't eat until you're full close to bedtime.
Most importantly: Never take sleeping pills or supplements without talking to your doctor.
Severe Behavior Problems
Some people with ADHD, especially children, may also have other serious behavioral problems. There are two main types of these.
1. Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD): About half of children with ADHD may also have ODD. If these symptoms persist for more than 6 months, it is a cause for concern.
2. Conduct Disorder (CD): Sometimes, if left untreated, ODD can develop into the more serious CD condition. This can affect up to 25% of children with ADHD and 45% of young children.
See the table below for symptoms of both conditions. If you notice any of these in your child, it is important to tell your doctor as soon as possible . These conditions can be managed through parent training and support from the school.
| Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) Symptoms | Conduct Disorder (CD) Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Suddenly getting angry for no reason. | Aggressive behavior towards other people or animals. |
| Constantly arguing with adults. | Destruction of property. |
| Reluctance to follow the requests or rules of adults. | Theft. |
| Deliberately making others angry. | School skipping. |
| Blaming others for their own mistakes. | (more severe than ODD, antisocial behavior) |
| Constantly feeling angry, resentful, or having thoughts of revenge. |
Some other health problems
In addition to these main problems, there are several other conditions that can affect people with ADHD.
- Mood Disorders: Your mood may shift more quickly than usual and more frequently between extremes (e.g., extreme happiness and extreme sadness).
- Anxiety: Worrying too much about life's problems. This can lead to irritability, tension, and fatigue.
- Personality Disorders: Difficulty adjusting to unexpected events. May react in ways that others find strange or harmful, and may have difficulty forming good relationships.
- Social Phobia: Fear and anxiety about going to places where you will be around other people, such as school or work.
- Separation Anxiety: Feeling anxious when you are away from family or when you think you will be away from them.
- Learning Disorders: About half of children with ADHD may have a learning disability. This means they learn and use new information differently. Reading difficulties (dyslexia) and math problems (dyscalculia) are common.
- Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD): Although not officially recognized as a mental illness, this is a common symptom cluster. Overly emotional reactions to failure to meet one's own or others' expectations, or to criticism.
Talk to your doctor about all of this and learn about the warning signs of these conditions. This will help you identify any other problems that may be affecting you or your baby.
Take-Home Message
- ADHD is not a condition that often occurs alone. It can also cause other problems, such as depression, sleep problems, and behavioral problems.
- Always be aware of changes in your or your child's mood, sleep patterns, or behavior.
- Don't just dismiss it as "all this is ADHD." It may be a condition that requires separate treatment.
- Talk openly and honestly with your doctor about any symptoms that are bothering you, no matter how minor. This is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment.
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