Comorbid Life

I have ADHD, PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression. I also experience dissociation, sensory overload, and insomnia. This page is focused on mental health and exploring the unique struggles comorbidity of disorders brings. Also jokes. Because if we can't laugh, what's the point?

[abcsofadhd]

Intrusive thoughts are awful. They make you feel like a psychopath or a pervert due to thoughts that are not under your control.

Learning to dismiss them is vital. With ADHD’s overthinking (read: obsessive) behaviour, learning to not dwell on it is VITAL.

[heliflower]

me: *is chilling outside watching at the stars*

my neurodivergent brain: break your dog’s legs

me: what

brain: what

[abcsofadhd]

No brain, I will not grab that elderly gentleman’s ass, WHY WOULD YOU EVEN THINK THAT?!

[thebrokenparts]

ADHD for the LAST FUCKING TIME, we are NOT going to STAB our roommate with the cooking knife!!!!! wh- BECAUSE SHES ONE OF LIKE THREE FRIENDS WE HAVE WHAT THE FUCK

[serenityharkness]

Brain we KNOW what would happen if we opened the door while the car is in motion we do NOT need to experience for ourselves.

[flyingmirror]

No, we do not need to slice open our own skin. Why would you even want that?

I have at some point decided that that is just our brains vomiting up random ideas, the way they will sometimes vomit up sentences that make so bloody sense.

[comorbidlife-blog]

Brain: Throw that vase at the wall

Me: Why?

Brain: Will feel good.

Me: Um, but that will be scary for other people and then shards of glass will be everywhere. Someone could get hurt.

Brain: do it do it do it do it...

[imabandoningthisblog-deactivate]

The only thing more powerful than a hyper focus is

[unfocused-and-relatable]

And if you bought a ton of stuff for that special interest while you had it that you still have tucked away, there is no escaping the void

[comorbidlife-blog]

Oh ho ho! Hello old car model I never started! You are my world for the next 8 hours!

[adhdpie]

adhd culture is doing something just slightly to the left of what you intended to do

me: i’m going to make coffee & play a cellphone game :)

adhd: 

[unfocused-and-relatable]

Me: I’m going to brush my teeth and go to bed

ADHD: Yes, let’s go grab that snack and sit in bed on our phone looking up pointless things until 4 (four) am, sounds fun

[comorbidlife-blog]

Me: Gonna call the doctor today and finally start therapy!

ADHD: Yeah, no, we're gonna zone out while watching TV and Anxiety is going to take us on a downward spiral over our inability to do simple things. It'll be fun! 😁

[weathernerdmando]

Just a reminder to all my followers...

I will not be lighting it up blue this April, I will be going #RedInstead. I am Autistic and Autism Speaks does not speak for me. I am not a burden, I am not something to be eradicated. I am worthy of love and deserve to exist. 

Please, please don’t Light It Up Blue this April. Support charities like ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network) instead and wear #redinstead in support!

[unfocused-and-relatable]

Signal boost!

[unfocused-and-relatable]

Hey guys, as it is either the day/night before April 1, or already the first where you are, I’m just gonna repost this and leave it here!! #RedInstead, and if anyone here supports Autism Speaks and the Light It Up Blue campaign, I politely demand suggest that you do some digging and find out firsthand all the ways they exploit and otherwise place autistics in a horrible, cruel light for the sake of money. I might make another post on this topic in support of the Red Instead campaign, because A$ have done far too much bad for a reblog subpost; I want to do it justice in laying out some curated bs of theirs for all to see. But the takeaway for here; support the Red Instead (#RedInstead) movement, and if you would like to donate, please do so to advocacy networks directly recommended through the RI campaign!!

[abcsofadhd]

According to my doc, having unusual reactions to stimulants such as caffeine is actually a really common adhd thing - of course some people are just like that, but it is extremely common for adhd'ers

I can’t say anything about unusual reactions in general but being sleepy isn’t an ADHD thing specifically.

https://driftaway.coffee/coffee-make-sleepy/

https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/coffee-makes-me-tired

I’ve also seen studies that say that stimulants can help some ADHDers go to sleep better but I’ve also seen studies about ADHDers who find it harder, so it does seem like it depends on the person.

[chemicalheart-deactivated202009]

This is conflating multiple issues and assuming the non ADHD groups definitely don’t have it when in truth they may just be undiagnosed. Besides the physiology of it, ADHDers can find that stims make it easier to sleep because they stop the racing thoughts that often keep us awake. It’s definitely more common to have opposite reactions to stimulants among ppl with ADHD than others tho

[daggers-drawn]

This is called the sympathetic stimulant response and it actually is very common among people with ADHD.

[abcsofadhd]

I’ve read the calming the mind hence allowing for easier sleep thing before.. but the ask referenced a previous ask where a person said that stimulants make them sleepy. Easier time falling asleep isn’t the same as stimulants making you sleepy.

I understand that stimulants make people sleepy.. but does anyone have any studies that show that it is more common in ADHDers? 

I’ve been saying that it isn’t an ADHD thing specifically cause I couldn’t find any studies that say so. I’m just skeptical cause of all the studies that say otherwise.

