ADHD with depression

[dragonDan]

DS who is 18 has just been diagnosed with ADHD and mild depression.

It explains a lot as to why he was unable to revise for his exams etc but I just feel so bad that as a parent I didn't pick up on it sooner.

I feel really sad that he has been depressed and I have just put it down to him being a stroppy teenager.

It has been recommended that he takes a low dose anti depressant as well as ADHD medication.

He is really worried about the side effects of the ADHD medication and is considering only taking the anti depressant but not the ADHD medication.

I also suspect that he is thinking about not taking it as he has a massive phobia of needles so doesn't want the blood test.

I just feel so sorry that he has been going through this and want to help him as much as I can.

Any advice?

ADHD medication helped me feel like my mind was less busy - I felt really anxious all the time and it was reduced by the medication.

Simulant medication for ADHD is one of the most researched drug types and has shown higher efficacy Vs placebo in studies than a lot of other drugs.

It's viewed as the first line treatment and it can hopefully help the person get things in place to help with the ADHD, when used along with counselling and maybe coaching.

Having ADHD and messing up a lot really trashed my self esteem, I am in my 40s though so I've got so many bad coping habits and bad thinking patterns I feel stuck with as well!

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I can already see that he is developing low self esteem and anxiety. I am really hoping that the meds will help him in that respect x

Often the depression is a response to the difficulties of living with undiagnosed ADHD. It’s really hard.

So treating the ADHD may be the best way to tackle the depression. Medication is an option he can try, but it might be a good idea to get some specialist ADHD coaching too.

I wasn’t diagnosed ADHD till my 30s, having spent over a decade on countless types of anti depressants. They made the ADHD worse which made the depression worse. They can take months to “kick in”, or they never kick in. They are horrific to wean off. ADHD meds work immediately and have no withdrawal effects.

@dragonDan in same boat with ours. DS has started ADHD meds and it has had a v beneficial effect in terms of focus/concentration, but not really on the depression unfortunately which in this case is 'moderately severe' (if that isn't an oxymoron). Looks like they will move onto antidepressants now as well. I am not keen on all these meds, but our DS is nearly 18 and it's really their decision at this point. Counselling also is in the mix, but once a week doesn't really cut it, especially with school approaching.