Renewed Desire to Write About Mental Health

In speaking with a friend today, I have a renewed desire to share my thoughts and experiences in dealing with mental health issues.

Look for rainbows when there's rain.

© Copyright David Crocker and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons License.

It is my hope that by writing and sharing my experiences that I can help somebody find some comfort in facing the struggles of severe mood swings. Another favorable outcome would be to help a family member, or a friend understand their loved one who faces the challenges of severe mood swings or depression.

Like so many things in life, dealing with severe mood swings is challenging. Recently, another friend described how he viewed the experience of facing severe challenges. He said, "Everything in life is a gift. Just some of it comes in some pretty crappy wrapping paper."

Bipolar, ADHD and Depression

Both people with bipolar disorder and those with ADHD often experience depression. This depression may be primary–i.e. due to biochemical reasons the individual becomes depressed without apparent reason–or secondary–i.e. due to external forces such as relationship or work issues. Both primary and secondary forces can work together to exacerbate the depression as has been my case with my latest major depressive episode.

Lately, there has been a lot of advertising on electronic and print media touting anti-depressants. I, personally, don't have experience with taking anti-depressants, but when I'm battling deep depression I sometimes wish I could take something more that would help me out of it. Unfortunately for those with bipolar disorder, anti-depressants can have serious negative side effects: They can bring on hypomanic, manic, and mixed affective states and can cause rapid cycling. (The Bipolar Disorder Survivor Guide, David J. Miklowitz Ph.D., 2002)

To make matters worse, even after negating the side-affects of anti-depressants, there are some clinical studies that show that they are not the panacea the ads purport. (I'd love to hear from those who have taken anti-depressants with good affect.)

For more information on antidepressants, see this informative article on depression medication.

As always, consult your medical professional before making any change to your medication regimen.

ADHD and Bipolar Disorder

I've always struggled to maintain a daily routine. There are definitely routines to my life but they often do not follow a day-to-day pattern. Instead it's more hit and miss. This has been frustrating at times as the routines support my goals but in order for them to work they have to be followed in a non-linear fashion.

As I've come to grips with the idea that there might be biological reasons behind this, I've been in the habit of associating this with ADHD symptoms. It seems, however, that ADHD and bipolar disorder have a lot of similarities and a similar root. That is "Twin and family studies of ADHD show a substantial genetic heritability with little or no family environmental effect. Linkage and association studies have conclusively implicated the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1). DAT1 has also been confirmed as being associated with bipolar disorder." (Source: PubMed.gov article)

In layperson's terms I believe this is saying that in studies of twins and families excluding factors of nurture rather than nature the neurotransmitter dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) is implicated in both ADHD and bipolar disorder.

In a not as scientific article, ADHDNews.com outlines the similarities and differences between ADHD and bipolar disorder.

The similarities include:
• impulsivity
• inattention
• hyperactivity
• physical energy
• behavioral and emotional lability (behavior and emotions change frequently)
• frequent coexistence of conduct disorder and oppositional-defiant disorder
• and learning problems

For more information on determining the difference between ADHD and bipolar disorder, see this short article by Dr. William Dodson in ADDitude magazine.