[comorbidlife-blog]

I don't know of any studies, but I do have some anecdotal information from my siblings and I. Initially, stimulants did have an affect on us, but we very quickly built up tolerances to them. We tend to build up a tolerance quickly to almost everything. (Pain medicine, alcohol, nicotine, etc.) It is a ...thing(I dunno) I have been trying to figure out. Is it a thing we inherited? Or is it a symptom of one of the mental health disorders we share? Did we just learn it? Both of our biological parents are prone to addictive behavior, but they also have ADHD and other disorders too. So, it's just been this weird loop my brain gets stuck in.

[abcsofadhd]

Visit Original Link

Talking about the emotional problems caused by ADHD (executive dysfunction) for 8 mins.

I talk about and give my advice for the following stuff:

What kinda problems emotional dysregulation causes

How to actually let yourself feel emotions/ avoidance

How to process emotions

How to deal with anger

I talk about it in the context of ADHD but the information should be relatable for anyone with emotional dysregulation (executive dysfunction) issues.

[abcsofadhd]

Also added,

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6JqIcusCorKqiD1USXobo3

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/abcs-of-adhd/the-abcs-of-adhd-basics-for-adult-adhders

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/abcsofadhd

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuQwi9keUdg&t=0s

Currently being processed for apple podcast.

Will be uploading every week. 

[comorbidlife-blog]

ADHD and Anxiety

So, I didn't feel like doing a bunch of lists today. INSTEAD, I found a cool article about how common it is for people with ADHD to have Anxiety.

"Of the patients referred for anxiety, the prevalence of lifetime ADHD was 37.5% (48.5% male, 51.5% female, p<0.05). “The prevalence of lifetime ADHD was higher in our anxiety disorders clinic than that found in the general population,” he concluded.

Among those with ADHD, comorbidity was the rule rather than the exception. ADHD was significantly associated with a primary diagnosis of impulse control disorder and bipolar disorder and most commonly associated with social phobia (57.6%, NS) and major depressive disorder (56.6%, NS)."

{https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/apa2012/anxiety-disorders-and-adhd-comorbidity-rule-not-exception}

The study conducted by the US Department of Veteran Affairs concluded that comorbidity of ADHD and anxiety disorders is so common among patients, that every veteran receiving treatment is to be tested for ADHD.

<Sorry for the run on sentences. Keep getting distracted and decided to just get it out while I still had some focus on this.>

[abcsofadhd]

A video on my method for falling asleep that has worked 100% of the time for me; based on this post of mine. 

It can be used by non ADHDers too to be honest. Should work for everyone.

[comorbidlife-blog]

Insomnia is such a common symptom for many disorders. Having multiple causes for one symptom can make it a bit more complicated to cope with it.

This method is the one I also personally use. I've tried the "military 2 minute method" and it doesn't work for me. Trying to force peace on a chaotic mind is like tossing a cup of water on a forest fire. If light from a TV makes it hard for you to sleep (blue light is a stimulant), daydreaming can be a good alternative. Try to pick a mundane topic or story. It's like telling yourself a bedtime story.

[abcsofadhd]

That feeling of looking at work and feeling you mind FREEZE up is very typical of ADHD. It’s known as Analysis Paralysis or Paralysis of Will. 

https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/analysis-paralysis-and-adhd-trouble-making-decisions/

[kaldurcalm-deactivated20240513]

Oh ok.

[abcsofadhd]

Click the link, it’s an article on ADDitude on how to do just that. 

Personally, I remove unnecessary choice from my life. Very minimalist. The mind doesn’t need to waste energy on the small decisions.

To tackle large amounts of work, I’m starting to use visualization.

[comorbidlife-blog]

Mix in Anxiety and sometimes making a decision feels impossible. "What if I make the wrong choice? I can't even understand what I need to consider. It's too much stuff!"

This is my kryptonite. The tips in that article are really good. I, additionally, try to turn big decisions into smaller ones so that I can take steps toward the final decision. I work better when I can take steps and focus on smaller things.

Big picture stuff overwhelms me in no time flat.

[abcsofadhd]

“Wait, that’s an ADHD thing?”

- Every ADHDer learning that their ‘personality quirk’ is actually an ADHD thing.

[abcsofadhd]

i was recently tested for adhd (don't have a diagnosis yet) and during one of the tests, numbers would appear on the screen (one after another) and every time the current number would match the penultimate, I'd have to click a button. For example the numbers were ...4,3,8,3... and upon seeing the second 3, I would have to click. You probably don't understand a word I'm saying but do you have any idea what ability this would test? If you can answer thanks and kudos to you lol

Testing your ability to pay attention, I’d imagine.

[comorbidlife-blog]

This sounds similar to a Conner's CPT test that I took in 2013. Letters popped up on a screen and I had to hit the spacebar when I saw an X. Or maybe when I didn't. I don't remember. I remember it being boring. It tests a number of criteria: inattentiveness, impulsivity, sustained attention, and vigilance. Neurotypical people usually land in the 50 range. People with ADHD land in the 60s and 70s on average. The higher you go, the more severe your ADHD is supposed to be.

[comorbidlife-blog]

Define Comorbidity

"Comorbidity is the medical term for two or more disorders that occur at the same time. In general, individuals affected by ADHD often have other behavior disorders that impact their ability to function successfully. The comorbidity of ADHD with other disorders is between 60% and 80%."

{https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/adhd-comorbidity/}

A QUARTER of all ADHD kids have a mood/anxiety disorder. As an adult, I personally, have been diagnosed with General and Social Anxiety and Depression.

As a group, people with ADHD also have a higher substance abuse comorbidity. I personally struggled with alcoholism when my disorders all became too much to handle. After getting on medication, I was able to get a handle on my drinking. Now, I maybe drink 2 bottles of whiskey in a year. Maybe.

Anywho. There are a few disorders that are more commonly comorbid with ADHD than others.

List TIME

Depression

Anxiety

Oppositional Defiance Disorder

Bipolar Disorder

Conduct Disorder

Sensory Integration Disorder

Learning Disorder

Early Speech/Communication issues (both of my siblings had speech impediments)

Tomorrow-ish I'll post the symptoms of the most common ADHD comorbid disorders.

Sidenote: I'm not a doctor. I take medication because it helps me. Your treatment plan is between you and your doc. Do whatever y'all think is best for you. Also don't give up if the first few tries don't work.

[makstrikesagain]

Does anyone have tips for splitting/doing/teaching chores when one has ADHD? My husband wasn’t taught how to do most chores when he was growing up, and he has a hard time remembering to do/stay on top of the chores he’s in charge of. I don’t know much about functioning with ADHD, especially not as an adult and trying to share household responsibilities, and I want to do better for him as a wife and partner and roommate. Any tips or advice are happily welcome!

[abcsofadhd]

Okay, so these are the ways I use myself. Took me two year and constantly annoyed housemates to finally figure it out.

We have difficulty with chores because we have a tendency to forget and also because we don’t <notice> when things need to be done. We also have difficulty getting started with a task. Therefore,

1) Set up a schedule. It is easier to remember to do a chore if its done at the same time everyday/ week. Set alarms for further reminder, for bins and such.

2) Do certain chores together. Maybe you do the vaccuming, he does the bathrooms or something. That was you can ask him to come join when you’re cleaning.

3) It’s easier to do a task when you’re listening to something.. tell him to listen to  music or a podcast or something. I usually put something on when I’m doing the dishes or vacuuming.

4) Make sure he understands that doing something late is better than not doing anything at all. It can be frustrating, especially at the start, when you try and fail. He has to learn to push past it. 

5) Start a habit of not letting stuff <sit>. Cook/ eat, then wash dishes immediately. Do laundry, then put away clothes immediately. If you let them sit, they will sit forever.

[abcsofadhd]

So I was diagnosed with adhd from a young age but my parents never did anything about it. A lot of the people around me tell me that i show symptoms of autistic spectrum disorder because of how I behave. Are ASD and ADHD related? I don’t necessarily think I’m autistic but I don’t know if it’s because I have a very narrow view on how autism manifests and how big the scope of the autistic spectrum is.

There is quite a bit of symptomatic overlap between ADHD and ASD.. and I’ve seen studies that show that there could be a overlap in the environmental factors that could increase change of them.. which is possible due to quite a large percentage of folks with ASD also having ADHD (30-50%+).

However, the two disorders are different in how they function.

My counselor told me that the stuff he helped me with were the stuff/ methods he helped people with ASD.. so your experience isn’t uncommon.

[comorbidlife-blog]

I've heard ASD and ADHD described as "cousin/sibling" disorders because of how many symptoms are shared.

[abcsofadhd]

Learning to cope is all about figuring out how you tick and working around your difficulties.

For example, the hardest part of cooking for me is preparing the ingredients… So to get around that, buy pre chopped and frozen vegetables. Or do it yourself in bulk when you have the spoons for it.

I usually get frozen onions and peppers cause if I buy them fresh, I end up throwing em away. But frozen stuff keeps for much longer.

Another example is that I found myself delaying going out to buy groceries cause putting on socks and shoes is an effort (I know its odd). So now I just wear sandals and so it’s much easier.

It’s the little things that make a difference. And little stuff can add up to living easier.

[chronically-autistic-dinosaur]

This is totally me. I buy stuff that’s already pre-made so I don’t have to prep anything when I go to make dinner because it’s so much work having to cut veggies or meat up and having it already done for me is great. This is also why I buy frozen meals to just stick in the oven. No prep. No mess.

I also wear winter boots in the middle of summer to go and check the mail because putting on shoes and tying them up is too much work just to go to the mailbox. I do have slipper things I could wear too…

[comorbidlife-blog]

I recently realized that visual cues are what work best for me when I need to remember to do something. For example, I now have my pill box thing velcroed to my bedroom wall, next to my door. Now I see it every time I leave my bedroom and I can check to see if I took my daily dose yet.

[comorbidlife-blog]

My brain when it hits sensory overload

[nisaexploresadhd]

adhd is: i was listening, but i’m still gonna need you to repeat that..