Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is adhd?

17 replies

Ellalovescake · 10/02/2019 18:32

I’m really sorry, I know this isn’t an am I being unreasonable but have posted here for traffic as I am feeling pretty desperate about things
I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder during December last year. However I saw a different psychiatrist last week as my usual one was on leave. This psychiatrist said he didn’t feel that I had bipolar disorder as my moods weren’t dramatic enough and didn’t last for long enough. He thought that my symptoms more pointed towards adhd. I shop very impulsively and do spend a lot of money and I also talk about sex a lot in inappropriate situations (which had originally pointed at bipolar). I do have very marked mood swings but also talk a lot and quite quickly when I’m in a low mood. I also have barely any concentration (I haven’t read a book or sat through a film in years) and I am very impulsive and have very little awareness of danger and will touch hot things that burn me or drive very quickly and sometimes quite recklessly. I also don’t settle much (I’ve never held down a job for more than 6 months and I’m almost 30). I was just wondering if anyone had experienced anything similar or had any idea if my symptoms point more towards adhd or bipolar. Also I don’t know if it’s relevant but I also have Tourette’s and dyspraxia which were diagnosed at 15. Any advice would be very much appreciated! Thank you

OP posts:
FredFlinstoneMadeOfBones · 10/02/2019 18:35

ASD and ADHD are often misdiagnosed as psychiatric conditions women. The impulsiveness can be mistaken as mania and ADHD often comes along with depression. Obviously we can't diagnose you over mumsnet but it's a very realistic possibility.

hidinginthenightgarden · 10/02/2019 18:36

Sounds alot more like ADHD than Bipolar to me. Get a third opinion from someone impartial.

ATBhinchers · 10/02/2019 18:37

Good Lord give up driving first of all until you have a diagnosis and relevant medication etc. Sounds like you are dangerous on the roads based on that post.

Squeegle · 10/02/2019 18:38

Sounds like it could be. You can take the qb test. Look it up and see if you can do it somewhere near you.

Original poster
Ellalovescake · 10/02/2019 18:38

Thank you so much for your replies! I’m worried that if I do go down a diagnosis route for adhd then my psychiatric history may hinder this and a doctor may just say that it’s mental illness.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ellalovescake · 10/02/2019 18:40

I don’t drive much at all anymore. I’m living with my parents at the moment and they don’t let me drive because they don’t feel I’m safe.

OP posts:
ATBhinchers · 10/02/2019 18:41

Good for them sounds dangerous.good luck with your diagnosis but keep off the roads.

Singlenotsingle · 10/02/2019 18:41

My dgs has ADHD. Difficulty in concentrating, impulsiveness and meltdowns are his main sympoms. ADSD people are supposed to have difficulty sleeping, although the symptoms can vary.

FissionChip5 · 10/02/2019 18:43

Have you informed the DVLA about having bipolar? You are supposed to.

Original poster
Ellalovescake · 10/02/2019 18:45

Thank you all for your replies! I also have a lot of difficulty sleeping and have taken zopiclone on and off for quite some time now and I was prescribed melatonin as a child.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ellalovescake · 10/02/2019 18:48

Yes I have informed them (I’m still in the process of having things approved by them). I haven’t driven since before Christmas and I left a job in the new year as I had to drive for my previous job so I got a job I could walk to

OP posts:
Seline · 10/02/2019 18:50

I have adhd. Sounds more like adhd than bipolar. What happens is a lot of us develop anxiety and depression as a result of being undiagnosed and struggling with things.

Original poster
Ellalovescake · 10/02/2019 18:54

I had an episode just over 10 years ago now where I had quite extreme anxiety (hallucinations, paranoid delusions) so I think I’ve always been written off as having mental health difficulties since then

OP posts:
Seline · 10/02/2019 18:55

It's possible to hallucinate from anxiety.

Whatdoyouknowwhenyouknownowt · 10/02/2019 18:56

Do one of the online tests. PsychCentral have one. See how you score, it's just an indication but...

Adhd Foundation have lots of info. Have a read.

Original poster
Ellalovescake · 10/02/2019 19:05

I’ve just done a test and I do have a score that indicates that I likely have adhd, but I also scored quite highly on the bipolar tests previously so I’m not sure! I think I will speak to my gp about it as the psychiatrist said I would need to see a different team to be assessed. If I wanted to have a private assessment would I need to be referred through my gp?

OP posts:
bionicnemonic · 10/02/2019 19:06

People often will have both.
It’s not like a blood test with a definitive result unfortunately
www.additudemag.com/bipolar-disorder-adhd-puzzle/

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread