Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 224255

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can't concentrate - ADD vs. depression??

Posted by cybercafe on May 4, 2003, at 13:41:10

hey guys, are there any differences in the symptoms of not being able to concentrate due to ADHD vs. not being able to concentrate due to depression?

i am thinking that being depressed and fidgety and stimulation seeking shows that both depression and ADD are not under control

Re: can't concentrate - ADD vs. depression??

Posted by Eddie Sylvano on May 4, 2003, at 16:57:21

In reply to can't concentrate - ADD vs. depression??, posted by cybercafe on May 4, 2003, at 13:41:10

> hey guys, are there any differences in the symptoms of not being able to concentrate due to ADHD vs. not being able to concentrate due to depression?
------------------

I've wondered about that myself. I think there are different type of inattentiveness, caused by different problems. The mental haze of depression feels different than the restless inability to stay on focus. Depressive symptoms are general. I feel like my entire mind slows down, and things just really don't interest me. ADD like inattention presents itself (again, from my point of view) as a more "positive" form. I can summon interest in things, but they damn well better be entertaining, because I'll quickly flip to something novel. Mental restlessness of a sort.
I've also noticed that SSRIs seem to exacerbate ADD problems. They give me interest and motivation, but no way to control them. They also don't do a whole lot for my sense of reward. I'm assuming that this stems from the dampening of dopamine concentrations via serotonin regulation.
There are plenty of good sites dissecting the differences between, and typical cohort symptoms of each of the disorders, which could give you a good idea which is more to blame. I imagine that the two coexist in a lot of people, possibly migrating from ADD to depression as a result of difficulites experienced from having ADD. Depression is worse, imho, because it seems to affect everything.

Re: can't concentrate - ADD vs. depression?? » cybercafe

Posted by Ritch on May 5, 2003, at 8:13:25

In reply to can't concentrate - ADD vs. depression??, posted by cybercafe on May 4, 2003, at 13:41:10

> hey guys, are there any differences in the symptoms of not being able to concentrate due to ADHD vs. not being able to concentrate due to depression?
>
> i am thinking that being depressed and fidgety and stimulation seeking shows that both depression and ADD are not under control

Well, there is limbic ADD to consider which is a form of "depressive" ADD that might explain a lot of folks symptoms. I know for sure that when I am "typically" depressed during my seasonal bipolar episodes my mind slows WAY down and I have trouble doing ordinary math and finding words, etc., making simple mistakes. IOW, cognitive dysfunction seems to be my biggest trouble during this time (worse than oversleeping, overeating, etc.).

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